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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000363 
 
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 02/24/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Futenma saga: 
3) Japan, U.S. to begin coordination on relocation site as soon as 
early March (Nikkei) 
4) Kamei criticizes nation over Futenma issue (Asahi) 
5) SDP slams plan for relocation within Okinawa (Yomiuri) 
 
Defense & security: 
6) Blue-ribbon panel confirms existence of two Japan-U.S. secret 
accords (Nikkei) 
7) Curtain to fall on investigation without clearing up issue of 
introduction of nukes by U.S. ships (Nikkei) 
8) Japan to bear cost of relocating service members' families from 
CONUS to Guam (Tokyo Shimbun) 
9) Reduction in burden on Okinawa lacking transparency (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
10) Japan resigned to scrapping of Tomahawk (Asahi) 
11) Japan to host nuclear disarmament conference (Mainichi) 
12) New basis policy on Northern Territories stresses edification of 
younger generation (Yomiuri) 
 
Politics: 
13) LDP continues Diet boycott (Nikkei) 
 
Economy: 
14) Toyota to apologize, deny fault with electronic control (Asahi) 
 
15) APEC senior officials meeting reveals regional economic 
integration complicated (Nikkei) 
16) Japan to provide ODA for solar power development (Nikkei) 
17) Japan will study IWC coastal whaling proposal (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Yomiuri 
Toyota denies problems with electronic throttle control system: U.S. 
sales unit chief apologizes for delay in recalls 
 
Mainichi: 
Ruling parties, New Komeito finalize settlement plan for Japan 
National Railways union members who were not hired by JR Group 
 
Nikkei: 
Existence of two Japan-U.S. secret pacts confirmed 
 
Sankei: 
Toyota hearing: Watershed for recovering consumer confidence 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Relocation of U.S. Marine Corps to Guam: Japan to shoulder 
relocation costs for families residing in U.S. 
 
Akahata: 
Lawmaker Daimon presses NTT East Japan, Hokkaido to stop temporary 
hire system 
 
 
TOKYO 00000363  002 OF 012 
 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Toyota president at hearing in U.S.: Key lies in sincerity to 
ensure safety 
(2) Excluding Korean schools from government's new subsidy system 
unreasonable 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Efforts needed for Iran to dispel suspicions 
(2) Letter to Hatoyama administration: We hope Maehara will take a 
straightforward approach 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Social security number system also needed for child-allowance 
measure 
(2) Thoroughly investigate Hokkaido teachers unions' collusive ties 
with politicians 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) More opportunities needed to examine contents of budget 
(2) Rice price indicator necessary 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Restart of Monju: Don't forget about safety, information 
disclosure 
(2) Use of separate surnames by married couples: Consider negative 
effects on children 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Restart of Monju: Overdependence on nuclear power undesirable 
(2) Reconsider significance of establishment of graduate schools for 
teaching profession 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Ozawa should be summoned before Diet over falsified fund 
scandal 
 
3) Japan, U.S. to launch coordination on possible Futenma relocation 
sites early next month 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 24, 2010 
 
A senior government official revealed yesterday that Japan and the 
United States will, in effect, launch coordination on where to 
relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, with 
the Defense Ministry/Self-Defense Forces inaugurating a study with 
U.S. military staff officers in early March. 
 
Prior to coordination between Japan and the United States, the 
government is scheduled to receive a list of candidate sites from 
the ruling camp at a meeting of the Okinawa base issues examination 
committee of the government and the ruling parties to be held 
shortly. 
 
4) Kamei on base issue: A considerable number of Japanese people are 
out of their minds 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 24, 2010 
 
 
TOKYO 00000363  003 OF 012 
 
 
Referring to the fact that there are no moves in prefectures other 
than Okinawa to host U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma (in 
Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture), Shizuka Kamei, state minister for 
financial affairs and postal reform, said yesterday at a press 
conference: "A considerable number of the Japanese people are out of 
their minds. Although they want to impose the burden on others, they 
don't want to accept it themselves." He appears to have been 
criticizing the public because he wanted to underscore his view that 
there is no other choice but to relocate the Futenma base within 
Okinawa. 
 
The People's New Party (PNP), which is headed by Kamei, is now 
looking into the possibility of moving the Futenma base to the 
inland area of Camp Schwab (in Nago City, Okinawa). Kamei said, 
"Relocating the base out of Okinawa or out of Japan would obviously 
be best, but there is no place that is willing to host Futenma." He 
then said that relocating the Futenma base within Okinawa "is not 
the best choice but a better one." 
 
However, there is a gap between the PNP and the Social Democratic 
Party (SDP), which insists that Futenma be relocated out of the 
prefecture or out of Japan. Kamei also stated: "Since there is a 
danger that discord will make it difficult to reach a conclusion, it 
would be better not to make a decision at present." 
 
5) SDP strongly opposed to Futenma relocation within Okinawa 
Prefecture 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
February 24, 2010 
 
The Social Democratic Party (SDP), part of the tripartite ruling 
coalition led by the Democratic Party of Japan, is strongly opposing 
the idea of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station 
from its current location in Okinawa Prefecture to another site in 
the island prefecture. 
 
On this issue, the People's New Party (PNP), also a constituent of 
the three-party ruling coalition, has worked out a set of two plans 
for Futenma relocation within Okinawa Prefecture: 1) building a 
land-based replacement facility on the premises of the U.S. Marine 
Corps' Camp Schwab (located in the prefecture's northern coastal 
city of Nago and other municipalities); and 2) merging the heliport 
functions of Futenma airfield with the U.S. Kadena Air Base. In 
addition, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano met with Okinawa 
Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on Feb. 20. In that meeting, Nakaima 
maintained that relocating the Futenma airfield facility outside 
Okinawa Prefecture is the "best" option. Hirano, however, said there 
might be a "better" option, showing understanding for Futenma 
relocation within the prefecture. 
 
Kantoku Teruya, chairman of the SDP's Diet affairs committee, met 
yesterday in the Diet with Mikio Shimoji, chief of the PNP's policy 
board. Teruya told Shimoji that it would be better for the PNP not 
to present its plans for Futenma relocation within Okinawa 
Prefecture to a joint review committee of the government and the 
ruling parties. However, Shimoji did not respond. 
 
In addition, Consumer Affairs Minister Fukushima, who heads the SDP, 
met the press yesterday and criticized Hirano's remark, saying: "He 
should do his best, not better. I've yet to hear that the government 
has fully discussed the option of relocating Futenma airfield 
 
TOKYO 00000363  004 OF 012 
 
 
outside Japan or outside Okinawa." Hirano, however, stressed in a 
press conference yesterday evening that the government is now in the 
process of looking into all possible options from scratch, saying: 
"The review committee and the government do not base our discussions 
on the option of building a land-based facility (within an inland 
area of Camp Schwab)." 
 
6) MOFA experts' panel confirms two Japan-U.S. secret agreements on 
Korean contingencies, redeployment of nuclear arms in Okinawa 
 
NIKKEI (Top play) (Full) 
February 24, 2010 
 
The contents of the draft of the report to be published by the 
experts' committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), which 
is tasked with investigating the alleged secret diplomatic 
agreements signed between Japan and the U.S., including those signed 
at the time of the revision of the bilateral security treaty in 
1960, were revealed on Feb. 23. The panel was able to confirm the 
existence of the secret agreements on the free use of U.S. military 
bases in Japan in a contingency on the Korean peninsula and on the 
redeployment of nuclear weapons in Okinawa. The report points out 
that no agreement was reached on the controversial secret accord on 
U.S. vessels' introduction of nuclear arms at the time of the 
security treaty's revision, with the two sides adopting different 
interpretations of this matter. This will be the first time that the 
truth about the secret agreements, whose existence the government 
has consistently denied, will be revealed. 
 
With the experts' panel confirming the existence of two secret 
agreements, the Hatoyama administration will revise the government's 
position under the Liberal Democratic Party administrations. In 
which case, it will have to make a decision on whether these two 
secret agreements should be regarded as void and should be 
abrogated. The government will coordinate with the U.S. side in 
advance before making a decision. 
 
The experts' panel has been investigating four secret agreements 
signed at the time of the security treaty revision in 1960 and 
around the time of Okinawa's reversion to Japanese administration in 
¶1972. One agreement that has been confirmed is the one signed in 
1960 authorizing the U.S. forces to use U.S. military bases in Japan 
freely, without prior consultations with Japan, in a contingency on 
the Korean peninsula. Under normal circumstances, the U.S. forces 
would have had to consult with Japan in advance if combat operations 
were to be launched from Japan. The secret agreement treated this 
case as an exception. 
 
Another secret agreement that has been confirmed was about the 
redeployment of nuclear weapons in Okinawa in a contingency after 
consultations between the two countries. This was signed before 
Okinawa's reversion (in 1972). The family of former Prime Minister 
Eisaku Sato has kept the original copy of the secret agreement 
signed by Sato and President Richard Nixon, and the experts' panel 
has concluded that the document is authentic. 
 
The issue now will be what to do with these two secret agreements. 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has stated that he intends to uphold 
the three non-nuclear principles of "not possessing, producing, or 
introducing nuclear weapons." Since the agreement on the 
redeployment of nuclear arms in Okinawa contradicts these three 
principles, it is likely that the agreement's validity will no 
 
TOKYO 00000363  005 OF 012 
 
 
longer be recognized. 
 
On the other hand, with regard to the "secret nuclear agreement" of 
1960, which has been the focus in the secret agreement issue, the 
panel is expected to conclude that Japan and the U.S. did not reach 
a clear agreement in 1960. 
 
This "secret agreement" was about not regarding calls on Japanese 
ports and passage through Japanese territorial waters by U.S. 
vessels with nuclear arms on board as introduction of nuclear 
weapons into Japan and allowing such port calls and passage. 
According to the experts' panel's investigations, while records of 
Japan-U.S. consultations were found, no document attesting to the 
actual signing of the secret agreement was found. However, the panel 
reckons that it is highly possible that the Japanese side has 
acquiesced in the port calls and crossings, accepting the U.S. 
interpretation, since the 1970s. 
 
No relevant documents were found on the secret agreement on the 
government's paying for the cost of restoring (military base land) 
to its original state and other expenses at the time of Okinawa's 
reversion, which should have been borne by the United States. No 
definitive documents have been found on the U.S. side either, so the 
panel is expected to conclude that it will be difficult to prove its 
existence. 
 
Four secret agreements investigated by the experts' committee 
 
Agreement Contents Verdict 
Secret agreement on port calls, passage of U.S. ships with nuclear 
arms on board (1960) Ports calls and passage not considered 
introduction of nuclear arms, to be allowed without prior 
consultations No agreement was reached between Japan and the U.S. on 
this secret accord in 1960 
Secret agreement on the free use of bases in a contingency on the 
Korean peninsula (1960) Prior consultations not required for combat 
operations of U.S. forces in Japan in a contingency on the Korean 
peninsula Secret agreement exists 
Secret agreement on redeployment of nuclear arms after Okinawa's 
reversion (1969) Redeployment of nuclear arms in Okinawa in a 
contingency after prior consultations Secret agreement exists 
Secret agreement on paying cost of Okinawa's reversion on the U.S.'s 
behalf (1971) Japan's payment of expenses such as cost of restoring 
(military base land) to original state on the U.S.'s behalf Relevant 
documents not found 
 
7) Commentary: Investigation to be concluded without clarifying 
crucial secret agreement on introduction of nuclear arms into Japan 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 24, 2010 
 
The draft report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs experts' 
committee only confirms the existence of two secret agreements, on a 
contingency on the Korean peninsula and on the redeployment of 
nuclear arms in Okinawa, out of the four secret accords being 
investigated. Since no clear evidence was found on the "secret 
agreement" on the introduction of nuclear weapons, it is likely that 
the investigation will be concluded without clarifying the truth 
about the introduction of nuclear arms by U.S. vessels. 
 
The government will convey the contents of the report to the U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00000363  006 OF 012 
 
 
government shortly. The crucial secret agreement in the panel's 
investigations is the secret agreement on Japan's acquiescing in 
port calls and passage through Japanese territorial waters by ships 
with nuclear weapons on board allegedly signed at the time of the 
revision of the Japan-U.S. security treaty in 1960. This is because 
such an agreement runs counter to Japan's three non-nuclear 
principles. 
 
The U.S. side has published several diplomatic documents attesting 
to the existence of the agreement, and the opposition parties have 
pursued this issue repeatedly in the Diet. However, the report will 
conclude that at least in 1960, the Japanese side had not concluded 
a secret agreement allowing port calls and passage of ships carrying 
nuclear arms. 
 
On the other hand, according to documents on the U.S. side, there 
were indications that the U.S. government was able to obtain Japan's 
consent on such port calls and passages. It appears that there was a 
serious gap in understanding between the two countries on the 
existence of the secret agreement. 
 
Subsequently, despite its awareness of this difference in 
interpretation, the Japanese government has stated repeatedly in the 
Diet that ports calls and passage of (ships carrying) nuclear 
weapons are not allowed. While it seems that there is a desire to 
treat this as a "problem of the past," since ship-based nuclear arms 
that were likely to come to Japan were removed in the early 1990s, 
this issue may give rise to disputes in the future owing to the 
possibility of the redeployment of nuclear weapons. 
 
8) Relocation of U.S. Marine Corps to Guam: Japan to shoulder 
relocation costs for families residing in U.S. 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Full) 
February 24, 2010 
 
It has been learned that the cost of the construction of housing for 
the families of U.S. Marines to be shouldered by Japan include the 
cost of the transfer of their families from the U.S. mainland. Japan 
will construct 3,500 housing units at the cost of 2.55 billion 
dollars (roughly 232 billion yen). 
 
The Defense Ministry has been shouldering the cost needed for the 
realignment of the U.S. military presence in Japan as a relocation 
cost. However, this is the first case in which the ministry 
shoulders the cost of relocation abroad. It is unprecedented for 
Japan to shoulder the cost of the relocation of Marines within the 
U.S. (from the U.S. mainland to Guam). 
 
The agreement on the U.S. Forces Japan realignment notes that 8,000 
Marines and their 9,000 family members are to be relocated from 
Okinawa to Guam as a measure to reduce the burden on Okinawa. 
However, according to a survey conducted by Okinawa Prefecture in 
September 2008, the actual number of Marines assigned to Okinawa is 
12,402. Their family members number 7,596. If 8,000 Marines are 
relocated to Guam, the remaining number is about 4,000, which would 
cause concern about their deterrence capability. The number of their 
family members would be less than zero. As such, the specifics of 
the agreement have been called into question. 
 
Until now, the government just explained that the number of Marines 
to be relocated is not an actual number, and the number of family 
 
TOKYO 00000363  007 OF 012 
 
 
members is a rough figure, as then Foreign Minister Hirofumi 
Nakasone noted at the Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Feb. 
26, 2009. 
 
Regarding families who will be transferred from the U.S. mainland to 
Guam, a senior Defense Ministry official replied to a query from 
this newspaper: "Okinawa is overseas for the U.S. As such, some 
Marines are assigned unaccompanied by family. However, since Guam is 
a U.S. territory, they will basically be assigned accompanied by 
family. We will charge rent." This official explained that providing 
housing to families who will be transferred from the U.S. is an 
expenditure occurred as a result of the U.S. Marines' relocation to 
Guam. This official also said that at the moment, the ministry does 
not know the number of families to be transferred from the U.S. 
mainland. 
 
9) Reduction in burden on Okinawa becoming uncertain 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
February 24, 2010 
 
(Commentary) 
 
It is becoming uncertain whether the burden on Okinawa will actually 
be reduced as per the aim of the overall plan for the realignment of 
U.S. forces in Japan. It has been learned that family members from 
the U.S. mainland are included among the 9,000 family members of 
Marines to be transferred to Guam. If that is so, "transfer from 
Okinawa" that was specified in the written agreement cannot be taken 
literally. 
 
On the assumption that 8,000 Marines in Okinawa and their 9,000 
dependents will move to Guam in accordance with an agreement between 
Japan and the U.S., the two sides decided to build 3,500 houses. But 
the Japanese government has no grasp of how many military personnel 
and their families will actually move to Guam. 
 
Japan has agreed with the U.S. to bear 6.090 million dollars 
(approximately 554 billion yen) of the total cost of relocating 
Marines to Guam. Last February, Japan signed an accord with the U.S. 
to pay 2.8 billion dollars (approximately 255 billion yen) in costs 
for constructing the headquarters office building and barracks for 
non-married personnel. Based on the accord, Japan will disburse 34.6 
billion yen for fiscal 2009 and 46.8 billion yen for fiscal 2010. 
 
Although the amounts to be paid to the U.S. as construction costs 
have been decided even in single digits, it remains uncertain 
whether barracks and houses will be constructed based on the fixed 
number or the real number of those who will move in. 
 
A senior Defense Ministry official indicated that the number of 
houses to be constructed might be reduced, saying: "Houses will be 
built for those who will move in, so houses for which there are no 
occupants will not be constructed." 
 
His remark means that the number of Marines scheduled to move to 
Guam will be smaller than planned. Now that a plan to relocate the 
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within the prefecture is 
emerging in the government, achieving the goal of reducing the 
burden on Okinawa is becoming more and more uncertain. 
 
(Shigeru Handa, editorial board member) 
 
TOKYO 00000363  008 OF 012 
 
 
 
10) Japan to accept Tomahawk retirement 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
February 24, 2010 
 
The U.S. government will likely indicate its intention in a "Nuclear 
Posture Review" report, which will be worked out in March, to scrap 
the Tomahawk, a cruise missile that can be armed with a nuclear 
warhead. This is because possession of the Tomahawk, described as "a 
relic of the Cold War," is now less significant. In Japan, which is 
under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, there were calls for the continued 
deployment of the Tomahawk. However, the Hatoyama cabinet will 
accept its retirement. 
 
The Japanese government, with the change of administration from the 
Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party of Japan, has moved 
in the direction of accepting the Tomahawk's retirement. Foreign 
Minister Katsuya Okada, meeting the press yesterday, stressed that 
Japan is not in a position to say anything specific about whether or 
not they (the U.S.) should stop deploying the missile. Late last 
year, Okada sent a letter to U.S. officials, including Secretary of 
State Clinton, to convey this view direct to them. 
 
Some Japanese government officials take for granted the U.S. 
decision to retire the Tomahawk missile. One official remarked that 
it is only natural to scrap outdated weapons. "The continued 
deployment of the Tomahawk had a symbolic meaning," said Keiichi 
Nogi, a commentator on military affairs. "Even after the missile is 
gone," Nogi added, "there will be no change in U.S. strategy." 
Another expert noted: "It looks like most Tomahawks are 
unserviceable." 
 
However, scrapping the Tomahawk means will reduce nuclear options. 
In his letter Okada asked U.S. officials to explain how the Tomahawk 
retirement will affect the United States' extended deterrence 
(nuclear umbrella) for Japan and how the United States will 
compensate for its scrapping. 
 
One Japanese government official said: "The United States probably 
means to say there's no need for concern (about the U.S. nuclear 
umbrella) since they still have many options, including 
submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM)." This can be 
interpreted to mean that the remaining nuclear arsenal is sufficient 
for deterrence. 
 
The U.S. government's possible plan to scrap the Tomahawk will 
likely have repercussions in the Diet debate on Japan's three 
nonnuclear principles following the Japanese government's 
announcement next month of the results of the investigation into 
secret pacts on introduction of nukes. This is because U.S. Navy 
ships carrying nuclear weapons would be less likely to call at 
Japanese ports or transit Japanese waters in view of the fact that 
the third principle bars the introduction of such weapons into 
Japan. However, some have pointed out that aircraft (carrying 
nuclear weapons) might fly to Japan or SLBM-carrying submarines 
might pass through Japan's territorial waters. 
 
11) Okada unveils plan for Japan to host an international conference 
on nuclear disarmament later this year 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000363  009 OF 012 
 
 
February 24, 2010 
 
Takenori Noguchi 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada announced in a press conference 
yesterday Japan's intention to host an international conference on 
nuclear disarmament in the second half of this year. International 
conferences on nuclear disarmament, including the Nuclear Security 
Summit, are scheduled to take place in the first half of this year. 
Japan wants to give a boost to the nuclear disarmament and 
nonproliferation trend as the only country to have suffered atomic 
bombing. If realized, this will be the first international nuclear 
disarmament conference hosted by Japan. 
 
With respect to the Nuclear Security Summit in April and the Nuclear 
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May, Okada 
emphatically said: "It is necessary for major powers and concerned 
countries to gather together to make efforts toward a world free of 
nuclear weapons even after achieving results (at those 
conferences)." However, regarding the possible host and participants 
for the envisaged international conference, he merely said they are 
"under consideration." 
 
Last April, (then) Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone announced that 
Japan would host an international nuclear disarmament conference in 
February 2010. (Then) Prime Minister Taro Aso expressed his 
willingness to make arrangements for hosting the event either in 
Hiroshima or Nagasaki. The plan has been in limbo since the change 
of administration. 
 
12) Government draft revision of Northern Territories basic policy 
places importance on enlightening the younger generation in order to 
resolve the issue 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 24, 2010 
 
The government yesterday presented a plan to amend the basic policy 
for quickly resolving the dispute over the Russia-held islands off 
Hokkaido, the so-called issue of the Northern Territories, to the 
ruling parties at a policy meeting of the Cabinet Office. Taking the 
aging of former islanders into account, the government plan includes 
wording such as "a strong will to have the territories returned 
should be shared by many Japanese people, including the younger 
generation," revealing the government policy of placing importance 
on enlightening the younger generation. A decision on the plan will 
be made in April. 
 
13) LDP continues to boycott Diet session 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
February 24, 2010 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the largest opposition party, 
continued to boycott Diet sessions yesterday. In the LDP, however, 
some members, out of fear that the party might fall into oblivion, 
have begun to look into proposing a motion calling for changing the 
government's budget in a move to search for an opportunity to return 
to Diet deliberations. 
 
The LDP boycotted a House of Representatives Budget Committee 
meeting in the morning and a Lower House plenary session in the 
 
TOKYO 00000363  010 OF 012 
 
 
afternoon, in which a briefing was presented and questions were 
asked about the child-allowance measure. As the condition for its 
return to deliberations, the LDP has insisted that the ruling camp 
respond to its call for summoning before the Diet those involved in 
politics and money scandals, including former secretaries to Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Democratic Party of Japan Secretary 
General Ichiro Ozawa. 
 
14) Toyota denies problems with electronic throttle control system 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Lead para.) 
February 24, 2010 
 
Public hearings on Toyota Motors' large-scale recalls of its 
vehicles for free repairs started in the House of Representatives of 
the U.S. Congress on the morning of Feb. 23. Jim Lentz, president of 
the U.S. sales unit of Toyota Motors, released the information that 
he will present in his testimony at a congressional hearing in 
advance. He admitted to a delay in conducting recalls of his 
company's vehicles and apologized for the mistake. However, 
concerning the electronic throttle control system suspected of 
having caused the sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles, which is 
the major focus of attention, he said, "I am confident that there 
are no problems with it." 
 
15) APEC senior working-level talks end: Interests conflicting over 
intra-regional economic integration 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 24, 2010 
 
The senior working-level talks hosted by the Asia-Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC) forum ended on Feb. 23. With interests of member 
nations and areas conflicting on the envisaged intra-regional 
economic integration, the main agenda item for this year's APEC 
meeting, host nation Japan was forced to coordinate discussions in a 
blind way. Since a major goal of APEC is to create a free trade zone 
covering the entire region, the government will without doubt be 
pressed to steer a difficult course in the run-up to the November 
summit. 
 
Japan posits paving the way for the Free Trade Area in the Asia 
Pacific (FTAAP) initiative, which covers the entire region, as this 
year's key challenge. It included in its basic guidelines for the 
domestic growth strategy, mapped out late last year, a deadline for 
achieving the initiative, noting that FTAAP should be created with 
2020 as the goal year. However, it did not refer to the goal year at 
the meeting. A participant who represented Japan revealed that 
consideration was given to the sense of alarm some countries harbor 
with regard to the FTAAP. 
 
There are free trade zone initiatives in the region. Member nations 
are examining the advantages and disadvantages of these initiatives 
as they search for a framework in which they should participate. 
Against the background of a struggle for leadership of APEC, Japan's 
capabilities will be put to the test as it seeks to have members 
cooperate. 
 
16) Japan extended total of 11.5 billion yen in ODA for solar energy 
generation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 4) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000363  011 OF 012 
 
 
February 24, 2010 
 
The Japanese government is supporting photovoltaic generation in 
developing countries in Asia, Africa, and other regions by providing 
grant aid through its official development assistance (ODA) program. 
To date, Japan has extended a total of 11.5 billion yen in aid to 18 
countries/regions. Japan's assistance is intended to support 
developing countries' efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas 
emissions and to help Japanese companies make inroads into foreign 
markets by introducing renewable energies. 
 
It is part of the "Hatoyama initiative," which was announced by 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama with the aim of assisting developing 
countries' efforts to combat global warming. In December, Djibouti 
became the first country to receive such aid from Japan. Morocco and 
other countries have followed Djibouti. 
 
17) Japan regards IWC chairman's proposal as worth considering 
 
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February 24, 2010 
 
Hidemitsu Kibe, London 
 
International Whaling Commission Chairman Cristian Maquieira put 
together a proposal allowing Japan under IWC direction to hunt some 
whales in the Southern Hemisphere and coastal waters. The chairman's 
proposal is aimed at searching for ways to resolve the whaling issue 
through discussions without specifying a limit to the number of 
whales that can be hunted. Although the Japanese government regards 
the proposal as worth considering, antiwhaling organizations are 
reacting strongly to it. 
 
In connection with Japan's whaling in the Southern Hemisphere, the 
Australian government has announced that If Japan does not agree to 
gradually discontinue its whaling, Australia will bring the case to 
the International Court of Justice. The problem has become serious 
due to the ongoing harassment of a Japanese whaling vessel by a 
certain antiwhaling group. 
 
The IWC has been unable to conduct substantial discussions on the 
issue because of deepening discord between pro- and anti-whaling 
groups. As a result, Maquieira has proposed a plan that will allow 
Japan to hunt in the Southern Hemisphere and coastal waters by 
substantially reducing the number of whales hunted, in return for 
Japan suspending its current research whaling for ten years. 
 
However, Greenpeace is criticizing the proposal as dangerous 
backpedaling toward the 20th century in which whales were driven to 
the verge of extinction. 
 
Meanwhile, the Japanese government intends to come up with a new 
proposal with an eye on the June IWC annual meeting. There is a plan 
being floated in the government in which commercial whaling in 
Japanese coastal waters would be resumed in place of research 
whaling. 
 
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu 
avoided commenting at a press conference yesterday, noting, "Since 
there are various views, we can't put our cards on the table." 
 
Akamatsu also said, "We are making preparations while looking into 
 
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the possibility of 60 to 70 percent of our assertions being 
accepted," indicating that Japan is willing to make concessions in 
reviewing its research whaling based on its negotiations with other 
countries. 
ROOS