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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TOKYO 002330 
 
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 10/07/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Editorial: We welcome the parliamentary defense secretary's 
prescription for continuation of refueling mission (Sankei) 
 
(2) World will be disappointed if SDF's refueling mission in Indian 
Ocean ends (Sankei) 
 
(3) MOFA possessed record of 1968 meeting of vice foreign minister, 
U.S. ambassador on secret nuclear agreement (Okinawa Times) 
 
(4) Interview with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Geithner: Economic 
talks should focus on substance instead of formality: Shows strong 
eagerness to reform G-7 (Asahi) 
 
(5) Editorial: Enhance Tokyo's ability to send out messages on IT 
(Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: We welcome the parliamentary defense secretary's 
prescription for continuation of refueling mission 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 7, 2009 
 
Parliamentary Secretary of Defense Akihisa Nagashima has expressed 
the view that the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in 
the Indian Ocean must be extended by amending the law in a way 
requiring prior Diet approval. 
 
The government plans to terminate the refueling mission without 
extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which is to expire 
next January. The refueling mission, which has earned a high 
international reputation, is part of the war on terror. Nagashima's 
statement was a warning that ending the refueling mission would 
undermine Japan's national interests. We think his statement, made 
under heavy restrictions as a member of the government, is 
appropriate. We support his statement. 
 
Although Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has expressed his intention 
to look into such options as civilian support to Afghanistan, no 
specific plan for personnel contributions has taken shape. The 
government must share the view that continuing the refueling mission 
is the necessary and pragmatic option. 
 
The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, among others, 
have externally indicated that the government would "not simply 
extend" the refueling mission - an expression leaving the door open 
to (the extension of the refueling mission) in comparison to "ending 
(the mission)." But they have not indicated any specific response. 
Nagashima's statement stepped in there. 
 
The current law requires ex post facto approval by the Diet. 
(Nagashima's) idea is to change this requirement into prior Diet 
approval so that (a government decision to keep the refueling 
mission going" will not constitute a "simple extension." The ruling 
camp, including the Democratic Party of Japan, campaigned for this 
summer's House of Representatives election premised on putting an 
end to the refueling mission. As such, building consent on the 
 
TOKYO 00002330  002 OF 006 
 
 
policy shift in the ruling coalition will not be easy. However, we 
want them to give top priority to the defense of Japan's national 
interests. 
 
Amending the law governing the Self-Defense Forces' overseas 
activities must be an effective solution. The adoption of a prior 
approval system can help increase the Diet's role in dispatching the 
SDF overseas. 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is reportedly considering 
submitting to the upcoming extra Diet session a lawmaker-sponsored 
bill to amend the special measures law for extending the refueling 
mission. It is desirable for the DPJ and DPJ to cooperate. It is 
regrettable that Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa immediately 
brushed aside Nagashima's statement, saying, "Extension is not the 
option." 
 
Kitazawa is reluctant to dispatch SDF troops to Afghanistan in place 
of the refueling mission. What is Japan going to do with the war 
against terrorism then? We want to see him make a pragmatic decision 
as defense minister. 
 
In response to a visiting British cabinet minister's request to 
continue the refueling mission, the Prime Minister said, "I would 
like to look into what kind of cooperation will be appreciated by 
the countries engaged in the war against terrorism." The answer is 
already there. The government must turn around its policy. 
 
(2) World will be disappointed if SDF's refueling mission in Indian 
Ocean ends 
 
SANKEI (Page 8) (Full) 
October 6, 2009 
 
Bruce Weinrod, former U.S. secretary of defense representative 
Europe and defense advisor to the U.S. Mission NATO 
 
It is extremely regrettable that the new Japanese government's first 
new major security policy measure after its inauguration was a vow 
to terminate the Self-Defense Forces' refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean. I think it is unfortunate (for the Hatoyama 
administration) to start its policy toward the United States in such 
a way. The termination of the SDF's refueling mission would put 
Japan at a disadvantage symbolically and practically. 
 
Not only the United States but all 28 North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization members have participated in the war on terror in 
Afghanistan, which Japan has supported. The United Nations, too, has 
been deeply involved in military operations. Besides NATO members, 
many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland 
and Georgia, have participated in military operations. The United 
Nations has dispatched a number of troops. A great number of NGOs 
(nongovernmental organizations) from around the world have 
participated. If a security threat in Afghanistan is left 
unaddressed, it will become a threat not only to countries 
surrounding Afghanistan but to the entire world. 
 
Both the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States have 
strongly supported operations in Afghanistan against the Islamic 
fundamentalist group Taliban and the Al Qaeda international 
terrorist network. However, the Afghan mission is fraught with fresh 
challenges. The American public's support for the war has begun to 
 
TOKYO 00002330  003 OF 006 
 
 
waver. The more difficulties the U.S. Obama administration faces, 
the more significant becomes Japan's assistance. 
 
Until this summer, as secretary of defense representative Europe and 
defense advisor to the U.S. Mission NATO I was involved in military 
operations in Afghanistan and negotiated with European countries. 
All the countries engaged in those operations would be disappointed 
if Japan were to withdraw now. 
 
Although the Obama administration would probably be dismayed at a 
pullout of the SDF from the Indian Ocean, it would perhaps not 
express its disappointment for the sake of the fundamental goal of 
maintaining a strong Japan-U.S. alliance. The reason is that the 
Obama administration does not want to make the overall relationship 
with Japan worse at this juncture. On the surface, the U.S. 
government might squarely accept Japan's decision to withdraw from 
the Indian Ocean, releasing a statement that it expects Japan's 
cooperation in other areas. It might handle the issue as a matter of 
minor importance. 
 
However, the Obama administration will probably be deeply 
disappointed. Japan's withdrawal at this time might raise the basic 
question of what constitutes an alliance partner. 
 
(3) MOFA possessed record of 1968 meeting of vice foreign minister, 
U.S. ambassador on secret nuclear agreement 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 3) (Full) 
October 7, 2009 
 
It was learned on October 6 that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MOFA) possessed a document recording exchanges between then Vice 
Foreign Minister Nobuhiko Ushiba and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Alexis 
Johnson in 1968 in which the two officials confirmed the contents of 
a secret agreement to allow U.S. military vessels carrying nuclear 
arms to transit Japanese waters and call on Japanese ports. 
 
This was revealed in a Kyodo News interview with a former senior 
official who served as the director general of MOFA's Treaties 
Bureau (now the International Legal Affairs Bureau). 
 
His remarks reveal an example of unofficial talks between the 
Japanese and U.S. governments over interpretation of the secret 
nuclear deal made in 1960. The record of this meeting was kept as a 
top-secret document by MOFA's North American Affairs Bureau and the 
Treaties Bureau at least until the late 1990s. 
 
MOFA's team investigating the secret nuclear deal, formed by order 
of Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, is currently examining 3,700 
files. Whether or not this document can be located will be one focus 
of attention. 
 
According to the above ex-MOFA official, the exchanges took place 
between Johnson and Ushiba and other Japanese officials during 
discussions of the secret nuclear accord while making an inspection 
tour of Iwo Jima on January 26, 1968, before the reversion of the 
Ogasawara Islands to Japanese administration. Director General 
Fumihiko Togo of the North American Affairs Bureau, who was present 
at the meeting, drafted the document. 
 
On the same day, Johnson reported on the meeting in a classified 
cable to the U.S. government. The cable has been declassified. 
 
TOKYO 00002330  004 OF 006 
 
 
 
(4) Interview with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Geithner: Economic 
talks should focus on substance instead of formality: Shows strong 
eagerness to reform G-7 
 
ASAHI (Page 9) (Full) 
October 6, 2009 
 
Toshihiko Ogata, Istanbul 
 
Referring to international economic discussions, U.S. Secretary of 
the Treasury Geithner in an interview with the Asahi Shimbun and 
various other dailies said, "We need to be careful so as not to 
overly focus on writing a joint statement (only for formality's 
sake)." He thus earnestly hinted at the need to reform the meeting 
of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 
Seven nations (G-7). This statement by the treasury secretary of the 
U.S., the leader of the G-7, could accelerate calls for its reform. 
 
Geithner gave a joint press conference to media organizations of 
eight countries, including Le Monde of France and Caijing Magazine, 
a Chinese economic journal, as well as the Asahi Shimbun. 
 
Geithner, in speaking of international conferences in general, said, 
"We should be careful not to overly focus on formality instead of 
substance." He made this remark in response to a view heard in the 
U.S. that participants in the G-7 do not exchange unvarnished 
opinions, but rather devote time to writing a joint statement each 
time." 
 
Concerning the correction of the "global imbalance" resulting from 
the destabilization of the global economy by the U.S. current 
account deficit in combination with surpluses of China and Japan, 
Geithner called on Japan and Europe to take a proactive approach, 
noting that it is not just an issue of the U.S. and China. Regarding 
the correction of the global imbalance, he was optimistic, saying, 
"Various countries are firmly determined to deal with the issue." 
 
Asked about the future of the global economy, Geithner said, "The 
economic recovery is still in the very early stage. Some potential 
risks remain." He thus stressed the need to continue stimulus 
measures by calling on various countries not to let their guard 
down. 
 
Following are the main parts of the interview with U.S. Secretary of 
the Treasury Geithner: 
 
-- What is your view on the need to reform the G-7? We heard that 
you proposed at the G-7 on the 3rd that the G-7 be made informal. 
 
"Nobody has decided about the future form of the G-7. What I said at 
the meeting is that it is necessary to be rather careful so that 
international conferences, such as the G-7, will not focus on 
formality or the writing of a joint statement instead of substance. 
Focus should be on the details of decisions on economic policies or 
on how to realize better options. 
 
When participants put confidence in each other and speak frankly, 
then they can smoothly cooperate. A conference must give 
participants the confidence the gathering is functioning. 
 
-- The G-20 has vowed to correct the global imbalance. Participants 
 
TOKYO 00002330  005 OF 006 
 
 
reached an agreement, in principle. However, isn't it difficult for 
them to put the agreement into practice? The issue was a 
long-standing challenge to Japan and the U.S. Nevertheless, they 
have failed to settle it. 
 
"The U.S. will increase savings (instead of consumption) in the 
future. 
 
"Whether (the G-20) is functioning (for the correction of the global 
imbalance) can only be gauged by whether or not various countries 
put the agreement into practice. There is no means of forcing on 
countries things that are not in their interest. However, I learned 
from the ongoing economic meltdown that stimulus measures, which are 
usually carried out separately by each country, are effective when 
implemented in cooperation. 
 
"Indeed, many attempts were made in the past. What is different this 
time is that we have the G-20. Participating countries are doing 
remarkable things together. The crisis was so serious that many 
countries have strong determination to prevent a recurrence and to 
strive to turn around the global economy. I want to utilize this 
strong determination. 
 
"The U.S. will boost savings (instead of consumption). Nations, 
unless they come to terms with low growth, will have no choice but 
to undergo broad-based changes to achieve growth. China is giving 
serious thought to whether it can emerge from excessive reliance on 
exports or investment and bring about change. Imbalance is not just 
an issue between the U.S. and China. If China starts to address the 
issue, other emerging countries will also take action. In addition, 
Japan and the euro zone account for 40 percent of the world's GDP. 
This is the reality shared by all countries." 
 
-- What is your view on the possibility of the economy sinking into 
a double-dip recession? 
 
"The current economic recovery is still at the initial stage. There 
are still considerable potential risks ahead. The greatest mistake 
repeated in past economic crises is that people quickly feel a sense 
of relief. It is essential to press ahead with broad-based reform 
until the recovery becomes full-fledged." 
 
(5) Editorial: Enhance Tokyo's ability to send out messages on IT 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 7, 2009 
 
The CEATEC (Cutting-edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition), 
an international IT fair, has opened at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba 
City. New technologies in the environmental and other fields are on 
display, but both the number of participating companies and the 
floor area for exhibits have declined 70 percent from last year. The 
number of visitors to events at Makuhari Messe, which is marking its 
20th anniversary on October 9, has diminished significantly, 
compared to events in Europe, China, and other locations. It is 
necessary for Japan to improve its ability to send out information 
in order to enhance its international competitiveness. 
 
The number of exhibitors participating in CEATEC this year is 590, 
14 less than last year. It is noteworthy that there has been a 40 
percent decline in the number of Japanese companies. Major companies 
like NEC, JVC, and Pioneer have decided not to present their own 
 
TOKYO 00002330  006 OF 006 
 
 
exhibits. One feels that the passageways between exhibits are too 
wide. 
 
The American CES and the German IFA are the two other major 
international IT tradeshows. Although the number of visitors to the 
CES in January, which came right after the "Lehman Shock," dropped 
by 20 percent, the number of exhibitors was about the same as the 
previous year. On the other hand, while the number of exhibitors at 
IFA remains flat, there has been an increase in the number of 
visitors. Japan seems to be the only one sinking in relative terms. 
 
The Tokyo Motor Show will also be held at the Makuhari Messe in late 
October. The number of exhibitors is expected to decline to less 
than half of the number from last year, and the floor area and 
duration of the exhibition will be cut significantly. Yet, IT is 
Japan's forte, and it is odd that Japan alone is experiencing a 30 
percent decline. 
 
The organizers say that, "The decrease is due to the economic 
downturn; there will be a rebound next year." Indeed, there are 
obvious reasons like the new influenza and corporate cutbacks on 
business trips. Yet, there is no denying that Japan is beginning to 
fall behind internationally amid the expansion of the newly emerging 
markets in Asia. If that is the case, Japan needs to improve its 
ability to send out information. 
 
First, business operators must have an international perspective and 
should rectify their inward-looking tendency. South Korea, which is 
aiming at dominating the world in the field of IT, has increased its 
number of exhibitors considerably. 
 
Second, environmental improvements to attract visitors more 
effectively than China, the ROK, and other countries should be 
implemented. Although the international exhibition center in 
Shanghai is about 30 kilometers from the Pudong International 
Airport, it can be reached from the airport in 7 minutes by a linear 
motor car that travels at a maximum speed of 430 kilometers per 
hour. Japan should also expand the Haneda Airport and its exhibition 
facilities in the Tokyo Waterfront City area. There are still very 
few English street signs even in the Makuhari and Tokyo Waterfront 
City areas. Although Tokyo was unsuccessful in its bid to host the 
Olympic Games, it needs to continue to make efforts to publicize 
Tokyo's strengths and attractions internationally. 
 
ZUMWALT