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Viewing cable 09TOKYO2883, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/17/09

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09TOKYO2883 2009-12-17 01:16 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO8373
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2883/01 3510116
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170116Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8267
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0316
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7969
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1781
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5093
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8471
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2342
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9007
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8445
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002883 
 
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 12/17/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Defense & security: 
4) PM Hatoyama shelves his theory on "security alliance without 
regular stationing of troops"  (Nikkei) 
5) Hatoyama says relocation of Futenma facility by 2014 possible 
(Yomiuri) 
6) LDP's Ishiba slams delay of decision on Futenma  (Yomiuri) 
7) Government to make decision on PAC3 deployment today  (Nikkei) 
8) Japan to provide Afghan army 1.2 billion yen in medical support 
(Asahi) 
 
Foreign relations: 
9) Foreign Minister Okada to visit Russia on Dec. 27  (Nikkei) 
10) Japanese, Singaporean defense ministers share importance of 
presence of U.S. troops  (Yomiuri) 
11) Okada asks Xi Jinping for early exchange of document on gas 
field development  (Sankei) 
12) Commentary: PM Hatoyama's security policy remains vague 
(Nikkei) 
 
Politics: 
13) SDP leader Fukushima meets Okinawa governor to discuss Futenma 
relocation  (Mainichi) 
14) Future "national policy officials" get to work  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
 
Space: 
15) GX rocket development cancelled  (Mainichi) 
 
Opinion: 
16) Diet poll: Ruling parties differ on foreign national suffrage 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Economy: 
17) American Airlines' parent company CEO: "AMR will object if 
antitrust immunity is approved for Delta"  (Nikkei) 
18) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry calls for participation 
in Pacific Rim FTA  (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi: 
DPJ urges government to keep gasoline tax rate, set income limit for 
child allowances 
 
Yomiuri: 
DPJ asks government to maintain provisional tax rates with aim of 
curbing issuance of government bonds 
 
Nikkei: 
Coordination underway between government and ruling coalition to 
keep gas tax rate and to set income limit for child allowances 
 
Sankei: 
Priority budgetary requests presented to PM Hatoyama; Ozawa destroys 
 
TOKYO 00002883  002 OF 009 
 
 
centralized policy system 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Major general contractors' donations to Ozawa increased four-fold to 
mend ties, according to person concerned 
 
Akahata: 
Demonstration held in Kasumigaseki to seek jobs 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Imperial audience: Political leadership must be demonstrated 
properly 
(2) Retrial set for Fukawa case: Criminal investigation process must 
be completely revealed 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Issue of imperial audience requires rational discussion 
(2) Fukawa case: Leave the door wide open for retrials 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Avoid making hasty decision on special taxation measures in view 
of economy 
(2) Fukawa case retrial: Confession-oriented investigation repeated 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Do not give up on new climate protocol that includes U.S. and 
China 
(2) Anxiety over Ozawa-centered petition system 
 
Sankei: 
(1) COP summit: Demonstrate determination to leave framework 
(2) Legislation essential to join international network to prevent 
illegal arms exports to North Korea 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Fukawa case retrial: Build solid system to prevent wrong 
judgments 
(2) Liberalization of aviation industry: Increase competition for 
better service 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Futenma must be removed: Stop looking for relocation site 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, December 16 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 17, 2009 
 
09:54 Arrived at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 
12:37 Met Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Otani and Special 
Advisor Nakayama. 
14:27 Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
15:00 Met LDP President Tanigaki, with Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Hirano and LDP policy chief Ishiba present. 
16:44 Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsui. 
17:01 Held discussion with DPJ Secretary General Ozawa and senior 
party members on DPJ's requests regarding budget and tax systems, 
with relevant ministers present. 
 
TOKYO 00002883  003 OF 009 
 
 
18:09 Met METI Minister Naoshima and Hirano. Naoshima stayed behind. 
Met Turkmenistan President Berdimuhamedow. 
19:18 Attended signing ceremony and joint press conference. Hosted 
dinner party. 
20:55 Saw the Turkmenistan president off. 
21:00 Met Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi. 
21:40 Arrived at his official residential quarters. 
 
4) PM Hatoyama shelves his theory on "security alliance without 
permanent presence of troops" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
December 17, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama talked about his idea of a "security 
alliance without the permanent presence of troops" in relation to 
the role of U.S. Forces Japan under the Japan-U.S. security 
arrangements on Dec. 16. He said: "Since in reality, I have become 
the prime minister, that idea will have to be shelved now." He made 
this comment in response to a question from reporters at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence. 
 
During the time of the former Democratic Party of Japan (before its 
merger with the Liberal Party in 2003), Hatoyama advocated a 
"security alliance without the permanent presence of troops" under 
which U.S. troops would not be stationed in Japan in peacetime, and 
Japan would only request their mobilization in a contingency. 
 
While indicating that he is shelving this idea, Hatoyama also said: 
"I used to subscribe to such an idea, and when you think about 
Japan's future for the next 50 or 100 years, it is natural for the 
question of whether it is appropriate for foreign troops to remain 
to arise." 
 
5) Prime Minister tells LDP's Tanigaki that it will be possible to 
relocate Futenma by 2014 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
December 17, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama held talks yesterday with Liberal 
Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki. The Prime Minister 
indicated that it will be fully possible to complete the relocation 
of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture 
by 2014, as agreed upon in 2006 between Japan and the United States. 
Some people think it will be difficult to meet the goal partly 
because the Prime Minister has revealed a plan to look for sites 
other than the coastal area of Camp Schwab, which is specified in 
the existing plan. The Prime Minister apparently rebutted such a 
view. 
 
6) LDP's Ishiba slams PM's decision to postpone Futenma decision as 
irresponsible 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
December 17, 2009 
 
In reaction to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's announcement of his 
intention to review the Japan-U.S. agreement on the relocation of 
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture and 
to look for new alternative sites, many people, both in Japan and 
the United States, expressed their opposition and concerns 
 
TOKYO 00002883  004 OF 009 
 
 
yesterday. 
 
U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway held a press 
conference at the Defense Department on Dec. 15 (Dec. 16, Japan 
time) in which he expressed his irritation with Japan's policy 
flip-flops. He said: "There have been media reports from Japan and 
Okinawa that the minister said such and such, and other people said 
such and such. We must give the Japanese government a chance to 
reach a logical decision and a formal answer." 
 
Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Shigeru 
Ishiba, too, severely criticized the government's response in a 
press conference yesterday, saying: "(The Prime Minister) said that 
he has decided not to decide anything - the contents, the relocation 
site, or the deadline. This is utterly irresponsible and the policy 
is inconsistent. We absolutely cannot accept such a decision." 
 
7) Defense spending policy to be adopted today; limited deployment 
of PAC-3 and no increase in SDF personnel specified 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
December 17, 2009 
 
The overall draft policy on defense spending for fiscal 2001, which 
is expected to be adopted in a cabinet meeting on Dec. 17, was 
disclosed yesterday. Reflecting strained Japan-U.S. relations over 
the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in 
Okinawa Prefecture, the draft stipulates that the government will 
"consider deepening security cooperation between Japan and the 
United States" in connection with security cooperation in the 
Asia-Pacific region. 
 
The draft also specifies the limited deployment of Patriot Advanced 
Capabiltiy-3 (PAC-3) ground-to-air guided missiles. Additionally the 
government will give up on an increase in the number of Self-Defense 
Force personnel. 
 
The draft policy was produced because the National Defense Program 
Guidelines, the basis for budget-compilation, is scheduled to expire 
at the end of this year. 
 
The government has put forward its stance to deeply cut back on 
defense spending based on the wishes of the Social Democratic Party, 
a coalition partner, and the results of the Government 
Revitalization Unit's screening of state projects. 
 
The draft policy also sounds an alarm saying that the North Korean 
nuclear and missile issues are becoming serious, while pointing out 
the military modernization of neighboring countries and the spurt in 
their activities with China in mind. 
 
The gist of the draft basic policy on defense spending 
 
Q The North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile issues are becoming 
serious. 
Q It is necessary to consider deepening Japan-U.S. cooperation in 
security. 
Q The nation's defense capabilities must be improved based on the 
thinking of the National Defense Program Guidelines. 
Q It is essential to improve equipment that is necessary to deal 
with a ballistic missile attack, a commando raid, and situations on 
outlying islands; to maintain precautionary and surveillance 
 
TOKYO 00002883  005 OF 009 
 
 
activities and collect information at all times; and to deal with 
major/exceptional disasters. 
Q Equipment that can be used in international peace cooperation 
activities must be improved. 
Q Anti-ballistic missile capabilities must be improved. 
 
8) Government to extend 1.2 billion yen in medical assistance to 
Afghan armed forces 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
December 17, 2009 
 
The cabinet of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has decided to provide 
the armed forces of Afghanistan with 1.2 billion yen as new aid 
measures for security in Afghanistan. Of the 50 billion yen in 
Afghan support measures included in the second supplementary budget 
for fiscal 2009, which was approved on Dec. 15 by the cabinet, 18.5 
billion yen will be appropriated to police assistance. The Hatoyama 
cabinet has given priority to assistance for security in 
Afghanistan. 
 
The government will provide support for the Afghan armed forces 
through a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) fund. Since this 
NATO fund allows the donor to designate the use of the money 
donated, the government will limit the use of its donation to the 
purchase of medical equipment and supplies, as well as medicines. 
 
9) Foreign Minister Okada to visit Russia on Dec. 27 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 17, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has decided to visit Russia on Dec. 
27 for a three-day stay. This will be the foreign minister's first 
trip to Russia. He is expected to attend the first meeting of the 
regular bilateral foreign ministerial on the issue of the Northern 
Territories. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and President Dmitry 
Medvedev agreed in September to hold regular foreign ministerial 
meetings on the issue. The purpose of his visit to Russia is to seek 
a breakthrough in the deadlocked territorial issue through talks 
with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 
 
The two foreign ministers will exchange views on the details of 
Russia's proposed "creative approaches" for the dispute over the 
Russia-held islands off Hokkaido. Okada also aims to deepen mutual 
trust by launching discussions with Lavrov. 
 
10) Japanese, Singaporean defense ministers agree on importance of 
presence of U.S. troops 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 17, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa met with his Singaporean 
counterpart Teo Chee Hean, who also serves as deputy prime minister, 
at the Defense Ministry yesterday. In the meeting, Kitazawa said: 
"The Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's foreign and 
defense policies." Teo replied: "Singapore has allowed the U.S. 
military to use our facilities and its fighters, warships, and 
aircraft to make stopovers in its territory," stressing the 
importance of its relations with the U.S. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002883  006 OF 009 
 
 
11) Okada calls on Chinese vice president for early negotiations to 
draw up official document on joint development of gas fields 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpt) 
December 17, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met with visiting Chinese Vice 
President Xi Jinping at a Tokyo hotel yesterday. In the meeting, 
Okada called on Xi to start negotiations at an early date to draw up 
an official document on the planned joint development of gas fields 
in the East China Sea, saying: "It is essential that we translate 
the agreement reached last year into action. We should push ahead 
with negotiations, as confirmed by our nations' leaders." In 
response, Xi simply said: "We would like to maintain the agreement 
and continue working-level talks." 
 
12) Commentary: PM Hatoyama's security policy remains vague 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 17, 2009 
 
Eiji Sakamoto, editorial staff member 
 
How does Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama intend to restructure the 
Japan-U.S. alliance relationship? Even if one listens carefully to 
his statements on the issue of the relocation of the U.S. forces' 
Futenma Air Station and on his shelving of the concept of a 
"security alliance without the regular stationing of troops," it 
remains unclear what he is aiming at. 
 
It is believed that his remarks on Dec. 16 were meant to dispel U.S. 
concerns that the Hatoyama administration is moving toward reviewing 
the Japan-U.S. alliance. Yet they can also be taken to mean that he 
is shelving the concept temporarily and has no intention to change 
his position. 
 
The true intent of many of Hatoyama's statements on security policy, 
not only on this occasion, is often unclear. Is he changing his 
policy or is he merely explaining the situation? The "frivolity" of 
his words has caused serious repercussions both at home and abroad. 
 
How to deal with North Korea's development of nuclear arms and 
China's military expansion are real issues facing politicians. If 
Hatoyama wants to relocate the Futenma base overseas or stick to his 
idea of a "security alliance without the regular stationing of 
troops," an explanation on the strategy to make up for the 
deterioration of deterrence will be necessary. 
 
It is a matter of course that there will be renewed debate on 
security policy in response to changes in the international 
situation. However, the Prime Minister's imprudent behavior is 
exposing the Japan-U.S. alliance to risks pointlessly. 
 
13) SDP leader Fukushima meets Okinawa governor to discuss Futenma 
relocation 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
December 17, 2009 
 
Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Mizuho Fukushima visited 
Okinawa on Dec. 16 and met Governor Hirokazu Nakaima at the Okinawa 
Prefectural Government building. Fukushima said: "We can strive 
 
TOKYO 00002883  007 OF 009 
 
 
together for the relocation of Futenma (Air Station) out of Okinawa 
or out of Japan." Nakaima replied: "I have also been saying that 
relocation out of Okinawa is the best option." 
 
After the meeting, Fukushima toured Henoko in Nago City, where the 
coastal area of Camp Schwab, which has been chosen as the Futenma 
relocation site under the existing plan, is located. 
 
14) Future "national policy officials" start working 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
December 17, 2009 
 
Naoto Kan, deputy prime minister and state minister for national 
strategy, yesterday assembled Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
lawmakers who have joined the National Policy Unit at the Diet 
building, and asked them for cooperation in drafting growth 
strategies. After bills related to upgrading the unit to a "bureau" 
are passed during the next regular Diet session, he explained to 
them that lawmakers who applied to take part in the unit would be 
treated as "national policy officials." 
 
Seven DPJ House of Representatives members - Hideo Kataoka, Mitsu 
Shimojo, Kaname Shimada, Yoshio Tezuka, Kazue Fujita, and Takahiro 
Kuroiwa - have joined the National Policy Unit. They will be in 
charge of hearing the views of experts and various government 
agencies, and drafting the framework for growth strategies to be 
formulated before the end of the year. 
 
Kan offered words of encouragement to the members, saying, "We will 
explain what the Hatoyama cabinet has been working on and gain 
understanding from the public. I think we have a number of members 
who are skilled at formulating these kinds of strategies." 
 
15) Gov't calls off GX rocket development 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
December 17, 2009 
 
The government decided yesterday in a meeting of the Strategic 
Headquarters for Space Development (SHSD) to discontinue its joint 
project with the private sector of developing a midsize launching 
vehicle called "GX." This GX rocket development project has been 
called into question due in part to its growing cost. The GX cannot 
be expected to receive orders for satellite business and purposes, 
according to SHSD officials. Meanwhile, the government will continue 
to develop a new type of liquefied natural gas engine for the GX. 
 
16) Diet poll: Ruling parties differ on suffrage for foreign 
nationals 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 17, 2009 
 
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan's policies incorporated in its 
manifesto, a collection of public pledges for this summer's House of 
Representatives election, enjoy high support among its lawmakers on 
the whole, according to a recent parliamentary survey of all Diet 
members. Among DPJ lawmakers who responded to the survey, 76 PERCENT 
 approved of making the nation's expressways toll free and 74 
PERCENT  approved of pushing for a free trade agreement with the 
United States. 
 
TOKYO 00002883  008 OF 009 
 
 
 
The DPJ manifesto did not include any mention of vesting foreign 
nationals, who have permanent resident status in Japan, with the 
right to vote in local elections. Concerning this issue of giving 
local suffrage to foreign national residents, however, DPJ Secretary 
General Ozawa has indicated his intention to present relevant 
legislative measures to the Diet during next year's ordinary session 
for enactment. In the survey, the polled lawmakers were asked if 
they approve of vesting foreign national residents with the voting 
right. Among DPJ respondents, 50 PERCENT  answered "yes" to the 
question, with 23 PERCENT  saying they "can't say which" and 25 
PERCENT  saying "no." This situation in the DPJ appears to be one of 
the reasons why the DPJ did not mention local suffrage in its 
manifesto. 
 
In the case of the Social Democratic Party, all of those who 
responded to the survey answered "yes" to the question. However, 60 
PERCENT  of those respondents from the People's New Party said "no." 
As seen from these figures, the ruling parties cannot be said to be 
monolithic. Among the opposition parties, 86 PERCENT  of respondents 
from the Liberal Democratic Party were opposed to suffrage for 
foreign nationals. However, 92 PERCENT  of the New Komeito's 
respondents and all of the Japanese Communist Party's respondents 
said "yes." 
 
17) American Airlines' parent company CEO: "AMR will object if 
antitrust immunity is approved for Delta" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 11) (Excerpts) 
December 17, 2009 
 
AMR Corp. (AMR) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gerard Arpey held a 
press conference in Tokyo yesterday and emphasized: "We will support 
the reconstruction effort of Japan Airlines Corp. (JAL) through our 
oneworld alliance." AMR is the parent company of American Airlines, 
which is stepping up efforts to expand its partnership with 
embattled JAL. Arpey said that AMR would "forcefully object" if JAL 
and Delta Air Lines formed a partnership and applied for antitrust 
immunity (ATI). 
 
Prior to the press conference, Arpey met with Land, Infrastructure, 
Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara. Maehara said regarding 
which company should be JAL's partner: "That is what JAL, a private 
firm, should decide." But he added: "We are interested in which 
group JA will choose," indicating that the ministry would be 
indirectly involved in the selection process. 
 
18) METI set to specify in economic growth strategy goal of joining 
Trans-Pacific partnership agreement 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
December 17, 2009 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has started 
coordination to incorporate in the government's economic growth 
strategy the goal of joining a free trade agreement (FTA) signed 
between countries in the Pacific Rim region. Based on the judgment 
that it is an influential framework for Japan to deepen economic 
ties with other Asian countries, the ministry aims to join the 
agreement to pave the way for establishing a free trade zone 
covering all Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum member 
countries in the future. 
 
TOKYO 00002883  009 OF 009 
 
 
 
The framework METI is aiming to join is the Trans-Pacific Strategic 
Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) signed between Singapore, 
Brunei, Chile and New Zealand (in 2005). The U.S. and Australia have 
expressed their willingness to join it. Observers have pointed out 
that TPP may become the core of the envisioned free trade zone in 
the Asia-Pacific region, but the Japanese government has so far 
indicated that it would be difficult to participate in TPP. 
 
ROOS