Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

Search

 

Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 10/03/06

VZCZCXRO7354
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5744/01 2760056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030056Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7015
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 0824
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8276
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1641
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 7997
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9359
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4385
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0507
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2107

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 005744

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 10/03/06

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading


Index:

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

Diplomatic schedule:
4) Prime Minister Abe receives support from British Prime Minister
Blair on Japan emerging from postwar system
5) Prime ministerial adviser Koike to travel to Washington today for
consultations
6) Vice Foreign Minister Yachi is off for the US for consultations

7) Abe to set final stage today for summit meeting in China on Oct.
8
8) Prime Minister avoids being shut out of China diplomacy by
traveling to Beijing

9) Lawmaker Hiranuma to travel today to Taiwan

Iran issue:
10) Iran may lower Japan's investment in Azadegan oil-field project
if it does not start construction work soon
11) Iran negative about further extending deadline for wrapping up
deal on Azadegan oil project

Diet interpellations:
12) Text of Prime Minister's replies on historical view, Yasukuni
issue, collective self-defense, and constitutional revision
13) Abe to honor Murayama statement on war responsibility, but
skirts Yasukuni issue in Diet replies
14) Abe coyish, too, about responsibility of Class-A war criminals


15) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) fights for major changes in
proposed criminal conspiracy bill

16) Latest list of party strengths in the Diet

Okinawa issues:
17) Full-scale clashes between ruling and opposition camps mark
gubernatorial election in Okinawa
18) LDP alarmed about the Okinawa base issue

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi and Yomiuri:
Police to arrest former skating federation chairman today for
alleged breach of trust and embezzlement

Mainichi:
Samawah after SDF withdrawal (Part 1): Japan's "gift" left
abandoned

Nihon Keizai:
Prices of imports from China rise for ninth consecutive month due to
rising labor costs and stronger yuan

Sankei:
Prime Minister Abe to decide to visit China today for talks with

TOKYO 00005744 002 OF 011


President Hu on Oct. 8

Tokyo Shimbun:
Mizutani Kensetsu padded price of purchased land to provide funds to
firm run by brother of former Fukushima governor

Akahata:
1,524 firms ordered by Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry to
compensate workers for unpaid overtime worth 23.3 billion yen in
fiscal 2005

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Deeper historical perception required
(2) Live organ transplants need solid rules

Mainichi:
(1) Prime minister must not obscure debate
(2) Live organ transplants require clear rules

Yomiuri:
(1) Conduct constructive Diet debate
(2) Strong measures necessary to prevent organ trade

Nihon Keizai:
(1) Prime minister's Diet reply on historical perception acceptable
(2) Having vitality for reform essential for sustainable growth

Sankei:
(1) Deepen Diet debate on "beautiful country"
(2) Well-meaning donors can save the lives of patients

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Diet debate insufficient
(2) Live organ transplants must be reduced

Akahata:
(1) Abe clearly aims to develop obedient populace

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, October 2

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
October 3, 2006

09:52
Met with New Komeito head Ota and Secretary General Kitagawa,
attended by LDP Secretary General Nakagawa, in the Diet building.

10:04
Met at Kantei with Supreme Court Chief Justice Machida, followed by
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura.

13:02
Attended Lower House plenary session.

15:50
Met at Kantei with Supreme Court Justice Shimada.

16:12

TOKYO 00005744 003 OF 011


Met with Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka.

17:00
Attended LDP board meeting.

17:17
Returned to Kantei.

18:51
Met with Vice Foreign Minister Yachi.

19:30
Had telephone call from British Prime Minister Blair, joined by
Koike and Seko, special advisors to Prime Minister Abe.

20:41
Arrived at his private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo.

4) British Prime Minister Blair hails Prime Minister Abe's plan to
put end to "postwar era" during telephone dialogue

ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
October 3, 2006

Prime Minister Abe yesterday evening talked with British Prime
Minister Blair over the phone. The two leaders agreed to hold a
summit at an early date. During the talks, Blair expressed his
support for Abe's plan to break free of the "postwar era" and for
Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC).

According to Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public
Relations Hiroshige Seko, Blair called Abe, and the talks lasted for
about 15 minutes. Blair noted, "I support Prime Minister Abe's
position that it is now time for society to break free of the
postwar setup."

In response, Abe indicated his intention to conduct education reform
modeled after Britain's.

5) Special Advisor Yuriko Koike off to US today to emphasize
importance of bilateral relations

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
October 3, 2006

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's special advisor on national security,
Yuriko Koike, will leave today for the United States to meet with US
National Security Adviser Steve Hadley, Chief Cabinet Secretary
Yasuhisa Shiozaki said at a press conference yesterday. The purpose
of Koike's US trip is to establish a stronger pipeline between the
Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and the White House.
Another aim is to demonstrate to audiences at home and abroad that
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attaches importance to the Japan-US
alliance, by sending Koike prior to his visits to China and South
Korea, which are now under coordination.

Prime Minister Abe said during his telephone talks on Sept. 27 with
President George W. Bush that he would send Koike to Washington
soon.

Koike is expected to meet with her counterpart at the White House on

TOKYO 00005744 004 OF 011


the afternoon of Oct. 3 (US Eastern Time). She will explain Abe's
policies to Hadley and exchange views on bilateral relations and the
international situation as a whole. She also plans to tour the
National Security Council (NSC), which gives advice to the president
regarding foreign and security policy.

The NSC, an advisory body to the president, is composed of the
president, vice president, secretary of state, secretary of defense,
secretary of the treasury, and national security adviser. Abe is

SIPDIS
considering setting up a Japanese version of the NSC in order to
strengthen the policy-making function of the Kantei in the areas of
foreign policy and security. Koike, therefore, intends to inspect
similar organs in European countries.

6) Vice Foreign Minister Yachi to leave for US tomorrow

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
October 3, 2006

Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi announced
yesterday that he would make a five-day trip to the United States
starting tomorrow. He is expected to meet with Deputy National
Security Advisor Jack D. Crouch and relevant officials from the
State and Defense departments to exchange views on Japan-US
relations and the situations of Asia and the Middle East with an eye
on a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

7) Prime Minister Abe to decide on his China tour today; President
Hu willing to meet with Abe on Oct. 8

SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts)
October 3, 2006

Following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's confirmation of his intention
to visit South Korea on Oct. 9, final coordination is underway for
him to travel to China on Oct. 8. Abe will consult with Foreign
Minister Taro Aso and other government officials on these trips
possibly today and will make a final decision. A couple of
government sources revealed these movements, which have come as both
China and South Korea have indicated their willingness to accept
Abe's early visits to their countries. However, some aides to Abe
still remain cautious about holding a Japan-China summit, because
China may in effect demand that the prime minister stop visiting
Yasukuni Shrine. Japan and China continued behind-the-scenes
coordination up to the last minute through a meeting between
Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi and Chinese
Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi in Tokyo yesterday and other occasions.

Abe's visit to China, if realized, would be the first China trip by
the Japanese prime minister since October 2001. A Japan-China summit
would follow the one held in Indonesia in April 2005.

According to several sources familiar with Japan-China relations,
during the recent Japan-China vice foreign ministerial dialogue held
in Tokyo on Sept. 23, Japan floated a plan for the prime minister to
visit China on Oct. 8. In response to this proposal, China told
Japan to assure that Abe would not visit Yasukuni Shrine while he is
in office. Japan turned down this request. Then China indicated
flexibility, stating, "It is all right for the foreign minister and
the chief cabinet secretary to visit the shrine." Despite that,
Japan refused to accept China's request, asserting, "Visits to
Yasukuni Shrine should not be made a condition for the resumption of

TOKYO 00005744 005 OF 011


a summit meeting." Japan then urged China to reconsider its
request.

Afterwards, Japan withdrew its plan on the prime minister's China
visit on Oct. 8 and instead sounded China out on a late October
visit plan. On the other hand, on Sept. 30, China suggested a plan
for Abe to meet with President Hu Jintao on the afternoon of Oct. 8
and later meet with Premier Wen Jiabao during a dinner party,
sources said.

This sudden change in China's attitude came, "following Hu's firm
order," a source familiar with Japan-China relations said.

In China, Hu's power base has been further solidified after the
occurrences of such cases as the dismissal of Chen Liangyu, who is
close to former General Secretary Jiang Zemin of the Communist Party
of China (CPC) and is a member of the Shanghai Clique, from his post
of secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC due to
his involvement in a corruption case. The above source gave this
analysis about China's counterproposal: "It would be a message by
the Hu government implying that it wants to improve relations with
Japan by taking advantage of the inauguration of the Abe
administration."

8) China, ROK avoid "shutting door" to Japan, set summits with
Japanese prime minister

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Full)
October 3, 2006

A summit between Japan and China has been set for Oct. 8 and one
between Japan and South Korea for Oct. 9. Japan has now agreed in
principle with China, and South Korea on timetables for Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe's trips to those two countries. Beijing and
Seoul have deemed it necessary to meet at least once with Abe, who
has expressed enthusiasm about improving relations. But a sense of
apprehension about these summit talks cannot be ruled out, because
the gaps over visits to Yasukuni Shrine and historical perceptions
have yet to be removed.

Katsuhiko Iino, Beijing; Hiroshi Minegishi, Seoul

The Chinese and South Korean governments have decided to resume
summit talks with Japan, presumably because they are conscious of
how they will be viewed by the rest of the world and also because
they want to avoid giving the impression that they "shut the door"
on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has just inaugurated his cabinet.
It is therefore not the case that the two countries have dropped
their call for a halt to visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Rather, their
agreement to hold summits is intended to prod Abe not to visit
Yasukuni Shrine while he is in office.

The Chinese government expects Abe not to visit the shrine for the
time being. A source familiar with Japan-China relations commented:
"Japan approached China with a plan for the prime minister's tour of
China. Given this, once the visit is realized, Tokyo will not behave
in a way to make China lose face." This source conjectured that
China's acceptance of Abe's trip would pressure Abe.

President Hu Jintao and other Chinese officials have reiterated that
they place emphasis on Japan. South Korea's move to accept a visit
by Abe also had a favorable effect (on China). While former Prime

TOKYO 00005744 006 OF 011


Minister Junichiro Koizumi brushed off (China's) repeated call on
him to refrain from visiting the shine, Abe has stood firm in not
saying whether he will visit the shrine. So what China is concerned
about is that it may leave the international community with the
impression that it is China that is negative about improving
relations.

South Korea was sensitive to a shift in China's stance. These two
countries have been at odds with Japan over historical issues.
"Rapid movement toward improved Japan-China relations forced South
Korea to decide to hold a summit with Japan," a source familiar with
Japan-ROK relations said. When the Japan-China comprehensive policy
dialogue of vice foreign ministers was held late last month, South
Korea asked Japan many times what Chinese officials had said in the
session, according to the source.

South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun remains unable to produce any
good results. "He can fan the flames of anti-Japanese nationalism,
but if Japan-China relations turn for the better now, he could be
exposed to criticism from the public and opposition parties for his
diplomatic failure," an expert commented.

9) Hiranuma to visit Taiwan

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
October 3, 2006

The Japan-Republic of China Parliamentary Discussion Council, a
nonpartisan group of lawmakers headed by Takeo Hiranuma, will visit
Taiwan on Oct.8-10. The delegation is scheduled to meet President
Chen Shui-bian and former President Lee Teng-hui. Hiranuma and other
about 10 members will also attend a ceremony marking the National
Foundation Day on Oct. 10.

10) Azadegan oil field: Iran may lower Japan's capital subscription,
Iranian news agency reports

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Full)
October 3, 2006

A news agency run by Iran's Ministry of Petroleum yesterday reported
that if INPEX fails to decide to start up development of the
Azadegan oil field in southwestern Iran, to which Japan has given a
stake, at an early date, the Iranian government might lower the rate
of capital subscription by INPEX. The company has obtained the right
to develop the Azadegan oil field under a condition that it will
shoulder 75% of the entire project cost.

Iran and INPEX have been continuing talks on the timeline to start
up the project since Sept. 30. The news agency quoted a remark made
by a source involved in the talks, "If participants in the meeting
fail to reach an agreement, INPEX will be able to take part in only
a small part of the project."

INPEX and the Iranian side also held talks on the 2nd. National
Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Managing Director Nozaris told the news
agency the same day that Iran would not agree to once again extend
the deadline to decide whether to start up the project or not as
sought by INPEX.

Commenting on the talks between Iran and INPEX, Trade and Industry
Vice Minister Takao Kitabata yesterday stressed the government

TOKYO 00005744 007 OF 011


stance of calmly observing the talks on the private sector-level,
noting, "The government will not send a high-ranking official."

11) NIOC Management Director negative toward Japan's proposal for
extending deadline for Azadegan oil talks

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
October 3, 2006

Talks between Japan and Iran on development of the Azadegan oil
field in southwestern Iran, in which Japan has a 75% stake, are
going on in Tehran. Iran's Fars News Agency yesterday reported that
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Management Director Nozaris
indicated a negative view toward the idea of extending the deadline
for the negotiations for a month, noting, "If no agreement is
reached with Japan, Iran will not set a new deadline."

12) Abe's Diet replies in answer-and-question session on Oct. 2

YOMIURI (Page 15) (Excerpts)
October 3, 2006

Historical perception

As was shown by the Aug. 15, 1995 Murayama statement and the Aug.
15, 2005 Koizumi statement, the government's perception of the last
major war was that Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression,
caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many
countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. There are a
variety of views on the responsibility of Class-A war criminals as
state leaders, and I regard it inapproproate for the government to
make a specific judgment.

Paying homage at Yasukuni Shrine

I have indicated, "I do not intend to say whether I will go or
whether I visited the shrine." And that is my personal view.

Collective self-defense right

Based on such factors as changes in the international situation,
evidenced by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
missiles, the war on terrorism, progress in weapons technology, and
expectations on Japan's international contributions, we will study
specific cases to determine what cases will fall in the exercise of
the right of collective self-defense, which is prohibited under the
Constitution, so that the Japan-US alliance can function effectively
and peace can be maintained. We will conduct the study based on
discussions at the Diet and other venues, as well.

Constitutional revision

A constitution speaks of visions and shape of the country. The
Constitution of Japan, which was established nearly 60 years ago
under the deep involvement of the Occupation forces, is out of touch
with the times. It is necessary for us to draft a new constitution
that contains the ideal image of Japan and has a vision suitable for
the 21st century.

I hope the ruling and opposition camps will deepen discussion in
order to come up with a clear direction. To begin with, I expect an
early enactment of a national referendum bill specifying a set of

TOKYO 00005744 008 OF 011


procedures for constitutional revision.

13) Abe pledges that in meeting with Chinese leaders he will honor
apology expressed in Murayama statement

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
October 3, 2006

In the summit meeting with the Chinese leader expected to be held on
Oct. 8, Prime Minister Abe is likely to pledge to honor "the apology
and remorse" for Japan's colonial rule and aggression expressed in
the Murayama statement in 1995 and the spirit in the Koizumi
statement issued on the day marking the end of WWI in 2005 by
previous Prime Minister Koizumi, according to informed sources
yesterday. The governments of Japan and China are now in the final
stage of scheduling the meeting between the Japanese and Chinese
leaders. But Abe has decided not to accept China's demand that he
should pledge not to visit Yasukuni Shrine and to stop short of
mentioning whether he has visited the shrine.

On historical views, an issue over which China has expressed
concerns, Abe intends to remark that the Murayama statement and the
Koizumi statement are historical statements expressing at home and
abroad the government's views about Japan's war time history." He
then will stress the need for the two countries to make efforts to
construct a future-oriented bilateral relationship.

He will also emphasize that "frankly reflecting on its past conducts
that caused great damage inside and outside the nation, Japan made
efforts and built a peaceful country."

14) Abe in first Diet reply: "It is inappropriate for the government
to make a judgment" on the responsibility of Class-A war criminals

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
October 3, 2006

In a House of Representatives plenary session yesterday afternoon,
Prime Minister Abe replied to questions from party leaders for the
first time after assuming office. Asked for his view about the
responsibility of Class-A war criminals, Abe said:

"There are various views in the debate as to the responsibility of
war leaders. I believe it is not appropriate for the government to
make a specific judgment."

Regarding the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, in
which the Allied Powers judged Class-A war criminals, Abe stated:

"Based on the San Francisco Peace Treaty, our country accepted the
judgments handed down at the trials. In view of state-to-state
relations, Japan is not in a position to express an objection to the
judgments."

15) Minshuto to demand conspiracy charge be dropped from bill
amending Organized Crime Punishment Law

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
October 3, 2006

Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has decided to demand that the
conspiracy charge be removed from a bill amending the Organized

TOKYO 00005744 009 OF 011


Crime Punishment Law. This decision came after it was found through
investigations by Minshuto and the Japan Federation of Bar
Associations that the government argued in a meeting of at the
United Nations in 1999: "Criminalizing conspiracy does not fit the
Japanese legal system."

The government cites as the reason for its eagerness to create a
conspiracy charge "the need to ratify the International Organized
Crime Prevention Convention (focusing on antiterrorism measures)."
But Minshuto asserts that it should be possible to ratify the
convention even without a conspiracy charge. The opposition party
submitted to the last ordinary Diet session its own bill that
included stricter conditions for the charge than those in the
government's bill.

In the current session, Minshuto intends to submit a revision bill
calling for dropping the conspiracy charge.

16) People's New Party, New Party Nippon dissolve parliamentary
group

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
October 3, 2006

The People's New Party submitted yesterday the notification of
dissolving the joint parliamentary group with the New Party Nippon
to the secretariats of both houses of the Diet. The reason is that
the New Party Nippon did not punish Hiroyuki Arai, the party's
secretary general, who had voted for Shinzo Abe in the prime

SIPDIS
ministerial election in the Diet, disobeying the group's decision
(to vote for People's New Party President Watanuki). Since only two
lawmakers -- one from the House of Representatives and the other
from the House of Councillors -- belong to the New Party Nippon,
they will become independents.

Party strengths in the Diet

House of Representatives

Liberal Democratic Party 292
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) & Independent Club 113
New Komeito 31
Japanese Communist Party 9
Social Democratic Party & Citizens' League 7
Peoples' New Party & Independent Group 5
Independents 21
Vacant 2

House of Councillors

Liberal Democratic Party 110
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) & New Ryokufu-kai 83
New Komeito 24
Japanese Communist Party 9
Social Democratic Party & Pro-Constitution League 6
People's New Party 4
Independents 5
Vacant 1

17) Okinawa gubernatorial election: Ruling, opposition parties to
face off over USFJ realignment


TOKYO 00005744 010 OF 011


MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
October 3, 2006

Okinawa Prefecture will hold a gubernatorial election on Nov. 19, as
Governor Keiichi Inamine's term of office is due to expire. The
ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito
has decided to field Hirokazu Nakaima, 67, former chairman of
Okinawa Electric Power Co. (OEPC). Meanwhile, the Democratic Party
of Japan (Minshuto), the Japanese Communist Party, the Social
Democratic Party (Shaminto), and the Okinawa Socialist Masses Party
(Shadaito) will back Keiko Itokazu, 58, a member of the House of
Councillors. The election will likely be a one-on-one duel
reflecting the standoff between the ruling and opposition parties in
the Diet. The issue of realigning US forces in Japan is certain to
become a focus of the election campaign. Moreover, the election is
to take place after this year's Oct. 22 by-elections for the House
of Representatives, when the Diet is about to enter crucial stages
in its extraordinary session. The ruling and opposition parties are
both considering the forthcoming gubernatorial election as important
as a national election.

The gubernatorial election will be held with the end of Inamine's
term of office after having served two terms for eight years. The
LDP and the New Komeito, which are the ruling parties in Okinawa
Prefecture's assembly, wanted Inamine to stay on. However, they
found Inamine firmly resolved to retire. The ruling camp then
singled out Nakaima in the local business community in an aim to
continue the Inamine regime with backing from the local business
community.

In the meantime, on Sept. 1 the opposition parties almost gave up on
fielding one candidate. However, they decided to field Itokazu, who
garnered about 320,000 votes in the 2004 Upper House election. The
gubernatorial election is now going to be a showdown between the
ruling and opposition camps. The opposition bench asked Itokazu time
and again until early this September to run in the gubernatorial
election, but she firmly declined each time. However, Itokazu made
up her mind to run if she could contribute to the joint struggle.

The election campaign will inevitably focus on the issue of
relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma airfield. In October last
year, Japan and the United States reached an intergovernmental
agreement to relocate the airfield's heliport functions to Camp
Schwab's coastal area off Nago City's Henoko district in Okinawa
Prefecture. However, there has been no progress in the Japanese
government's local coordination. Inamine has been squaring off with
the government while insisting on the idea of creating a temporary
heliport. In January this year, Nakaima advised Inamine to avoid
getting into trouble with the government. However, Nakaima
completely changed his attitude when he announced his candidacy on
Sept. 5, saying, "We will need to coordinate with the local
communities and the prefectural government (over the planned
relocation of Futenma airfield)." Inamine is popular in Okinawa, so
the ruling camp wants to survive the race with an imprint of Nakaima
as Inamine's successor.

The opposition camp is using the realignment of US forces in Japan
as a tailwind. "We will never let them build any more bases (in
Okinawa), and that's the biggest point. All the opposition parties
must be pulled together, or we can't win." With this, Itokazu
explained why she made up her mind to run in the race. In her
election campaign, she will focus on the issue of realigning the US

TOKYO 00005744 011 OF 011


military presence in Japan.

18) LDP growing critical, DPJ confident in joint struggle

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
October 3, 2006

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa,
meeting the press yesterday, noted that the US Marine Corps' Futenma
airfield in Okinawa Prefecture was dangerous. "We wonder if it would
be better to leave it as is," Nakagawa said. "We will help Okinawa
with its further development on our own responsibility," he added.
He also said: "We want to make clear the point at issue in the
gubernatorial election campaign. That's also for us to carry out the
realignment of US forces in Japan for Asia and the world." With
this, Nakagawa indicated that it would be a categorical imperative
for the ruling parties to win the gubernatorial election in order to
strengthen Japan-US relations. However, the LDP does not want base
issues highlighted unnecessarily, so the LDP's campaign strategy,
according to an LDP officer, is to give indirect backing (to its
candidate) while showing consideration for local business
communities.

Meanwhile, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan
(Minshuto), headed by Ichiro Ozawa, will struggle together with
other opposition parties in next summer's election for the House of
Councillors, aiming to block the LDP and its coalition partner, the
New Komeito, from retaining a majority. For the DPJ, the upcoming
gubernatorial election in Okinawa Prefecture will be a test run. The
DPJ and other opposition parties are now ready to field a single
candidate. "Okinawa Prefecture's local residents are dissatisfied
with the ruling coalition over the issue of realigning US forces in
Japan, so we can win the election," one DPJ officer said.

DONOVAN

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines