Cablegate: Daily Summary of Japanese Press 11/19/08

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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 180830Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8915
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
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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 3408
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1049
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4837
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9070
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1618
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6462
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2458
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2604

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 003188

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 11/19/08

INDEX:

(1) Interview with former Deputy Secretary of State Richard
Armitage: Urges Japan to make international contribution on its own
(Nikkei)

(2) Many problems lie before a plan to dispatch SDF to
pirate-infested waters off Somalia (Nikkei)

(3) Kantei makes policy switch to attach importance to economic
affairs: Shift from election-destined cabinet; Third councilor
appointed (Yomiuri)

(4) It is overly simplistic to see Democratic Party as placing
emphasis on China (Sankei)

(5) TOP HEADLINES

(6) EDITORIALS

(7) Prime Minister's schedule, November 18 (Nikkei)

ARTICLES:

(1) Interview with former Deputy Secretary of State Richard
Armitage: Urges Japan to make international contribution on its own

NIKKEI (Page 8) (Full)
November 19, 2008

-- President-elect Obama has promoted a dialogue policy line. What
challenges does he face?

"There is one thing that is clear, when viewed from a historical
perspective. When President Kennedy was elected in 1960, Soviet
Premier Khrushchev, determining that he was young and inexperienced
after meeting with him, sought to deploy missiles in Cuba. Mr. Obama
needs to be careful so as to avoid giving others the impression that
he does not know the real world or is an idealist. I hope he will
have an iron fist inside his velvet glove."

-- Russia raised the missile-deployment issue right after Obama's
presidential election victory.

"Russia is clearly taking a cooperative stance since President
Medvedev had a telephone conversation with Mr. Obama. Enormous
assets flew out of Russia since it invaded Georgia. Foreign
investments have been withdrawn. Oil prices, its advantage, have
fallen. Russia today is no longer the Russia of three months ago. If
Mr. Obama thinks highly of Russia, he may manage to settle the
differences between the U.S. and Russia. The U.S. and Russia can and
should cooperate, with focus on common issues, such as war on
terror."

-- Some take the view that a Democrat administration tends to lean
toward cooperation with China.

"China is becoming nervous about the new Obama administration. That
is because it views that the Democratic Party will bring out the
human rights issue and China's protectionism. China will become a
huge economic power sooner or later. The next administration should
continue strategic economic dialogue between the two countries. It

TOKYO 00003188 002 OF 008

is necessary for China to revalue the yuan at an appropriate time.

-- What do you think will become of relations between Japan and the
U.S.?

"Those who are slated to take portfolios in the Obama administration
include former Secretary of Navy Danzig and former Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State Bader. They are pro-Japan. Since Mr. Bader is a
China expert, he understands that relations with Japan are most
important. I do not think a 'Japan passing' phenomenon, like that
seen during the Clinton administration, will occur again. However,
if Japan just sits where it is now and does not work to make its
international contributions, it would invite other countries to pass
it by. It's up to Japan. Now is the time for Japan to play a greater
role in the world. It would be in its own interest."

-- When you were deputy secretary of state, you called on the
Japanese government to dispatch Self-Defense Forces (SDF), using the
term "boots on the ground."

"I wanted Japan to be more active in Afghanistan, as well. There are
many things Japan can do there, including the participation in a
Provisional Reconstruction Team (PRT) and assistance using the
Air-Self Defense Force's C130 transport planes. These operations
involve risks, but they are not dangerous, compared with the danger
U.S. Marines and Army soldiers who are engaging in battle every day
are facing."

-- How do you think relations between the U.S. and the world will
change under President-elect Obama?

"The U.S. has lost the support of many countries during the Bush
administration. President Bush, Vice President Cheney and former
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld are to be blamed for that.

"The world is responding to Mr. Obama with good will and welcomes.
However, best wishes and welcomes will not last forever. Whether
they will last or not will depend on how Mr. Obama will act. Anyway,
I believe relations between the world and the U.S. will improve a
great deal.

(2) Many problems lie before a plan to dispatch SDF to
pirate-infested waters off Somalia

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
November 19, 2008

The government is considering introducing a new law to authorize
Japan to take measures to repress piracy, focusing on a plan to
mobilize Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) vessels. This
development reflects the fact that some Japanese commercial ships
have also become the victim of piracy in the waters off Somalia
recently. The government is also willing to make anti-piracy efforts
another main feature in its international contributions, in addition
to the ongoing refueling service by the MSDF in the Indian Ocean. In
the divided Diet, though, it will not be easy to translate the
dispatch plan into action.

Somalia has been in a state of anarchy. An increasing number of
attacks by pirates against commercial vessels have occurred off the
coast of lawless Somalia. This year, the number of piracy cases in
the said waters was 63 (as of the end of September), and this is the

TOKYO 00003188 003 OF 008

largest ever on a yearly basis. Until 2006, there was not any
incident involving a Japanese vessel, but three cases have been
reported this year.

The U.S., Britain, Germany, Russia, Canada, India, and other
countries have sent warships into Somalia's territorial waters to
combat piracy. It is possible even under the existing law for MSDF
vessels to guard tankers on the high seas if a provision pertaining
to the issuance of an order for maritime patrol action under the
Self-Defense Force (SDF) Law is invoked. But activities authorized
in the provision are premised on those conducted in waters near
Japan. Focusing on this point, many observers think it would be
difficult to send SDF vessels into the direction of Africa under
this law.

Following the terrorist attacks on the U.S. in September, 2001, the
government decided to dispatch MSDF vessels to the Indian Ocean for
refueling service. Japan also dispatched SDF troops to Iraq on a
reconstruction-assistance mission. The SDF dispatch to Iraq was
based on a UN resolution. On the refueling operation, however, the
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), complaining that there is no solid
foundation based on a UN resolution, has opposed the operation.

Since there is a definite UN resolution supporting anti-piracy
activities in the waters off Somalia, critics will unlikely find
problems related to international law for the dispatch of SDF troops
to that end. Even so, there are a number of issues to be addressed
before such legislation is enacted, like the issue of the
constitutional ban on collective self-defense. The government
envisions a special measure law designed also to allow MSDF vessels
to escort foreign vessels. The government takes the view that since
groups of pirates are private ones, guarding foreign vessels does
not constitute collective defense. But some might question what
action SDF troops would take if an identified armed group attacks a
foreign vessel or warship.

Setting weapon-use standards is also a difficult task. The provision
on maritime patrol action under the existing law allows SDF troops
to use weapons in self-defense or in such cases as an unidentified
ship ignoring an order to stop. But in some piracy cases off
Somalia, pirates use machineguns and rocket grenades in a preemptive
attack, according to a Foreign Ministry source. A government
official said: "It is necessary to apply more flexible weapon-use
standards than the current ones under the existing legislation."

Given the opposition camp's control of the House of Councillors, if
the ruling coalition fails to obtain approval from the DPJ, it will
have little hope of having the special anti-piracy bill clear the
Diet. Although the ruling camp has an option of taking an override
vote in the House of Representatives, but cooperation from the New
Komeito is indispensable in this case. A lawmaker responsible for
security affairs said: "There is a UN resolution authorizing the
operations to combat acts of pirates, so the DPJ must find it
difficult to raise opposition." Some DPJ members have expressed
their support of Japan's engagement in anti-piracy operations, but
there is no guarantee for the DPJ's cooperation in having the bill
enacted.

A senior ruling party member said that some New Komeito members
remain cautious about dispatching SDF troops to the coast of
Somalia. Prime Minister Taro Aso met former Defense Agency Director
General Gen Nakatani and others at the Prime Minister's Office

TOKYO 00003188 004 OF 008

yesterday. They agreed on the need to swiftly prepare new
legislation to combat piracy. But if the prime minister loses his
grip on the party still further, it may become difficult for him to
gain cooperation from the New Komeito.

(3) Kantei makes policy switch to attach importance to economic
affairs: Shift from election-destined cabinet; Third councilor
appointed

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Almost full)
November 19, 2008

Prime Minister Aso is rushing to reinforce the staff of the Kantei
(Prime Minister's Official Residence). He underscored his stance of
proactively tackling the financial crisis and compiling economic
pump-priming measures by appointing a third Cabinet Secretariat
councilor, one who will be responsible for the international
financial policy. The prime minister, who has hinted he will delay
Lower House dissolution until next spring or later, wants to recover
his administration's power base by appealing to domestic and foreign
audiences that he is the "economic Aso."

On the evening of November 17, the prime minister called to the
Kantei Masakazu Toyoda, executive director of the Headquarters for
Space Development Strategy and former Economy, Trade and Industry
(METI) deputy vice minister, and handed him a letter of appointment
as Cabinet Secretariat councilor. The prime minister will ask Asian
countries to strengthen their cooperation with Japan on measures to
deal with the financial crisis. He is dispatching Toyoda and
Ambassador for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Yoshinori Katori to various Asian countries as his special envoys.

Concerning the appointment of Toyoda, Chief Cabinet Secretary
Kawamura during a press conference on the 17th explained, "We must
properly deal with the financial crisis. We will have him provide
information and advice on the real economies of Asian countries to
the prime minister."

Toyoda once served as director general of the Trade Policy Bureau of
METI. He was also in charge of the new multilateral trade talks
(Doha Round) under the World Trade Organization. Commenting on
Toyoda's appointment, one government source said that he is well
versed in international and trade affairs with an established
reputation as being tenacious in international negotiations, having
produced many results.

Regarding the international finance area, the prime minister on
November 4 appointed former Vice Minister for International
Financial Affairs Toyoo Gyoten and former Vice Foreign Minister
Yoshiji Nogami to be Cabinet Secretariat councilors. Gyoten is a
financial expert, having once been in charge of international
financial affairs in the Finance Ministry. Both were dispatched to
South Korea and Indonesia as the prime minister's special envoys
right after assuming office to pave the way for the recent G-20
emergency financial summit, explaining the Japanese government's
approach. With the addition of Toyoda and Katori, the prime minister
has achieved a reinforcement of the system that would enable Japan
to take the lead in strengthening financial cooperation in and
helping Asia's independent development, as the prime minister
himself put it.

The prime minister right after assuming office appointed Kyoko

TOKYO 00003188 005 OF 008

Nakayama, former State Minister for Abduction Issue, to be special
advisor to the Prime Minister on the abduction issue. He also
appointed former Senior Vice Internal Affairs Minister Shunichi
Yamaguchi to be special advisor to him for revitalization of local
communities, and former Kitakyushu City Mayor Koichi Sueyoshi, once
an official at the now defunct Construction Ministry, to be Cabinet
Secretariat councilor in charge of giving advice to the prime
minister on town building and the management of local communities.
He places importance on regional development as the pillar of his
economic stimulus policy. When the Aso cabinet was launched, it was
defined as election-bound cabinet, for an early dissolution of the
Lower House was in the prime minister's mind. However, in view of
the fact that Aso has been forced to change his political timetable,
including the timing for dissolving the Lower House, he seems to
have felt it now necessary for his administration to project the
image of a working cabinet that places priority on the policy
development.

(4) It is overly simplistic to see Democratic Party as placing
emphasis on China

SANKEI (Page 11) (Abridged)
November 18, 2008

Mineo Nakajima, president of Akita International University

In the United States, Barack Obama has now won the presidency by a
large margin. What then will happen to U.S. policy toward Asia?
Since the Obama administration will be seeking to make big changes,
his administration's Asia policy will mean much to Japan, as well.
There is a tendency in the Japanese media to think that America may
favor China over Japan because a Democrat administration is coming
into office. However, in today's rapidly changing world, things are
not always that simple.

In my view, when it comes to U.S. policy toward Asia, the key point
is what kind of international contribution Japan would be able to
make-or what kind of principles will Japan uphold in developing its
foreign policy.

Obama came on the scene as a historic star, a candidate who would
bring about America's recovery. Many here take the view that his
administration will be heavy with advisers who are expert on China.
However, if one pays close attention to the lineup of policymakers
for the Obama administration, focusing on how far they are aware of
the social problems China today has and the present situation in
North Korea. Another focus is what the administration will think
about China-Taiwan relations, due to changing public opinion in
Taiwan.

For example, similar to Secretary of State Rice in the Bush
administration, Susan Shirk, a professor at the Graduate School of
International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of
California, San Diego, who is affiliated with the Democratic Party
and is a China and Asia hand, is also likely to come into the
administration. She has taken a severe view of China and its
big-power nationalism, as noted in her recent book translated into
Japanese and titled China: Fragile Superpower.

In her career, Shirk has already held a key foreign-policy post. She
once served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and
Pacific affairs when the Clinton administration was in office. Given

TOKYO 00003188 006 OF 008

this fact, her appointment to another post may be a forgone
conclusion this time around. Obama's policy advisers have their own
characteristics. Jeffrey Bader, who once served as deputy assistant
secretary of state, is a likely candidate for an Obama
administration's foreign policy position dealing with China and
Asia. One might say that America will now set store on China because
a Democrat administration is coming into office, but we should not
take such a simplistic view. We should analyze foreign policy from a
broader perspective.

Obama and his administration will remain committed to maintaining
security in Afghanistan. The Obama administration also will likely
have stronger expectations for continued Maritime Self-Defense
Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. However, the
Taiwan issue could be difficult to deal with.

The North Korea problem-including the pending issue of Japanese
abductees-has still been left unresolved with no way out in sight
for Japan. Another question is how to deal with the Chinese people's
concern about their future and a growing sense of crisis. Japan, as
a responsible nation in Asia, should adopt a proactive engagement
policy toward Asia to deal with such issues.

To do so, Japan should further bolster its alliance and partnership
with the United States, based on bilateral security arrangements.
These days, there is a view in Japan insisting that Japan should go
its own way apart from America. I cannot agree with such opinion.

(5) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun
:
Ex-welfare vice minister and wife, another pension official's wife
assaulted possibly in terrorist acts

Nikkei:
DoCoMo to team up with leading South Korean firm to develop mobile
phone using Google software

Akahata:
JCP holds emergency talks with representatives from various circles
to protect people's livelihoods

(6) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Urgently work out effective measures to prevent drunk driving
(2) Expectation on Middle East policy under Obama administration and
reality

Mainichi:
(1) Diet session sinking deeper into maze
(2) Crimes by elderly persons on increase

Yomiuri:
(1) DPJ leader Ozawa should not use security issue as tool for Diet
dissolution
(2) Ex-welfare vice minister assaulted: Terrorist acts
impermissible

Nikkei:
(1) Mega-banks should beef up both defensive and offensive moves

TOKYO 00003188 007 OF 008

(2) Attacks on ex-welfare vice minister and wife absolutely
despicable

Sankei:
(1) Japan must take action to prevent attacks by pirates
(2) Government should promptly urge North Korea to disclose
whereabouts of abducted victims

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Now time for prime minister to decide to submit second extra
budget bill
(2) Hit-and-run accident by drunk a crime equivalent to murder

Akahata:
(1) Selfish proposal by Keidanren for introducing regional system

(7) Prime Minister's schedule, November 18

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
November 19, 2008

6:37
Had a walk around his private residence in Kamiyamacho.

09:04
Attended a cabinet meeting. METI Minister Nikai stayed on.

09:46
Met Council for Regulatory Reform Chairman Kusakari at the Kantei.

10:04
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto.

11:11
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura, followed by LDP Diet Affairs
Committee Chairman Oshima.

12:56
Attended a Lower House members' meeting.

13:03
Attended a Lower House plenary session.

14:55
Met at the Kantei Nippon Foundation President Ogata, Ocean Policy
Research Foundation Chairman Akiyama, representative Gen Nakatani
and secretary general Akihisa Nagashima of the Young
Parliamentarians' League to Establish a Security System for a New
Century.

15:46
Met Kyushu Rengo Chairman Kamata and Cabinet Councilor Sueyoshi,
followed by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma.

16:13
Met Japan Sake Brewers Association Chairman Tatsuma and others,
followed by Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry Vice
Minister for Policy Coordination Terasaki and International Strategy
Bureau Director General Ogasawara.

17:09
Met Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Hatoyama, Finance

TOKYO 00003188 008 OF 008

Minister Nakagawa, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Yosano, and
Budget Bureau Director General Tango, joined by Kawamura. Hatoyama
stayed on.

19:03
Met at his official residence LDP Secretary General Hosoda, New
Komeito Representative Ota and other government and ruling coalition
liaison council members.

21:02
Returned to his private residence.

SCHIEFFER

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