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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000999 
 
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 04/30/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
4) Kyodo poll: Aso Cabinet support rate up 5 points to 29%, with 
non-support slipping 7.3 points to 56.2%, but 55% of public give 
thumbs down to new stimulus budget (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
China diplomacy: 
5) Chinese Prime Minister Wen nails Prime Minister Aso on Yasukuni; 
China sought to reduce nuclear arsenal (Asahi) 
6) Aso, Wen to cooperate to prevent spread of new-type influenza, 
agree to push for early restart of Six-Party Talks with North Korea 
(Nikkei) 
7) Main exchanges in Japan-China summit meeting (Mainichi) 
8) China to implement order next May requiring foreign companies to 
provide IT information about products (Nikkei)   8 
 
North Korea problem: 
9) State Department deputy spokesperson: We will never forget the 
abductees or their families (Yomiuri) 
10) North Korea's threat to test nuclear weapons, missiles seen as 
its way to pressure U.S. into direct talks (Mainichi) 
 
11) Foreign Minister Nakasone meets with New Zealand counterpart, 
discusses decline in Japanese tourists (Yomiuri) 
 
12) Swine flu epidemic: The situation has escalated beyond what the 
Japanese government had imagined (Mainichi) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
13) Assistant Secretary of State-designate Gregson in hearings 
displays flexibility on U.S. force realignment plan for Japan 
(Yomiuri) 
14) Defense Minister Hamada is off to visit the U.S., the first trip 
there for a defense chief since 2007, with missile defense high on 
the meeting agenda (Mainichi) 
15) Former Prime Minister Abe pushes for a restart of serious 
discussion about reinterpreting the Constitution to allow Japan the 
right to collective self-defense (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Yomiuri: Tokyo Shimbun: 
Swine flu claims 1st death in U.S. 
 
Mainichi: 
New flu is "not very virulent," says Japanese WHO emergency panel 
member 
 
Nikkei: 
Japan, China agree to cooperate in fight against new flu 
 
Sankei: 
New flu strain: U.S. president to put nation on full alert 
 
Akahata: 
Greenhouse gas emissions by nuclear power plants are not zero 
 
TOKYO 00000999  002 OF 011 
 
 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Japan-China cooperation for environmental conservation: Help 
China emerge from pollution society 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Revision to law on Development Bank of Japan: Sustainable system 
urged 
(2) President Obama's 100 days: Don't afraid of being criticized as 
being weak-kneed 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Compensation for murder cases that ran out statute of 
limitations: Supreme Court hands down decision after right to claim 
against damage determined 
(2) Foreign minister's nuclear disarmament speech: Specific action 
instead of slogan 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Japan should speed up building of electronic library 
(2) Restricting hereditary lawmakers desirable 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Japan-China summit: Superficial reciprocal relations not 
acceptable 
(2) Court ruling on corporal punishment: Stern and uncompromising 
attitude needed 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) May Day: Trade unions should listen to voices of workers 
(2) NHK TV program changes: Independence, autonomy vital 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Correct reliance on foreign demand 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 29 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 30, 2009 
 
07:31 
Took a walk around his official residence. 
 
10:19 
Left Haneda Airport by government plane for China. 
 
Afternoon 
Arrived in Beijing. Held informal talks with international cartoon 
award winners at the Japan Culture Center in Beijing. Enjoyed an 
exhibition of photographs. Met Chinese students. Followed by 
Xiaogang Feng, a Chinese movie director. 
 
Evening 
Attended a welcome ceremony at the Great People's Hall. Held talks 
with Premier Wen. 
 
Night 
Attended a dinner party hosted by Wen. Stayed at a hotel. 
 
TOKYO 00000999  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
4) Poll: 55% unhappy with extra budget; Cabinet support rises 5 
points to 29% 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged) 
April 30, 2009 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Taro Aso and his 
cabinet rose 5.9 points from late March to 29.6% in the latest 
telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey conducted by Kyodo 
News on April 28-29. The nonsupport rate decreased 7.3 points to 
56.2%. In the poll, 65.5% of the respondents answered "yes" when 
they were asked if they thought Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) 
President Ichiro Ozawa, whose state-funded secretary has been 
indicted over illicit political donations from Nishimatsu 
Construction Co., should resign from his party post. The figure was 
almost flat from the last poll with a decrease of 1.1 points. The 
government has presented the Diet with a fiscal 2009 supplementary 
budget, which is on the largest scale ever, as an economic crisis 
measure. Asked about this extra budget, a total of 55.0% gave 
negative answers, broken down into "don't appreciate very much" and 
"don't appreciate at all." 
 
Meanwhile, in the public's preference of political parties for 
proportional representation in the next House of Representatives 
election, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party tallied 30.8%, with 
the DPJ at 37.9%. The DPJ remained above the LDP. In the breakdown 
of public support for political parties, the LDP stood at 29.4%, 
with the DPJ at 29.7%. The DPJ was outstripped by the LDP in the 
last poll but edged out the DPJ in the poll this time. 
 
CHINA DIPLOMACY 
 
5) Japan-China summit: Aso asks China to nuclear disarm; Wen warns 
Aso about Yasukuni 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
April 30, 2009 
 
Katsuhisa Kuramae, Beijing 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso, who arrived in China on April 29, held 
talks with Premier Wen Jiabao for about two hours and 20 minutes at 
the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. In their meeting, the two 
leaders confirmed close cooperation regarding the global economic 
crisis, swine flu, and the North Korea problem. Prime Minister Aso 
also requested China's cooperation on nuclear disarmament. Wen, on 
the other hand, warned Japan on the historical-view issue in the 
wake of Prime Minister Aso's making an offering to Yasukuni Shrine. 
 
Wen noted that swine flu is becoming a serious global issue, coming 
on top of the financial crisis. In response, Aso underlined the 
importance of a calm public response. The leaders agreed to sharing 
information on border and epidemic prevention measures. 
 
Aso also expressed his expectation of China as the chair of the 
Six-Party Talks, describing it as the most pragmatic framework to 
bring about the denuclearization of North Korea. The North had 
announced earlier that it would withdraw from the Six-Party Talks. 
Wen said: "It is important to be persistent in overcoming 
difficulties." Aso and Wen agreed that the two countries would make 
utmost efforts to expand domestic demand as a means to overcome the 
 
TOKYO 00000999  004 OF 011 
 
 
economic crisis. 
 
Wen also expressed his concern, saying: "The historical issue is 
extremely important. In particular, the Yasukuni issue is closely 
associated with national sentiments. I hope Japan will deal with the 
matter appropriately." Aso replied that Japan's position has not 
changed from the view expressed in a landmark 1995 statement in 
which then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama apologized and expressed 
remorse for Japan's colonial rule and aggression before and during 
World War II. 
 
Regarding the nuclear issue, Aso said: "The U.S. Obama 
administration has taken a stance that is different from that of the 
previous administration. In order to reduce nuclear weapons, I would 
like to see China's cooperation." Wen reiterated the past view, 
saying: "Our country has consistently advocated a total ban on 
nuclear weapons. Our country has also pledged (to adhere to the 
principle of) no-first-use of nuclear weapons." 
 
6) Aso, Wen agree to cooperate on swine flu prevention, share need 
for early resumption of six-party talks 
 
NIKKEI (Top Play) (Full) 
April 30, 2009 
 
(Yusuke Nakajima, Beijing) 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed in a 
meeting on April 29 in the Great People's Hall in Beijing to work 
together to prevent the A/H1N1 swine influenza from spreading 
further. Aso arrived in Beijing the same day for a two-day official 
visit to China. The two countries will exchange information on the 
new strain of flue and cooperate in strengthening their respective 
quarantine systems. Bearing in mind North Korea's announcement that 
it would carry out more nuclear tests, the two leaders affirmed the 
need for both countries to jointly make efforts to resume the 
six-party talks. They also agreed to operate regular flights between 
Haneda Airport and Beijing in October. 
 
The meeting lasted for about two hours and 20 minutes. Wen said that 
the outbreaks of swine flu "pose a new obstacle. We want to 
strengthen cooperation with Japan" in this area. Aso replied: "We 
would like to exchange information with China on improving 
quarantine and other efforts." The two countries could consider 
joint vaccine development. 
 
In discussing North Korea, which has threatened more nuclear tests 
in reaction to the United Nations Security Council's condemnation of 
its recent missile launch, Aso and Wen shared the view that the 
situation should be dealt with in a cool-headed manner. Aso said: 
"The six-party talks are a practical framework. We expect China, as 
the chair of the talks, to play its key role," urging China to try 
to persuade North Korea to return to the talks. We replied: 
"Persistent efforts are vital. We would like to deepen our 
cooperation with Japan." 
 
Regarding economic cooperation, the two agreed to operate regular 
flights between Haneda Airport and Beijing in October. Such service 
was operated temporarily during the Beijing Olympics last summer. 
Japan Airlines Co. and All Nippon Airways Co. will swiftly start 
preparations. Further, Aso and Wen decided to hold the second round 
of the ministerial-level Japan-China High-Level Economic Talks in 
 
TOKYO 00000999  005 OF 011 
 
 
Tokyo on June 7, which have not been held since their first meeting 
in December 2007. They also agreed on technical cooperation in the 
telecommunications area, including the joint development of the 
next-generation cellular phone. 
 
Also on the agenda was the environment issue. Aso proposed a 
Japan-China comprehensive cooperation plan on environmental 
protection and energy conservation. The two countries will advance 
joint research on energy-saving at coal thermal power plants and 
reduction in the effect of loess. 
 
In reference to Aso's sending of an offering to Yasukuni Shrine in 
Tokyo on the occasion of the spring festival this year, Wen said: 
"The history issue, particularly the Yasukuni issue, is very 
sensitive, affecting the people's feelings. I hope Japan will 
appropriately deal with the issue." Aso said: "Japan will move 
forward while looking squarely at our history, as expressed in the 
prime ministerial statements issued in 1995 and 2005. That is 
Japan's major spirit. Japan's position has not changed." 
 
The two leaders then moved on to nuclear disarmament. In response to 
Aso's request for China's cooperation, Wen said: "We have promised 
not to launch any nuclear preemptive attack and are willing to 
support nuclear disarmament efforts." On the issues of gas field 
development in the East China Sea and poisoned dumplings made in 
China, no major progress was made. 
 
Major contents in the Aso-Wen meeting 
 
(North Korea issues) 
Q Cooperate to resume the six-party talks. 
 
(New strain of flu) 
Q Cooperate on prevention of the flu epidemic from spreading 
further, disclosure of both sides' information, and speedy 
quarantine. 
 
(Economic cooperation) 
Q Hold the next round of the bilateral high-level economic dialogue 
in Japan on June 7. 
Q Operate regular chartered flights between Haneda and Beijing. 
(Industrial cooperation) 
Q Promote technical cooperation in developing the next-generation 
cellular phone. 
 
(Environmental cooperation) 
Q Implement a comprehensive plan for technical cooperation on energy 
conservation 
 
(Historical view, Yasukuni issue) 
Q Wen asked Japan to appropriately deal with the issue, while Aso 
said that Japan has not changed from the view expressed in Murayama 
and another prime ministerial statements. 
 
7) Gist of Japan-China summit 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 30, 2009 
 
( North Korean issue ) 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso: The UN Security Council was able to issue a 
 
TOKYO 00000999  006 OF 011 
 
 
presidential statement with good contents owing to close cooperation 
with the Chinese government. North Korea is reacting strongly to it, 
but it is important to deal with the country in a constrained manner 
without overreacting. 
 
Premier Wen Jiabao: It is essential for every country concerned to 
maintain a calm stance from a broad perspective. Although twists and 
turns seem to lie ahead for the Six-Party Talks, it is important to 
overcome the difficulties by being persistent and having 
confidence. 
 
( New strain of influenza ) 
 
Wen: There has been no case of infection in China or in Japan. Even 
so, we place high priority on prevention. I would like to see China 
and Japan cooperate to deal with the matter. 
 
Aso: A calm public response is essential. We will endeavor to 
swiftly disclose and transmit information and will tighten the 
quarantine system. We want to cooperate with China in information 
exchange and preventive measures. 
 
( Japan-China relations ) 
 
Aso: Japan and China should nurture a strategic mutually-beneficial 
relationship from a broad perspective. 
 
Wen: Political mutual trust is vital for the development of 
relations. The two countries must make efforts. 
 
( History issue ) 
 
Wen: The history issue is extremely sensitive. In particular, the 
Yasukuni issue is associated with national sentiments, so I would 
like to see Japan deal with the matter appropriately. 
 
Aso: There has been no change in Japan's position of squarely facing 
history and looking toward the future. 
 
( Food safety ) 
 
Aso: I strongly hope for an early full account of the 
pesticide-tainted dumplings case. 
 
Wen: We want to settle the matter at the earliest possible time by 
strengthening cooperation between the authorities of China and 
Japan. 
 
( Gas fields in East China Sea ) 
 
Aso: It is important to begin working-level talks early. I would 
like to see China display leadership in dealing with the matter. 
 
Wen: We want to continue trying to improve communications at the 
administrative-level. 
 
( Nuclear disarmament ) 
 
Aso: The Obama administration's responses have been different from 
those of past U.S. administrations. In order also to reduce nuclear 
weapons, I would like to see China's cooperation. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000999  007 OF 011 
 
 
Wen: China actively supports the nuclear arms reduction initiative. 
 
8) China to introduce IT information disclosure system in May next 
year 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
April 30, 2009 
 
Tetsushi Takahashi, Beijing 
 
The Chinese government announced on April 29 that it would introduce 
in May 2010 a new system to force foreign manufacturers to disclose 
security-related data about their information-technology (IT) 
products procured by the government. The governments of Japan, the 
U.S., and European countries have strongly urged China to abandon 
the idea, claiming that foreign companies' intellectual property 
will be infringed. Although China has said that the application of 
this requirement will be limited to products procured by the 
government, the new system will inevitably have a negative effect on 
businesses of companies of Japan, the U.S. and European countries. 
 
NORTH KOREA PROBLEM 
 
9) U.S. State Department deputy spokesman: U.S. will never forgot 
Japanese abductees and their families 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 30, 2009 
 
Keiichi Honma, Washington 
 
Referring in a press briefing yesterday to the fact that U.S. 
Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth met 
on April 27 with relatives of Japanese abducted by North Korea, 
including Shigeo Iizuka, representative of the Association of the 
Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, U.S. State Department 
Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood said: "We have not forgotten and we 
will never forget the suffering of the abductees and their 
families." Wood indicated that the Obama administration would do its 
best to resolve the abduction issue. 
 
Wood also revealed that Bosworth and other U.S. officials met on 
April 27 with North Korean defectors. 
 
10) North Korea presses the U.S. for resumption of talks; Hardliners 
have strong voice 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
April 30, 2009 
 
North Korea has released a statement referring to the possibility of 
conducting a nuclear test or test-firing an intercontinental 
ballistic missile, fostering a sense of crisis. The North is 
apparently is trying to push the U.S. Obama administration toward 
the negotiating table by applying pressure on it by playing up its 
nuclear arsenals capable of attacking the continental United States. 
In North Korea, hardliners seem to have a strong voice as the 
National Defense Commission has seized more power. In the event of a 
delay in a U.S. response, there is a high likelihood that the North 
will act out its statement. 
 
The North reacted strongly to the adoption of a UN Security Council 
 
TOKYO 00000999  008 OF 011 
 
 
presidential statement. On April 14, the North declared that it 
would withdraw from the Six-Party Talks and that it would also 
resume reprocessing spent nuclear rods. And on April 25, the country 
announced that it started reprocessing fuel rods. But because the 
United States did not demonstrate a posture for dialogue, the North 
apparently decided to increase tensions. 
 
According to a diplomatic source in Beijing, the North has been 
making preparations for another nuclear test since its test in 
October 2006. "There is a need to check the part that failed in the 
previous test," the source said. The North launched a ballistic 
missile under the name of a satellite on April 5. The prevailing 
view is that the missile failed to separate its third stage. "It is 
necessary to conduct another test in order to check confirm the 
missile's performance," the source said. 
 
There is an observation that the National Defense Commission was 
empowered by the Supreme People's Assembly on April 9 and that a new 
socialist system has been established by the council which now sits 
above the Korean Workers Party. 
 
11) New Zealand prime minister in meeting with Foreign Minister 
Nakasone expresses concern about decreasing Japanese tourists 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 30, 2009 
 
Wellington, Tetsu Okazaki 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone met on April 29 in Wellington 
with New Zealand Prime Minister John Phillip Key. In New Zealand, it 
has been confirmed that 45 people are infected or are assumed to 
have caught the new-type influenza. Key, who concurrently serves as 
tourism minister, expressed concern about the cancellations of 
travel to his country by Japanese people. The prime minister 
stressed: "Since we have taken every possible measure to prevent the 
spread of infection, our country is safe." 
 
12) New flu strain attenuated in virulence: Not foreseen in 
government program 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
April 30, 2009 
 
A comment has been made that the new flu strain (swine flu), which 
has broken out in Mexico, is attenuating in its virulence. However, 
the infection is continuing to spread. Following the World Health 
Organization (WHO) raising the alert level to Phase 4, attaching 
importance to the possibility of the outbreak escalating into a 
pandemic, Japan has set an action program into motion. The 
government program envisages a situation in which highly virulent 
bird flu mutates into a new flu that causes human-to-human 
transmission. Is it necessary to revise the action program? 
 
Experts call for flexible responses 
 
The government's Action Program for Countermeasures against New Flu 
Strain, adopted in February 2009, sets five standards governing 
alert phases for new influenza strains and stipulates measures to be 
taken by the central government and prefectures accordingly. At 
present, Japan's alert level is phase 1, meaning a new flu strain 
outbreak abroad. The alert level will be raised to phase 2, if 
 
TOKYO 00000999  009 OF 011 
 
 
domestic infection is confirmed, meaning an early stage of domestic 
outbreak. At this stage, measures, such as forced hospitalization of 
patients, limits to the movements of residents in the affected area 
and school closures, will be taken. 
 
Mitsuo Kaku, Tohoku University professor of infection control, said: 
"Taking measures assuming highly virulent virus could inflame social 
anxieties, if the virulence was attenuated. It is no mistake to 
prepare for the worst. However, practical measures need to be taken 
in a flexible manner." 
 
The WTO incorporated in its guidelines for countermeasures against 
influenza, revised this month, a stance that measures should be 
taken, while giving consideration to multiple factors, such as 
mortality rates and an economic impact, as well as to the degree of 
the spread of the flu. The U.S. in 2007 mapped out standards of five 
alert phases, according to the seriousness of the spread, infection 
rates and the number of deaths and mortality rates. The federal and 
local governments are to adopt measures according to the 
guidelines. 
 
Hitoshi Oshitani, a professor of virus at Tohoku University, pointed 
out, "It is probably only a matter of time before infection is 
confirmed in Japan. In order to prepare for an outbreak in the 
nation, it is necessary to sort out measures that can be adopted as 
is and those that cannot be done so and revise improper ones." 
 
Oshitani warned against optimism, saying, "Mortality rates could 
serve as one yardstick. However, whether it is really so has not 
been at the present stage. Even if such a rate is 0.2%, if 10 
million people are infected, 20,000 people would die. This is no 
small figure." 
 
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry New Flu Strain Measures 
Promotion Headquarters said that they will consider with reference 
to experts' opinions, once a certain level of assessment regarding 
the virulence of the virus was released. 
 
DEFENSE AND SECURITY AFFAIRS 
 
13) U.S. force realignment in a flexible way: Gregson 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 30, 2009 
 
Satoshi Ogawa, Washington 
 
The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing on 
April 28 to examine the nomination of Wallace Gregson, former 
commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Bases in Japan, to be assistant 
secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs. The 
hearing included the issue of realigning U.S. forces in Japan. "We 
need to reexamine the progress at all times and to work together 
with Tokyo to solve bilateral issues," Gregson stated in written 
form to the committee over the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. 
The former administration only sought to carry out the roadmap for 
realignment implementation in a steady way. However, Gregson implied 
taking an even more flexible stance. 
 
Gregson, referring to U.S. allies' contributions to Afghanistan, 
stated that Japan is making a considerable fiscal contribution, 
including 1 billion dollars in aid to Pakistan. "I will continue to 
 
TOKYO 00000999  010 OF 011 
 
 
make efforts to ask friends and allies to increase their 
contributions in their best areas of specialty," Gregson added. 
 
14) Defense Minister Hamada off to U.S. today 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 30, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada will leave today for the United 
States. He is expected to meet with Secretary of Defense Robert 
Gates on May 1 in Washington. This will be the first time in a year 
and nine months since a Japanese defense minister has visited the 
U.S. Defense Minister Yuriko Koike went last in August 2007. 
 
A meeting of the defense chiefs of Japan and the U.S. will take 
place for the first time in a year since Shigeru Ishiba and Gates 
held talks in May 2008 in Singapore. The Japan-U.S. Security 
Consultative Committee (2-plus-2), which also includes Japanese 
foreign minister and U.S. secretary of state, has not met for two 
years. 
 
In the past, the meeting between Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs, 
including 2-plus-2 conferences, often took place, for example, three 
times in 2005, five times in 2006, and four times in 2007. In 2008, 
there was only one defense meeting, which is too few even though 
last year was the year of U.S. presidency campaign. 
 
This suggests that the disarray in the Defense Ministry caused by 
the arrest in November 2007 of former Administrative Vice Defense 
Minister Takemasa Moriya had an impact on defense cooperation 
between Japan and the United States. 
 
In the meeting on May 1, Hamada and Gates will confirm the 
Japan-U.S. agreement (road map) on the realignment of U.S. forces in 
Japan, which the two countries aim to complete in 2014, and discuss 
how to strengthen cooperation on such issues as a missile defense 
(MD) system. The two defense chiefs will also discuss coordination 
between Japan's National Defense Program Outline, which will be 
revised late this year, and the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), 
which the United States will implement 2010. 
 
15) Collective defense coming up again 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
April 30, 2009 
 
There are rising arguments again from within the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party by lawmakers who insist that Japan should be 
allowed to participate in collective self-defense. It is currently 
prohibited under the government's constitutional interpretation. The 
LDP's 'hawkish' lawmakers are advocating collective self-defense in 
the wake of North Korea's recent launch of a ballistic missile. They 
apparently want to reignite constitutional reinterpretation that has 
been mothballed since the Fukuda cabinet. 
 
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who tackled the issue of 
collective self-defense when he was in office, is the key advocate. 
Abe, when he was prime minister, set up an advisory panel to discuss 
how to rebuild Japan's legal base for its national security. Former 
Ambassador to the United States Shunji Yanai, who presided over the 
advisory panel, met with Prime Minister Taro Aso on April 23 and 
explained the panel's conclusion, which took the position that 
 
TOKYO 00000999  011 OF 011 
 
 
Constitution Article 9 should be interpreted as not prohibiting 
Japan from exercising its right to collective self-defense. That 
evening, Abe himself suggested that the LDP's manifesto incorporate 
constitutional reinterpretation. 
 
However, if the Aso cabinet sets about this issue, neighboring 
countries are likely to react negatively. It would adversely impact 
on Japan's cooperation with China and South Korea on the North Korea 
problem. The LDP still remembers losing the 2007 House of 
Councillors election. 
 
ZUMWALT