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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001311 
 
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 06/11/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
North Korea problem: 
4) United Nations Security Council to adopt sanctions resolution 
against North Korea for its nuclear test, but absent will be 
mandatory cargo inspections  (Mainichi) 
5) New UNSC resolution, a result of U.S.-Japan agreement, will place 
additional pressure on North Korea  (Asahi) 
6) U.S. gave consideration to China by removing cargo searches from 
draft UNSC resolution  (Nikkei) 
7) Japanese government welcomes new UNSC draft resolution as 
"sending a strong message to North Korea"  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) Japan readying own sanctions, including ban on exports to North 
Korea, to go along with UNSC resolution's measures  (Mainichi) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
9) MSDF's anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia: Most 
commercial ships are sailing unescorted and foreign ships keep 
asking for help  (Asahi) 
10) Diet ratifies treaty banning cluster munitions  (Mainichi) 
 
Global warming: 
11) Prime Minister Aso announces mid-term greenhouse-gas reduction 
target of 15 PERCENT , compared to the 2005 level  (Nikkei) 
12) Government calculates that greenhouse-gas reduction program will 
cost each Japanese household 80,000 yen by 2020  (Mainichi) 
13) Concern already rising about Aso's greenhouse gas reduction 
target as not doing much to stop global warming  (Sankei) 
 
14) Liberal Democratic Party members concerned about going into the 
next election with Aso's 12 PERCENT  consumption tax pledge in the 
campaign manifesto  (Mainichi) 
 
15) Panel releases report to DPJ that reviews the Nishimatsu 
illegal-donation case and concluded the then party head Ozawa's 
explanation was "insufficient"  (Nikkei)    12 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Nikkei, Sankei, Tokyo Shimbun, and Akahata: 
Government sets 15 PERCENT  emissions cut target from 2005 levels, 
or 8 PERCENT  from 1990 levels, by 2020 
 
Yomiuri: 
Permanent UNSC members plus Japan and South Korea reach final 
agreement on sanctions resolution on North Korea 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) 15 PERCENT  emission cut target a first step to low carbon 
society 
(2) Hiroshima juvenile reformatory instructors arrested for abusing 
inmates 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Purpose and principles behind medium-term emission cut target 
 
TOKYO 00001311  002 OF 012 
 
 
unclear 
(2) North Korea must release U.S. reporters promptly 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Japan must stand firm in emissions accord talks 
(2) Criticism of prosecutors and media in Nishimatsu report 
improper 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Can Japan lead international talks with its medium-term 
emissions cut target? 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Ineffective emissions cut target will increase burden on 
households 
(2) DPJ Nishimatsu report insufficient 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) There are more important aspects than figures in medium-term 
target to curb global warming 
 
Akahata: 
(1) LDP-New Komeito government unfit to protect global environment 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, June 10 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 11, 2009 
 
08:07 Took a walk around his official residential quarter. 
10:30 Met at Kantei with Shimamura, special advisor to LDP 
president. 
11:16 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. 
13:15 Met with the Foreign Ministry's Director General for Global 
Issues Sugiyama and others. 
14:03 Interviewed by Financial Times' reporter, joined by Sugiyama. 
 
14:34 Met LDP Policy Research Council Deputy Chairman Sonoda, 
Secretary General Hosoda, Manifesto Project Team head Suga. 
15:45 Met with incoming and outgoing Ambassador in charge of Okinawa 
affairs Masui and Imai. 
16:00 Met with Okuda, chair of informal council on global warming, 
and Fukui, chair of the mid-term goal to cut greenhouse gas 
emissions, attended by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura. 
16:32 Met with Foreign Minister Nakasone, METI Minister Nikai, 
Environment Minister Saito, Kawamura; and Kusaka and Nishimura, 
advisors to the Cabinet Office. 
18:00 Held press conference. 
19:29 Visited the office of candidate for Tokyo Metropolitan 
Assembly election, located in Saikumachi. 
19:43 Visited the office of candidate for Tokyo election in 
Wakamatsucho. 
20:00 Met secretary at Japanese restraint Naniwa in Rihga Royal 
Hotel. 
21:32 Met secretary at Cellar Bar in Rihga Royal Hotel. 
23:02 Returned to his official residential quarter. 
 Back to Top 
 
4) Final agreement reached on sanctions against North Korea; 
Mandatory ship inspections not included; UNSC to adopt resolution 
 
TOKYO 00001311  003 OF 012 
 
 
tomorrow 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
June 11, 2009 
 
Takayasu Ogura, New York 
 
The five permanent UN Security Council (UNSC) members plus Japan and 
South Korea reached a final agreement on the morning of June 10, or 
night of June 10, Japan time, on the text of a resolution to impose 
additional sanctions on North Korea in response to its latest 
nuclear test. Russia accepted a revision plan formulated by the 
United States in compliance with China's request. As a result, the 
United States presented the draft resolution to the 15-member UNSC 
later in the day. The resolution is likely to be unanimously adopted 
as early as June 12. The group finally wrapped up two weeks of talks 
following the May 25 nuclear test. 
 
Japanese Ambassador to the UN Yukio Takasu said about the agreement: 
"It took longer than originally expected. The new resolution is 
quite different (severer sanctions) than Resolution 1718 that was 
adopted earlier." 
 
"Condemning strongly the nuclear test" as a violation of a UNSC 
resolution, the draft resolution specifies sanctions based on 
Article 41 (nonmilitary measures) of Chapter 7 (a threat to peace) 
of the UN Charter. 
 
The resolution also demands that North Korea must not conduct 
additional nuclear tests, while requiring it to stop conducting 
ballistic missile-related activities. 
 
Accepting China's demand, Japan and the United States also agreed on 
the expression "all UN members shall inspect" cargo to and from 
North Korea in their territories if they have reasonable grounds to 
believe that such cargo contains prohibited materials. 
 
Further, in the event a concerned country has reasonable grounds to 
believe a ship to North Korea carries prohibited materials on the 
high seas, the resolution also urges that country to inspect the 
cargo under consent from the country to which the ship belongs. In 
either case, ship inspections were not made mandatory, making 
concessions to China. 
 
Under Resolution 1718 adopted in response to the North's nuclear 
test in 2006, an arms embargo has been limited to large weaponry. 
The new resolution prohibits North Korea from exporting all arms and 
from importing all weapons except for small arms. 
 
The resolution also includes financial sanctions for the first time, 
urging the member countries to stop providing fresh loans and 
financial aid to North Korea except for development and humanitarian 
purposes that have impacts on the North Korean people. 
 
5) UNSC sanction resolution to place stronger pressure on DPRK; 
Japan, U.S. compromise to give priority to reaching agreement 
 
ASAHI (Page 9) (Abridged) 
June 11, 2009 
 
Kayo Matsushita, New York 
 
 
TOKYO 00001311  004 OF 012 
 
 
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Japan, 
and the ROK reached final agreement on June 10 on a new sanction 
resolution providing for stricter cargo inspection, additional 
financial sanctions, and expanded arms embargo, 17 days after North 
Korea conducted its second nuclear test. This represents an 
additional step in gradually increasing pressure on the DPRK, which 
has violated past UNSC resolutions. However, cargo inspection was 
not made mandatory due to China's fierce resistance. 
 
The inspection of cargo going to and from North Korea had remained 
the main sticking point up to the end. China opposed mandatory 
comprehensive inspection of cargo in each country's territorial 
land, sea, and air. It also demanded a stricter basis for conducting 
inspection - not just suspicion of carrying embargoed items but only 
when there is evidence thereof. 
 
The wording on cargo inspections was weakened from something member 
states "must undertake" - which makes them mandatory - to something 
they are "called upon" to do. The basis for such inspections was 
also changed to when they "have information" that the cargo contains 
embargoed items. This was in concession to China, in order to give 
priority to passing the resolution. Mandatory cargo inspection will 
now be deferred as in the case of the previous sanction resolution. 
 
With regard to financial sanctions, the provisions are not as 
specific as those referring to cargo inspection. The provisions on 
banning transactions with specific North Korean banks and on other 
targets of sanctions that Japan and the U.S. had wanted to include 
were discarded in the negotiation process. This is because China and 
Russia opposed them on grounds that they will "affect the livelihood 
of the North Korean people." 
 
While there are passages calling on member states not to provide 
financial services related to nuclear and missile programs, on 
preventing the transfer of assets, and on refraining from providing 
new aid and financial assistance other than for humanitarian and 
development purposes, their effectiveness will depend on 
implementation by the member states. The freezing of assets and the 
listing of individuals and organizations to be covered by the travel 
ban is left in the hands of the sanction committee. 
 
However, North Korea is certain to react strongly to the resolution. 
Even in the UNSC, few believe that the resolution will deter the 
DPRK from its provocative actions. 
 
6) U.S. gives consideration to China's reservations in two-week UNSC 
tug-of-war, with China valuing its connections with DPRK 
 
NIKKEI (Page 6) (Slightly abridged) 
June 11, 2009 
 
Hiroyuki Nakamae, New York 
 
Deliberations in the UN Security Council (UNSC) on a sanction 
resolution against North Korea came to a conclusion on June 9 after 
more than two weeks. All the players, including China and Russia, 
agreed to the adoption of a resolution from the beginning, but in 
the discussions on the specific provisions, China, which has close 
relations with the DPRK, expressed reservations that reflected its 
delicate position. While forging closer cooperation with Japan and 
the ROK, the U.S., which stood clearly for stronger pressures on 
North Korea, showed consideration for China, valuing its connections 
 
TOKYO 00001311  005 OF 012 
 
 
with the DPRK. 
 
Common sense of crisis at an early stage 
 
At the emergency meeting on May 25 held soon after North Korea's 
nuclear test, the UNSC had already agreed on adopting a resolution 
at an early stage. 
 
In particular, China and Russia, which have close historical ties to 
the DPRK and which had supported it so far in UNSC deliberations, 
made it clear that they shared the concern of Japan and the U.S. 
regarding the expansion of the nuclear and missile crisis. This led 
certain UN diplomatic sources to predict an early conclusion to the 
negotiations, that "the adoption of the resolution will take only a 
week or so." 
 
Conflict reemerges on the specifics 
 
However, when discussions came to the specific sanctions to be 
included in the resolution, differences between "Japan and the U.S. 
opting for pressure" and "China and Russia trying not to provoke 
North Korea excessively and cause it to go out of control" 
reemerged. Specifically, China resisted the passage in the 
resolution drafted by Japan and the U.S. authorizing mandatory ship 
inspection, which says: "Member states are authorized to employ all 
necessary means" to conduct such inspection. 
 
On the other hand, the United States asserted that, "We are not 
intending to continue a policy of rewarding provocation." (President 
Barack Obama) Announcing that it will impose its own financial 
sanctions in cooperation with Japan and the ROK and its intent to 
consider re-listing the DPRK as state sponsor of terrorism, the U.S. 
consistently adopted a policy of applying stronger pressure. 
 
U.S. gives priority to financial sanctions 
 
Rather than being stuck with the wording on ship inspection, which 
was strongly opposed by China, the U.S. chose not to weaken 
financial sanction measures, which are expected to be effective in 
pressuring North Korea. It is believed that it devoted its efforts 
to retaining the provisions on calling upon the member states to 
prevent fund transfers relating to nuclear and missile development, 
for instance. 
 
A UNSC resolution cannot be passed without the consent of China, a 
permanent member. With North Korea showing signs of firing a 
long-range missile after its nuclear test and the crisis continuing, 
the U.S. showed a certain measure of consideration to China, which 
can play a major role in making the DPRK resume international 
dialogue. 
 
7) Japanese government welcomes UNSC sanction agreement as "strong 
message to North Korea" 
 
TOKYO SHINBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
June 11, 2009 
 
By Koki Miura 
 
The Japanese government has welcomed the final agreement reached by 
the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council 
(UNSC), Japan and South Korea on a sanction resolution denouncing 
 
TOKYO 00001311  006 OF 012 
 
 
North Korea's recent nuclear test, with a senior Foreign Ministry 
official saying: "We can now send a strong message." 
 
Although mandatory inspections of cargo on ships that Japan and the 
United States had called for were forgone, the new sanction 
resolution allows UN member countries to conduct ship inspections on 
their own judgment. Therefore, the Japanese government takes the 
agreement as an improvement. 
 
There was a possibility that adopting the sanction resolution would 
be delayed if Japan and the United States dwelled on making cargo 
inspections obligatory, since China objected to such. There was also 
expectation that if Japan and the U.S. persisted on ship 
inspections, it would derail cooperation with China, which is a key 
player in dealing with North Korea issues. The Japanese government 
is pleased that the seven countries were able to resolve the issue 
in by smoothly reaching an agreement. The dominant view in the 
Foreign Ministry is that the new resolution will be able to give 
serious damage to North Korea through the cargo inspections and 
financial sanctions. 
 
With the implementation of cargo inspections in mind, the Japanese 
government and ruling parties will launch a study of establishing a 
new law. The government will also substantiate its own sanction 
measures, including an expansion of targets of total embargo with 
the North and financial sanctions. 
 
However, since North Korea has warned that it will launch a 
long-range ballistic missile if the UNSC adopts the resolution, 
Japan has found it necessary to prepare for any contingency. 
 
8) Japan to impose own sanctions on North Korea, including ban on 
all exports 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
June 11, 2009 
 
Naoyuki Inukai 
 
In light of the five permanent UN Security Council members plus 
Japan and the ROK agreeing on the resolution on additional sanctions 
against North Korea for its recent nuclear test, the government 
decided on June 10 to implement Japan's own additional sanctions, 
including a ban on all exports to the DPRK. 
 
The government has already banned all imports from the DPRK after 
its nuclear test in 2006, so the additional sanction will mean a ban 
on all trade with this country. However, the annual trade volume 
between the two sides is only approximately 800 million yen (in 
2008), so the sanction will only be mostly symbolic. 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) special committee on 
countermeasures on the abduction issue has recommended a ban on the 
reentry (of North Korean citizens) to the government. The government 
is considering applying this only to foreign residents in Japan who 
make false declaration of cash they take out of the country, who 
bring embargoed technology and goods into the DPRK, and who violate 
other laws. 
 
After North Korea fired its ballistic missile in April, Japan has 
imposed additional sanctions lowering the limit on the amount of 
cash that can be taken to the DPRK from 1 million to 300,000 yen and 
 
TOKYO 00001311  007 OF 012 
 
 
the amount of money transfer to the DPRK requiring reporting from 30 
to 10 million yen. Certain government officials say that, "Although 
North Korea may launch more ballistic missiles, Japan is running out 
of cards that it can play." 
 
9) Somalia waters: Troubled sea for antipiracy mission 
 
ASAHI (Page 38) (Abridged) 
June 11, 2009 
 
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has been on an overseas mission 
to defend Japanese ships against pirates in the Gulf of Aden off 
Somalia. In this connection, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, 
Transport and Tourism recently conducted a hearing survey of the 
Japanese Shipowners' Association. According to findings from the 
survey, a total of 72 ships were escorted by MSDF destroyers in the 
gulf during two months up to the end of May. Meanwhile, a total of 
210 ships passed through the gulf without being escorted. The MSDF 
is under various restrictions in its activities to escort commercial 
ships, and its destroyers there are having a hard time of it in its 
activities. 
 
The MSDF destroyers take four days to shuttle on an eastward- and 
westward-bound route of about 900 kilometers in the Gulf of Aden. 
Commercial ships for escorting are to gather and form a fleet at a 
meeting point at the appointed date and time, and they are then 
convoyed by the MSDF destroyers. There are two meeting points in the 
gulf, where the MSDF's escort starts once in four days. There are 
also circumstances on the side of commercial ships. An ocean liner 
service company official says: "Passenger ships have their 
itineraries that were set more than a year ago, and freighters have 
their contracts with cargo owners. That's why they cannot easily 
change their itineraries. Actually, it's difficult to meet the 
appointed date and time." Some Japanese ships follow a foreign naval 
convoy, according to this company. 
 
The transport ministry says a total of 2,100 Japanese ships, 
including Japan-linked ships, passed through the Gulf of Aden in 
¶2008. One way is a two-day itinerary, so the MSDF destroyers were 
supposed to escort nearly 12 ships on a one-way itinerary. However, 
they escorted 83 ships up to June 10. The one-way average is 3.2 
ships. The two MSDF destroyers have even escorted a single ship. 
 
The MSDF is allowed to escort Japanese and Japan-related ships only. 
However, its destroyers have ever rushed to six foreign ships in 
response to their radio calls for help. One case was a foreign ship 
being chased by a group of pirates at sea. In this case, the MSDF 
destroyers headed off to the scene and repelled the pirates with its 
search lights. In another case, a foreign ship came under attack 
from pirates and a destroyer-based helicopter rushed to the scene. 
 
10) Japan ratifies anticluster treaty 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Lead para.) 
Eve., June 10, 2009 
 
The opposition-controlled House of Councillors, in a plenary session 
this morning, unanimously approved the Convention on Cluster 
Munitions or the so-called Oslo Treaty, which prohibits its 
signatories from possessing and using cluster bombs, which cause 
civilian casualties. Japan has now ratified the anticluster treaty. 
Japan is the second major country to ratify the pact after Germany. 
 
TOKYO 00001311  008 OF 012 
 
 
Japan is expected to become the 10th country in the world to ratify 
it. This is the second time for Japan to ratify a disarmament treaty 
under the initiative of nongovernmental organizations or concerned 
countries since its 1998 ratification of a treaty banning 
antipersonnel landmines. With its early ratification of the pact, 
Japan has shown its strong will to the international community to 
aim for disarmament. In the years ahead, Japan is going to abolish 
cluster bombs and will also extend a helping hand to the victims of 
cluster bombs and do away with unexploded bombs. 
 
11) Premier announces emissions reduction target of 15 PERCENT  by 
2020 
 
NIKKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
June 11, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso during a press conference held at the Kantei 
on June 10 said that Japan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 
15 PERCENT  from the 2005 level or by 8 PERCENT  from the 1990 level 
as a mid-term target to be achieved by 2020. The figure excludes 
emissions quotas obtained from abroad. He also indicated policies 
needed to be adopted to attain the goal and the burden to be 
shouldered by household budgets. The set of policies include a 
20-fold increase in solar energy generation. It has also been 
estimated that financial burden per household will increase by more 
than 70,000 yen a year. The prime minister wants to take the 
initiative in future international talks, by setting a target figure 
topping those of the European Union (EU) and the U.S. in terms of 
comparison with the 2005 level. However, there is a probability that 
Japan may be asked in talks to further raise its target. 
 
Measures to curb global warming along with massive fiscal deficits 
and an increase in social security burden due to the declining 
birthrate will restrict economic activities in various sectors, such 
as the government, companies and household budgets, for the next few 
decades. The mid-term goal released by the prime minister will serve 
as Japan's basic stance in future international framework 
(post-Kyoto Protocol) talks. The envisaged figure will be formally 
proposed after the L'Aquila Summit in July and the 15th session of 
the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention 
(COP15) to be held in Copenhagen. 
 
The mid-term goal does not include emissions quotas Japan will 
obtain from abroad in return for cooperating other counties in their 
efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in the 
absorption of greenhouse gas emissions achieved by thorough control 
of forests, such as tree thinning. Japan will aim to achieve a 15 
PERCENT  emissions cut through domestic effort. 
 
The prime minister underscored that Japan's mid-term goal is very 
ambitious. He ruled out the possibility of setting a harsher 
emissions cut goal, noting, "The people would have to bear a heavier 
burden." 
 
12) Mid-term goal to cut emissions bound to affect family budgets: 
Financial burden to increase by 80,000 yen by 2020, according to 
government estimate 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
June 11, 2009 
 
Achieving a 15 PERCENT  greenhouse gas emissions cut in comparison 
 
TOKYO 00001311  009 OF 012 
 
 
with the 2005 level or 8 PERCENT , compared with the 1990 level, 
mandates companies and individuals to make maximum efforts, 
including replacing equipment with advanced energy-saving types. 
Chances are utility rates might be raised with power companies 
increasing nuclear power plants, which emit relative less greenhouse 
gas emissions. This would directly affect household budgets. 
 
Now that the mid-term goal has been set, industrial circles will 
start revising their action programs that had been mapped out based 
on the Kyoto Protocol. The burden of investment to be shouldered by 
companies, such as the cost of introducing state-of-the-art 
equipment, will likely increase. Moves to cut wages and jobs could 
accelerate. An increase in the burden of household budgets, such as 
an increase in electricity rates, is likely. 
 
According to government estimate, the burden of a standard household 
with disposal income of 4.8 million yen (determined by deducting 
expenditures, such as taxes and social insurance premiums, from 
total income) and utility charges of about 170,000 yen a year will 
increase by roughly 80,000 yen, in comparison with a case in which 
no measures to cut emissions were taken. This is because their 
disposal income will drop about 453,000 yen, and annual utility 
charges will rise about 33,000 yen. 
 
Further, the government cited increasing solar energy generation by 
20-fold, compared with the 2005 level, by 2020 as a precondition for 
achieving the target. It wants to cut emissions by 25 PERCENT , in 
comparison with the 2005 level through boosted tax breaks and the 
introduction of a subsidy system for replacements of existing 
equipment with energy-saving types, in addition to power saving and 
Cool Biz, which households are already tackling. 
 
However, according to a survey conducted by the Cabinet Office in 
May this year, more than 80 PERCENT  of respondents said that an 
increase in household burden that can be accepted for the 
realization of a low carbon society is less than 24,000 yen. Only 
2.2 PERCENT  chose more than 60,000 yen a year. To what extent 
people will press ahead with environment measures remains to be 
seen. 
 
13) Experts voice concern about Japan's midterm gas emissions cut 
target, fearing it will not help stop global warming 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
June 11, 2009 
 
Environmental groups' members and researchers have voiced concerns 
about the new target Japan has set for its own efforts to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions. They fear that Japan's target could make 
it difficult for countries to reach an agreement on a new 
international framework to fight global warming beyond the Kyoto 
Protocol's expiration in December of this year and result in 
hindering efforts to avoid possible damage. There is also an 
estimate that global warming could cause more than 11 trillion in 
additional damage to Japan from floods and other natural disasters 
annually by the end of the 21st century even if the goal of halving 
worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as agreed on among 
industrialized countries, is attained. This shows the grim reality 
that Japan will unavoidably suffer damage even if it takes 
countermeasures. 
 
Japan set the new target based on the fourth report of the UN 
 
TOKYO 00001311  010 OF 012 
 
 
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report noted 
that the rate of increase of temperature should be contained to less 
than 2 degrees in order to minimize damage caused by global warming. 
In the Hokkaido Toyako Summit last year, the Group of Eight 
countries agreed on the target of halving gas emissions worldwide by 
¶2050. 
 
However, a report compiled by the National Institute for 
Environmental Studies and other research institutes predicts that 
even if the 50 PERCENT -cut target is attained, Japan would suffer 
damage worth 5.1 trillion yen from floods, 650 billion yen from 
landslides, 5.4 trillion yen from sand beach erosion caused by 
rising seas. The total cost to the nation could reach 11.4 trillion 
yen. The report also estimates that global warming could erode 29 
PERCENT  of sand beach across the nation and increase the risk of 
dying from heat stroke by 2.1 times. 
 
National institute chief researcher Yasuaki Hijioka said: 
 
"The focus in the midterm target is on expenditures for 
countermeasures, but the nation will unavoidably have to pay huge 
expenses for damage in the future. Since even Japan, which has 
prepared disaster damage-prevention measures, is expected to suffer 
major damage, island countries will suffer far more damage." 
 
Climate Network President Mie Asaoka commented: 
 
"Japan's target does not respond to a scientific call for containing 
the rate of increase of temperature to less than 2 degrees. The 
target is to press developing countries to achieve a severe goal. It 
will inevitably not only delay international negotiations but will 
not be accepted by other countries, either. The government should 
consider possible damage to developing countries more seriously." 
 
14) Ruling party members eyeing election raise objection to 
estimated 12 PERCENT  consumption tax hike, social security spending 
cut 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
June 11, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito launched a 
discussion yesterday on the draft of the government's annual 
economic and fiscal policy guidelines presented by the Council on 
Economic and Fiscal Policy. But objections erupted in response to a 
proposal in the draft for cutting social security spending and the 
Cabinet Office's estimate for raising the consumption tax. The 
government plans to adopt the guidelines for 2009 on June 23, but 
since the contents of the guidelines will be reflected in their 
manifestos, coordination between the government and the ruling 
parties is expected to be difficult. 
 
In a plenary meeting of the LDP Policy Research Council yesterday, 
Hidehisa Otsugi, chairman of the LDP Caucus in the House of 
Councillors, demanded a proposal for curbing social security 
expenses be dropped, snapping at senior members of the council: "The 
party will be unable to fight under this slogan. Delete this part 
here." 
 
The guidelines for 2009 can be interpreted to mean that the 
government will adopt the policy of curbing social security spending 
in the fiscal 2010 budget, following the guidelines for 2006, which 
 
TOKYO 00001311  011 OF 012 
 
 
introduced a measure to trim the annual growth of such spending to 
220 billion yen during the period between 2007 and 2011. But Otsuji 
and other party lawmakers representing the interests of the health 
and welfare industries fiercely reacted to this policy. They 
complained that the policy will inevitably evoke angry reactions 
from the Japan Medical Association and other groups and eventually 
undermine the party's foothold. 
 
Policy Research Council Deputy Chairman Hiroyuki Sonoda tried to 
appease Otsuji, saying: "Abandoning one criterion will have a 
negative impact on the party," focusing on the need to underscore 
the difference between the LDP and the Democratic Party of Japan, 
which has been criticized for a lack of specifics on how to secure 
funds for its specific policy measures. But Koichiro Shimizu, a 
House of Representatives member, said: "The persons concerned are 
allergic (to reducing social security spending)." Other members also 
presented similar views. 
 
A host of complaints were also voiced yesterday on the Cabinet 
Office's report pointing out the need to raise the consumption tax 
to 12 PERCENT . Hakuo Yanagisawa, chairman of a subcommittee of the 
party's Tax System Research Commission remarked: "They can make such 
a suggestion because they are not involved in elections." Also in a 
plenary meeting of the New Komeito's Policy Research Council, views 
urging caution were presented in succession. One claimed: "It is 
irresponsible to present an estimate for hiking the consumption tax 
before the details of expenditure reform are worked out." Another 
asserted, "Although the consumption tax should be raised in order to 
stabilize social security, the purpose has been shifted to restoring 
fiscal conditions." 
 
15) Third-party panel for DPJ has doubts about prosecutors' 
investigation of Nishimatsu scandal, faults Ozawa's explanation as 
insufficient 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 11, 2009 
 
A third-party panel of experts, headed by Jun Ito, a professor at 
the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, which the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) set up, released a report 
yesterday. The panel was set up to examine how prosecutors had 
investigated the illegal donation scandal involving Nishimatsu 
Construction Co. With regard to the investigations by prosecutors 
who arrested and indicted the state-funded secretary of former DPJ 
President Ichiro Ozawa, the report emphasizes: "There are a number 
of skeptical points." Regarding Ozawa's accountability, it points 
out that Ozawa's explanations about how the political funds were 
insufficient. 
 
The panel was launched on April 11. It held 12 hearing sessions, 
including closed-door sessions, from Ozawa and experts. 
 
In regard to how the prosecutors investigated and built the case as 
the violation of the Political Funds Control Law, the report 
questions: 1) whether the donations were really illegal, 2) whether 
the case was truly serious and pernicious, and 3) whether there was 
unfairness in the treatment of Ozawa compared to lawmakers of the 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The report underscores that 
the prosecutors assume responsibility in explaining their 
investigations which had a significant political bearing that led 
the resignation of the leader of the largest opposition party at a 
 
TOKYO 00001311  012 OF 012 
 
 
time when the next House of Representatives election was looming. 
 
Meanwhile, concerning Ozawa's accountability, the report only says 
that he should have provided a better explanation about how the 
political funds were used. 
 
Regarding the DPJ's handling of the issue, the panel's experts 
analyzes that the party was unable to separate Ozawa's position as a 
politician involving the case and his position as its leader and it 
dealt with the issue under such circumstances. The report then 
writes that the DPJ failed to manage the crisis. Secretary General 
Katsuya Okada told reporters at a Tokyo hotel: "We will figure out 
what we did wrong as a party and correct what should be corrected 
after examining the report carefully." 
 
ZUMWALT