VZCZCXRO1641
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1076/01 1320049
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120049Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2863
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 6241
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3909
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7711
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1544
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 4442
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9185
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5203
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4975

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 001076 
 
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 05/12/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Visit of Ambassador Bosworth: 
4)  Ambassador Bosworth, MOFA Six-Party Talks delegate Saiki agree 
to focus cooperation on restarting the talks  (Yomiuri) 
5)  Bosworth, Saiki admit Six-Party Talks could bog down  (Yomiuri) 
 
 
Putin visit: 
6)  Japan, Russia to agree on oil rights in E. Siberia during Prime 
Minister Putin's visit to Tokyo  (Nikkei) 
7)  Prime Minister Aso meets Putin today with the northern 
territories issue at the top of his agenda  (Sankei) 
 
Ozawa shock: 
8)  Ichiro Ozawa suddenly quits his post as head of the Democratic 
Party of Japan; Okada seen as a front runner to succeed him  (Asahi) 
 
9)  Ozawa criticized by every party for not providing sufficient 
explanation about his money scandal, but other opposition parties 
will continue to cooperate with DPJ  (Nikkei) 
10)  Prime Minister Aso stresses that Ozawa's sudden resignation 
will have no impact on his decision regarding Diet dissolution 
(Yomiuri) 
 
11)  DPJ lawmakers crying unfair since LDP bigwigs also involved in 
Nishimatsu Construction scandal were not pursued by the prosecutors 
(Yomiuri) 
12)  Ozawa's successor could come from one of five prominent names 
in the party  (Yomiuri) 
13)  Will the resignation of Ozawa as DPJ head result in even worse 
gridlock in the Diet?  (Sankei) 
14)  Business leaders are concerned about the impact on the economy 
of the Ozawa resignation  (Sankei) 
15)  U.S. officials carefully watching situation in Japan following 
Ozawa's resignation  (Sankei)    10 
16)  Impact of Ozawa's fall on Japan's foreign policy is being 
watched in Washington  (Yomiuri) 
 
17) Order to send P-3C patrol planes to spot pirates in waters off 
Somalia will come on the 15th  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nikkei, Sankei, Tokyo Shimbun &Akahata: 
DPJ President Ozawa announces intention to resign 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) DPJ leader Ozawa's resignation: DPJ should make effort to give 
voters chance to choose an administration 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Ozawa's resignation announcement: Politics finally move forward 
 
 
TOKYO 00001076  002 OF 010 
 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Public disapproval drove Ozawa to quit 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) DPJ should compete on policy 
(2) Humanitarian problem in Sri Lanka lamentable 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Ozawa's decision to resign as DPJ leader too late, DPJ has lost 
public confidence 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) DPJ must hurry to rebuild party structure 
 
Akahata: 
(1) DPJ head Ozawa has not established accountability 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
09"03Reception for Singaporean President Nathan and his wife at the 
Imperial Palace.10:00Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma 
at the Kantei. Then met with U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Tatiana 
na 
Duran.10:50Met with Vice METI Minister Mochizuki and Resources and 
Energy Agency Director General Ishida. METI Minister Nikai was 
present.11:43Conducted videotaping for government public 
relations. Public relations officer Ogawa was present.12:17Met 
with Administrative Reform Promotion Headquarters Chairman 
Chuma.13:42Met with Nathan at the State Guest House in 
Moto-Akasaka.15:15Met with Foreign Ministry Deputy Foreign 
Minister Sasae, European Affairs Bureau Director General Tanizaki, 
International Legal Affairs Bureau Director General Tsuruoka and 
Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department Director 
General Sano, Ambassador to Russia Kono, and Ishida.16:25Met with 
Japan-China Friendship Association Chairman Song Jiang. 17:00LDP 
executive meeting in the Diet building.17:34Met with Election 
Committee Vice Chairman Suga at the Kantei.18:29Arrived at the 
official residence.19:15Dinner to welcome Nathan at the Imperial 
Palace.22:31Arrived at the official residence. 
e official residence. 
4) Saiki, Bosworth to make efforts to resume 6-party talks 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
U.S. Government Special Representative for North Korean Affairs 
Bosworth and Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau 
Director General Akitaka Saiki met yesterday at the Foreign Ministry 
and agreed to shore up the efforts of hosting country China to 
restart the six-party talks on North Korea issues. 
 
The six-party talks have not been held since they broke down last 
December. North Korea said it would never again participate in them. 
Pyongyang is also poised to go ahead with nuclear and 
intercontinental ballistic missile tests. There are also moves to 
explore bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea. 
"I'm not in a position to oppose dialogue itself if that is within 
 
TOKYO 00001076  003 OF 010 
 
 
the framework of the six-party talks," Saiki told reporters after 
the meeting, showing understanding for holding talks between the 
United States and North Korea. 
 
Meanwhile, Saiki sought to check North Korea, saying: "Our dialogue 
with North Korea has been held in combination with pressure. We've 
agreed to create a mechanism for North Korea to respond to 
dialogue." 
 
5) 6-party talks likely to hit snags 
 
YOMIURI (Page 6) (Abridged) 
May 12, 2009 
 
Tokyo, Keiichi Honma 
 
Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. government's special representative for 
North Korean affairs, met yesterday with Akitaka Saiki, director 
general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, 
and concluded his tour of Japan, China, and South Korea. Bosworth 
stressed, "We basically agreed that it's important to resume the 
Six-Party talks." However, the Six-Party Talks are now highly likely 
to be deadlocked for the time being. 
 
There were no obvious results from the trip. However, a negotiation 
source said, "We will not offer anything in return to have North 
Korea come back." Saiki also told reporters that it would not be 
wise to give way to North Korea. However, if the Six-Party Talks are 
not held, North Korea could escalate its threatening diplomacy and 
go ahead with nuclear testing. The negotiation source stressed that 
the diplomatic channel in New York is essential for trying to avoid 
such a situation. This can be taken as indicating that the United 
States would contact Pyongyang through North Korea's mission to the 
United Nations and work on North Korea to return to the Six-Party 
Talks. 
 
6) Japan, Russia to jointly develop oil fields in Eastern Siberia 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full)\ 
May 12, 2009 
 
The government plans to obtain a mining right for underground 
resources in two oil fields in the central part of Irkutsk, in 
preparations for co-development of oil fields in Eastern Siberia. 
The government aims to have Japanese firms begin test drilling 
jointly with a local corporation next year, with the goal of 
starting full-scale production in 2013. Japanese officials expect 
that the oil fields could hold combined reserves of about several 
hundred million barrels, based on their proximity to a promising oil 
field. This is compatible with other midsize fields worldwide. 
 
Japan and Russia plan to sign possibly today an agreement on the 
joint development project to coincide with Prime Minister Vladimir 
Putin's visit to Japan. Before leaving for Japan, Putin responded to 
an interview with Japanese newspaper companies, including the 
Nikkei, and expressed expectations for turning Japan-Russia energy 
and other cooperation plans into reality. 
 
Developing the two fields, which cover vast areas stretching roughly 
8,100 square meters, is estimated to cost about 15 billion yen for 
the period leading up to commercial production. Japan Oil, Gas and 
Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) and Irkutsk Oil Co. will establish a 
 
TOKYO 00001076  004 OF 010 
 
 
joint venture. 
 
The Japanese government-owned company expects to take a 49 PERCENT 
stake, with the Russian company taking the remaining 51 PERCENT 
stake. 
 
The new company will conduct surveys and test drilling over the next 
five years. Once commercial production is deemed feasible, JOGMEC 
will transfer its stake to Japanese private-sector companies. 
 
In Eastern Siberia, JOGMEC became the first Japanese entity to 
obtain concession rights in an oil field in 2008. Test drilling 
there is due to start later this month. The corporation aims to 
secure concession rights in other promising oil fields in Eastern 
Siberia. The oil produced in the region is expected to be delivered 
to Japan through a pipeline now under construction. The government 
is also aiming to reduce Japan's dependence on the Middle East for 
fossil fuel supply. 
 
7) Visiting Russian premier to discuss territorial and other issues 
with Aso 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
May 12, 2009 
 
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived at Haneda Airport by 
special plane last night. He will meet Prime Minister Taro Aso today 
to exchange views on the Northern Territories, cooperation on 
developing the Far East and Siberia regions, and other issues. 
 
This is the fifth time for Putin to visit Japan in the capacity of 
president since he visited in November 2005, and the first visit 
since he assumed the premiership in May of last year. 
 
Putin has devoted himself to domestic affairs while President Dmitry 
Medvedev has been responsible for foreign policies. 
 
It has been reported, however, that since Putin has an influence 
over Medvedev, the two leaders have jointly addressed key policies. 
 
In the planned meeting with Aso, Putin is expected to seek Japan's 
cooperation over such issues as energy development in the Far East 
and Siberia regions, given that the Russian economy has been 
seriously affected by the financial crisis that has swept the world 
since last fall. Aso intends to indicate a positive stance on 
cooperating with Russia in its efforts to develop the Far East 
region, with the aim of establishing a vital partnership with Russia 
in the Asia-Pacific region, which he emphasized in his policy speech 
in January. 
 
8) DPJ leader Ozawa to resign over funding scandal involving his 
aide 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
May 12, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa, 66, last 
evening held a press conference at party headquarters to announce 
his intention to resign his post. Ozawa has been determined that in 
order to aim at a change in government, unanimous party solidarity 
is necessary. Calls for his resignation have continued since his 
public-funded secretary was indicted in March over allegedly 
 
TOKYO 00001076  005 OF 010 
 
 
accepting illicit donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co. DPJ 
Vice President Katsuya Okada, who is favored mainly by young 
lawmakers, appears to be a strong candidate to succeed Ozawa. 
 
The DPJ leadership yesterday accepted Ozawa's intention to quit his 
post in an executive meeting and standing secretaries' meeting. The 
party intends to elect a new leader as early as May 16 in a general 
meeting of all party lawmakers from the two Diet chambers. It is 
predicted that a party-heads debate between Ozawa and Prime Minister 
Taro Aso planned for May 13 will be cancelled. The collapse of the 
paradigm of confrontation between Aso and Ozawa, which has continued 
since the inauguration of the Aso administration, will likely have 
an impact on the election strategies of the ruling and opposition 
parties. 
 
Ozawa said in the press conference that he made the decision "to 
strengthen party unity." He revealed that he had no intention to 
resign as a Diet member or leave the party. He also said: "I want to 
continue fighting as a member of the unified party at the frontline" 
even after leaving the presidential post. He underscored a stance of 
cooperating with the new party leadership. However, he did not refer 
to the fundraising scandal involving his chief secretary. Meanwhile, 
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama also revealed last night his 
intention to step down from his post after the leadership election. 
 
 
The DPJ leadership plans to hold the presidential race after the 
fiscal 2009 supplementary budget draft clears the House of 
Representatives probably, which the ruling camp envisions on May 13. 
Hatoyama told reporters last night: "We want to carry out the 
election fairly and squarely so that the public can see a new DPJ." 
 
The names being floated as Ozawa's possible successor are former DPJ 
presidents: Okada, who fulfilled the initiative in coming up with a 
policy of putting regulations on the hereditary-seat system of 
passing down Diet seats to descendants, as well as a policy of 
completely prohibiting corporate and organization donations; 
Hatoyama and Deputy President Naoto Kan. The new DPJ leadership will 
be pressed to review the party's political platform, including the 
manifesto (set of campaign pledges) for the upcoming Lower House 
election. There is a rumor that Ozawa would be picked head of the 
election headquarters after he resigns his present post. 
 
9) Ruling, opposition parties criticize lack of DPJ head Ozawa's 
explanation about why he steps down 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
Ruling coalition wary of DPJ's strength 
 
Asked by reporters at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday about 
Ichiro Ozawa's announcement of his resignation as Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ) president, Prime Minister Taro Aso made this critical 
comment: 
 
"Hearing Mr. Ozawa's statement, I did not fully understand why he 
decided to step down. He said at the outset that he made the 
decision due to intraparty circumstances, but it was hard for me to 
figure out if the intraparty circumstances meant election 
circumstances." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001076  006 OF 010 
 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda 
said: "He did not refer to what sort of responsibility he should 
assume for the recent indictment of his aide in a political funds 
scandal and how he intends to respond." While criticism of Ozawa's 
resignation announcement is growing in the ruling camp, concerns are 
also arising about a possible recovery of the strength of the DPJ, 
which has seen public support falling over Ozawa's response to the 
scandal prior to the next House of Representatives election. 
 
Speaking before reporters in Tokyo last evening, former LDP 
Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa said: "His resignation is a 
matter of course. Rather, the question might be why it took as long 
as two months." New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa 
stressed the need for Ozawa to give an explanation of the scandal 
over huge political donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co., 
remarking: "If he continues to insist that he was blameless, he 
should give an account of the donation problem." 
 
Former LDP Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told 
reporters: "The other side's misstep has undoubtedly contributed to 
boosting public support for our party." 
 
Opposition bloc willing to maintain cooperation with DPJ 
 
Opposition party members also criticized yesterday the lack of 
Ozawa's account of the arrest and indictment of his close aide over 
the Nishimatsu donation scandal. 
 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Secretary General Tadayoshi Ichida 
critically said in a press briefing yesterday: "It is apparent that 
he had to decide to resign in the face of severe criticism among the 
people. It was sort of a defiant press conference." 
 
Social Democratic Party (SDP) President Mizuho Fukushima said: "He 
gave no clear account of the scandal involving politics and money. 
The fact that he did not respond to the questions of the people is a 
serious problem." 
 
People's New Party Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei said: "I guess he 
judged that this timing (for his resignation) was the only choice in 
the run-up to the next election. Our cooperative relationship will 
remain unchanged." 
 
Officials of the JCP and the SDP also expressed a willingness to 
maintain cooperation with the DPJ. 
 
10) Aso: Ozawa's resignation has no direct bearing on Lower House 
dissolution 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso last night made the following comment in 
connection with Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's 
announcement to step down: "(Lower House) dissolution for a general 
election is being mentioned based on the prospective passage of the 
(fiscal 2009) supplementary budget bill. The matter has nothing to 
do with Mr. Ozawa's resignation. I will make a decision after giving 
thought to a variety of factors." Aso indicated that Ozawa's 
resignation would not affect the timing of Lower House dissolution 
for a general election. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001076  007 OF 010 
 
 
The prime minister was responding to a question from reporters at 
his office. 
 
About Ozawa's announcement to step down, the prime minister also 
said: "I don't know quite well why he has decided to step down. I 
think the public also does not understand why he will resign, what 
kind of responsibility he is trying to take, and why now." 
 
11) DPJ finds prosecutors' investigations into Nishimatsu donation 
scandals unfair; Ozawa's resignation is matter of another political 
party, says Nikai 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
A special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public 
Prosecutors Office has been investigating a case in which Nishimatsu 
Construction Co., a second-tier general contractor, is believed to 
have provided a political organization connected with Economy, Trade 
and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai of the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) with an office for free, in tandem with political 
donations from Nishimatsu to Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
President Ichiro Ozawa. As a result, the prosecutors' office has 
built a case against (a secretary to) Ozawa for violating the 
Political Funds Control Law but not against Nikai. This has drawn 
criticism from within the DPJ as unfair. Nikai's response is likely 
to draw attention again depending on how the investigation turns 
out. Asked as he was leaving METI last night about his view on 
Ozawa's decision to step down, Nikai said: "It's a matter of another 
political party, so I am not in a position to comment." About the 
investigation into the political organization connected with him, 
Nikai also said: "That has nothing to do with the matter." 
 
12) Ozawa becomes fifth consecutive DPJ president to step down 
without serving out his term, following Hatoyama, Kan, Okada, and 
Maehara 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
In December 2002, then Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President 
Yukio Hatoyama stepped down from his post over the question of 
merging with the now-defunct Liberal Party. Since then, all DPJ 
presidents -- Naoto Kan, Katsuya Okada, and Seiji Maehara - have 
resigned from the post halfway through their tenure. (Yesterday) 
Ichiro Ozawa became the fifth consecutive DPJ president to step down 
without serving out his term, exposing the unstable management of 
the party. 
 
It took more than two months for Ozawa to announce his decision to 
step down after his state-funded secretary was arrested on March 3 
on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Control Law. Ozawa's 
announcement conjured up memories of the resignation of Maehara in 
2006 over the handling of a bogus email incident that spiraled out 
of control. 
 
March 24, the day Ozawa's secretary was indicted, served as a 
critical point for Ozawa's decision on whether to stay on or resign. 
But only a handful of junior members called for his resignation, 
with the majority simply watching Ozawa's response. In April, there 
was talk about formulating a "letter carrying signatures" of those 
calling for Ozawa's resignation. But the talk was never put into 
 
TOKYO 00001076  008 OF 010 
 
 
action, with a junior member saying, "Deputy President Kan and 
Secretary General Hatoyama were the only persons who could put the 
proverbial bell around President Ozawa's neck, so to speak." 
 
One of the vice presidents expressed his discontent with Ozawa's 
move as a decision made too late. There is no denying that the 
majority's attitude of staying on the sidelines allowed Ozawa to 
think about his move for too long. 
 
13) DPJ President Ozawa's resignation: Prime minister likely to find 
exercising his right to dissolve Diet limited 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 12, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso is now pressed to take a second look at his 
Lower House dissolution scenario due to the sudden resignation of 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ozawa. That is because 
although he has been searching for timing to dissolve the Lower 
House, taking passage of the first fiscal 2009 extra budget and the 
anti-piracy bill into account, he might find exercising his right to 
dissolve the Diet extensively limited, if the Diet becomes stalled 
due to commotion in the DPJ. 
 
"To be honest, I was surprised to hear Mr. Ozawa's decision to step 
down, because party head talks were to be held on May 13. I would 
like the DPJ to deliberate on the extra budget, whether its head 
steps down or not." 
 
He made that comment without a smile when asked by reporters 
yesterday evening about his view of Ozawa's resignation. It must be 
a blow to the prime minister, because his calculation to give 
impetus to early passage of the extra budget with the party head 
talks as the occasion missed the mark. 
 
However, many close to the prime minister had been taking the view 
that Ozawa would step down as party president, while timing Diet 
resolution. 
 
However, even if the extra budget clears the Lower House on the 
13th, if the Upper House refuses to take a vote on the extra budget, 
the Diet cannot be dissolved until June 14, when the budget will be 
adopted automatically. The Lower House can proceed with the bill as 
if the Upper House has rejected it and put it to a second vote for 
final approval on June 21. A revote on six budget-related bills will 
stretch into mid-July. 
 
Even if the six related bills cannot secure Diet approval, it is 
possible to execute 90 PERCENT  of the extra budget. However, in the 
event that the Lower House cannot be dissolved until late June, the 
G-8 Summit and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Assembly elections will 
follow soon. This would largely reduce options for timing for Lower 
House dissolution. Chances are that the DPJ in the meantime might 
bring about a rollback. 
 
14) Business community concerned about impact of DPJ President 
Ozawa's resignation on economy: Some business leaders give some 
praise to his decision 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00001076  009 OF 010 
 
 
Some business leaders paid their respect to Ozawa's announcement to 
step down as president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), as 
Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) Chairman Fujio Mitarai 
said, "He presumably made a heartbreaking decision." Others 
criticized it, with Japan Association of Corporate Executives 
(Keizai Doyukai) Representative Director Masamitsu Sakurai saying, 
"From the perspective of the people, there might have been a better 
timing." He insisted that his resignation should not affect Diet 
deliberations on the fiscal 2009 extra budget that will finance an 
additional economic stimulus package. 
 
Mitarai during a press conference held at 3 p.m. on the 11th called 
for passage of the extra budget before the Lower House is dissolved, 
noting, "What we want to see is the implementation of the extra 
budget, including related bills." He also said, "I would like the 
DPJ to realize policy-oriented politics, by holding constructive 
talks with the government and the ruling parties on key bills in the 
current Diet session." 
 
Sakurai, after indicating his view that Ozawa's resignation came 
late, made a request, "I want the DPJ as an open political party to 
hold a public presidential election and show to the people its 
governance and capability to run the government." Japan Chamber of 
Commerce and Industry Chairman Tadashi Okamura paid his respect to 
Ozawa's decision, saying, "He made the decision to prepare for Diet 
dissolution and a snap election with an all-party setup. This is a 
discerning decision." 
 
15) U.S. paying close attention to post-Ozawa DPJ presidential 
candidates 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Washington 
 
Though the U.S. government has not made any comment on the 
resignation of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro 
Ozawa, it has been closely watching his moves with a possible change 
of government in mind. Secretary of State Clinton strongly hoped to 
hold a meeting with Ozawa when she visited Japan in February. 
 
Her judgment is that it would be necessary to communicate with 
Ozawa, because he had raised an objection to Japan-U.S. cooperation, 
as can be seen in his opposition to the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean. 
 
Senior U.S. government officials plan to hold talks with People's 
New Party Vice President Shizuka Kamei, now visiting the U.S., who 
is close to Ozawa. They are continuing to take interest in Japan's 
political situation. 
 
16) U.S. to keep tabs on DPJ's foreign policy 
 
YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
Satoshi Ogawa, Washington 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ozawa has now 
announced his intention to resign from his party post. A U.S. 
diplomatic source close to the Obama administration said, "I'm very 
 
TOKYO 00001076  010 OF 010 
 
 
concerned about whether it will affect the DPJ's foreign policy." 
 
In his recent remarks on the U.S. military presence in Japan, Ozawa 
said the U.S. military presence in the Far East is enough with the 
7th Fleet. Ozawa also remarked that he was opposed to confirming in 
the Diet the intergovernmental agreement reached between Japan and 
the United States to move Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam. Those 
remarks, which could be taken as anti-U.S., alarmed the United 
States. This February, Ozawa met with Secretary of State Clinton. 
Later in the month, Ozawa met with Wang Jiarui, head of the Chinese 
Communist Party's International Department. In this regard, one in 
Washington thought Ozawa's response to Wang was better than that to 
Clinton, saying Ozawa, if he comes into office, may become 
pro-China. 
 
DPJ Vice President Seiji Maehara, when he visited the United States 
last month, referred to the possibility of reviewing the plan to 
relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. Maehara had 
been viewed to champion the Japan-U.S. alliance, so his remarks 
shocked people in Washington. "If the DPJ takes office, our 
bilateral relationship would unavoidably be shaken," one said. A 
U.S. Democratic Party affiliated source on Japan-U.S. relations 
said: "The DPJ's foreign policy will remain unclear (even after 
Ozawa's resignation). Whoever may become the DPJ's president, it is 
urgently necessary to expand a dialogue between the DPJ and the U.S. 
administration." 
 
17) Government to issue order for dispatch of P-3Cs on May 15 for 
antipiracy mission 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 12, 2009 
 
The government decided yesterday to issue an order on May 15 to 
dispatch two Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol planes to join 
the antipiracy operation in waters off Somalia. Defense Minister 
Yasukazu Hamada will invoke the maritime policing provision of the 
Self Defense Forces Law. The P-3Cs will keep watch on pirate ships 
from the sky. They are scheduled to be dispatched in late May to 
begin activities in early June. Ground Self-Defense Force troops 
will also be dispatched for the security of the P-3Cs. 
 
ZUMWALT