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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002184 
 
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 09/18/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Opinion polls 
4) Asahi: 71 PERCENT  approve of Hatoyama cabinet; rating is tied 
for second highest in history  (Asahi) 
5) Nikkei: 75 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet  (Nikkei) 
6) Kyodo: 72 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet; largest number of 
respondents cite hopes for political reform  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
7) Mainichi: 77 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet  (Mainichi) 
8) Yomiuri: 75 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet; 49 PERCENT  give 
coalition high marks  (Yomiuri) 
 
Foreign Relations 
9) Prime Minister eager for progress in Northern Territories issue 
(Nikkei) 
10) Daniel Okimoto, adviser to U.S. Ambassador, calls for building a 
practical friendship between Japan and U.S.  (Asahi) 
 
Futenma Relocation 
11) Defense Minister to ask Okinawa Governor's opinion about Futenma 
relocation issue  (Yomiuri) 
12) Defense Minister Kitazawa: Difficult to relocate Futenma 
facility outside Okinawa  (Asahi) 
13) Foreign Minister Okada: A decision on Futenma will be made this 
year  (Sankei) 
14) Pentagon planning shorter Futenma replacement runway  (Yomiuri) 
 
 
Defense & Security 
15) U.S. Defense Secretary to visit Japan on Oct. 20  (Yomiuri) 
16) Okada aims for redefinition of Japan-U.S. alliance by next 
summer's Upper House election  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
17) Defense Minister Kitazawa indicates he does not recognize the 
right to collective self-defense  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Refueling Mission 
18) Defense Minister says refueling mission gets low marks  (Nikkei) 
 
19) Defense Minister: "Refueling mission will not be extended" 
(Mainichi) 
20) U.S. prepared to accept end of refueling mission on condition 
Japan increases aid to Afghanistan  (Mainichi) 
 
Economy 
21) METI Minister shows a willingness to reduce emissions 25 PERCENT 
 below the1990 level  (Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Infrastructure minister reveals plan to review 143 dam projects 
 
Mainichi: 
Public approval rating for Hatoyama cabinet reaches 77 percent 
according to Mainichi poll 
 
Yomiuri: 
 
TOKYO 00002184  002 OF 010 
 
 
Support rate for Hatoyama cabinet at 75 percent in Yomiuri poll 
 
Nikkei: 
Government to look into reorganizing public medical insurance system 
into regional insurance systems, scrapping medical service system 
for elderly people aged 75 or older 
 
Sankei: 
New administration to reform Japanese systems: Ability to implement 
policy measures to be put to test 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
State strategy office will not be involved in recompilation of 
supplementary budget adopted during Aso cabinet 
 
Akahata: 
Foreign minister orders investigation into Japan-U.S. secret pacts 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) New administration should demonstrate competence in implementing 
its policy of discontinuing Yamba Dam construction 
(2) Climate change summit: Environmental diplomacy that will 
influence world urged 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Investigation into Japan-U.S. secret pacts: Take advantage of 
change in government 
(2) Challenges to Hatoyama administration: Budget fund reallocations 
should be carried out boldly and speedily 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Ban on vice ministerial press conferences: Hasn't the DPJ got 
the wrong idea about politician-led politics? 
(2) Falling land prices: Implement policy to halt plunge 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Mr. Kamei, please consider extending financial assistance to 
companies in a cool-headed manner 
(2) Continue tax breaks, taking falling land prices into account 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Ban on vice ministerial press conferences: Concern over 
information control 
(2) Foreign minister's statement of nuclear weapons shows he lacks 
perception of reality 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Ban on vice ministerial press conferences: Do not stop 
information disclosure 
(2) Unidentified pension accounts: Municipalities should cooperate 
to resolve issue 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Number of children waiting to be admitted to day care centers 
reaches 25,000: Take full-fledged measures to settle issue 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 17 
 
 
TOKYO 00002184  003 OF 010 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 18, 2009 
 
09:31 Met with Japanese Trade Union Confederation President Tsuyoshi 
Takagi and others at the Kantei. Health, Labor and Welfare Minister 
Nagatsuma and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano were also present at 
the meeting. 
12:04 Met deputy chief cabinet secretaries Matsuno and Matsui, and 
others. 
13:08 Met Hirano and Lower House member Ritsuo Hosokawa. 
15:44 Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
16:15 Met Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka. 
17:00 Held a telephone conversation with Russian President 
Medvedev. 
17:33 Met State Minister for National Strategy Bureau Kan, Finance 
Minister Fujii, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano, and State Minister 
for Administrative Reform Council Sengoku. Kan, Fujii, and Sengoku 
stayed behind. 
18:10 Met Sengoku. 
20:30 Arrived at his private residence in Denenchofu. 
21:06 Dined with his wife at a sushi restaurant in Jiyugaoka. 
22:31 Arrived his private residence. 
 
4) Poll: 71 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 18, 2009 
 
The public approval rating for Prime Minister Hatoyama's cabinet 
reached 71 PERCENT  in a telephone-based spot nationwide public 
opinion survey conducted by the Asahi Shimbun in the wake of the 
administration's inauguration. The disapproval rating was 14 PERCENT 
. The Hatoyama cabinet's approval rating upon its debut - though 
below the inaugural 78 PERCENT  rating for the Koizumi cabinet (in 
April 2001) - ranked second among its predecessors, paralleling the 
71 PERCENT  rating for the Hosokawa cabinet upon its inauguration 
(in a face-to-face poll conducted in September 1993) that came into 
office as a non-Liberal Democratic Party government. 
 
In response to a question in the survey about Japan-U.S. relations, 
71 PERCENT  of respondents answered that Japan-U.S. relations would 
"remain unchanged," with 14 PERCENT  saying that relations between 
the two countries would "worsen." Concern over the negative impact 
of Prime Minister Hatoyama advocating building "an equal 
relationship between Japan and the United States" does not seem to 
have spread among the public. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the 
Democratic Party of Japan stood at 46 PERCENT , with the LDP at 15 
PERCENT . The DPJ's support rate hit an all-time high, way above the 
39 PERCENT  rating in the last survey conducted Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. 
It topped even the LDP's one-time record high of 43 PERCENT , which 
was marked in September 2005 when the Koizumi cabinet was in office, 
and is on a par with the LDP's support rate between the 1980s and 
the early 1990s when the LDP's single-party government was in 
office. The LDP's support rate hit its lowest level since its 
founding in 1955. 
 
5) Poll: Hatoyama cabinet's support rate at 75 PERCENT 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 18, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00002184  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
In the wake of the Hatoyama cabinet's inauguration, the Nihon Keizai 
Shimbun and TV Tokyo jointly conducted a spot public opinion survey 
on Sept. 16-17. In the survey, the public approval rating for Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama's cabinet reached 75 PERCENT . This rating 
for the Hatoyama cabinet is the second highest inaugural rating, 
ranking second to the Koizumi cabinet's 80 PERCENT  rating upon its 
inauguration in April 2001. The disapproval rating was 17 PERCENT . 
The rate of public support for the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
reached an all-time high of 58 PERCENT .The figure shows the 
public's high expectations for the DPJ, which has upheld such 
campaign slogans as "breaking away from the bureaucracy's lead." The 
Liberal Democratic Party's support rate plummeted from 29 PERCENT 
in August to 22 PERCENT . 
 
6) Poll: 72 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUM (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 18, 2009 
 
The public approval rating for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his 
cabinet, which made its debut on Sept. 16, reached 72.0 PERCENT  in 
a telephone-based spot nationwide public opinion survey conducted by 
Kyodo News on Sept. 16-17, the third highest inaugural rating next 
to the Koizumi and Hosokawa cabinets since the Miyazawa cabinet. 
Meanwhile, the rate of public support for the Democratic Party of 
Japan also rose 6.5 points from the last poll and hit an all-time 
high of 47.6 PERCENT . The disapproval rating was 13.1 PERCENT . 
 
7) Poll: 77 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
September 18, 2009 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a spot nationwide public opinion 
survey on Sept. 16-17 in the wake of the Hatoyama cabinet's 
inauguration. The Hatoyama cabinet's support rate was 77 PERCENT 
upon its debut. Its inaugural rating is the second highest, ranking 
next to the Koizumi cabinet's 85 PERCENT  rating in April 2001. It 
topped even the 75 PERCENT  rating for the Hosokawa cabinet in 
August 1993, which came into office as a non-Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) government. The rate of public support for the 
now-ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) also hit an all-time high 
of 45 PERCENT , up 6 points from the last survey conducted Aug. 
26-27 before the Aug. 30 general election for the House of 
Representatives. Meanwhile, the LDP dropped to an all-time low of 12 
PERCENT , down 8 points from the last survey. 
 
8) Poll: 75 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) 
September 18, 2009 
 
Following the Hatoyama cabinet's inauguration, the Yomiuri Shimbun 
conducted a telephone-based spot public opinion survey across the 
nation from the evening of Sept. 16 through Sept. 17. The new 
cabinet's support rate reached 75 PERCENT , with its nonsupport rate 
at 17 PERCENT . This rating for the Hatoyama cabinet is the second 
highest inaugural rating (since the Ohira cabinet that came into 
office in 1978), ranking second to the 87 PERCENT  for the Koizumi 
cabinet. Among reasons given for supporting the Hatoyama cabinet, 
"something can be expected of its policy measures" accounted for 29 
 
TOKYO 00002184  005 OF 010 
 
 
PERCENT , "because it's a non- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
government" at 25 PERCENT , and "it's going to make policy decisions 
under its political initiative" at 24 PERCENT . The public's 
expectations for a switchover from the LDP's politics seem to have 
led to the high approval rating. 
 
The public's expectations for change appeared in the popularity 
ratings for political parties as well. The now-ruling Democratic 
Party of Japan scored an all-time high of 51 PERCENT , up 4 points 
from 47 PERCENT  in the last survey conducted from Aug. 31 through 
Sept. 1, right after the Aug. 30 general election for the House of 
Representatives. Support for the LDP fell from 24 PERCENT  in the 
last survey to 19 PERCENT . 
 
9) Prime Minister Hatoyama eager for progress in Northern 
Territories issue 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 18, 2009 
 
Yesterday Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama held with Russian President 
Dmitry Medvedev a telephone conversation in which the two leaders 
agreed to hold their first meeting when they visit the United States 
to attend the United Nations General Assembly in late September and 
other international conferences. Responding to questions by 
reporters, Hatoyama said, "It is impossible to realize progress in 
the territorial issues in the absence of a relationship of trust 
(between us)," expressing his willingness to build a relationship of 
mutual trust with the Russian leader to achieve early progress on 
the territorial issue. 
 
Medvedev telephoned Hatoyama. It was Hatoyama's first teleconference 
with a top foreign leader since he took office. 
 
10) Advisor to U.S. Ambassador to Japan delivers speech: Urges 
development of friendly working relationship with U.S. 
 
ASAHI (Page 11) (Excerpts) 
September 18, 2009 
 
Daniel Okimoto, professor emeritus at Stanford University, who is 
known as an advisor to U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos on Japan 
policy, on September 17 gave a speech in Tokyo. Referring to the 
launch of the new Hatoyama administration, the professor stressed 
the importance of the alliance relationship between Japan and the 
U.S. He then urged Prime Minister Hatoyama to build a personal 
relationship of trust with the U.S. leader, saying, "President Obama 
has an enormous influence on the world. It is essential for the 
prime minister to build a friendly working relationship with him." 
 
Okimoto delivered the speech at a lecture meeting titled, "The Obama 
administration and Japan-U.S. relations," hosted by the Asahi 
Shimbun. In his speech, he pointed out that while the power of the 
U.S. has been weakened because of the financial crisis last year, 
new powers such as China and India have emerged. He then stressed 
the need for Japan and the U.S., which share common problems such as 
massive fiscal deficits and high unemployment rates, to cooperate. 
 
Okimoto also pointed out that it is important for the two countries 
to continue to cooperate on such issues as measures to curb global 
warming and stabilize the financial system. Concerning such fields 
as medical services, health care areas, and clean technology, the 
 
TOKYO 00002184  006 OF 010 
 
 
professor said that this a good opportunity for Japan and the U.S. 
to create a constructive relationship. 
 
11) Defense minister to hear Okinawa governor's views on Futenma 
relocation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 18, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa revealed at a press conference 
yesterday afternoon that he intends to visit Okinawa in late 
September to hear the views of the Okinawa governor and other 
officials on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station (Ginowan City). 
 
12) Defense Minister Kitazawa: Relocating Futenma Air Station 
outside Okinawa will be difficult 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 18, 2009 
 
In a press conference yesterday, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa 
said: "It will be considerably difficult to transfer the U.S. Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa outside the prefecture or 
outside the nation." The Democratic Party of Japan proposed 
relocating the Futenma facility outside Okinawa in its report, 
"Okinawa vision," released in 2008. He then revealed his plan to 
visit Okinawa possibly later this month to hear the views of 
concerned local residents and communities. 
 
Kitazawa also indicated his intention of continuing the government's 
environmental impact assessment of the candidate construction site 
for the Futenma replacement facility. Regarding the expenses 
included in the Defense Ministry's fiscal 2010 budget request for 
transferring U.S. Marines in Okinawa to Guam, as well, Kitazawa took 
a negative view about the proposed freezing of the current U.S. 
forces realignment plan. He said, "Considering the importance of 
continuity in foreign policy and of the Japan-U.S. security 
alliance, as well as the need to run the administration in a 
practical way, I would like to discuss the issue with other relevant 
cabinet ministers." Furthermore, he indicated his intention to have 
Maritime Self-Defense Force troops' activities continue to combat 
pirates in waters off Somalia for the time being, saying: "The 
international community has evaluated the activities highly, so I 
would like to watch the situation for a while." 
 
13) Okada indicates hopes of reaching conclusion by year's end on 
Futenma issue, discussing with U.S. "no-first-use of nuclear 
weapons" 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 19, 2009 
 
In an interview with the media, including the Sankei Shimbun, 
yesterday, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada indicated his hope of 
reaching a conclusion on whether or not to review the plan agreed on 
between Japan and the U.S. on realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, 
including the planned transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station in Okinawa. He said: "Once the environmental impact 
assessment is completed, it will become necessary to create a budget 
for the plan. This means that the government should make a decision 
by the end of the year." 
 
TOKYO 00002184  007 OF 010 
 
 
 
Okada also indicated that the government would start discussing a 
redefinition of the Japan-U.S. security arrangements if Futenma and 
other issues outstanding between Japan and the U.S. are settled. He 
said: "This idea is based on the assumption that various issues are 
resolved. I hope that (Japan and the U.S.) will be able to set a 
certain direction to establish a relationship of trust." Next year 
marks the 50th anniversary of the revision of the Japan-U.S. 
Security Treaty. 
 
On whether to call on the U.S. to adopt a policy of no-first-use of 
nuclear weapons, Okada made this comment: 
 
"The idea of launching a preemptive attack with inhumane weapons is 
beyond my comprehension. It is also beyond my understanding that the 
same person (who condones this idea) is calling for abolishing 
nuclear weapons and arms reduction. I would like to listen to the 
opinions of the administrative officials concerned and discuss the 
issue with them." 
 
14) Pentagon plans to shorten the Futenma replacement runways by 380 
meters 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 18, 2009 
 
Satoshi Ogawa, Washington 
 
It has become clear that the U.S. Department of Defense has begun 
coordination to shorten the length of the runways of a facility 
replacing the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, to be built on 
Camp Schwab in Nago, by 380 meters from 1,600 meters to 1,220 
meters. The overall length of the replacement facility will be 
unchanged at 1,800 meters. Although the U.S. government has 
consistently denied the possibility of reviewing the U.S. force 
realignment roadmap, agreed upon between Tokyo and Washington 2006, 
this will effectively be a change to the plan. The step is also 
likely to impact talks with the Hatoyama administration, which is 
seeking a reexamination of the relocation plan. 
 
U.S. Pacific Command Commander Admiral Timothy Keating delivered a 
speech in Washington on Sept. 15 in which he indicated that the 
replacement facility runways will be 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) long. 
The step is in response to a call for flight safety by the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, adopted by the U.S. 
House of Representatives. 
 
15) U.S. defense secretary to visit Japan on Oct. 20 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 18, 2009 
 
It has been decided that U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will 
visit Japan on Oct. 20-21. He will hold talks for the first time 
with Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa to discuss such pending 
bilateral security issues as the realignment of U.S. forces in 
Japan. Coordination is also underway for Gates to meet with Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada. 
 
16) Okada eyes redefinition of Japan-U.S. alliance by Upper House 
election next summer 
 
 
TOKYO 00002184  008 OF 010 
 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 18, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said yesterday that the government 
would consider redefining the Japan-U.S. alliance before the House 
of Councillors election next summer in order to establish equal 
Japan-U.S. relations. His party - the Democratic Party of Japan - 
called for an equal partnership in its manifesto for the latest 
House of Representatives election. 
 
In an interview with the media, including the Tokyo Shimbun, Okada 
cited the following four issues as those that should be tackled 
during the first 100 days after the launch of the new government: 
(1) Alleged secret pacts between Japan and the U.S. on the handling 
of nuclear weapons and the return of Okinawa to Japan; (2) the 
planned transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in 
Okinawa; (3) alternative assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan to 
the ongoing Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean; and (4) global warming. 
 
Okada then said regarding the proposed redefinition of the 
Japan-U.S. alliance: "It is conceivable that the government will 
redefine the Japan-U.S. alliance in the 300 days between now and the 
Upper House election on the assumption that various issues will be 
smoothly resolved." 
 
He also expressed his hope to reach a conclusion by the end of this 
year on whether or not to relocate Futenma Air Station. 
 
17) Defense minister does not approve of exercise of right to 
collective self-defense 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 18, 2009 
 
The government's council to discuss security and defense capability 
is calling on the government to enable the exercise of the right to 
collective self-defense. Touching on this request, Defense Minister 
Toshimi Kitazawa at a press conference on September 17 stressed his 
stance of not approving of the exercise of the right, saying, 
"Domestic views are generally in agreement with the policy of not 
exercising this right. It is not productive to expend energy on this 
issue." Also referring to the panel's proposal for reviewing the 
nation's exclusively defense-oriented policy, Kitazawa said, "It is 
not necessary to review this policy." 
 
18) Defense minister says, "Appraisal of Japan's refueling operation 
is low" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 9, 2009 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operations in the Indian 
Ocean will expire in January next year. Defense Minister Toshimi 
Kitazawa at a press conference on September 17 categorically said 
that once the deadlines passes, there will be no extension, because 
appraisal of the refueling operation has been low. Speaking of the 
dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Afghanistan, he noted, 
"The current situation in that nation appears to be very dangerous. 
It would be fairly difficult to dispatch personnel for humanitarian 
purposes. We have to be careful." 
 
 
TOKYO 00002184  009 OF 010 
 
 
19) Defense minister determined not to extend the refueling mission 
and to "look squarely at reality" regarding Futenma 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
Evening, September 17, 2009 
 
After midnight Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa held his inaugural 
news conference in which he indicated that in accordance with his 
party's basic thinking, he will not extend the Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law authorizing the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The law will expire next 
January. Kitazawa announced a plan to withdraw the MSDF without 
extending the law authorizing the refueling mission. The new defense 
minister also indicated that the government will consider new 
support measures for Afghanistan. "It is not a subject for (the 
Defense Ministry) to deal with independently," he said. "The 
government will thoroughly discuss it." 
 
He also suggested that he will not necessarily adhere to a plan to 
relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station outside Okinawa 
or Japan. "I want to discuss measures by looking squarely at 
reality," he commented. He further expressed a plan to visit Okinawa 
soon to exchange views with Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and others. 
 
20) U.S. to accept termination of MSDF refueling mission on 
condition of enhanced assistance for Afghanistan 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
Evening, September 17, 2009 
 
Yoso Furumoto, Washington 
 
The U.S. government decided on Sept. 16 that if the Hatoyama 
administration formally decides to terminate the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, 
it will accept the decision on the condition of Japan's enhanced 
assistance for Afghanistan, according to a U.S. government source. 
 
There were strong expectations for the continuation of the MSDF's 
refueling services for the multinational forces interdicting 
terrorist activities in the Indian Ocean. Department of Defense 
spokesman Geoff Morrell has said that the United States and the 
world have greatly benefitted from the MSDF mission. 
 
Nevertheless, Yukio Hatoyama made clear before becoming prime 
minister that his administration will not extend the law authorizing 
the MSDF mission beyond its expiry next January. Further, the 
Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, and the 
People's New Party, the ruling parties, have also confirmed their 
policy to terminate the refueling mission. These indications have 
led the U.S. government to conclude that the MSDF pullout is 
inevitable. Washington has also decided to avoid taking any steps 
that might sour its relations with Tokyo over the matter. 
 
Support for Afghanistan is a top priority for the U.S. government. 
U.S. military authorities are considering sending additional troops 
to that country. The U.S. government is concerned about the possible 
impact of the decision by its ally Japan on the international 
community. 
 
"Simply pulling out (the MSDF) is tantamount to the abandonment of 
its international responsibility," a U.S. government source said. If 
 
TOKYO 00002184  010 OF 010 
 
 
Japan decides to end its refueling mission, the U.S. government 
intends to ask Japan to come up with a new form of assistance for 
Afghanistan. 
 
21) METI minister eager to achieve 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas 
emissions 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpt) 
September 18, 2009 
 
Economy Trade and Industry Minister (METI) Masayuki Naoshima in an 
inaugural press conference held early on the morning of September 17 
said, "There could be a rise in costs. I must have our policy 
understood in order to strike a balance between environmental 
(measures) and the economy." He thus indicated a desire to achieve 
the Democratic Party of Japan's goal of cutting greenhouse gas 
emissions by 25 percent by 2020, compared with the 1990 level." 
 
ROOS