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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002495 
 
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 10/29/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Special Diet session: 
4) Tanigaki: Statements on Futenma conflict; Hatoyama: I will make 
final decision  (Asahi) 
5) Diet interpellation on diplomacy and security (Nikkei) 
6) Prime Minister says dissolution of Diet one way to accept 
responsibility (Nikkei) 
7) LDP submits bill for inspection of North Korean ships  (Yomiuri) 
 
 
Futenma relocation: 
8) Commander U.S. Forces Japan Rice says Kadena integration plan 
does fulfill operational requirements  (Asahi) 
9) Hirano: Small differences between cabinet decisions and 
ministers' statements do not constitute discord  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) Sense of urgency over Futenma relocation grips cabinet with 
Obama visit only two weeks away  (Nikkei) 
 
Defense & security: 
11) MSDF destroyer successfully intercepts missile  (Yomiuri) 
12) Fukushima expresses opposition to redeploying MSDF ship to 
Somalia  (Nikkei) 
13) Prime Minister directed Defense Minister to consider Japan-Korea 
relations in handling destroyer-container ship collision  (Nikkei) 
14) Additional 4.3 hectares at Camp Zama may be returned to Japan 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Foreign relations: 
15) Foreign Minister considering U.S. visit  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Asahi: 
New climate protocol unlikely to be adopted by year's end 
 
Mainichi & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Air trapped in overturned fishing boat saves three lives 
 
Yomiuri: 
Narrow cabin avoids flood in missing fishing boat 
 
Nikkei: 
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to start producing passenger plane 
engines in 2013 
 
Sankei: 
"We will fulfill campaign pledges without fail," says Prime Minister 
Hatoyama during extra Diet session 
 
Akahata: 
Hepatitis bill must be passed as quickly as possible 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) LDP President Tanigaki must present own political vision 
(2) New Japan Post President Saito: Concern about DPJ's decision 
 
TOKYO 00002495  002 OF 008 
 
 
that is moving away from reform 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Diet debate: DPJ should also ask questions 
(2) MSDF destroyer collision: Are optimum precautions being taken? 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Lower House interpellation: Deepen debate on fiscal resources 
and security 
(2) International cooperation vital to eradicate terrorism in 
Pakistan 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Link reorganization of trust banks to financial revitalization 
(2) Ruling, opposition parties must compete on polices at Diet 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Lower House interpellation: Prime Minister Hatoyama must not 
neglect lack of unity among cabinet members 
(2) MSDF destroyer collision: Were there any problems with equipment 
and personnel? 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Interpellation: Deepen discussions on "the shape of the nation" 
(2) New Japan Post executives: What is the purpose of reviewing the 
postal privatization program? 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Nov. 8 national rally: JCP will make efforts to move politics 
forward together with people 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 28 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
09:33 Met "Ship for Southeast Asian Youth" project participants and 
others at the Kantei. 
12:23 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano. 
13:02 Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
16:29 Met Defense Minister Kitazawa and MSDF Chief of Staff 
Akahoshi. 
17:03 Met Senior Vice-Foreign Minister Fukuyama and Global Issues 
Director-General Sugiyama at the Kantei. 
18:12 Met Fukuyama and Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae. 
19:49 Arrived at his official residential quarters. 
 
4) Main questions and answers on foreign and security policies in 
Diet interpellations - LDP's Tanigaki grills PM over discrepancies 
in statements on Futenma, while Hatoyama declares he will make final 
decision 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
October 29, 2009 
 
Sadakazu Tanigaki, president, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): 
Defense Minister Kitazawa indicated yesterday that he would accept 
the existing Futenma relocation plan and also expressed a plan to 
shift Maritime Self-Defense Force ships, now engaged in the 
refueling mission, to antiterrorism operations (off Somalia). Since 
 
TOKYO 00002495  003 OF 008 
 
 
the launch of the new administration, there have been discrepancies 
in remarks among Prime Minister Hatoyama, Foreign Minister Okada, 
Defense Minister Kitazawa, and others. I deeply fear that this 
hampers diplomacy. 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan has indicated that it will look in the 
direction of reviewing the Futenma relocation issue and the 
modalities of U.S. forces in Japan. If the DPJ unilaterally reviews 
what was agreed upon between Japan and the United States without 
presenting a clear alternative plan, the bilateral alliance might be 
weakened. 
 
Yasutoshi Nishimura, LDP: The refueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
is a significant operation that leads to the defense of Japan's sea 
lanes. Are you going to halt this and send private citizens to a 
place where the security situation is very bad? The cabinet also 
includes the head of the Social Democratic Party, which in its 2006 
party convention adopted a statement saying "the Self-Defense Forces 
are clearly in a state of unconstitutionality." Does minister 
Fukushima regard the SDF as unconstitutional? 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama: Needless to say, the Japan-U.S. 
alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's foreign policy. We will 
earnestly address the question of realigning U.S. forces in Japan 
after carefully examining, from the past viewpoint of security, the 
process that led to the Japan-U.S. agreement, while seriously taking 
the feelings of Okinawa's people into consideration. The previous 
(LDP-led) administration took more than 10 years to realize a 
conclusion on the Futenma issue. Who should be held responsible for 
that? I will make the final decision. We will not simply extend the 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. We are earnestly and 
carefully studying the modalities of Japan's assistance that can 
truly be appreciated by the international community including 
Afghanistan. 
 
My understanding is that support for Afghanistan is a matter that 
must be addressed by the international community as a whole. What is 
Japan really required to do? We want to provide aid proactively in 
Japan's realms of expertise after looking into the modalities of aid 
needed by the Afghan people. For instance, we are considering 
providing support in agriculture, vocational training to former 
soldiers, and enhancing police activities. 
 
State Minister for Declining Birthrate Mizuho Fukushima (SDP): The 
SDP criticized the fact that under the LDP administration the SDF 
conducted overseas missions beyond the minimum necessary level of 
self-defense. I believe that under the Hatoyama administration the 
SDF will carry out activities within the framework of the 
Constitution. 
 
5) Lower House interpellation and replies 
 
NIKKEI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
October 29, 2009 
 
Diplomacy and security 
 
Nishimura: Do you intend to dispatch civilians to a nation with poor 
security (like Afghanistan) instead of extending the refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean? 
 
Prime minister: I would like to proactively support Afghanistan in 
 
TOKYO 00002495  004 OF 008 
 
 
areas of Japanese expertise. For instance, I am eager to provide 
agricultural assistance and vocational training to former soldiers. 
I would also like to strengthen the nation's police functions. 
 
Nishimura: What are your views on the issue of seeking the return of 
all four islands in the Northern Territories as a package and on the 
Takeshima islets issue? 
 
Prime minister: Trust between the leaders (of Japan and Russia) is 
important in settling the Northern Territories issue. While 
deepening dialogue between the two countries' leaders, I would like 
to solve the issue of the return of the Northern Territories, 
and then conclude a peace treaty. Our nation's stance on the 
sovereignty of the Takeshima islets is consistent. Nothing has 
changed. 
 
Nishimura: What are your policies on the North Korean abduction and 
nuclear and missile development issues? 
 
Prime minister: I would like to endeavor to normalize ties between 
the two countries, by settling various pending issues, including the 
abduction and nuclear and missile development issues, in a 
comprehensive manner. I absolutely cannot accept North Korea's 
nuclear and missile development. Japan must work together with the 
U.S. and South Korea on these issues. 
 
6) Dissolving Lower House is one option for taking responsibility, 
says prime minister 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
Replying to a question asked during an interpellation on Oct. 28, 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Oct. 28 said that he would take 
responsibility in the event that his cabinet failed to realize 
pledges included in the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto for 
the August Lower House election. In this connection, he told the 
press corps that dissolving the Lower House would be one way to take 
responsibility. He said: "There are various ways of taking political 
responsibility. The most visible and honest way is to seek the 
people's mandate through an election." He also noted, "I do not 
think I have broken campaign pledges." 
 
7) LDP, other opposition parties submit cargo inspection bill at 
Lower House 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
Yesterday the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan 
Renaissance Party, Your Party, and the group to protect national 
interests and the livelihoods of the people (Hiranuma group) jointly 
submitted a bill to facilitate cargo inspections of ships heading to 
and from North Korea to the House of Representatives. The New 
Komeito party, however, did not respond to the LDP's call for 
jointly presenting the bill, citing that it will make a decision 
after examining the contents of the government-drafted bill. 
 
8) USFJ chief: Kadena plan fails to meet operational benchmark 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00002495  005 OF 008 
 
 
 
Yoichi Kato, senior writer 
 
The U.S. government cannot not accept Foreign Minister Okada's 
advocacy of integrating the heliport functions of the U.S. Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, into the 
U.S. Kadena Air Base in the prefecture, U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) 
Commander Rice, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant general, told the Asahi 
Shimbun in an interview yesterday at USFJ headquarters located on 
the Yokota base. "It does not satisfy our required standards for 
operation," the USFJ chief said. 
 
"Secretary of Defense Gates made clear this point in a press 
conference," Rice said, stressing that the U.S. government has 
already made a decision on the matter. 
 
U.S. Secretary of Defense Gates recently visited Japan and he met 
with Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa on Oct. 21. In the joint 
press conference that followed, Gates said: "The U.S. government has 
looked closely into every alternative plan. We believe that all of 
these plans are politically unsustainable and operationally 
unfeasible." 
 
In this regard, Foreign Minister Okada has suggested the need for 
the Japanese government to thrash out the operational issues that 
the Pentagon chief pointed out. "We're still in the process of 
verifying his account and we also want to hear their views," Okada 
told a press conference yesterday, adding: "They say Kadena is 
inconceivable (as an alternative to take over Futenma airfield's 
functions). There's no doubt that the local opposition is one of the 
major reasons for saying that. But when it comes to the rest of his 
account, I do not necessarily agree with him." 
 
In the interview, Rice avoided referring to the "operational issues" 
in detail while taking the position that an open explanation would 
complicate the talks. However, he clarified that the U.S. government 
is ready to cooperate further. "The U.S. government will do its best 
to provide accurate information so that the Japanese government can 
promptly reach a conclusion that will benefit our alliance," he 
said. 
 
9) Futenma Air Station relocation issue: Some differences in 
statements by cabinet ministers do not mean that they are in 
disagreement -- Hirano gives government's view 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
"One can say that the cabinet is in discord if a minister makes a 
statement contrary to the policy stance adopted at a cabinet 
meeting. I believe that even if there are differences in statements 
made by various cabinet ministers on an issue, it is not the case 
that one can say there is discord in the cabinet." 
 
Referring to the fact that different views on the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station relocation issue have surfaced among cabinet 
ministers, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano revealed such a 
government view at a press briefing on the afternoon of Oct. 28 
 
As an opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
criticized the cabinet as being in discord when former Prime 
Minister Aso or cabinet ministers showed signs of disagreement on 
 
TOKYO 00002495  006 OF 008 
 
 
various issues, even if they were not directly related to cabinet 
decisions. 
 
The new view given by Hirano is apparently in disagreement with the 
stance the DPJ took when it was an opposition party. 
 
Prime Minister Hatoyama told reporters, "It is all right for cabinet 
ministers to state their views in displaying political leadership." 
He then added, "If I make a final decision, I would like them to act 
in accordance with it." 
 
10) Sense of urgency in cabinet over Futenma issue two weeks ahead 
of President Obama's visit 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
With U.S. President Barack Obama coming to Japan in about two weeks, 
the Yukio Hatoyama cabinet is unable to agree on the question of the 
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. Discontent has 
surfaced among the local governments in Okinawa. Foreign Minister 
Katsuya Okada hopes to visit the U.S. again shortly before the 
President's visit for discussions with the U.S. side on breaking the 
impasse, but prospects remain uncertain. Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama has stated repeatedly that "I will be the one to make the 
final decision," but he has very little time left. 
 
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and other local government leaders 
met Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano at the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence (Kantei) in the early evening on Oct. 28. "We 
have heard various opinions coming out from the cabinet. We would 
like you to deal with this matter carefully, keeping in mind the 
danger posed by Futenma," Nakaima complained. 
 
Okada has been talking about a plan to integrate the Futenma base 
with Kadena Air Base without prior consultations with the local 
leaders, while Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa has said "even the 
current plan does not contradict the campaign pledge of the 
Democratic Party of Japan." The governor's complaint conveyed the 
sentiments in Okinawa. Yet, Hatoyama on Oct. 28 still said, "Since 
we operate under a system of politician-led decision-making, it is 
okay for the cabinet ministers to voice their opinions," indicating 
his tolerance for the ministers' (conflicting) remarks. 
 
Although the Hatoyama cabinet claims that President Obama's visit on 
Nov. 12 does not constitute a deadline for reaching a conclusion, 
there is a growing sense of urgency behind the scenes. Okada, who 
believes that "there is room for negotiation" on the Kadena 
integration plan, plans to visit the U.S. around Nov. 6 for 
discussions with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, this 
schedule has not been confirmed. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
source explains, "We are unable to make official inquiries because 
the schedule of the extraordinary Diet session has not been 
finalized." In addition, Clinton's schedule is rather tight because 
she will depart on an overseas trip on Nov. 7. 
 
Okada plans to meet U.S. Forces Japan commander Lt. Gen. Edward 
Rice, Department of Defense Country Director for Japan Suzanne 
Basalla, and other officials to listen to the U.S. side's thinking 
directly. However, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has rejected 
the Kadena integration plan, and a senior Defense official has 
indicated that minor modifications to the existing plan would be 
 
TOKYO 00002495  007 OF 008 
 
 
acceptable. It appears that there is also a wide gap between the 
Hatoyama cabinet and the Obama administration with regard to whether 
there is room for negotiation on the Kadena integration idea. 
 
11) MSDF missile test successful 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
The Myoko, an Aegis-equipped destroyer of the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force, succeeded in shooting down a mock-up target in its test 
launch off Hawaii of the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), a sea-based 
missile defense system. The SM-3 test was conducted in waters off 
Hawaii on Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. (Oct. 28, 1 p.m., Japan time). This is 
a third test launch of the SM-3. The first test, conducted in 2007, 
was successful, but last year's second test failed. This time 
around, the U.S. military launched a ballistic missile from a 
missile launch test site. The Myoko, standing by at sea several 
hundred kilometers away, launched an SM-3 interceptor about four 
minutes after detecting the target. 
 
12) SDP leader opposes proposal for MSDF to refuel warships in 
antipiracy operations off Somalia 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said (on Oct. 27) that he was 
considering a plan to have the Maritime Self-Defense Force warships 
now engaged in a refueling mission in the Indian Ocean join 
international antipiracy operations off Somalia, Africa. In response 
to this proposal, Social Democratic Party President Mizuho Fukushima 
expressed her opposition in a press conference yesterday: "That is a 
totally unexpected and irrational idea. In principle Self-Defense 
Force troops should not be dispatched overseas." 
 
Fukushima also expressed opposition to a proposal to integrate the 
functions of the U.S. Marine Corp's Air Station in Ginowan City, 
Okinawa Prefecture, into Kadena Air Base, saying, "I wonder if this 
plan would contribute to reducing the burden on the people in 
Okinawa." Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has said that he is 
considering the integration plan. 
 
13) Hatoyama orders defense minister to take Japan-South Korea 
relations into consideration in dealing with MSDF ship collision 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa 
in the Diet Building yesterday and received from him a report on the 
collision between the Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer and a 
South Korean-registered container ship. Focusing on the fact that 
the South Korean cargo ship had changed its course in response to 
instructions by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), the prime minister 
instructed the defense minister to deal with the case in a cautious 
manner. Hatoyama said: "It is necessary to carefully deal with the 
case so as not to damage Japan-South Korea relations." 
 
The container ship was attempting to overtake a cargo ship. The JCG 
revealed yesterday that a controller at the maritime traffic center 
overseeing the Kanmon Strait had given the container ship 
 
TOKYO 00002495  008 OF 008 
 
 
instructions for overtaking the other vessel, but these instructions 
brought the ship close to the course of the approaching destroyer 
just prior to the collision. 
 
14) Possible return of additional 4.3 hectares of land at Camp Zama 
to Japan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
Japan and the U.S. are considering a new plan in which the U.S. 
would return approximately 4.3 hectares of land at Camp Zama (a 
total of about 235 hectares, in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara) 
in Kanagawa Prefecture to Japan as part of the realignment of U.S. 
forces in Japan, it was learned yesterday. The South Kanto Defense 
Bureau conveyed the new plan to the Zama municipal government 
yesterday. 
 
Japan and the U.S. agreed in deputy director general-level talks of 
their foreign and defense officials in 2006 on the U.S.'s return of 
1.1 hectares of land in Zama City on the site of Camp Zama to 
Japan. 
 
15) Foreign Minister Okada considering U.S. visit 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 29, 2009 
 
It was learned yesterday that Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada is 
considering a trip to Washington before U.S. President Barack Obama 
visits Japan on Nov. 12-13. He hopes to hold talks with Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton about the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. However, many in political circles 
take the view that it will be difficult to realize Okada's plan 
because he is required to attend budget committee sessions of the 
two Diet chambers that will take place in early November and because 
Clinton will be busy. 
 
ROOS