Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 08/31/06

VZCZCXRO9723
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #4978/01 2430110
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 310110Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5899
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE 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/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA//J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/COMPATWING ONE KAMI SEYA JA
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0431
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7862
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1200
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 7667
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8970
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3984
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0114
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1786

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 004978

SIPDIS

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 08/31/06

Index:

1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule

4) Prime Minister Koizumi's Central Asia tour aims at avoiding
international scramble for energy resources through diplomacy

Fisheries dispute with Russia:
5) Russia releases two members of Japanese fishing crew, while Japan
focusing on how to prevent recurrence of more incidents in waters
near northern isles
6) Senior Vice Foreign Minister Kaneda to Moscow to plead for early
release of captain of captured fishing boat

7) Vice Foreign Minister Yachi to Seoul next week to try to head off
more trouble with ROK over surveys in disputed waters near Takeshima
(Dokdo) isles

8) LDP subcommittee drafts permanent bill for overseas SDF dispatch
that gives government discretionary authority to send troops without
UN resolution

Political campaign:
9) Abe to come out with policy platform tomorrow, centered on
constitutional revision, educational reform
10) Abe makes political rounds, meets Nakasone

11) Tanigaki's presidential campaign platform includes revising
Constitution to allow use of collective self-defense, clarification
of fiscal resources

12) Rightist who torched Koichi Kato's home and office admitted he
was set off by Kato's Yasukuni remarks

13) Private sector members of government fiscal and economic council
all being changed

14) Budget ceilings set, with sparks flying over ODA outlays, tax
transfers to local governments

15) Kyoto Protocol: CO2 emissions reduction set at 5.9 billion tons
for 2008-2012

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
Reports from Samawah (Part 1): Gratitude and discontent

Mainichi, Yomiuri, and Tokyo Shimbun:
Tokyo named Japan's candidate for 2016 Summer Olympics, beating
Fukuoka 33-22

Nihon Keizai:
Honda, Nissan to purchase 80% of parts locally in China to reduce
costs

Sankei:
Abe to propose national college school year to begin in September

TOKYO 00004978 002 OF 010

and compulsory voluntary activities after high school graduation

Akahata:
Japanese Communist Party to call for continued nursing care,
equipment, and reduced insurance premiums

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Tokyo named Japan's candidate for 2016 Summer Olympics
(2) Oji gives up bid for Hokuetsu

Mainichi:
(1) Oji's M&A bid for Hokuetsu commendable
(2) Tokyo needs vision for hosting 2016 Olympics

Yomiuri:
(1) M&A era does not end with Oji's failed bid for Hokuetsu
(2) Bilateral talks needed to protect fishermen

Nihon Keizai:
(1) Realizing a Tokyo Olympics
(2) Hefty research funds a hot bed of corruption

Sankei:
(1) Tokyo needs international appeal to host 2016 Summer Olympic
Games
(2) Oji's failed TOB significant

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Tokyo needs 21st century plan for 2016 Olympics
(2) Paloma water heater deaths: Sharing information essential

Akahata:
Collective self-defense may open door to Japan-US military
intervention

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, August 30

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
August 31, 2006

Aug. 29
Stayed at Intercontinental Hotel in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Morning, Aug. 30
Offered flowers at the national memorial. Appreciated special
exhibition at national museum. Toured Navoi Opera Theater. Offered
flowers at memorials for Japanese dead in Uzbekistan and Japanese
prisoners held by the Soviets. Visited Japanese garden. Returned to
the hotel.

Afternoon
Left Tashkent on government plane.

Evening
Arrived at Samarkand Airport.Toured Registan park in Samarkand.

Night
President Hotel. Left Samarkand on government plane.

TOKYO 00004978 003 OF 010

4) Prime Minister Koizumi's trip to Central Asia aimed at rectifying
Japan's inferior position in competition for energy resources

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Slightly abridged)
August 31, 2006

Junichiro Koizumi is visiting Central Asia for the first time as a
Japanese prime minister. Central Asia, having an abundance of
natural resources, has close relations with China and Russia. Can
Japan gain the advantage in the intensifying competition for natural
resources by driving a wedge between Central Asia and the China,
Russia combination?

In his meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Koizumi stressed
his intention to push ahead with cooperation with Kazakhstan in the
resources area. He stated: "Japanese corporations have increased
their interest in your country, especially in the energy area."

The five Central Asian countries became independent in 1991,
following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The total land area of
the five countries is about 4 million square kilometers or 10 times
the size of Japan. A total of 58 million people live in those
countries. Petroleum, natural gas, uranium ore, and gold lie
underground, in areas centering on coast of the Caspian Sea. Amid
the global competition for energy resources heating up due to the
rapid economic growth of China and India, "World eyes are now
focusing on Central Asia," said Koizumi.

Russia, China and four Central Asian countries, excluding
Turkmenistan, have established the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO). Russia and China have been trying to gain full influence in
this region. The United States and Europe are strongly concerned
about the possibility of the SCO becoming "anti-US and pro-China and
Russia" in flavor.

Japan, lagging behind China and Russia, held a foreign ministerial
of Central Asia and Japan in August 2004. The second foreign
ministerial, held in June 2006, came up with an action plan,
including development of energy resources and cooperation on
anti-terrorism and anti-drug measures. Koizumi made a trip to
Central Asia in order to make clear Japan's stance of committing
Central Asia more actively.

In fact, Koizumi and the Kazak president have agreed to strengthen
cooperation on uranium mining and joint development. Kazakhstan has
the second-largest uranium ore reserve in the world. Koizumi and
Uzbek President Islam Karimov also reached an agreement that the two
countries will move forwards with exchanges of views on uranium ore
development.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are trying to raise their own
international value by comparing the advantage of going with Japan
or sticking with Russia and China. China and Russia will not remain
silent now that Japan has made its move.

5) Two fishermen released; Government to maintain safe fishing
agreement and advance talks to prevent recurrence

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
August 31, 2006

TOKYO 00004978 004 OF 010

Russia freed yesterday two crewmembers of the Kisshin Maru No. 31,
which has been seized for allegedly poaching in Russian-claimed
waters near the Northern territories, averting a fierce conflict
with Japan. The boat's captain, Noboru Sakashita, still remains in
Russian custody. Japan will continue to call for a return of
Sakashita and the boat and move ahead with talks between the coast
guards of the two countries in order to prevent future recurrences.
The government also intends to maintain the bilateral safe fishing
operations agreement covering waters near the disputed four northern
islands off Hokkaido.

Foreign Minister Taro Aso simply told reporters at his ministry
yesterday: "Now that the two crewmembers were released safely, we
will have to consider measures after learning of the circumstances
from them." Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Mitsuo Sakaba
categorically said: "We will maintain the fisheries pact. We will
make no changes to it. We would like to discuss things fairly
squarely, including ways to crack down on poaching, so that
fishermen can conduct operations safely."

The safe fishing operations agreement stipulates the types of fish
and the quantity of catches for Japanese fishermen by shelving
governmental jurisdiction over waters 12 nautical miles around the
four islands over which both Japan and Russia have claimed
sovereignty. Russia has attributed the seizure of the Kisshin Maru
to alleged poaching of crabs.

Japanese fishermen are deeply discontented with the agreement. Given
the stalled talks with Russia on the Northern territories, the
government has concluded that it would be difficult to build a
framework that can replace the current pact. The government will aim
for full compliance with the agreement, while making efforts to
establish a liaison system with Russian authorities.

6) Senior Foreign Vice Minister Kaneda urges Russia to release
captain early

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
August 31, 2006

Mitsuru Sakai, Moscow

Senior Vice Foreign Minister Katsutoshi Kaneda, now visiting Russia,
held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Aug. 30.
In the talks, Kaneda reiterated Japan's call for an early release of
captain Noboru Sakashita of the Kisshin Maru No. 31 and the handover
of the boat.

Russia has protested to Japan, claiming that 39 Japanese fishing
boats had poached for fish in Russian waters. Lavrov rejected
Japan's assertion that there was no poaching, saying, "There has
been some misconceptions about the facts."

7) Vice foreign minister to visit South Korea next week to obtain
understanding for Japan's survey in waters around Takeshima/Dokdo

ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
August 31, 2006

The Foreign Ministry has started coordination with South Korea on a
plan for Administrative Vice Minister Shotaro Yachi and Foreign
Affairs and Trade Vice Minister Yu Myong-huan to meet in South Korea

TOKYO 00004978 005 OF 010

next week. Yachi intends to explain the Japanese plan to survey
radioactive contamination in waters around the Takeshima/Dokdo
islets, whose sovereignty Japan and South Korea have claimed. This
is part of efforts to prevent South Korea from resorting to tough
measures, such as seizure of Japanese research ships. Yachi also
plans to urge his counterpart to build a framework for a prior
notification system for maritime research operations.

Tokyo informed Seoul of its plan to undertake a radiation survey in
mid-July. But Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon
replied: "If Japan plans to conduct oceanographic activities in our
exclusive economic zone (EEZ), our government's approval will be
necessary." Some Japanese government officials anticipate that if
Japan implements the survey plan, South Korea might take a tougher
stance."

To prevent such a situation, the Foreign Ministry judged it
necessary to approach Yu, who has direct access to the South Korean
Presidential Office. When Japan and South Korea locked horns over a
Japanese maritime survey in waters near the Takeshima/Dokdo islets
this April, Yachi visited South Korea and met with Yu. The dispute
was resolved through their talks. Keeping this experience in mind,
the Foreign Ministry decided to send Yachi in a bid to prevent South
Korea from taking hard measures toward Japanese survey vessels.

In July, South Korea conducted a survey of the sea current in waters
near the Takeshima/Dokdo islets despite Japan's call to halt it.
Focusing on this, a Foreign Ministry source said: "The public will
not be convinced if only South Korea undertakes surveys."

8) LDP prepares new legislation for Japan to send SDF troops
overseas at gov't discretion without UN resolution

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged)
August 31, 2006

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party yesterday held a meeting of its
national defense division's subcommittee on defense policy. The
subcommittee, with former Defense Agency Director General Shigeru
Ishiba presiding, worked out a draft bill to establish an
international peace cooperation law as a permanent law regarding
Japan's overseas dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel. The
LDP-drafted bill allows the government to send SDF troops overseas
at its own discretion even without a United Nations resolution or an
international organization's request. In addition, the draft bill
also eases the government's guidelines for SDF personnel's use of
weapons and expands the scope of SDF activities to cover security
maintenance missions.

The LDP wants to have the new legislative measure discussed in the
government and ruling parties under the next prime minister.

In concrete terms, the LDP's draft bill tasks the SDF with security
maintenance activities, escort missions, and maritime interdictions,
in addition to humanitarian reconstruction assistance. The bill
authorizes the government to station SDF personnel overseas and have
them patrol in their activities to maintain public security. In
addition, the bill also allows the SDF to prevent armed insurgents'
killing and subversive activities and detain offenders in its
custody.

The bill also substantially eases the rules of engagement (ROE) for

TOKYO 00004978 006 OF 010

SDF personnel. SDF personnel are currently allowed to use weapons
for limited purposes, such as legitimate self-defense and emergency
evacuation for other SDF members acting together or for those under
their control. The bill allows SDF personnel to use weapons for the
'rush security' of other SDF members and civilians in their activity
areas.

Main points from the LDP defense policy subcommittee's international
peace cooperation bill

-- The government may send SDF troops overseas at its discretion
without a UN resolution or an international organization's request.

-- The scope of SDF activities for international peace cooperation
is expanded to security maintenance activities, escort missions, and
maritime intercept operations.

-- SDF personnel are currently allowed to use weapons in
self-defense or for other limited purposes, but the government will
ease its weapons use guidelines to allow SDF personnel to use
weapons for the rush security of civilians as well.

-- The government is required to ask for the Diet's prior approval
for SDF activities overseas.

9) Abe to announce policy platform for LDP presidency tomorrow,
focusing on constitutional, educational reforms

SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
August 31, 2006

In a luncheon meeting held yesterday by Mori faction members living
in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe revealed his intention
to run in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election.
Abe said:

"I would like to respond to many people's expectations and declare
my candidacy on Sept. 1. Although I have yet to acquire enough
knowledge and abilities, I am determined to make utmost efforts to
create a wonderful Japan fit for the 21st century."

In a press conference tomorrow evening in Hiroshima, which he will
visit for the LDP Chugoku Block Convention, Abe will officially
announce his candidacy and reveal his policy platform focusing on
constitutional revision and educational reform.

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori reiterated his support for Abe in
the luncheon as the chairman of the Mori faction, to which Abe
belongs. Mori said:

"I would like to help (Mr. Abe) achieve the dream his father (the
late former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe) was unable to realize.
The Seiwa policy group (Mori faction) will play a central role to
have him achieve successful results."

Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, deputy head of the Mori
faction, did not attend the meeting. Fukuda had announced in July he
would not run for the LDP presidency.

10) Does Abe already feel like he's prime minister? Nakasone tells
him, "Do your best for constitutional reform," Abe replies, "I'll do
my best"

TOKYO 00004978 007 OF 010

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
August 31, 2006

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe called yesterday on former
presidents of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) -- Yasuhiro
Nakasone, Toshiki Kaifu, Yohei Kono, and Yoshiro Mori --
respectively and told them that he would run in the LDP leadership
race in September. Nakasone gave words of encouragement to him,
saying: "I want you to make utmost efforts (to amend) the
Constitution and the Basic Education Law, not shrinking back. I will
give your my support." Abe replied, "I'll keep that in mind and do
my best."

Since Abe is the frontrunner in the presidential race, the four
former LDP presidents treated him as if he were LDP president. Kaifu
said, "When you become prime minister, you will face many
difficulties."

11) Tanigaki shows political vision; Collective defense premised on
constitutional revision; Ways and means needed for policy debate

ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged)
August 31, 2006

With the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's upcoming presidential
election slated for September, Finance Minister Tanigaki, meeting
the press yesterday, announced his political plan to take the reins
of government. The plan, titled Kizuna or "bonds", advocates
improving Japan's Asia diplomacy as shown in his announcement in
July of his candidacy for LDP presidency. The plan also proposes
revitalizing localities, raising the consumption tax, and turning
the government finances around. In addition, it also incorporates
constitutional revision, educational reform, and employment measures
for the aged. Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe will come out with his
manifesto tomorrow. Tanigaki made public his policy vision before
that, aiming to lead the policy debate.

Meanwhile, both Abe and Foreign Minister Aso are also laying
emphasis on their respective advocacies of revitalizing local
communities. Tanigaki, in his press remarks, underscored the
necessity of discussing what to do about ways and means when talking
about policy measures for local revitalization. Tanigaki has set
forth his idea of raising the consumption tax to 10% in order to
make up for the increasing amount of spending on social security for
the nation's local population. He recounts that raising the
consumption tax will also serve to raise funds for local tax
revenues. With this, Tanigaki challenged Abe and Aso to a policy
debate, urging them to show how to secure funding resources for
their respective policy proposals.

Both Abe and Aso assert that the Constitution should be
reinterpreted so that Japan can exercise the right of collective
self-defense. Tanigaki, who is also in favor of allowing Japan to
participate in collective defense, insisted on the necessity of
amending the Constitution instead of reinterpreting its provisions.
"If we could change anything by reinterpreting a portion (of the
Constitution), the Constitution will lose its ultimate state
integrated function," Tanigaki said. With this, he criticized Abe
and Aso.

12) Right-wing group boss, suspect of setting fire to Koichi Kato's

TOKYO 00004978 008 OF 010

house, says, "Could not accept his remarks on Yasukuni Shrine"

MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
August 31, 2006

It has been learned that Masahiro Horigome, 65, a boss of a
right-wing group who was arrested on suspicion of setting fire to
the house of the mother of House of Representative member Koichi
Kato, 67, former Liberal Democratic Party secretary general,
confessed to investigators that he had reacted angrily to Kato's
remarks on Yasukuni Shrine.

Investigators will pursue the arson case against Horigome as linked
to Kato's criticism of Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to
Yasukuni,.

13) CEFP to replace private-sector members; Mitarai to succeed
Okuda

SANKEI (Page 1) (Full)
August 31, 2006

The government yesterday decided to replace all four private-sector
members of the Council of Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP) who have
supported Junichiro Koizumi's structural reform drive. Though their
terms will not expire until next January, the government intends to
reshuffle the membership, coinciding with the inauguration of a new
administration. The panel with a new lineup will take part in the
management of economic and fiscal policy by the post-Koizumi
administration. Fujio Mitarai, chairman of Canon and the Japanese
Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), will replace Hiroshi Okuda,
executive advisor to Toyota Motors and one of the four
private-sector members.

The four have all agreed to step down. The present lineup of
economic ministers in the cabinet will likely be extensively changed
under the new administration. A new lineup of private-sector members
will support the new administration, based on the stance of
continuing the present economic and fiscal policies.

Two will be picked from business circles and the other two from
academia. The Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) will
undertake coordination on the selection of all four private-sector
members.

Out of regret that central government agency-led policy management
gave priority to ministry interests, the CEPF was established under
the Cabinet Office as a collegial body in which the prime minister
would be able to display his leadership. The members of the panel
consist of the prime minister as chairman, the chief cabinet
secretary, the state minister for economic and fiscal policy, the

SIPDIS
finance minister, the minister of internal affairs and
communications and the minister of economy, trade and industry, the
governor of the Bank of Japan and private-sector members.

Private-sector members' term of office is two years. However, Okuda,
Jiro Ushio, chairman of Ushio Inc., Masaaki Honma, professor at an
Osaka University graduate school and Hiroshi Yoshikawa, professor at
a Tokyo University graduate school are all original members and now
serving in their third term.

Unlike members of ordinary advisory organs, CEFP members have a

TOKYO 00004978 009 OF 010

strong nature of being political appointees who support the
administration. In particular, the present four members have a
strong Koizumi flavor, as they have taken the lead in major Koizumi
structural reforms, including postal privatization, through the
submission of private-sector member-drafted papers to the CEFP, as a
government source noted. For this reason, the government has
appeared to have judged that a new lineup of private-sector members
should be in charge of the management of economic and fiscal
policies.

14) General-account budget requests; Tax grants to local
governments, ODA sparking controversy; Government agencies unhappy
with spending cut targets set under basic policy guidelines

ASAHI (Page 9) (Excerpts)
August 31, 2006

General-account budget requests for the fiscal 2007 budget, due on
Aug. 31, have generally been submitted. The Finance Ministry takes a
severe spending cut policy in order to reconstruct national
finances, but other government agencies are calling for a boost in
their budgets as usual. There are many areas that will likely become
a major bone of contention, including constraint on the distribution
of tax revenues to local governments and the margin of a cut in
official development assistance (ODA) by the government. The
intention of the next prime mister will likely hold the key to a
final decision on budget allocations.

During a meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) diplomatic
affairs division, Foreign Minister Aso took an adamant view to win
the ODA budget: "The only way to maintain an international
environment desirable for Japan is to inject due resources."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has requested 530.5 billion
yen, up 12.1% over the fiscal 2006 initial budget (general account
portion). The Finance Ministry has set a 3% cut from the fiscal 2006
initial budget in the ceiling of general-account budget requests.
MOFA is, however, strongly opposing the guidelines, noting, "If the
ODA budget is trimmed, we will not be able to meet our international
commitment to boosting ODA projects by 10 billion dollars in five
years."

Basic policy guidelines on economic and fiscal management and
structural reforms for the fiscal 2007 national budget, the last
ones drafted under Prime Minister Koiuzmi, set a target of reducing
expenditures up to 14.3 trillion as of fiscal 2011. The guidelines
also set sectoral reduction targets, such as a 1-3% cut in public
projects per year and a 2-4% cut in the ODA budget per year.
Concerned government agencies are unhappy with these reduction
targets.

The Finance Ministry has set strict spending cut frameworks for each
budget area in line with the basic policy guidelines. However, Prime
Minister Koizumi, who has shown his authority over spending cuts,
will step down before the compilation of the budget. To what extent
the next prime minister will adopt an austere policy toward spending
cuts is not clear yet. Government agencies appear to intend to make
a rollback, taking advantage of the change over of prime minister.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) demanded
15.2 trillion yen for tax grants to local governments, a leap of
4.6% over the fiscal 2006 initial budget. The Finance Ministry

TOKYO 00004978 010 OF 010

intended to include a numerical target of leaving the amount at
around 14.6%, a level equivalent to that of fiscal 2006, for five
years. However, it retrieved the plan, meeting fierce opposition
from MIC and senior LDP Upper House members.

Regarding public works, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and
Transport demanded an increase of 18.3%. The Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries also called for a 17.9 boost.
Their requests are in the end expected to be trimmed to a level 3%
lower than that of the fiscal 2006 initial budget in the budget
request assessment process. However, with unified local elections
and the Upper House elections close at hand next year, ruling
parties and local governments are bound to strengthen their call for
an increase in tax grants to local governments and public works.

15) Government sets Japan's allowable quota of CO2 emissions between
2008 and 2012 at 5.9 billion tons

ASAHI (Page 3) (Full)
August 31, 2006

The government yesterday set about 5.9 billion tons as Japan's
allowable quota of CO2 emissions in the first commitment period
(FY2008 - FY2012). Although this is about 28 million tons more than
that in the present estimate, no brakes have been applied to the
upward trend of CO2 emissions. It is still difficult for Japan to
attain its goal set by the Kyoto Protocol.

The Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change have been required to set their quotas by Sept. 1. The
government submitted its estimate to the head office of the
convention in Bonn, Germany, yesterday.

The Kyoto Protocol requires Japan to trim its greenhouse gas
emissions from 1990 levels by an average 6%. The Environment
Ministry calculated the amount of CO2 emitted in FY1990 at about
1.261 billion tons. By reducing this by 6%, the ministry worked out
a figure of 1.185 billion yen. Multiplying this by five years, the
allowable quota of 5.9 billion tons was worked out.

DONOVAN

© Scoop Media