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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000424 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 2/25/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Obama-Aso summit meeting: 
4) President Obama, Prime Minister Aso agree to strengthening of the 
U.S.-Japan alliance  (Asahi) 
5) Washington's distrust of Ichiro Ozawa-led Democratic Party of 
Japan on the security front explains invitation to Prime Minister 
Aso as first White House guest  (Sankei) 
 
6) Japan structuring its diplomacy on encircling North Korea, 
alarmed at the country's missile-launch preparations  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
7) Prime Minister Aso to visit China late next month, with 
environmental issues high on the agenda  (Mainichi) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
8) U.S.-Japan treaty on relocating U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam 
moves to the Diet for ratification  (Yomiuri) 
9) DPJ is against the Guam relocation treaty with the U.S., 
unwilling to pick up the cost of moving Marines out of Okinawa 
(Yomiuri) 
 
10) DPJ President Ozawa torpedoes alliance by calling for removal of 
all U.S. troops from Japan except for the Navy; Sees Japan picking 
up the extra roles  (Sankei) 
11) Government finds first strike use of weapons in dealing with 
pirates in accordance with Police Law  (Sankei) 
12) New law will allow both shooting at pirates and refueling other 
ships engaged in anti-piracy operations  (Mainichi) 
13) Mainichi poll finds 47 PERCENT  of public approve the 
dispatching of MSDF to deal with pirates in African waters 
(Mainichi) 
 
Political agenda: 
14) DPJ to allow vote on fiscal 2009 budget on Feb. 27  (Sankei) 
15) DPJ planning to refuse acceptance of cash handouts after bill 
implementing such is passed  (Yomiuri) 
16) Prime Minister Aso refuses to "correct" a statement he had made 
about World War II starting with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 
 (Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Stock prices gradually declining in Japan, U.S., Europe 
 
Mainichi: 
Court orders Aichi Prefecture to compensate hotel over false quake 
data 
 
Yomiuri: 
Japanese, U.S. leaders agree to jointly tackle global economic 
crisis 
 
Nikkei: 
 
TOKYO 00000424  002 OF 011 
 
 
Lawson to buy convenience store rival am/pm for 25 billion yen 
 
Sankei: 
Government to set up expert panel led by Yosano, not by bureaucrats, 
to work out economic measures 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
U.S. President Obama describes "Japan-U.S. alliance as cornerstone" 
in meeting with Aso 
 
Akahata: 
" 
"Firing of temporary workers" questioned in Diet session, summoning 
auto industry labor union representative 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Incidents targeting NHK: Violence and threat impermissible 
(2) Invitation of Olympics to Tokyo: Japan should present specific 
vision 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Welfare Ministry's pension estimate too optimistic 
(2) Stock prices nosedive in Japan, U.S.: Hurriedly work out 
measures to dismiss chain of concerns 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Ministry's pension estimate: Problem lies in pension system 
(2) Sports and drugs: Stop foolish act betraying fans 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Global stock plunges showing reality of financial crisis 
(2) Threat to NHK impermissible 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Disagreement on personnel appointments: DPJ should not use 
personnel action for political purposes 
(2) Academy Awards an opportunity to deepen understanding of Japan 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Future pension benefits: Optimistic estimates make us uneasy 
(2) Ruling on false quake data: Give consideration to residents' 
safety in construction administration 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Top business leader should be summoned to Budget Committee 
session 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, February 23 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
Night 
Arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in a Washington suburb on a 
government special plane. Stayed overnight at Mandarin Oriental 
Hotel. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, February 24 
 
TOKYO 00000424  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
Morning 
Held a summit with President Obama at the White House. 
 
4) Aso, Obama agree to strengthen Japan-U.S. alliance 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
Akihisa Tsugawa, Washington 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. President Barack Obama held their 
first summit meeting at the White House on the morning of the 24th, 
local time. The two leaders reaffirmed that the world's two largest 
economies would further strengthen their alliance and tackle in 
cooperation a wide range of international challenges, including the 
financial and economic crisis. 
 
At the outset of the talks, Obama said that the invitation of Aso as 
his first foreign leader guest is "a testimony to the strong 
partnership between the U.S. and Japan." He continued: "The 
U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of U.S. security policy in 
East Asia, and my administration hopes to strengthen this alliance." 
He emphasized: "I think that we have an opportunity to work 
together, not only on issues related to the Pacific Rim but 
throughout the world. Japan has become our great partner in dealing 
with various issues, including climate change and Afghanistan." 
 
In responding to questions from reporters, Obama reiterated: "Japan 
is the cornerstone of U.S. security policy and a major economic 
partner." 
 
Aso replied in English: "I feel grateful for your inviting me to the 
White House as the first official foreign state guest. This is a 
great honor for me as a Japanese person and also as an Asian. The 
U.S. and Japan are the world's two largest economies. The two 
countries should work together hand in hand." 
 
Obama and Aso confirmed the multifaceted nature of the Japan-U.S. 
alliance to address vital issues in the Asia-Pacific region, as well 
as global issues. Both are also expected to agree to steadily 
implement such plans as the transfer of U.S. Marines in Okinawa to 
Guam and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. 
 
In dealing with the ongoing economic crisis, the two leaders agreed 
to do their utmost to buoy up their domestic economies by such means 
as economic stimulus measures. They also reaffirmed the need for 
cooperation in preparation for the financial summit in London on 
April 2. Obama and Aso also committed themselves to resisting 
protectionism. 
 
On North Korean, Aso explained Japan's stance of aiming at settling 
the abduction, nuclear and missile issues in a package and then 
called for U.S. cooperation in resolving the abduction issue. On 
Afghan issues, the two leaders agreed on Japan's participation in 
the formation of a new U.S. comprehensive strategy. Aso revealed 
Japan's willingness to offer cooperation in the public welfare area. 
He seems to have also unveiled that the government is preparing a 
plan to deploy special envoys in charge of reconstruction assistance 
 
TOKYO 00000424  004 OF 011 
 
 
for Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
 
5) Prime Minister Aso invitation reflects U.S. administration's 
"distrust" in Ozawa-led DPJ; U.S. applies pressure on security 
policy 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
February 25, 2009 
 
Fumito Ishibashi, Washington 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama invited Prime Minister Taro Aso to the 
White House as the first foreign leader he will meet. Aso, who 
served as foreign minister under the Koizumi and Abe 
administrations, has strong communication channels to the U.S. 
Republican Party but has few ties to the Democratic Party. Despite 
that, President Obama invited Aso, who is struggling with plummeting 
support ratings, to the White House ahead of Britain, America's old 
ally. What is the motive behind it? By introducing Aso internally 
and externally as his most important partner, (President Obama) 
seems to be sending a message of "distrust" toward the Democratic 
Party of Japan, which has a security policy that is difficult to 
fathom. 
 
In his meeting with Prime Minister Aso on the morning of Feb. 20, 
UK-Japan 21st Century Group UK Cochairman Rt. Hon Jack Cunningham 
said ironically, "I understand that the prime minister is going to 
hold talks with President Obama. We welcome it." It was clear that 
the upcoming early Japan-U.S. summit has hurt the pride British 
gentlemen. 
 
The request from the United States for Aso to visit the White House 
just before the President's State of the Union Address was a bolt 
from the blue for Japan, as well. President Obama did not place a 
telephone call to Aso until Jan. 29, after he had already talked to 
British, French, German, Australian and Middle Eastern leaders. 
Disappointment spread in the government, with a senior official 
saying, "The U.S. Democratic Party's propensity to slight Japan has 
not changed." Some even indicated that it would be an accomplishment 
just to realize an Aso-Obama meeting before the London financial 
summit in April. 
 
Instead, President Obama invited Aso at a stage when some of his 
major cabinet posts remain unfilled. Behind that, there seems to the 
judgment that in order to overcome the ongoing economic crisis, 
there is no other country but Japan, the world's second largest 
economy, to work with the U.S. as a partner. 
 
Reportedly, Obama's priority shift to Japan owes much to such 
officials as his National Security Advisor James Jones, a retired 
U.S. Marine Corps four-star general who also served in Okinawa, and 
Kurt Campbell, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
East Asian and Pacific Affairs who is well-versed in Japanese 
affairs. 
 
But the prevailing view is that they do not necessity have positive 
opinions about the Aso administration and that (Obama's invitation 
of Aso) is a reversal of his concern over the Ichiro Ozawa-led DPJ. 
 
In the U.S. government, there is mistrust in the DPJ which is 
opposed to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in 
the Indian Ocean and is calling for moving Futenma Air Station out 
 
TOKYO 00000424  005 OF 011 
 
 
of Okinawa and a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces 
Agreement. In August 2007, Ozawa said in his meeting with then U.S. 
Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer: "We cannot send troops to 
places that are not directly connected with Japan's peace and 
security and conduct joint operations." This, too, seems to have 
augmented U.S. concern. 
 
Reportedly, Campbell and others visited Japan last December and met 
with persons connected with the DPJ and concluded as a result that 
the DPJ was still split over its security policy. Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton also met with Ozawa seemingly to size him up. 
 
There are Japan experts in the Obama administration, but there are 
not may pro-Japan experts. The first Aso-Obama meeting ended 
amicably. There is a possibility, however, that the U.S. government 
will ask Japan for enormous monetary and human contributions for the 
war on terror and other areas. Prime Minister Aso intends to find 
ways to invigorate his administration with proactive foreign and 
security policies based on the Japan-U.S. alliance by taking such 
wishes of the United States into consideration. 
 
6) Government accelerating diplomacy encircling North Korea 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The government is accelerating high-level diplomacy with six-party 
talks member nations with the exception of North Korea, starting 
with the Japan-U.S. summit on February 24. The move has a strong 
nature of being intended to encircle North Korea in conjunction with 
U.S. Secretary of State Clinton's policy of attaching with 
importance to the six-party talks, which she advocated during her 
recent tour of Asia. North Korea on the 24th released a statement 
hinting at a plan to launch a long-range ballistic missile. Tense 
diplomatic bargaining is continuing. 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during a press conference on the 
24th revealed that he will visit Beijing on March 1 to meet with 
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. They are expected to exchange views on 
pending issues, such as the poisoned gyoza dumpling case, and the 
North Korea issue. Nakasone successively held meetings with his 
South Korean counterpart on the 11th and his U.S. counterpart on the 
17th. Prime Minister Aso met with President Medvedev in Sakhalin, 
Russia. 
 
It is unusual for Japan to hold talks with the Russian leader and 
foreign ministers of the U.S., China and South Korea in such a short 
period of time. It has thus tacitly applied pressure on Pyongyang, 
which pins hopes on bilateral talks with the U.S. instead of the 
six-party talks. 
 
However, far from giving in, Pyongyang is increasingly strengthening 
its confrontational stance. 
 
It in a statement released on the 24th revealed that preparations 
were under way to launch an experimental communications satellite. 
This recalls its launching of the Taepodong-1 missile, which passed 
over Japan and came down in the Pacific Ocean in August 1998. At 
that time, Pyongyang announced that it was only an artificial 
satellite. 
 
North Korea appears to be preparing to launch the Taepodong-2 or its 
 
TOKYO 00000424  006 OF 011 
 
 
improved version. If it goes ahead with the test launch, ignoring 
warnings from various countries, it would become a major threat to 
Japan, which is even within range of the intermediate-range 
ballistic missile Nodong 1. 
 
A government official took a bullish stance, saying: "If they want 
to launch it, do it. They know what will happen, if they do it." 
However, there are, in fact, no signs that six-party talks on 
settling the missile issue are in the works. 
 
7) Prime Minister Aso to visit China in late March; such issues as 
environmental technology high on agenda 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The government has launched coordination on a plan for Prime 
Minister Taro Aso to visit China in late March. It is considering 
meetings between Aso and President Hu Jintao and between Aso and 
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Aso visited China last October to attend 
the summit meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). China is 
expected to invite Aso in March to Beijing as a state guest, a first 
time for him. 
 
When President Hu visited Japan last May, the governments of Japan 
and China agreed to start a protocol of mutual visits by their top 
leaders. 
 
Such issues as Japan's provision of environmental technologies to 
prevent global warming will likely be high on the agenda. 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone will visit Beijing on Feb. 28 and 
March 1 to arrange a schedule for a Japan-China summit. Nakasone is 
expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi to 
exchange views so that the two countries will be able to promote a 
strategic reciprocal relationship in concrete terms. The two foreign 
ministers will likely also discuss the joint exploration of gas 
reserves in the East China Sea and the food security issue, 
including a series of food-poisoning cases involving Chinese-made 
frozen dumplings. Nakasone is considering meeting also with 
President Hu and Premier Wen. 
 
8) Agreement on transfer of U.S. marines submitted to Diet 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The government on February 24 submitted an item to the Diet calling 
for its approval of the signing of the Japan-U.S. agreement that 
bans the use of Japanese outlays for purposes other than the 
relocation of U.S. marines from Okinawa to Guam. 
 
The relocation is part of the U.S. forces Japan realignment. U.S. 
Secretary of State Clinton and Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone 
signed the agreement on Feb. 17, when Clinton visited Japan. The 
government is aiming at having the agreement approved quickly from 
the standpoint of strengthening the bilateral alliance. However, 
Diet deliberations will likely to be tumultuous, with the opposition 
camp, which has a majority of seats in the Upper House, toughening 
its confrontational stance against the government. 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is opposed to the agreement, 
 
TOKYO 00000424  007 OF 011 
 
 
arguing that the cost of the construction of U.S. military housing 
following the transfer of the Marines is too high. 
 
9) To avoid split in the party, DPJ to vote against U.S. Marine 
relocation treaty, citing burden of picking up the cost 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The government presented to the Diet on Feb. 24 a measure approving 
the Japan-U.S. agreement that would relocate U.S. Marines on Okinawa 
to Guam. In response, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has taken 
a stance of opposing the treaty because the Japanese government is 
picking up the cost and because the party has problems with the plan 
to realign the U.S. forces in Japan. Although there are voices of 
approval within the DPJ who worry that the party's capability of 
running the government would be questioned (if it opposes the move), 
the judgment was ultimately reached, based on the next election, 
that it would not be wise policy if the party split over this 
issue. 
 
The bilateral agreement was signed during the recent meeting of 
Foreign Minister Nakasone and Secretary of State Clinton. In order 
to move to Guam 8,000 U.S. Marine troops and their 9,000 family 
members by 2014, Japan would issue fiscal disbursements limited to 
no more than $2.8 billion (or approximately 250 billion yen). 
 
10) U.S. Navy presence alone enough: Ozawa 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa 
clarified his views yesterday regarding the issue of realigning U.S. 
forces in Japan, indicating that the forces of the U.S. Navy alone 
would be enough for the future U.S. military presence in Japan. "For 
the United States to forward station troops at this time is 
meaningless," Ozawa said. "In the sense of military strategy, the 
Seventh Fleet alone is enough for the U.S. presence in the Far 
East," he added. 
 
In addition, Ozawa also said: "As for the rest, Japan should 
undertake its role for its national security and play its role in 
the Far East. I think they will understand this." With this, Ozawa 
implied plans to realign and reduce the presence of U.S. military 
bases in Japan through such measures as cooperating on United 
Nations activities after his party takes office. He was replying to 
a question asked by a reporter in Kashiba, Nara Prefecture. 
 
Ozawa stressed: "Japan should not always be at the beck and call of 
the United States. Instead, we, too, should have an appropriate 
global strategy. Japan should do more to share the role at least for 
matters related to Japan. If we do so, the United States' role will 
decrease." Meanwhile, Japan has now entered into an agreement with 
the United States to relocate Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam, 
and the government has asked the Diet for its approval of the pact. 
The question is whether the DPJ will agree to this pact. Asked about 
this, Ozawa avoided clarifying his view, saying, "I want you to ask 
about specifics after we take office." 
 
In its manifesto for the 2007 House of Councillors election, the DPJ 
took the position that the party would study the U.S. military 
 
TOKYO 00000424  008 OF 011 
 
 
presence for security in the Asia-Pacific region and how to position 
U.S. military bases in Japan. 
 
11) Gov't to allow firing on pirate ships under current law 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The government has now ordered the Maritime Self-Defense Force to 
prepare for an antipiracy mission in waters off the eastern African 
coast of Somalia by invoking an action for maritime security 
operations under the Self-Defense Forces Law. Concerning its 
guidelines for the MSDF to use weapons, the government decided 
yesterday to allow the MSDF to fire on pirate ships in case they 
refused orders to stop. The government will also allow the MSDF to 
fire at pirates attempting to get into commercial ships. Based on 
this course of action, the government will not ease its guidelines 
for weapons use or the so-called rules of engagement (ROE) in its 
planned antipiracy legislation. The government plans to present an 
antipiracy bill to the Diet during the first half of March. In 
addition, the new legislative measure also allows the MSDF to 
provide foreign naval vessels engaged in antipiracy operations with 
water and fuel on a reimbursable basis. 
 
The government plans to invoke an action in early March for maritime 
security operations and send out two MSDF destroyers. In the case of 
maritime security operations, however, weapons use is allowed under 
the currently existing police duty execution law in conformity with 
its Article 7 provisions. In this case, weapons use is limited to 
legitimate self-defense or emergency evacuation only. The MSDF is 
currently allowed to fire on pirate ships only if and when the 
pirates fire first. Concerned about this constraint, the Defense 
Ministry sought to ease the government's weapons use guidelines. 
 
However, the Cabinet Secretariat, which is now drafting the new law, 
judged that the MSDF can be allowed to fire on pirate ships before 
they fire in order to stop them or for other purposes even in the 
case of legitimate self-defense or emergency evacuation prescribed 
in the police duty execution law. In concrete terms, the MSDF will 
be allowed to fire on a pirate ship in the case where that pirate 
ship, refusing orders to stop and closing in on a commercial ship, 
does not halt after warning shots were fired into the skies and even 
after further warning shots were fired into the water near the 
pirate ship. 
 
The Cabinet Secretariat also judged that the MSDF will be allowed to 
fire at pirates if and when they rope up a commercial ship in an 
attempt to get into the commercial ship. 
 
In the case of the new law's weapons use standards as well, the 
government will therefore allow the MSDF to use weapons in 
conformity with the police duty execution law's Article 7 provisions 
as in the case of maritime security operations. Furthermore, the new 
law will allow the MSDF to escort foreign ships irrelevant to Japan. 
In addition, the new law, if approved by the ruling parties, will 
also prescribe international contributions to allow supplying 
foreign naval vessels on antipiracy missions with fuel and water on 
a reimbursable basis. In this case, the government is planning to 
use an MSDF supply ship currently deployed to the Indian Ocean. 
 
12) Anti-piracy legislation to allow use of weapons against pirates; 
Police law to be applied 
 
TOKYO 00000424  009 OF 011 
 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 25, 2009 
 
Yasushi Sengoku 
 
The outline of the anti-piracy bill the government is planning to 
submit to the Diet in early March has been revealed. The legislation 
is designed to apply the Police Duties Execution Law to allow the 
use of weapons to stop piracy, which is not allowed under the 
maritime policing action provision of the Self-Defense Forces Law. 
In the SDF's overseas missions in the past, the use of weapons has 
been allowed only in self-defense and emergency evacuation so as not 
to constitute the use of force, which is prohibited under the 
Constitution. The step that will effectively relax the weapons-use 
criteria is likely to spark controversy. 
 
The anti-piracy legislation envisages not only the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's mission in waters off Somalia, for which the 
government is expected to issue an order before long, but also 
activities in other oceanic areas as well. The legislation will be a 
permanent law without any time limit. The scope of protection will 
be expanded to include foreign ships, in addition to Japanese 
vessels. Coast guards are to play a main role in clamping down on 
pirates and the SDF is to play a supplementary role in the event the 
Japan Coast Guard finds it difficult to handle. 
 
For the use of weapons, Article 7 of the Police Duties Execution Law 
will be applied. Under this article, a police officer is allowed to 
use weapons in self-defense, emergency evacuation, and against a 
resisting individual suspected to have committed a heinous crime. 
The application of the law allows the use of weapons to fire at a 
pirate ship that did not follow an order to stop. 
 
The government plans to issue an order in early March to dispatch 
the MSDF on an anti-piracy mission in waters off Somalia under the 
maritime policing action provision. 
 
But under this provision, protection is limited to 
Japanese-registered ships and vessels carrying Japanese cargoes. 
Once the anti-piracy legislation is enacted, the government intends 
to shift the law authoring the SDF dispatch to the new legislation. 
 
Difficulties are expected for the enactment of the new legislation 
that involves constitutional discussions under the extremely 
unpopular Aso administration. 
 
13) Mainichi opinion poll finds 47 PERCENT  of public approving 
dispatch of MSDF for anti-piracy mission, outweighing those who are 
against 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun, in a (telephone-based) opinion survey carried 
out nationwide Feb. 21-22, found that 47 PERCENT  of public approved 
and 42 PERCENT  opposed the government's dispatching of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) for anti-piracy operations off the coast 
of Somalia in Africa. Eleven percent had no answer to the question. 
 
Breaking down the respondents by gender, 60 PERCENT  of males 
approved and another 34 PERCENT  disapproved. But only 34 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO 00000424  010 OF 011 
 
 
of women approved, with 50 PERCENT  disapproving. Based on political 
parties, 65 PERCENT  of Liberal Democratic Party supporters 
approved, and only 26 PERCENT  disapproved.  The New Komeito 
supporters were comparably close, with 51 PERCENT  approving and 44 
PERCENT  disapproving. Both the Japanese Communist Party and the 
Social Democratic Party were overwhelming against the MSDF dispatch, 
but the Democratic Party of Japan supporters were evenly split, 46 
PERCENT  supportive and 45 PERCENT  opposed. 
 
14) DPJ to allow ruling camp to take vote on fiscal 2009 budget on 
Feb. 27 in Lower House plenary session 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided 
yesterday in an executive meeting on a policy of coordinating views 
with other opposition parties in order to vote down this week in the 
House of Councillors bills related to the second supplementary 
budget for fiscal 2008, designed to secure fiscal resources for the 
cash-handout program. The DPJ also decided yesterday to allow the 
ruling parties to take a vote on the fiscal 2009 budget, which the 
House of Representatives is now deliberating, on Feb. 27 in a Lower 
House plenary session. 
 
The ruling coalition is expected to readopt the bills related to the 
fiscal 2008 second extra budget by a two-thirds lower chamber 
overriding vote, after they are voted down in the 
opposition-controlled Upper House. The DPJ intended to vote them 
down last week, but it put off its plan to take a vote following 
former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's remarks on Feb. 12 that he 
would not approve the use of a two-thirds overriding vote. 
 
A senior DPJ member said: "Even if a second vote is delayed, the 
number of LDP lawmakers to fall in line with Koizumi will not 
increase." In an attempt to avoid public criticism of dragging out 
deliberations, the DPJ decided to vote them down next week (in the 
Upper House). 
 
Regarding the reason for the DPJ's decision to allow the ruling camp 
to take a vote on the fiscal 2009 budget, Diet Affairs Committee 
Chairman Kenji Yamaoka said: "Once the budget is enacted, there will 
be discord in the LDP." However, three other opposition parties -- 
the Japanese Communist Party, Social Democratic Party, and People's 
New Party -- raised objections to the DPJ's policy of taking a vote 
as early as possible. The DPJ is expected to hold a meeting today of 
the Diet affairs committee chairs of the opposition parties in order 
to get their approval. 
 
15) DPJ to refuse to accept cash handout 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on February 24 decided to call 
on its member lawmakers to refuse the acceptance of flat-sum cash 
handouts incorporated in the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget. 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama will send a notification on the 
decision to all DPJ members before the end of the week. Some took 
the view that such a decision should be made by each member. 
However, the party has decided to urge member lawmakers to act in 
unity in view of the circumstance that it has lashed out at the cash 
 
TOKYO 00000424  011 OF 011 
 
 
handout scheme in Diet debates. 
 
The party will let local members make up their mind on their own. 
However, it will give consideration in order to prevent a situation 
in which local assemblies dominated by DPJ-affiliated members vote 
down their supplementary budget bill to finance the cost of the 
distribution of benefits, making it impossible for the residents of 
such municipalities alone to receive the benefits, from occurring. 
 
16) Cabinet adopts written response stipulating that it will not 
correct Aso's remark that World War II began with Japan's attack on 
Pearl Harbor 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 25, 2009 
 
The government yesterday adopted a written response in a cabinet 
meeting that it would not correct Prime Minister Aso's remark that 
World War II began with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in December 
¶1941. Aso stated this during an interview (Dec. 12, 2008) for the 
ninth issue of his cabinet's mail magazine. The cabinet approved the 
written response, which was a reply to a question posed by New Party 
Nippon representative Yasuo Tanaka. 
 
The theme of the interview was about Japan ten years from now. Aso 
stated in it: 
 
"Nobody probably can predict things that will occur ten years from 
now.....World War II began with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 
December 1941. At that time, there was nobody who was able to 
imagine that Japan and the United Stated would conclude a bilateral 
security treaty 10 years later." 
 
The government's written response says that (Aso) referred to 
Japan-U.S. relations in pre- and post-war periods in order to 
explain how difficult it was to predict the state of Japan ten years 
from now. The written response avoided making a direct response to 
Tanaka's question. 
 
World War II began with the declaration of war by Britain and France 
against the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Aso appears 
to have mistaken the start of World War II with the outbreak of war 
between Japan and the United States. Tanaka severely criticized Aso 
in his memorandum. 
 
ZUMWALT