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Viewing cable 09TOKYO2953, DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 12/31/09

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09TOKYO2953 2009-12-31 03:47 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO8631
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2953/01 3650347
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 310347Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8480
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 0472
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8126
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1938
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5238
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8627
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2472
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9140
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8564
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002953 
 
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 12/31/09 
 
INDEX: 
(1) Editorial: Japan-India security cooperation: Prime Minister must 
reacknowledge the importance of the United States (Sankei) 
 
(2) Government making serious efforts to formulate EPA strategy to 
promote negotiations with Australia, ROK, India, China, others 
(Asahi) 
 
(3) First 100 days of U.S. Ambassador to Japan: Sudden storms 
(Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: Japan-India security cooperation: Prime Minister must 
reacknowledge the importance of the United States 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 31, 2009 
 
In his recent summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan 
Singh, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama agreed on an action plan to 
promote security cooperation and defense exchanges centering on 
periodical vice-minister-level talks of foreign and defense 
officials. 
 
Sharing values with Japan and the United States, India also has 
common interests with Japan in the war against terrorism, combating 
piracy, and the defense of sea lanes. Except for the United States, 
India is the second country after Australia for Japan to hold 
vice-minister-level talks with an eye to (two-plus-two) 
ministerial-level talks. We hope to see Japan-India security 
cooperation expanded and deepened in order to put the brakes on 
China's military rise as well. 
 
Nevertheless, the development of strategic cooperation between 
Japan, the United States, Australia, and India must be achieved by 
always focusing on the Japan-U.S. alliance. Prime Minister Hatoyama 
should reacknowledge the presence and role of the United States, and 
make efforts to rebuild and strengthen the relationship of trust 
between the United States and Japan. 
 
Along with China, India, which has a population of over one billion, 
has increased its presence in Asia and the world. Japan can 
cooperate with India in a wide range of fields, such as through 
talks on an economic partnership agreement (EPA), climate change, 
nuclear nonproliferation, and industrial and technological 
cooperation, in addition to security and defense. Japan also needs 
to continue to urge India to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban 
Treaty (CTBT). 
 
The vice-minister-level talks, on which an agreement was reached 
recently, will be launched in accordance with a joint declaration 
signed in October 2008 by then Prime Minister Taro Aso and Prime 
Minister Singh. For the time being, the talks will focus on: (1) the 
defense of sea lanes connecting the Middle East and East Asia, (2) 
antipiracy measures, and (3) disaster relief. 
 
In a summit meeting held late last month, U.S. President Barack 
Obama also announced his intention to strengthen strategic 
cooperation between the United States and India, saying that the two 
countries are indispensable partners to each other. It is natural 
for Japan, the United States, Australia, and India, which share such 
 
TOKYO 00002953  002 OF 007 
 
 
values as freedom and democracy, to deepen their multilayered 
cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. 
 
The question is whether the Prime Minister intends to consistently 
adhere to such strategic thinking. The path to Japan-India 
cooperation was laid out under the previous administration led by 
the Liberal Democratic Party and was solidified by a visit to India 
(in the summer of 2007) by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a 
summit by former Prime Minister Taro Aso. It was a matter of course 
for Prime Minister Hatoyama to make the decision to continue this 
policy course. 
 
The Prime Minister enthusiastically said it was good that an 
agreement was reached on sea lanes and combating piracy. But he 
seems to have a serious lack of awareness of the United States' role 
in this field. 
 
America's support is essential in all areas, including cooperation 
between the Indian Navy and Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force. 
Despite that, the United States has become more distrustful of Japan 
due to the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and other matters. 
Even an American newspaper wrote that the "United States is 
concerned about and distrustful of the mercurial prime minister." 
For the sake of the security and national interests of Japan, the 
Prime Minister should make decisions that place top priority on the 
Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
(2) Government making serious efforts to formulate EPA strategy to 
promote negotiations with Australia, ROK, India, China, others 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 31, 2009 
 
Shingo Takano 
 
The Hatoyama administration will start vigorous discussions to 
promote economic partnership agreements (EPAs) aimed at liberalizing 
trade with the major countries and regions, among other things. The 
Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and other ministries 
will formulate an "EPA strategy," which will serve as the new 
administration's basic policy, and will include policies on 
negotiations with the U.S. and the European Union (EU). However, the 
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) is taking a 
cautious stance out of its concern about the impact on domestic 
agriculture. Some complications can be expected. 
 
One of METI's top political appointees says enthusiastically: "We 
would like to formulate an EPA strategy as soon as possible." A 
senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official has a plan to 
draw up a strategy before the next round of EPA negotiations with 
Australia next spring. 
 
The two ministries are keen on stepping up the formulation of a 
strategy in order to find a breakthrough for progress in the 
sluggish negotiations with Australia, the Republic of Korea (ROK), 
and India. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met Indian Prime Minister 
Manmohan Singh on Dec. 29, but they merely agreed on "accelerating 
the negotiations" for a Japan-India EPA. 
( 
A mid-term policy to enter into negotiations with the U.S. and EU 
will also be studied. The business sector has been strongly 
demanding that the new administration establish its negotiation 
 
TOKYO 00002953  003 OF 007 
 
 
stance to enter into formal negotiations with the U.S. and EU, but 
this has not happened. 
 
The reason why certain government offices are keen on developing a 
strategy is because Japan has been lagging behind the ROK, which is 
a trading nation like Japan. The ROK made a bold decision to 
liberalize its market for agricultural products and succeeded in 
reaching an agreement with the U.S. and the EU on a free trade 
agreement (FTA), which is the main component of an EPA. On the other 
hand, Japan has not made any significant progress since its EPA with 
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took effect in 
December 2008, except for initiating negotiations with Peru. This is 
because there are no more countries and regions with which Japan can 
easily negotiate compromises on the liberalization of its 
agricultural market. 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada proposed in October the creation of a 
committee to discuss ways to promote EPAs, consisting of the MOFA, 
METI, and MAFF ministers and the finance minister. The committee met 
in November and December and has been looking at ways to move 
forward through political leadership. 
 
However, there is a persistent opinion that "the success of the 
discussions depends on MAFF" (according to a senior METI official). 
During the recent general election, the Democratic Party of Japan 
had at first included the "signing of a Japan-U.S. FTA" in its 
manifesto but later changed this to "promoting negotiations for a 
FTA." This was because of the farmers' strong resistance to the 
influx of cheap U.S. agricultural and livestock products. There is 
an opinion that since a House of Councillors election is taking 
place next summer, the government will not be able to formulate a 
strategy that will lead to the liberalization of the agricultural 
market in consideration of the farming vote. 
 
Status of EPAs with the major countries and regions 
 
Country/region status issues 
ROK Talks started in December 2003, suspended after November 2004 
Gap remains with the ROK worried about increasing trade deficit with 
Japan 
India Talks started in January 2007 Stuck over India's demand for 
simplifying approval of generic drugs; on Dec. 29 leaders of both 
countries agreed on "accelerating negotiations" 
Australia Talks started in April 2007 Failure to reach compromise on 
Australia's demand for broad liberalization of agricultural market 
China Study by private sector going on under the Japan-China-ROK 
framework; joint industry-government-academic study to start in 
first half of 2010 Extent of China's demand for market 
liberalization unclear 
U.S. Study by private sector going on Persistent concerns about the 
U.S. as a major agricultural country; prospects uncertain 
EU Study by private sector going on Joint report issued in July 2008 
but failed to lead to actual negotiations 
 
(3) First 100 days of U.S. Ambassador to Japan: Sudden storms 
 
NIKKEI ONLINE (Full) 
December 24, 2009 
 
Ken Moriyasu, international news reporter 
 
It is probably quite unusual for an ambassador to Japan to be so 
 
TOKYO 00002953  004 OF 007 
 
 
busy from the beginning of his tour. Before he could finish making 
courtesy calls in Nagata-cho and Kasumigaseki, the change of 
administration took place in Japan. He ended up having to do another 
round of courtesy calls on the cabinet ministers. There were 
mounting issues facing him on his first visit to Japan. He suddenly 
became a negotiator for the issue of the relocation of the Futenma 
Air Station and was also given the heavy responsibility of ensuring 
the success of the President's visit to Japan. We looked back on the 
first 100 days of U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, who has had to 
brave sudden storms. 
 
Ambassador Roos delivered a speech at a hotel in Tokyo on the 
afternoon of Dec. 4. Immediately after his speech, he was informed 
that the Japanese side had given up on making a decision on the 
Futenma issue before the end of the year, which made him furious 
(Kyodo News). 
 
Interest in nurturing venture businesses at the beginning 
 
Roos arrived at Narita Airport with his wife Susan and two children 
on Aug. 19. He told reporters that, "In Silicon Valley, nothing is 
impossible. If Japan and the United States work together, there is 
nothing we cannot accomplish." He spoke of aspirations befitting a 
former lawyer in Silicon Valley. 
 
The first things he saw in Japan struck him as novel. On the first 
weekend, he and his family rode the subway and went to see a Bon 
Festival dance near his official residence. He was impressed with 
the cleanliness of the subway and exclaimed: "It's so clean!" 
 
On the morning of Aug. 25, he made a courtesy call on then Prime 
Minister Taro Aso, 69, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Kantei). When Roos said, "We are both alumni of Stanford 
University," Aso smiled and responded with: "We may be fellow 
alumni, but there's a 15-year age difference between us." Normally, 
the next meeting would have been with the foreign minister, but 
Roos, who hails from the business sector, headed to the Ministry of 
Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). He hit it off well with METI 
Minister Toshihiro Nikai, 70. They had dinner on Sep. 8 and 
discussed nurturing venture businesses and other subjects. When 
President Obama delivered a speech at the Suntory Hall in Minato 
Ward, Tokyo during his visit to Japan in mid-November, he invited 
Nikai and asked him to take a walk together before entering the 
hall. 
 
The main issue that Roos focused on in the early days of his tour 
was why is it that venture businesses like Google do not thrive in 
Japan? Is this a structural problem? 
 
On Sep. 7, Roos visited the U.S. Department of State's Foreign 
Service Institute Japanese Language and Area Training Center in 
Yamate, Yokohama City. He smiled as he brought a freshly grilled 
hamburger over from the barbecue and said: "Okay, I'm going to eat." 
The purpose of his visit was to cheer up the American diplomat 
trainees who were studying Japanese day in and day out. He explained 
his business experience during his Silicon Valley days to a trainee 
who listened intensely. 
 
"Every successful company in Silicon Valley has experienced risks. 
What you need is risk-taking, raising of capital, maintaining good 
management, universities that provide the knowledge, and a financial 
market that nurtures businesses. Lifetime employment is unheard of 
 
TOKYO 00002953  005 OF 007 
 
 
in Silicon Valley. In that respect, the culture is very different 
from Japan. However, Japan has many positive assets. I think 
American investors can help in that area." 
 
Toughening of stance after defense secretary's visit; birth of 
Hatoyama administration on Sep. 16 changed tide 
 
On Sep. 24, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, 62, stated unequivocally, 
"Basically, I have no intention to change our thinking" on 
relocating the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa out of the prefecture. 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, 56, said that, "I would like to 
fully understand why the current plan came about when there were 
various other proposals." He asserted that the plan to integrate 
Futenma with Kadena Air Base should be reexamined. 
 
Roos held several meetings with Okada and Defense Minister Toshimi 
Kitazawa, 71, and reiterated that the existing plan is the best 
option. At this stage, the two sides were still exchanging views 
quietly. 
 
The visit of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, 66, to Japan on Oct. 
20-21 brought on the toughening of Roos's stance. Gates, who was 
also defense secretary under the Bush administration, is a 
Republican but is also well respected by the Democrats as a sensible 
man. He did not concede to Japan's demands at all. He did not smile 
once during his entire stay. He also refused to receive a salute 
from the Self-Defense Forces honor guard as a sign of protest. Roos 
sensed the Pentagon's tough attitude of not agreeing to any 
revisions to the current relocation plan. 
 
On Nov. 10, Japan and the U.S. agreed on setting up a new working 
group on Futenma relocation. Okada and Kitazawa participated from 
the Japanese side, while Roos served as the proxy of the U.S. 
secretaries of state and defense. This working group became an 
asymmetrical body in terms of protocol, while Roos came to take on 
very serious responsibilities. The Japanese prime minister, foreign 
minister, and defense minister all said different things. He became 
increasingly frustrated. 
 
From a brief respite to "rage" 
 
On Nov. 13, the U.S. presidential aircraft Air Force One touched 
down at Haneda Airport and the Ambassador's friend and boss, the 
President of the United States, arrived in Japan. The Ambassador and 
the President hugged each oth'MtQDQ7QQw|Cball is Mr. 
and Mrs. Roos's favorite pastime, but Japanese TV stations do not 
show college football games. They had a hard time finding a way to 
receive the broadcast. Through a process of trial and error, they 
found out that the game would be shown on the Internet, so it would 
be possible to watch the game in real time at the Ambassador's 
official residence. Roos was so happy about this he decided to 
invite the Prime Minister and his wife. The fact that Stanford lost 
that game might have been a bad omen. 
 
TOKYO 00002953  006 OF 007 
 
 
 
In his speech delivered at a hotel in Tokyo on Dec. 4, Roos said: 
"Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the revision of the 
Japan-U.S. security treaty. It will take serious work to define the 
future of the alliance. It will also require that we resolve the 
current issues we are now working through expeditiously," calling 
for a decision on the Futenma issue before the end of the year. 
Right after the speech, he was told at the working group's meeting 
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Japan had given up on making 
a decision before year-end. He was enraged. 
 
Soon after he took up his post as Ambassador, Roos said with a beer 
in his hand: "The law firm I ran in Silicon Valley employed over 700 
talented lawyers and had 3,000 corporate clients. The running of the 
embassy is probably a bit easier than that." He probably didn't 
anticipate the rough sailing he was about to face. However, solving 
difficult problems is his forte. This is an opportunity for him to 
demonstrate the skills he developed as a lawyer in Silicon Valley. 
 
(Related column) Ambassador Roos and President Obama 
 
Mr. Roos has consistently been described as "a person close to the 
President." However, what is this description of "closeness" based 
on? We asked him the following question in an interview on Sep. 9, 
three weeks after he assumed his post: "How frequently are you in 
contact with the President? Do you call him or send him e-mail?" 
 
The reply was dismissive: "I have a relationship of trust with the 
President. I don't want to discuss the details of our methods (of 
communication)." 
 
The real answer was found via an unexpected source. 
 
In late October, President Obama initiated an interesting 
experiment. He began to make public the names of all visitors to the 
White House. A log listing the name, arrival time, departure time, 
destination, room visited, and purpose of visit of all visitors 
would be published. 
 
Information on who a leader meets with and when he meets with them 
is top-level intelligence. The log clearly reveals how much time the 
President spends with people who are supposedly "close" to him. 
 
This log shows that Ambassador Roos is one of the ambassadors who 
have visited the White House most frequently. The information from 
the log reveals even how Roos came to be appointed as ambassador. 
 
A reception to celebrate St. Patrick's Day was held at the White 
House in the early evening on March 17. Roos, a major donor of 
political funds during the presidential election, was invited to 
this party. However, before the reception began, Roos had a meeting 
lasting for 80 minutes from 3:53 p.m. with Donald Gips, a senior 
member of Obama's transition team, at the Old Executive Office 
Building (OEB), which is the administrative wing of the White House. 
It is believed that they took advantage of the reception to discuss 
the possibility of Roos's joining the administration. 
 
The "rank" of officials Roos met gradually went up. On June 10, Roos 
met Jeffrey Bader, National Security Council senior director for 
Asian affairs, for about two hours. On June 22, he met again for one 
hour with one of the President's closest confidants, Senior 
Presidential Adviser and Assistant Valerie Jarrett. 
 
TOKYO 00002953  007 OF 007 
 
 
 
Finally, Roos had a one-on-one meeting with President Obama at the 
Oval Office on Aug. 6. Roos visited the White House six times before 
he took up his post in Tokyo. (Since the data is not published until 
three months have elapsed, information on Roos's visits after he 
became ambassador will only become available in late December, at 
the earliest.) 
 
ROOS