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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002226 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/23/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Editorial: Climate change summit; Expectations on U.S. 
displaying leadership (Mainichi) 
 
(2) Prime minister announces 25 percent emissions cut with political 
leadership in mind: Priority placed on sending messages, instead of 
coming up with specific measures (Nikkei) 
 
(3) Editorial: Foreign ministerial talks mark shift from blind 
obedience to equality (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(4) Editorial: Scrapping of Eastern European MD plan; Also move 
forward with U.S., Russian nuclear disarmament (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(5) Editorial: Eastern European MD and nuclear arms: Implement bold 
"Obama disarmament" (Mainichi) 
 
(6) Editorial: Eastern Europe MD plan to be terminated; Will it help 
improve U.S.-Russia relations? (Yomiuri) 
 
(7) Japanese government has yet to disclose radiation-monitoring 
report of U.S. nuclear vessels (Akahata) 
 
(8) Nago mayor worried about rough sailing in USFJ realignment talks 
after Okada-Clinton meeting (Okinawa Times) 
 
(9) Editorial: The U.S. and China should not sow the seeds of 
protectionism (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: Climate change summit; Expectations on U.S. 
displaying leadership 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 22, 2009 
 
The international paradigm concerning measures to curb global 
warming has completely changed from a year ago. 
 
The Bush administration had been negative toward taking measures (to 
curb global warming). However, the Obama administration, which 
succeeded it, has displayed a positive stance. In Japan, too, Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama of the newly launched Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) administration has categorically pledged to cut 
greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below the 1990 level by 
¶2020. 
 
The high-level meeting on climate change hosted by the UN (the 
climate change summit) is to be held in New York on the 22nd with 
the participation of both President Obama and Prime Minister 
Hatoyama. The conference is the Hatoyama administration's debut in 
environmental diplomacy. 
 
The 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate 
Change Convention (COP15) is to establish a framework to replace the 
Kyoto Protocol, set to expire in 2012. Although industrialized 
countries and developing countries have held talks on emission cuts, 
they have been unable to bridge their differences. The degree to 
which they can reach agreement is of concern. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002226  002 OF 010 
 
 
Against this background the Hatoyama administration has announced a 
target of slashing emissions to 25 percent below the 1990 level. 
Some domestic industry circles strongly oppose the plan, while 
foreign countries have lauded it. We want the Hatoyama 
administration to proactively use the attention paid by the 
international community in promoting international talks. 
 
The U.S. and China are the world's largest emitters of greenhouse 
gases, responsible for 40 percent of the globe's carbon dioxide 
emissions. So the prevention of climate change depends upon them. 
 
In June of this year the House of Representatives in the U.S. 
Congress adopted by a narrow margin the American Clean Energy and 
Security Act authored by Congressmen Waxman and Markey. The 
legislation stipulates a 20 percent cut in U.S. greenhouse gas 
emissions below the 2005 level by 2020. This is a step further than 
Obama's previous goal. 
 
The bill incorporates an emissions trading system to realize 
emission cuts. It mandates the power industry to use recyclable 
energy sources such as sunlight and wind power for 15 percent of its 
energy needs by 2020. Obama aims to create jobs in the recyclable 
energy-industry, which he hopes will spur economic growth. 
 
The U.S. and China have continued to take a stance of not cutting 
emissions before the other does. Whether the bill will be adopted by 
the Senate is unclear. However, we hope Obama takes the initiative 
on the matter. 
 
Prime Minister Hatoyama has premised the 25 percent target on all 
key emitters agreeing to adopt ambitious goals. We want him to draw 
up a strategy to get not only the U.S. and China but also major 
emerging countries, such as India and Brazil, to participate in the 
initiative proactively. It is necessary to devise a mechanism for 
allowing (industrialized countries) to help developing countries in 
their efforts to cut emissions and count the results as part of 
their own cuts. 
 
(2) Prime minister announces 25 percent emissions cut with political 
leadership in mind: Priority placed on sending messages, instead of 
coming up with specific measures 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 23, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the high-level meeting on climate 
change hosted by the UN (climate change summit) announced Japan's 
mid-term goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 
2020, compared with the 1990 level. It was the first message to 
impress on audiences both at home and abroad that a power transfer 
has taken place in Japan. In his speech, Hatoyama displayed his 
strong awareness of political initiative, a switch from the previous 
diplomatic style based on bureaucrat-led coordination of views that 
has continued for a long period of time. The strict mid-term goal 
will present a high barrier when the government coordinates its 
views with industrial circles and major countries, such as the U.S. 
and China. 
 
Prime minister's speech added to agenda just in time 
 
When the prime minister began to mention the mid-term goal in the 
speech given at the UN Headquarters, the audience applauded him. The 
 
TOKYO 00002226  003 OF 010 
 
 
international community responded coolly to the previous Aso 
administration's 15 percent cut in comparison with the 2005 level. 
All the more for that reason, a government negotiator proudly said, 
"Japan has never had a goal that attracted attention like this." 
 
In stark contrast to former Prime Minister Taro Aso, who announced 
the mid-term goal that was set based on the preparations made by the 
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Environment Ministry 
over a period of one year, Hatoyama insisted that politicians should 
take the initiative. The prime minister's speeches given on the 7th 
and the 22nd are believed to have been prepared by lawmakers, such 
as Senior Vice Foreign Minister Tesoro Fukuyama, who are well versed 
in the global warming issue. Bureaucrats' participation in the 
cabinet ministerial meeting held at the Kantei on the 20 was greatly 
limited. 
 
The summit program at first did not include a slot on its agenda for 
the Japanese prime minister to make a speech. However, a senior 
Foreign Ministry official and Ambassador to the UN Yukio Takasu 
directly asked Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to let Japan's new 
prime minister deliver a speech. Hatoyama was ultimately given a 
slot among the 12 speakers just a few days before the meeting. 
 
Speaking of the meaning of the new goal, a negotiator said, "That 
goal will enable Japan to use a hard-line approach in international 
talks on specific items." It means that the nation with a higher 
goal figure can take the initiative when talks on a framework to 
curb global warming to be adopted in 2013 (post-Kyoto Protocol) move 
into full swing and an emissions trading system and international 
rules for assistance to developing countries are set, according the 
same source. 
 
Cornerstone of new administration 
 
However, since priority has been placed on sending messages, 
coordination of views with business circles such as the Japan 
Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), whose opposition to the 
strict goal is increasing, has not yet begun. There are also signs 
of friction in the ruling camp, because a policy agreement with the 
Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party (PNP) was 
reached on Sept. 9 to review the government's mid-term goal, but the 
specific figures had not been determined yet. The SDP is against the 
construction of nuclear power plants. Some say that it will be 
impossible to cut emissions substantially without nuclear power 
plants. 
 
The Hatoyama administration's political style is to send policy 
messages first before looking into specific measures, as can be seen 
by the halting of the implementation of the fiscal 2009 
supplementary budget or the discontinuation of the construction of 
dams. This style can is evident in other areas as well. Whether it 
will succeed in curbing global warming will prove to be a decisive 
test for the new administration. 
 
(3) Editorial: Foreign ministerial talks mark shift from blind 
obedience to equality 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) 
September 23, 2009 
 
The Japanese and U.S. governments are standing at a new starting 
line for reviewing the agreement on U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) 
 
TOKYO 00002226  004 OF 010 
 
 
realignment, including the relocation of the Futenma Air Station to 
Henoko in Nago City. We hope for a shift from blind obedience to the 
United States to an equal Japan-U.S. relationship founded on the 
people's trust. 
 
At the Japan-U.S. foreign ministerial talks, U.S. Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton stated that implementation of the existing agreement 
is the basis for USFJ realignment, but Foreign Minister Katsuya 
Okada said the Japanese administration disagrees with parts of it. 
The two sides reaffirmed their positions and agreed to continue 
discussions. 
 
While no significant progress was made at the meeting, we can detect 
signs of change from the two governments' previous positions of 
obstinately rejecting any modification in the plan for building a 
Futenma replacement facility. 
 
Previous foreign ministers have mostly avoided friction with the 
U.S. on security issues. For this reason, the significance of Mr. 
Okada's conveying his "objection" to even parts of the realignment 
plan directly to Ms. Clinton should not be underestimated. 
 
Ms. Clinton said at the meeting that "the Japan-U.S. alliance is a 
cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy and is indispensable for the 
security and prosperity of Asia and the Pacific" and indicated 
willingness to discuss all alliance-related issues. "We would like 
to build a deeper and more sustainable Japan-U.S. relationship," 
responded Mr. Okada. 
 
Most Japanese would probably accept the idea that the Japan-U.S. 
relationship is the linchpin (of Japanese foreign policy). However, 
this is no reason for overemphasizing the military aspect of the 
alliance or neglecting international cooperation. 
 
The attitude of blind obedience to the U.S. -- as evidenced by 
former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's statement "the better the 
Japan-U.S. relationship is, the better Japan will be able to build 
good relations with China, South Korea, and other countries in the 
world" -- will not do. We hope that the new Japanese and U.S. 
administrations will adopt policies that strike a balance between 
the bilateral relationship and international cooperation. 
 
Policies that cater only to U.S. wishes and defy the popular will 
are doomed to be short lived. This is exemplified by the Futenma 
issue, which has virtually foundered after an agreement was reached 
in 1996 to return this base. Policies sans popular support will 
remain castles in the air no matter how beautifully they are 
packaged. We hope that the new administrations in both countries 
will keep this in mind. 
 
The history of Japan-U.S. negotiations since the end of World War II 
suggests that in discussions on building a new closer bilateral 
relationship there will arise demands for Japan to exercise the 
right of collective self-defense, which is prohibited by the 
Constitution. 
 
However, if the constitutional constraints of one's own country are 
neglected, Japan cannot claim to be a pacifist country under the 
rule of law. The Hatoyama administration should not be distracted by 
the advocates of hawkish propositions and should stand firm on its 
position that Japan's role is to make up for deficiencies on the 
U.S. side within the bounds of the Constitution. Now is the time to 
 
TOKYO 00002226  005 OF 010 
 
 
aim for a deeper Japan-U.S. relationship and a new form of security 
alliance embraced by the people. 
 
(4) Editorial: Scrapping of Eastern European MD plan; Also move 
forward with U.S., Russian nuclear disarmament 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (page 5) (Full) 
September 19, 2009 
 
The United States has announced the scrapping of its plan to deploy 
a missile defense (MD) system in Eastern Europe. A source of 
conflict with Russia has been removed. We hope that the two 
countries take advantage of this situation to further promote 
cooperative bilateral diplomacy and to spur the reduction of 
strategic nuclear arms and other aspects of disarmament. 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama has said that the focus of MD deployment 
in Eastern Europe is Iran, not Russia. This can be seen as an 
attempt to alleviate Russian concerns about the deployment and seek 
its cooperation in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. 
 
The MD deployment plan was a project of the previous Bush 
administration. On the grounds that the development and deployment 
of long-range missiles by Iran would 
threaten European countries, the administration formulated a plan to 
deploy for defense purposes a ground-based interception missile in 
Poland and to build a radar facility in the Czech Republic by 2012. 
 
Russia, which is adjacent to Eastern Europe, reacted strongly to the 
deployment of American missiles under its nose and regarded the 
deployment as a measure to apply pressure against it under the 
pretext of an Iranian threat. In the summer of 2008, the 
U.S.-Russian confrontation became serious enough to term the "New 
Cold War." 
 
In relation to scrapping the MD plan, the U.S. Department of Defense 
explains that the Iranian threat consists mainly of mid- and 
short-range missiles and that there will be a change in strategy to 
deal with this threat by deploying MD systems aboard ships at sea. 
 
The Obama administration is implementing a change from power-based 
diplomacy. As a first step, the U.S. and Russia have agreed to work 
for a new agreement to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty I 
(START I) expiring at the end of 2009. 
 
In July the two countries agreed on a substantial reduction in the 
number of warheads and delivery systems. With this U.S. announcement 
to scrap the MD plan, prospects have become brighter for the two 
countries to reach an agreement in their nuclear disarmament talks 
by the year end. 
 
President Obama will participate in the high-level meeting of the UN 
Security Council (UNSC) on September 24 and work for the passage of 
a resolution calling for the realization of a "world without nuclear 
weapons." The two nuclear superpowers, the U.S. and Russia, should 
demonstrate their readiness to take the lead in disarmament at this 
meeting. 
 
There are also causes for concern. For instance, Russia may take the 
U.S. concession as a golden opportunity to expand its influence in 
Eastern Europe. We call on Russia to exercise restraint to avoid yet 
another confrontational situation. 
 
TOKYO 00002226  006 OF 010 
 
 
 
With regard to the Iranian nuclear issue, Russia once assisted with 
the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran and 
provided fuel for its reactor. It is reportedly opposed to the UNSC 
resolution imposing sanctions on Iran. 
 
The Obama administration is expected to ask Russia to take part in 
the "international encirclement" to stop Iran's development of 
nuclear arms in return for scrapping the MD plan in Eastern Europe. 
This will be a litmus test for the new era of cooperative diplomacy 
by the U.S. and Russia. 
 
(5) Editorial: Eastern European MD and nuclear arms: Implement bold 
"Obama disarmament" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 20, 2009 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama has announced a bold review of the 
missile defense (MD) plan in Eastern Europe, which has been a cause 
of dispute between the U.S. and Russia. This is probably part of the 
process of nuclear disarmament through cooperation between the two 
countries. President Obama will chair a high-level meeting of the UN 
Security Council on September 24 and is expected to present new 
proposals for achieving a "world without nuclear weapons." We remain 
hopeful about what "Obama disarmament" will be able to achieve. 
 
The MD system in Eastern Europe, a project promoted by the previous 
Bush administration, calls for the construction of a missile 
interception base and radar facility in the former Soviet satellites 
of Poland and the Czech Republic primarily for the purpose of 
intercepting Iranian missiles. The Bush administration signed 
agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic on building these 
facilities, and NATO also approved the MD plan. 
 
While some countries might be unhappy about the plan's 
discontinuation, we commend the Obama administration's decision. 
 
Apart from the question of the technical feasibility of intercepting 
missiles, the plan raises the basic question of the soundness of the 
hypothesis of an Iranian missile attack against Europe. While the 
U.S. and Israel are suspicious of Iran, many European countries have 
friendly relations with it. 
 
On the other hand, Russia has opposed the MD plan in Eastern 
European on the grounds that it is actually meant to intercept 
Russian missiles, and Moscow has announced it will suspend 
implementation of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty 
relating to the military balance with NATO. The Eastern European MD 
has been a disruptive factor in U.S.-Russian nuclear disarmament. It 
is hard to understand why this program, of doubtful effectiveness 
and necessity, has been allowed to heighten tensions between the two 
countries. 
 
The Obama administration has changed the Eastern European MD 
system's interception targets from long- to mid- and short-range 
missiles, emphasizing its non-hostile posture toward Russia. This is 
probably meant to promote U.S.-Russian cooperation in dealing with 
Iran, but we would like the United States to think about where the 
real threat lies. 
 
It is not absolutely clear whether Iran is indeed developing nuclear 
 
TOKYO 00002226  007 OF 010 
 
 
weapons, while it is obvious that North Korea, which has conducted 
several nuclear tests and missile launches, is the more serious and 
realer threat. We must learn a lesson from the Bush administration's 
failure to prevent the DPRK's development of nuclear arms because it 
had exhausted its energy in the Iraq War. 
 
Arms management, nuclear disarmament, and the strengthening of the 
international nuclear non-proliferation regime will be the main 
topics on President Obama's agenda for the meeting on September 24. 
Although his policy is not to discuss the nuclear issues of specific 
countries, the world will never be safe if the U.S. and Russia, 
which possess 90 percent of the world's nuclear arms, do not move 
forward with nuclear disarmament and North Korea and similar 
countries do not relinquish their nuclear weapons. 
 
We hope that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Japan's representative 
at this meeting, will send a clear message on the predicament of 
Japan - the only atomic-bombed nation in the world - which is now 
exposed to a new nuclear threat, and present his vision for a "world 
without nuclear weapons." 
 
(6) Editorial: Eastern Europe MD plan to be terminated; Will it help 
improve U.S.-Russia relations? 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 21, 2009 
 
President Barack Obama has announced that his administration will 
end a plan to build a missile defense (MD) system in Eastern Europe. 
It will be a major shift in the United States' missile defense 
strategy in Europe. 
 
The MD plan, which began under the former Bush administration, is 
designed to deploy interceptors in Poland and to build a radar base 
in the Czech Republic in anticipation of a threat from Iran's 
long-range ballistic missiles. 
 
Naturally President Obama's decision has pleased Russia, which has 
opposed America's plan to deploy the missile defense shield in 
Eastern Europe, a region Russia regards within its sphere of 
influence. Moscow has been calling vocally for a halt to the plan, 
suspecting that its real aim is to contain Russia's nuclear 
capability. 
 
Needless to say, the Obama administration did not make the decision 
in deference to Russia's concern. The decision derived from a shift 
in the United States' perception of the threat from Iran. 
 
The President underlined the need to deal with the threat from 
Iran's improved short- and mid-range missiles rather than from its 
yet-to-be-developed long-range missiles, announcing that the United 
States will pursue a new MD program. 
 
The Obama administration will aim for the development by 2020 of a 
new MD system that can cover all Europe. The administration 
reportedly plans to deploy sea-based SM-3 interceptor missiles in 
2011 and improved ground-based interceptor missiles around 2015. 
 
The plan to build a defense scheme that is swift and effective by 
deploying the proven systems sounds reasonable. 
 
Nevertheless, European countries, which have been exposed to the 
 
TOKYO 00002226  008 OF 010 
 
 
threat from Russia, are being shaken by (President Obama's 
announcement). They have contributed to regional security as members 
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the post 
Cold-War era. They now fear that the United States might forsake 
them in spite of that. 
 
Some in the United States are critical of (President Obama's 
decision), calling it a betrayal of U.S. allies. 
 
Apparently in a bid to dispel such concerns, President Obama 
declared that the United States will take a joint defense step by 
exercising the right of collective defense in response to an armed 
attack on any NATO member. 
 
President Obama probably hopes that his decision will help improve 
relations with Russia at the same time. Russia's cooperation is 
indispensable in pursuing nuclear disarmament and imposing tougher 
sanctions on Iran, which has not stopped enriching (uranium). The 
question is whether Russia will make concessions as the United 
States expects. 
 
The United States has shifted the focus of its missile defense 
strategy in Europe to short- to mid-range ballistic missiles. That 
is exactly what Japan and the United States are doing in dealing 
with the threat from North Korea. 
 
Arming itself with nuclear weapons, North Korea is targeting Japan 
with its Nodong mid-range missiles. Japan and the United States must 
improve the operation of the MD system. 
 
(7) Japanese government has yet to disclose radiation-monitoring 
report of U.S. nuclear vessels 
 
AKAHATA (Page 1) (Full) 
September 23, 2009 
 
The Japanese government told the Yokosuka Municipal Government in 
2006, just ahead of the controversial arrival of nuclear-powered 
aircraft carrier USS George Washington at U.S. Yokosuka Navy Base in 
Kanagawa Prefecture, that it was possible to release the U.S. 
military's data on the results of its environmental monitoring. But 
the data has yet to be publicized more than three years after the 
government made this announcement. 
 
The U.S. military has conducted a quarterly environmental impact 
assessment every year since 1964 to check whether or not radiation 
is detected at Yokosuka port, Sasebo port in Nagasaki, and 
Nakagusuku port in Okinawa, which U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft 
carriers visit. 
 
In the fact sheet that the U.S. submitted to Japan in April 2006 
regarding the safety of U.S. nuclear-powered warships, it is noted 
that "the U.S. has presented in its report to the Japanese 
government every year the results of its examination of materials 
collected from the Japanese ports." 
 
The U.S. says in its reports that no harmful effects on the human 
body or marine organisms have been found in the assessments. 
 
In a written inquiry submitted to the central government on May 8, 
2006, the Yokohama government asked whether it can obtain copies of 
the quarterly reports and if it cannot, whether an explanation will 
 
TOKYO 00002226  009 OF 010 
 
 
be provided. In response, the Japanese government clearly said in 
its letter dated June 12: "Publicizing them is possible." 
 
To a question posed by the Akahata, however, an official of the 
Foreign Ministry's Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement Office 
replied: "We are carrying out coordination with the U.S. side on the 
possibility of publicizing the reports," indicating that publicizing 
the reports is still impossible. 
 
Then prime minister Taro Aso handed an official letter to former 
Yokosuka mayor Ryoichi Kabaya noting: "I am convinced that the 
safety of U.S. nuclear-powered vessels has been ensured." Kabaya 
replied: "I understand the government's position on the safety of 
the vessels." Since then, the Japanese government has approved the 
deployment of nuclear aircraft carriers. 
 
(8) Nago mayor worried about rough sailing in USFJ realignment talks 
after Okada-Clinton meeting 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (page 23) (Excerpts) 
September 23, 2009 
 
Nago, Ginowan - Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada indicated at his 
meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on September 21 
(in the early hours of September 22, Japan time) his intention to 
enter negotiations on issues relating to U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) 
realignment. While Clinton did not respond specifically to this, 
both concerns about prolonged negotiations and expectations on the 
relocation of the Futenma Air Station out of Okinawa have been 
expressed in Nago City, where the proposed replacement facility for 
the Futenma base is located, and in Ginowan City, where the Futenma 
base is currently located. 
 
Nago mayor Yoshikazu Shimbukuro mentioned the contents of the 
Japan-U.S. foreign ministerial talks and commented positively on 
"this sign of the new administration's diplomatic posture of 
actively conveying its thinking." With regard to Futenma relocation, 
he said: "It is necessary to examine foreign policy and defense 
issues carefully. Relocation out of Okinawa will be difficult in 
reality, so the negotiations may experience rough sailing." 
 
He added: "Nago will watch the Japanese and U.S. governments' next 
steps closely in dealing with this." 
 
Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha gave a positive assessment to the 
Okada-Clinton talks. He said, "The fact that the intention to 
discuss USFJ realignment, including the return of the Futenma base, 
has been confirmed between the two countries will be the first step 
in an early solution to the base issues." 
 
"The return of Futenma was agreed upon in 1996 during the Clinton 
administration but this issue is still unresolved and remains to be 
a pending problem all these years." He added: "The U.S. government 
must also be aware of the seriousness of the problem. In any case, 
this will be the start of the realignment of U.S. military bases, 
including Futenma." 
 
(9) Editorial: The U.S. and China should not sow the seeds of 
protectionism 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 21, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00002226  010 OF 010 
 
 
 
Tension is high between the U.S. and China over trade issues. 
President Obama has imposed safeguard tariffs (emergency import 
restrictions) on Chinese-made tires and the Chinese government has 
indicated that it will take retaliatory measures. If the two 
countries carry on with their tough stances, this may trigger a 
worldwide chain reaction of protectionism. 
 
The dispute over tires is not structural trade friction arising from 
a head-on clash of national interests between the two countries. The 
United Steelworkers were the ones who demanded the import 
regulation, and even the U.S. tire manufacturers are against the 
safeguard tariffs. 
 
President Obama's decision is probably the result of his taking heed 
of the forces in the U.S. Congress close to the labor unions. It is 
understandable that he is being solicitous to the unions because 
deliberations in Congress on medical insurance reform are currently 
deadlocked. However, bending trade policy due to domestic 
considerations may bring about harmful effects on a global scale. 
 
It is worrying that other governments in the world may lean toward 
trade control following the U.S. example. Various forms of import 
restrictions have already been put in place since the Lehman shock 
last fall as emergency measures. 
 
China claims that the Obama administration's action was unjustified 
and has taken its case to the WTO. While the safeguard tariffs may 
not actually violate the WTO agreement, they certainly reflect a 
strong protectionist tendency. 
 
If the Obama administration is seen to be negative toward free 
trade, similar trade restrictions may become rampant in the world. 
This will inevitably cause the multilateral trade talks (the Doha 
Round), whose resumption was just agreed upon in early September, to 
lose momentum again. 
 
The Chinese government is threatening to impose import restrictions 
on U.S.-produced chicken and automobiles as a retaliatory measure. 
Behind this is the lobbying of domestic industries apprehensive 
about the economic outlook. China seems to want to show a tough 
stance toward the U.S. for now. 
 
It is unacceptable for the two trading giants, the U.S. and China to 
sow the seeds of protectionism in the world because of their 
political circumstances at home. The world leaders, including the 
leaders of the U.S. and China, have just declared their 
determination to prevent the rise of protectionism at the G-20 
summit in Washington last April. 
 
The U.S. and China should reconfirm their will to stand by free 
trade at the financial summit in Pittsburgh this week and resolve 
this minor friction over tires at an early date. The flame should be 
extinguished while it is still small before protectionism comes to 
engulf the world. 
 
ROOS