VZCZCXRO3928
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1090/01 1340503
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140503Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2922
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 6292
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3962
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7764
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1592
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 4493
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9238
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5256
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5025

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001090 
 
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 05/14/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
DPJ election: 
4) Okada and Hatoyama declare candidacies in the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) presidential race  (Asahi) 
5) DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama has the inside lead in the 
party race to replace Ichiro Ozawa as president  (Nikkei) 
6) Nikkei Internet poll places DPJ Vice President Okada far over 
Hatoyama in popular support for the party presidency  (Nikkei) 
7) Okada is far ahead of Hatoyama in a Mainichi poll querying the 
public on who would make a better DPJ president  (Mainichi) 
8) Okada buoyed up by public support, Hatoyama has party backing, 
going into the DPJ presidential race  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Political agenda: 
9) Mainichi poll finds Aso cabinet's public support has inched up to 
27 PERCENT   (Mainichi) 
10) Diet to be extended 45 days; Supplemental budget passes the 
Lower House  (Yomiuri) 
11) Konoike's resignation as deputy chief cabinet secretary when 
tryst revealed will hurt Prime Minister Aso's struggle to regain 
popularity with public  (Yomiuri) 
12) Aso on the resignation of Konoike: Not my responsibility 
(Mainichi) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
13) Joint Asahi-Okinawa Times poll: Open split in public opinion 
over plan to move Futenma relocation sites from the shore of Camp 
Schwab into the sea  (Asahi) 
14) Guam relocation agreement passes the Diet  (Yomiuri) 
15) Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel on antipiracy duty near 
Somalia escorts "old enemy" Peace Boat, owned by NGO against SDF 
dispatches  (Sankei) 
16) International security symposium in Tokyo calls for Japan to use 
the right of collective self-defense  (Yomiuri) 
17) During Iran-Iraq war (1980-88), Japanese government split over 
sending coast-guard ships to escort Japanese commercial vessels 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
18) Judge in China spy case sentences suspect for allegedly giving 
"secret information" to the Japanese ambassador for payment of 3 
million yen  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Tokyo Shimbun: 
Okada, Hatoyama enter DPJ presidential race 
 
Mainichi: 
Okada leads Hatoyama in public opinion poll 
 
Yomiuri: 
Diet session to be extended for 45 days: Extra budget clears Lower 
House 
 
Nikkei: 
Overseas flat-screen TV production to be consolidated: Toshima ends 
 
TOKYO 00001090  002 OF 012 
 
 
production in Britain; Hitachi pulls out of Europe 
 
Sankei: 
DPJ presidential election: Candidates trying to collect as many 
supporters as possible as usual 
 
Akahata: 
Pork-barrel extra budget clears Lower House: 14 trillion yen to be 
financed with tax hike 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) DPJ presidential election: Ozawa-led cloister government 
unacceptable 
(2) Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary steps down: Prime minister should 
be ashamed for appointing him 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary steps down: Situation invokes 
doubt about Kantei 
(2) Extra budget clears Lower House: Rampant generation of funds 
cannot be overlooked 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) DPJ presidential election: Demonstrate new party image and 
policy 
(2) Product safety measures: Consumers must also make self-reliant 
efforts 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) DPJ should show its administration's image through presidential 
election 
(2) 50 PERCENT  decline in current account surplus questions Japan's 
future course 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Supplementary budget clears Lower House: Upper House 
deliberations should be sped up for early passage 
(2) Japanese swimmer sets new world record in backstroke 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Deputy chief cabinet secretary quits: Woeful state of 
administration incredible 
(2) Northern Territories issue: Russia should come up with 
settlement measures 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Agricultural administration reform: National discussion for 
drastic change needed 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 13 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 14, 2009 
 
07:31 
Took a walk around his official residence. 
 
10:15 
 
TOKYO 00001090  003 OF 012 
 
 
Met at Kantei with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto. 
 
12:38 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura. 
 
12:57 
Attended meeting of LDP Lower House members in Diet building. 
 
13:02 
Attended Lower House plenary session. 
 
13:15 
Met at Kantei with Upper House member Katsuhito Asano joined by 
Kawamura. 
 
15:27 
Stood and chatted with former Prime Minister Abe. 
 
15:32 
Attended Lower House plenary session. 
 
15:37 
Stood and chatted with State Minister of Consumer Affairs Noda. Met 
later with Agriculture Minister Ishiba and Defense Minister Hamada. 
 
 
15:42 
Attended Lower House Budget Committee session. 
 
18:43 
Attended LDP Lower House members' meeting. 
 
18:52 
Attended Lower House plenary session. 
 
20:24 
Made informal report to the Emperor at Imperial Palace and attended 
Imperial Attestation Ceremony for Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Asano. 
 
21:54 
Took picture with Asano. Met afterwards with Kawamura and Asano. 
 
22:21 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Hatoyama, Okada declare candidacies for DPJ presidency 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Full) 
May 14, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Vice President Katsuya Okada 
yesterday revealed to reporters in the Diet building his intention 
to run in the DPJ presidential election on May 16. Secretary General 
Yukio Hatoyama also last night announced his candidacy. Both will 
today formally declare their candidacies at press conferences. The 
DPJ presidential race to pick the replacement of Ichiro Ozawa will 
likely be on one-on-one battle between Okada and Hatoyama. 
 
Okada expressed his determination for the new DPJ president, 
saying: 
 
 
TOKYO 00001090  004 OF 012 
 
 
"In order for the DPJ to move ahead toward a change of government, I 
have renewed my determination to become president of the DPJ and the 
leader of Japan. I have the experience of serving as DPJ head. A 
change in administration is urgent for Japan. Achieving a change in 
government is my political mission." 
 
He met yesterday noon with President Ichiro Ozawa to convey his 
intention to run in the election of the new DPJ president. 
 
He also stated: 
 
"(If I win the presidency), I basically will not drastically change 
the present DPJ policies, which are the improved version of the 
campaign pledges for the 2004 House of Councillors election and the 
2005 House of Representatives race made while I was party president. 
I want to make them better and more specific." 
 
Meanwhile, Hatoyama told the press corps last night: 
 
"If I could serve (the country), I would like to devote myself to do 
so. The DPJ must continue the Ozawa-ism that the party will win the 
election, playing up our policy to the public. It is also necessary 
to heighten the openness and transparency of the party." 
 
He intends to take over Ozawa's policy of placing priority on the 
daily lives of the people. 
 
5) Survey of DPJ lawmakers shows Hatoyama ahead in presidential race 
with Okada trying to catch up 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 14, 2009 
 
Vigorous efforts to secure support for Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and Vice President Katsuya 
Okada in the party's presidential election began on May 13. 
According to a survey of DPJ Diet members by Nihon Keizai Shimbun 
through interviews, Hatoyama has the support of the Diet members' 
group close to Ichiro Ozawa and members of the House of Councillors 
and is close to gaining the support of a majority. Okada, on the 
other hand, announced his candidacy on May 13 and is doing 
everything to catch up. The two will announce their candidacy 
formally at a news conference on May 14. 
 
Only the 221 DPJ Diet members (112 from the House of Representatives 
and 109 from the House of Councillors) have the right to vote in the 
presidential election on May 16. Following is an analysis of the 
position of 184 lawmakers, or 83 PERCENT  of the total, based on 
Nihon Keizai Shimbun's interviews, as of May 13. 
 
In addition to his own group, Hatoyama has broad support from the 
Ozawa group, which has supported President Ichiro Ozawa, and 
lawmakers who were formerly Japan Socialist Party and Democratic 
Socialist Party members. Specifically, he has secured over 50 
PERCENT  support among Upper House members. This shows that he has 
the strong support of forces hoping for the continuation of the 
policy line of the Ozawa leadership. 
 
On the other hand, Okada has secured the support of about 30 PERCENT 
 of the Diet members, most of whom belonging to the group close to 
Vice President Seiji Maehara and Public Relations Committee Chairman 
Yoshihiko Noda. Both have kept their distance from Ozawa. He has 
 
TOKYO 00001090  005 OF 012 
 
 
support comparable to Hatoyama among Lower House members. In 
addition to broadening his support among the mid-ranking and junior 
lawmakers, the Okada camp will attempt to enlist support in the 
group led by Acting President Naoto Kan that is divided on which 
candidate to support, and recruit defectors from the forces 
supporting the Ozawa leadership. 
 
Okada met Ozawa on May 13 to convey his intention to run in the 
presidential race. He later told reporters in the Diet that he is 
now "even more strongly motivated to run in the presidential 
election." He will announce his main policies when he formally 
announces his candidacy on May 14. Hatoyama also told reporters in 
Tokyo on the same evening that, "I will announce my candidacy 
formally on May 14." 
 
6) Poll: 61 PERCENT  support Okada, 18 PERCENT  back Hatoyama 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 14, 2009 
 
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun conducted an online poll yesterday about 
the upcoming presidential election of the Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto). In the poll, 61.4 PERCENT  of the respondents answered 
that they would like DPJ Vice President Katsuya Okada to become DPJ 
president, with 18.9 PERCENT  preferring DPJ Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama. "Neither Okada nor Hatoyama" accounted for 16.1 PERCENT , 
and "don't know" for 3.6 PERCENT . 
 
The poll was carried out as a questionnaire survey of Nikkei Net 
Plus member readers starting at around 4 p.m. yesterday. Answers 
were obtained from 7,102 persons. 
 
7) Poll: 25 PERCENT  back Okada for DPJ leader, Hatoyama at 13 
PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
May 14, 2009 
 
In the wake of Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ichiro 
Ozawa's resignation, the Mainichi Shimbun conducted a spot 
nationwide public opinion survey on May 12-13. In the survey, 
respondents were asked who they thought would be appropriate to head 
the DPJ after Ozawa, with the names of seven DPJ lawmakers given. In 
this popularity ranking, DPJ Vice President Katsuya Okada topped all 
others at 25 PERCENT  and outstripped 13 PERCENT  for DPJ Secretary 
General Yukio Hatoyama. Respondents were also asked if they thought 
Ozawa has fulfilled his accountability on his state-funded 
secretary's violation of the Political Funds Control Law. To this 
question, a total of 83 PERCENT  answered "no." The figure shows 
that the public's severe view of Ozawa continues even after he has 
stepped down. The Aso cabinet's support rate rose 3 points from last 
month to 27 PERCENT . 
 
Ranking next to Okada and Hatoyama, DPJ Deputy President Naoto Kan 
was at 12 PERCENT , followed by DPJ Vice President Seiji Maehara at 
8 PERCENT , and DPJ Policy Research Committee Chairman Akira 
Nagatsuma at 5 PERCENT . "None" accounted for 29 PERCENT , but the 
party race seems to be a straight fight between Hatoyama and Okada. 
In the survey, Okada was nearly two times higher than Hatoyama. 
 
8) DPJ presidential race: Hatoyama's party footing stronger than 
Okada's, Okada leads Hatoyama in public opinion polls 
 
TOKYO 00001090  006 OF 012 
 
 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
May 14, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Vice President Katsuya Okada and 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama yesterday afternoon respectively 
announced their candidacies for the election of the new DPJ 
president on May16. Since there is no other party member to run for 
the election, the DPJ presidential race will be a contest between 
Okada and Hatoyama. Hatoyama's party footing is stronger than 
Okada's, but Okada leads Hatoyama in public opinion polls. 
Therefore, DPJ lawmakers still remain undecided for which candidate 
they support. 
 
They will hold today a press conference separately to clarify their 
political visions. 
 
Okada told reporters in the Diet building: "I have renewed my 
determination to become DPJ president and the leader of Japan." He 
then stressed: "A change of government is urgently needed. Bringing 
about that is my political mission." 
 
9) Cabinet support slightly up to 27 PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
May 14, 2009 
 
The Aso cabinet's support rate, which dropped to 11 PERCENT  in this 
February's survey, rebounded after Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa's state-funded secretary was 
arrested in connection with Nishimatsu Construction Co.'s illicit 
political donations. This time around, the support rate went up to 
27 PERCENT . However, the nonsupport rate was 52 PERCENT , still 
topping a half. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 27 PERCENT , with the DPJ at 24 
PERCENT . The LDP outstripped the DPJ for the first time since the 
September 2008 survey taken shortly after the Aso cabinet came into 
office. 
 
10) Government plans to extend Diet session for 45 days; Extra 
budget clears Lower House 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
May 14, 2009 
 
The House of Representatives at a plenary session last night 
approved by a majority vote consisting of the ruling bloc the fiscal 
2009 supplementary budget and a tax system-related bill featuring a 
measure allowing a limited gift-tax cut. The bills were immediately 
sent to the House of Councillors. After the Lower House's approval, 
the government and ruling parties began moves to extend the ordinary 
Diet session, which is scheduled to end on June 3, for 45 days or 
until July 18 to ensure the passage of the tax bill and other 
budget-related bills. 
 
Members of the Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic 
Party and the People's New Party boycotted the Lower House vote, 
insisting deliberations were insufficient. The Japanese Communist 
Party voted against the bills. Under the Constitution, a 
supplementary budget automatically clears the Diet 30 days after 
 
TOKYO 00001090  007 OF 012 
 
 
Lower House approval, even if the Upper House does not vote on the 
bill. Therefore, the fiscal 2009 extra budget will clear the Diet by 
June 12. 
 
As for the tax system-related bill, the Lower House will be able to 
adopt it for a second time on July 12 or later under the so-called 
60-day rule stipulated in the Constitution, even if the DPJ and 
other opposition parties adopt tactics to delay deliberations in the 
Diet. 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso is eager to enact other key bills as well, 
including antipiracy legislation, which had been sent to the Upper 
House in April. The ruling bloc intends to extend the Diet session 
to ensure the passage of these bills. 
 
According to observers, Aso is believed to be planning to dissolve 
the Lower House after achieving certain results, passing the extra 
budget-related bills and attending the summit of the Group of Eight 
major countries set for July 8-10. The observers say the planned 
Diet extension is intended to make it easier for Aso to dissolve the 
Lower House. Some in the ruling bloc think chances have grown for 
dissolution in mid- July. 
 
Nevertheless, the Emperor and the Empress are scheduled to visit 
Canada and Hawaii on July 3-17, so dissolving the chamber during 
that period seems difficult. This may be the reason why the ruling 
bloc intends to extend the Diet session until July 18. 
 
11) Konoike's resignation a damper on Aso administration's effort to 
restore public support 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
May 14, 2009 
 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshitada Konoike resigned from his 
post yesterday due to a weekly magazine article on his extramarital 
affair with a woman, dealing a serious blow to the Aso cabinet, 
which has seen improved popularity recently. Konoike's alleged 
affair has been reported on continuously, and Prime Minister Taro 
Aso is drawing criticism for his failure to address the matter. 
Nevertheless, as seen in his refusal to accept responsibility for 
putting Konoike in the post, Aso has a weak sense of crisis. 
Criticism of Aso might grow stronger. 
 
Earlier this month, Aso was informed of the prospect that the weekly 
magazine would carry an article on a trip Konoike took with the 
woman in late April. But Aso indicated to his aides that Konoike 
would not have to resign as long as he carried out his duties 
properly. When Konoike's extramarital affair emerged in January, Aso 
did not regard it as a problem either, saying it was a private 
matter. 
 
On May 12, the article's details became clear, including the fact 
that Konoike had used his JR railway free pass. This changed the 
situation altogether. Konoike then asked Aso to let him step down 
from the post due to "health problems." Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Takeo Kawamura advised Aso to steel himself and accept Konoike's 
resignation. After a moment of hesitation, Aso decided to let 
Konoike go. 
 
Konoike, who joined the faction headed by Aso when it was launched 
in 2006, devoted himself to Aso's bid for the LDP presidency. This 
 
TOKYO 00001090  008 OF 012 
 
 
explains why Aso hesitated to accept Konoike's resignation and has 
continued to claim that he resigned for "health problems." 
 
12) Aso denies responsibility for appointing Konoike as deputy chief 
cabinet secretary 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
May 14, 2009 
 
Joichi Sato, Ai Yokota 
 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshitada Konoike, 68, stepped down 
from the post yesterday due to an alleged extramarital affair. 
Touching on this matter, Prime Minister Taro Aso indicated yesterday 
that he has no responsibility for appointing Konoike to the post, 
saying, "I do not know if I should be held responsible for the 
health (of a person who resigned for health reasons) for appointing 
him." A view has emerged not only in the opposition bloc but also 
from within the government and the ruling camp that Aso should be 
held responsible for appointing Konoike to the post. Aso's 
inaccurate understanding of his responsibility is likely to draw 
more criticism. 
 
Konoike made a trip to a spa with a female acquaintance in late 
April when the government was stepping up measures against the new 
influenza. Aso defended Konoike, saying: "Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Konoike was not in charge. There was no problem as long as 
he was reachable." 
 
Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama harshly criticized (Aso and Konoike) yesterday, saying: 
"(Konoike) made the trip for pleasure when the taskforce against the 
new influenza was just launched and when the prime minister was out 
of the country. Such was not permissible. The prime minister's 
responsibility is extremely weighty for appointing (Konoike) to the 
post." 
 
13) Poll: Okinawa's public opinion split over Futenma offshore 
relocation 
 
ASAHI (Page 29) (Abridged) 
May 14, 2009 
 
The Japanese and U.S. governments have agreed to relocate the U.S. 
military's Futenma airfield in Okinawa Prefecture's Ginowan City to 
the prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago, and Okinawa Gov. 
Hirokazu Nakaima has been calling for the airfield's relocation site 
to be moved to an offshore area. The Asahi Shimbun conducted a 
telephone-based public opinion survey in the prefecture, asking 
respondents if they supported the governor's proposal of offshore 
relocation. In response to this question, public opinion was split, 
with 39 PERCENT  saying "yes" and 44 PERCENT  saying "no." The 
survey was conducted with the Okinawa Times on May 9-10. 
 
Respondents were also asked if they supported the planned relocation 
of Futenma airfield within Okinawa Prefecture. To this question, 
negative responses substantially outnumbered affirmative ones, with 
"no" accounting for 68 PERCENT  and "yes" for 18 PERCENT . Even 
among those who support the governor, "no" accounted for 60 PERCENT 
, and "yes" for only 28 PERCENT . 
 
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry is now going through procedures to 
 
TOKYO 00001090  009 OF 012 
 
 
assess the Futenma alternative facility's potential impact on its 
environs. The ministry says the planned construction of a new base 
in Nago City to replace Futenma airfield will have little impact on 
the environment. In the survey, 80 PERCENT  were negative and 7 
PERCENT  affirmative when respondents were asked if this account 
from the ministry was convincing. 
 
The Japanese and U.S. governments finalized their agreement in 2006 
to realign the U.S. military presence in Japan, including Futenma 
relocation and Okinawa-based U.S. Marines' transfer to Guam. The 
construction of an alternative base in Nago City is to be completed 
in 2014. Asked whether to support this agreement itself, 43 PERCENT 
gave negative answers, with 28 PERCENT  affirmative. 
 
14) Guam relocation agreement secures diet approval 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 14, 2009 
 
The agreement to relocate U.S. Marines from Okinawa Prefecture to 
Guam, which incorporates expenditures for the consolidation of 
facilities following the relocation of U.S. Marines based in Okinawa 
to Guam, passed the Diet on May 13. The accord was voted down by 
opposition parties at an Upper House plenary session held on the 
morning of the same day. The Lower and Upper Houses failed to share 
common view at a joint session of both chambers of the Diet held 
later. For this reason, the accord was eventually approved in line 
with the constitutional superiority of the Lower House, which had 
already given its approval. This is the second time that an 
agreement was voted down in the Upper House and passed the Diet in 
line with the constitutional superiority of the Lower House, 
following the special agreement on Japan's shouldering of 
host-nation financial support for U.S. military stationed in Japan 
or the so-called sympathy budget last year. The agreement will 
likely take effect before the end of May. 
 
The agreement states that the Japanese government will disburse up 
to 2.8 billion dollars to finance the consolidation of facilities 
needed for the transfer of U.S. Marines and their family members to 
Guam. It also states that the Guam relocation is to be implemented 
as a package deal with the construction in Nago City of a heliport 
to be relocated from the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. 
 
However, the government and Okinawa Prefecture remain at odds over 
the relocation site for Futenma functions, the primary concern in 
U.S. forces in Japan realignment. The government intends to reach an 
agreement before year's end with a possibility of moving the 
relocation site slightly further seaward from the originally 
proposed in mind. However, senior prefectural government officials 
want to seek a major concession from the government. Foreign 
Minister Nakaone at a meeting of the Upper House Foreign Relations 
and Defense Committee on the 12th stressed his view that if some 
projects suffer a setback, it would affect the entire plan. Whether 
the Guam relocation plan will go smoothly remains to be seen. 
 
15) MSDF escorts Peace Boat off Somalia: "We are against you, but 
protect us" 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
May 14, 2009 
 
It was learned on May 13 that Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) 
 
TOKYO 00001090  010 OF 012 
 
 
escort ships deployed in waters off Somalia on an anti-piracy 
mission had escorted a passenger ship of the civilian international 
exchange group "Peace Boat." The "Peace Boat" is opposed to the 
MSDF's dispatch for the anti-piracy mission, so the inconsistency of 
this with its position is likely to raise eyebrows. 
 
The two MSDF escort ships guarded seven Japan-related vessels in the 
Gulf of Aden off Somalia from May 11-13. One of them was a Peace 
Boat passenger ship on a tour. The "Peace Boat" is a group founded 
by Social Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives 
Kiyomi Tsujimoto in 1983 when she was a student at Waseda 
University. The purpose of the boat tour is to engage in activities 
such as exchanges with NGOs and students at its ports of call. 
 
According to the Peace Boat office, the company planning and 
executing the sea voyage consulted with the Ministry of Land, 
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Liaison Office for 
Anti-Piracy Measures, which is in charge of coordination for MSDF 
escort operations, and it was decided that the ship join the convoy 
of vessels to be escorted by the MSDF. 
 
The Peace Boat had signed the joint statement of citizens' groups 
opposed to the MSDF dispatch. An official at its office said that, 
"It is unfortunate that the MSDF was sent instead of the Japan Coast 
Guard, but regardless of our position, the safety of the 
participants comes first. We respect the decision (of the company) 
to request escort." 
 
16) Ex-Defense Secretary Cohen hopes for exercise of right to 
collective self-defense at security symposium 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 14, 2009 
 
The "Second Security Symposium" on Japan's security policy 
(sponsored by the Net Journalist Association in cooperation with 
Yomiuri Shimbun and others) was held at the Keidanren Hall in 
Otemachi, Tokyo on May 13. 
 
In his keynote speech, former secretary of defense William Cohen 
discussed the security policy of the Obama administration and said 
that, "More than the past administration, it will welcome Japan's 
becoming able to participate in collective defense activities in 
order for Japan and the U.S. to deal with common problems as equal 
partners," expressing his expectations on Japan's exercise of the 
right to collective self-defense. 
 
Meanwhile, Keiichiro Asao, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) official 
in charge of defense, explained the party's foreign and security 
policy. He stressed that the DPJ's policy is "basically the same as 
the security policy of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito. 
We have no intention of introducing fundamental changes to the 
Japan-US security arrangements." 
 
17) Japan Coast Guard planned to dispatch destroyer during Iran-Iraq 
War 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
May 14, 2009 
 
In the closing days of the Iran-Iraq War, the Japan Coast Guard 
decided to dispatch a destroyer to the Persian Gulf (1980-1988) to 
 
TOKYO 00001090  011 OF 012 
 
 
guard Japanese vessels, according to Diet records. But then Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Masaharu Gotoda, at the risk of losing his post, 
raised an objection, so the plan was not carried out. 
 
Gotoda disapproved Transport Minister Hashimoto's decision 
 
According to the book of proceedings of the House of 
Representatives' Finance Committee in April 1991, then Finance 
Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said when asked for his view about the 
Gulf War: "I assumed the current post when the Iran-Iraq War was 
being fought intensely. At that time, I decided to send destroyers 
if Japan Coast Guard (JCG) officials approved it." He further 
replied: "I also promised to be on board the first ship, but 
fortunately, the war was soon over." 
 
In an interview with the Tokyo Shimbun, Masakazu Henmi, 76, who was 
serving as JCG Policing and Rescue Department head at that time, 
admitted for the first time that the JCG had decided to dispatch a 
destroyer to the Persian Gulf in 1987 and had been studying details 
of the plan. 
 
Only the destroyer "Mizuho" was available, but the JCG judged it 
possible for the escort ship to carry out long-term operations if 
fuel and food were supplied from countries along the Persian Gulf 
and other friendly countries. Since it was difficult for only one 
vessel to engage in the escort mission, the JCG planned to send 
information on safe navigation in the gulf to Japanese and foreign 
vessels. 
 
The reason why the plan was not implemented was not the end of the 
war. According to Atsuyuki Sassa, then Cabinet Security Office head, 
Gotoda opposed the dispatch of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 
ships or JCG destroyers at the risk of losing his post, citing as 
the reason that Japan might become involved in the war. 
 
18) China concludes Japanese ambassador paid 3 million yen in return 
for secret information in espionage case 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 14, 2009 
 
(Kenji Minemura, Beijing) 
 
A district court in Beijing concluded in a ruling on May 5 that 
Ambassador to China Yuji Miyamoto had given 207,000 yuan 
(approximately 3 million yen) to former Xinhua News Agency' foreign 
affairs bureau chief Lei Jiafu in return for secret information. Lei 
was given a 18-year jail sentence on charges of leaking national 
secrets,. Miyamoto commented: "Although I cannot make any comment on 
individual exchanges in diplomatic activities, I have acted 
according to the local law, so I think there was no problem." 
 
The written indictment entered the name of Miyamoto, but the 
judgment document noted "embassy member." In China, the details of a 
trial involving national secrets are not made public, but the fact 
was unveiled through informed sources. 
 
Xinhua News Agency is under the control of the Chinese government 
and provides internal information to its leadership. Chinese 
authorities are tightening control to prevent information leakage, 
but information activities by a diplomat have unusually come to 
light. It is quite unprecedented that an espionage charge was 
 
TOKYO 00001090  012 OF 012 
 
 
applied in a case involving an ambassador. 
 
According the judgment, Lei provided information (to Miyamoto) on 
Chinese foreign policies from September 2006, just after Miyamoto 
assumed his post, to July 2007 and received money. On Nov. 8 2006, 
Lei informed the Japanese ambassador of Chinese sanction measures 
against North Korea for its nuclear test in October, including 
suspension of remittances. 
 
During a period between July 2003 and August 2005, Lei also leaked 
information to then South Korean envoy in China about the schedule 
for President Hu Jiantao's visit to North Korea, secret contact 
between the U.S. and North Korea in the framework of the six-party 
talks, and other matters. In return, he received 3,000 dollars 
(about 295,000 yen), 3,000 yuan (about 43,000 yen), and a golf set. 
 
In China, a senior member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences 
was detained this January on suspicion of leaking information of 
North Korea, and a Chinese ambassador for the North Korean nuclear 
issue was detained in late 2006 on suspicion of leaking information 
of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's visit to China to a foreign 
news company. 
 
ZUMWALT