Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 09/28/09

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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 09/28/09

Index:

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

Futenma Facility Relocation
4) Okinawa governor accepts transfer of Futenma facility within
prefecture (Tokyo Shimbun)
5) Hatoyama reaffirms intention to have transfer Futenma facility
outside Okinawa (Yomiuri)
6) MOD Kitazawa says relocation of Futenma facility to Kadena would
be difficult (Asahi)
7) MOD Kitazawa says it is difficult to move Futenma facility
outside Okinawa (Tokyo Shimbun)
8) FM Okada discloses intention to examine the background behind the
decision to move Futenma facility to Camp Schwab (Yomiuri)

Defense & Security
9) Japan and Australia to conclude ACSA (Sankei)
10) U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos meets with MOD Kitazawa (Yomiuri)

11) Foreign Ministry changes explanation for reason why ship is not
carrying nuclear weapons (Yomiuri)
12) Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Lawless says
carrying out pledges is a problem (Asahi)

Refueling Mission
13) Hatoyama says Japan will not simply extend refueling mission
(Yomiuri)
14) FM Okada to examine refueling mission and Afghan aid separately
(Nikkei)

Foreign Relations
15) Foreign Ministry begins investigation of "secret accord"
(Nikkei)
16) Okada plans to prepare alternative Afghan aid measure before
U.S. President arrives in Japan (Tokyo Shimbun)
17) Hatoyama to visit South Korea on Oct. 9 (Asahi)
18) Japanese, Chinese, and Korean foreign minister to meet today
(Nikkei)
19) Hatoyama: Afghan aid to be top priority (Sankei)

Politics
20) LDP to elect president today (Asahi)
21) Cabinet Committee for Basic Policy to hold first meeting today
(Tokyo Shimbun)
Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
Prime Minister Hatoyama aims to abolish bureaucrats' retiring early
to land next job

Mainichi, Yomiuri & Tokyo Shimbun:
Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Minister Maehara vows to review
special account budget for airports

Nikkei:
There are barriers to sustaining recovery

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Sankei:
Public, private sectors baffled by Hatoyama's international pledge
to cut emissions by 25 PERCENT

Akahata:
Two news photographers get permanent posts at local TV station in
Kyoto right before cancellation of their contracts

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Support for advanced technology research should be reviewed with
wide field of vision
(2) New government must investigate actual damage caused by Minamata
mercury poisoning

Mainichi:
(1) Hatoyama diplomacy: Message of "change" conveyed successfully
(2) New flu: Manage information to prevent confusion

Yomiuri:
(1) Abolishing provisional gasoline tax will not benefit financial
situation or environment
(2) Teacher's license recertification system: Priority is to verify
effectiveness

Nikkei:
(1) Health, labor and welfare minister should quickly design a
"revenue agency" that can harness the potential of the private
sector
(2) Can next-generation PHS service take off?

Sankei:
(1) Abduction issue: Hatoyama government should step up pressure on
North Korea and call for reinvestigation
(2) New defense minister's visit to Okinawa: Face up to the reality
of Futenma relocation

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) G-20 financial summit: Efforts to rectify imbalance to be
tested
(2) 50 years after Isewan typhoon: Any possibility of recurrence of
"nightmare"?

Akahata:
(1) "Secret nuclear deal" - Shed light on the truth about Japan-U.S.
security treaty

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, Sep 24-25

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 26, 2009

(Local time in the U.S.)

September 24
Afternoon Left Kennedy International Airport on government plane;
arrived in Pittsburgh International Airport; met Rengo (Japanese
Trade Union Confederation) Chairman Tsuyoshi Takagi, others at
Westin Hotel in Pittsburgh

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Evening G-20 Summit reception at Phipps Conservatory; working
dinner; informal meeting with reporters at Westin Hotel; stayed at
Westin Hotel

September 25
Morning Meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, German
Chancellor Angela Merkel at Convention Center; Plenary Session 1 of
Financial Summit

Prime Minister's schedule, September 25-26

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 27, 2009

September 25 (local time in U.S.)
Morning Photo session with leaders participating in Financial Summit
at Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
Afternoon Working lunch; met Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper;
Plenary Session 2 of Financial Summit; met Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Westin Hotel; news conference for
Japanese and foreign media.
Evening Met with U.S. Major League Baseball pitcher Hiroki Kuroda;
threw first pitch at Pirates vs Dodgers game; informal meeting with
Japanese residents in Pittsburgh; left Pittsburgh International
Airport on government plane.

September 26 (Japan time)
23:39 Arrived at Haneda Airport; met by Minister for National
Strategy Naoto Kan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano.
00:33 Arrived at private residence.

Prime Minister's schedule, September 27

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 28, 2009

Morning Stayed at private residence.
15:00 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano at Prime
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) .
16:00 Joined by National Strategy Minister Naoto Kan; Hirano stayed
behind; joined by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yorihisa Matsuno.
16:15 Met Nihon Sumo Kyokai Chairman Musashikawa at Ryogoku
Kokugikan.
17:02 Watched Grand Sumo September Tournament with wife Miyuki;
accompanied by Matsuno.
18:00 Presented award certificate, Prime Minister's Trophy to winner
Yokozuna Asashoryu; Prime Minister said: "Today is also
Asashoryu-zeki's birthday. Congratulations!"
18:07 Dinner at chanko restaurant in Ryogoku with wife Miyuki,
Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa, Matsuno, and others.
21:00 Arrived at private residence.

4) Okinawa gov. accepts Futenma's within-prefecture relocation

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged)
September 26, 2009

Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa met yesterday with Okinawa
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. During the
meeting, they discussed the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine
Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan. In this regard, the ruling
Democratic Party of Japan is aiming to move Futenma airfield out of

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Okinawa Prefecture or Japan. Nakaima underscored his acceptance of
the relocation of Futenma airfield at an early date to a coastal
area of Camp Schwab in the island prefecture's northern coastal city
of Nago. "Relocating the airfield outside Okinawa Prefecture or
outside Japan would be the best possible option," Nakaima said. "But
it wouldn't be easy to do so," he added, "given past circumstances."
He further said, "If Nago City accepts the Futenma relocation, we
will accept its relocation within the prefecture."

5) Prime Minister intends to move Futenma out of Okinawa

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
September 26, 2009

Takuji Murao, Pittsburgh

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama held informal talks with the
accompanying press corps on the night of Sept. 24 (around noon on
Sept. 25, Japan time). He indicated a plan to move the U.S. Marine
Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa, out of the
prefecture by reviewing the existing plan to relocate the base to
Nago. Hatoyama said, "I have no intention to change the basic
thinking." He also said: "Should the matter be decided by the end of
the year? We need to determine the right timing."

6) Defense minister in Okinawa: Implementing plan to transfer
functions of Futenma to Kadena Base "difficult"

ASAHI (Page 2) (Full)
September 27, 2009

Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, now visiting Okinawa Prefecture,
made tours of the U.S. military's Camp Schwab in Henoko district in
Nago City, which is viewed as the relocation site of the U.S. Marine
Corps' Futenma Air Station; Okinawa International University, on the
campus of which a U.S. military helicopter crashed in 2004; and
other places yesterday. Kitazawa exchanged views with municipal
government heads on the relocation of U.S. forces in Japan. He told
the local heads that he will meet Prime Minister Hatoyama and
Foreign Minister Tatsuya Okada early next week and formulate the
government's policy at an early date.

In the meeting with the mayors of three cities that lie along Kadena
Air Base's perimeter, Kitazawa discussed a plan being floated for
relocating the functions of Futenma Air Station to Kadena. Tokujitsu
Miyagi, mayor of Kadena Town, expressed his opposition to the plan.
At a post-meeting press conference Kitazawa indicated it would be
difficult to implement the plan. "It is very unlikely (to be able to
reach an agreement) with the U.S. military," he said. "Looking at
the actual situation of Kadena Town, I thought it is extremely
difficult to impose a further burden on (the residents of) the
town."

7) Defense Minister Kitazawa to tell Prime Minister early next week
that moving Futenma out of Okinawa would be difficult

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts)
September 27, 2009

Koki Miura

Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, as the first minister of the

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Hatoyama administration to visit Okinawa, inspected the relocation
site for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan) on
Sept. 26. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's policy is to move the air
station out of the prefecture. Despite that, Kitazawa indicated
after hearing views from local residents that relocating the air
station out of the prefecture would be difficult.

"We will be grateful if can explore ways for a relocation within the
prefecture," Kitazawa said in a news conference held after the
inspection of the relocation site. "Moving the base out of the
prefecture would take a substantial amount of time. The current
situation of Futenma Air Station permits of no delay." It is likely
that Kitazawa will tell the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Katsuya Okada early next week that moving the air station out of the
prefecture would be difficult.

8) Foreign Minister Okada reveals plan to examine Futenma relocation
plan

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
September 26, 2009

Toshimitsu Miyai, New York

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, meeting the press corps at a New
York hotel on the night of Sept. 24 (on the morning of Sept. 25,
Japan time), expressed a plan to examine how the coastal area of
Camp Schwab (in Nago) was selected as the relocation site for the
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa
Prefecture). "The plan was determined when the Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) was in power," Okada said. "How (the LDP government)
settled on that plan must be examined. What to do with (the
relocation plan) is a subject to be discussed after that." The
relocation of Futenma Air Station is specified in the roadmap for
the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, (adopted by Japan and the
United States) in 2006.

9) Japan, Australia to conclude ACSA

SANKEI (Top play) (Lead paragraph)
September 27, 2009

The Japanese and Australian governments are expected to enter into
an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement (ACSA) for Japan's
Self-Defense Forces and Australian forces to provide each other with
food and fuel, sources revealed yesterday. Japan and Australia will
hold a security consultative committee meeting of their foreign and
defense ministers (2 plus 2) later this year to discuss specifics.
This is the first time for Japan to conclude an ACSA treaty with a
country other than the United States.

10) U.S. Ambassador Roos holds talks with Defense Minister Kitazawa

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
September 26, 2009

U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos held talks with Defense Minister
Toshimi Kitazawa at the Defense Ministry on Sept. 25. Referring to
U.S. force realignment, Ambassador Roos emphasized that "the roadmap
and the various talks held to date carry great significance."

11) Foreign Ministry changes grounds for denying that U.S. is

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bringing nuclear weapons into Japan, probably with "secret accord"
in mind

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
September 26, 2009

In response to an inquiry by a local government on the possibility
of the U.S. bringing nuclear weapons into Japan, the Foreign
Ministry changed the grounds it has so far cited in denying such a
possibility, according to local government officials concerned on
Sept. 25. To a question from the Kochi Prefectural Government on the
same day, the ministry said that U.S. warships are not capable of
carrying nuclear weapons. The Foreign Ministry has said that it
changed the explanation according to instructions from Foreign
Minister Katsuya Okada in the new government of the Democratic Party
of Japan.

The Kochi Prefectural Government asked the Foreign Ministry about
whether the USNS Safeguard, which is scheduled to call at Kochi Port
next month, is carrying nuclear weapons, according to prefectural
government officials concerned. The Foreign Ministry replied orally
on Sept. 25: "Since the U.S. salvage vessel is not capable of
carrying nuclear weapons, the government has no doubt that the
vessel is not carrying nuclear weapons."

In replying to similar inquires and Diet replies in the past, the
Foreign Ministry used to explain that the government had no doubt
about the U.S. bringing nuclear weapons into Japan as long as there
had been no prior consultations. Some observers have speculated that
the ministry changed its explanation probably bearing in mind the
possibility that it might be pressed to acknowledge the existence of
alleged Japan-U.S. secret pacts in the future.

12) Ex-U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Richard Lawless:
"Arbitrary implementation of DPJ's campaign pledge a problem"

ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
September 26, 2009

Yoichi Kato, editorial staff member

We interviewed former U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Richard
Lawless, who was involved with the negotiations on U.S. Forces Japan
(USFJ) realignment as the representative of the U.S. government,
about the Hatoyama administration's policies.

Q: The new administration is leaning toward a review of USFJ
realignment

Lawless: One-sided implementation of (the Democratic Party of
Japan's) manifesto will damage the partnership with the U.S. Our
concern is that the new administration appears not to understand how
the various agreements came about and how changes in some parts will
have a dramatic impact on the overall agreement. We hope they listen
carefully to briefings by the bureaucrats.

Q: Is there no possibility at all for any change in the Futenma
relocation plan?

Lawless: The U.S. accepted Japan's plans even though it was not 100
percent satisfied with them because Japan promised that it will

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implement these plans without fail.

Q: How about the proposal to merge (Futenma) with Kadena Air Base?

Lawless: This is not realistic in terms of the capability required
to deal with emergencies. Another military base is absolutely
necessary.

Q: How about the discontinuation of the refueling mission in the
Indian Ocean?

Lawless: Right now, Afghanistan is facing a period of challenge.
Withdrawal will undermine trust in Japan. If continuation is not
possible, it should think of alternative proposals other than just
providing funds.

Q: What do you think of making the secret nuclear agreement public?

Lawless: I can understand this as a historical issue, but if this
affects extended deterrence (the nuclear umbrella), it should be
handled very carefully, because Japan is protected by extended
deterrence.

13) Hatoyama says Japan will not simply extend refueling mission

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged)
Eve., September 26, 2009

Kohei Kobayashi, Pittsburgh

Prime Minister Hatoyama, meeting the press at a Pittsburgh hotel on
the evening of Sept. 25 (on the morning of Sept. 26, Japan time),
said he was not thinking of simply extending the Maritime
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean that is
set to end in January next year. At the same time, Hatoyama also
indicated that the government would promptly study civilian aid
measures, such as agricultural assistance and job training in
Afghanistan, as Japan's international contribution instead of the
MSDF's refueling activities.

14) FM Okada: Refueling mission, Afghan aid proposals to be
considered separately

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 28, 2009

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada discussed Afghan reconstruction aid
during an NHK TV program on September 27. He said: "Our thinking is
not that we are replacing the refueling operation of the Maritime
Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean (with more aid)," indicating
that the refueling mission and aid will be considered separately.
With regard to when the aid proposals will be drawn up, he stated
that "it will be desirable to come up with certain answers" by the
time of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Japan in November.

With regard to the relocation of the U.S. Forces' Futenma base (in
Ginowan City, Okinawa), Okada pointed out that: "The permanent
location of bases in Okinawa should be avoided as much as possible.
We need to give more thought to the excessive burden (on Okinawa)."
However, he also said: "This is an issue that has a history of more
than 10 years. It will not be easy to change our approach just like
that."

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This statement indicates that the possibility remains that the
government may settle on the current plan after a process of
reexamination. Okada also revealed that Japan and the U.S. will
jointly reexamine the existing plan, saying that: "For the U.S.,
this plan was put together under the Republican administration. It
has been decided that both sides will reexamine it."

15) Foreign Ministry launches investigation into alleged secret
accords

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 28, 2009

The Foreign Ministry has started an investigation into secret
accords reached between the governments of Japan and the U.S.,
including one allowing stopovers in Japan's territory by U.S.
military aircraft and vessels carrying nuclear weapons. An
investigation team of about 15 ex-officials of the North American
Affairs Bureau and others is examining about 3,700 volumes of
related materials, aiming to complete a probe by the end of
November. Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada also intends to set up an
expert panel tasked with looking into past circumstances and other
details regarding the accords.

16) FM Okada: Japan to come up with alternative Afghan aid proposals
ahead of U.S. President's visit

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
September 28, 2009

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada indicated during an NHK TV program on
September 27 that the government will draw up new Afghan
reconstruction aid proposals as an alternative to the refueling
mission of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) in the Indian
Ocean, if the mission is discontinued, before U.S. President Barack
Obama's first visit to Japan in November.

The government's policy is to withdraw the MSDF when the
authorization of the refueling mission expires in January. Okada
said: "The withdrawal of the SDF may affect (other countries') aid
to Afghanistan. We are saying that the mission will not simply be
extended. We will engage in negotiations (with the U.S. and other
countries) with a number of cards in our pocket."

17) Prime Minister Hatoyama to visit South Korea on Oct. 9

ASAHI (Page 1) (Full)
September 28, 2009

Aihiro Makino, Seoul

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is expected to visit South Korea on
Oct. 9, according to South Korean government officials. The South
Korean government, which aims to strengthen relations with Japan,
requested that the Prime Minister chose Seoul as the first city he
will visit in his bilateral diplomacy. Seoul's request was accepted
by the Hatoyama administration, which has advocated the creation of
an East Asian community. Hatoyama is expected to arrive in Seoul on
the morning of Oct. 9. He is expected to take part in a summit
meeting and luncheon there, and then leave for Beijing without
staying overnight to attend a trilateral summit meeting on Oct. 10

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among Japan, China, and South Korea.

18) Japan-China-ROK foreign ministerial today

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 28, 2009

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada will visit Shanghai today to attend a
trilateral foreign ministerial meeting among Japan, China, and South
Korea to take place this afternoon. The trilateral foreign
ministerial talks are aimed at laying the groundwork for a three-way
summit slated for Oct. 10. The three foreign ministers are expected
to discuss such issues as North Korea and global warming.

19) Hatoyama: Afghan aid to be top priority

SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged)
September 26, 2009

Morimichi Imahori, Pittsburgh

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, now visiting the United States, held
an informal meeting with accompanying reporters at a Pittsburgh
hotel late at night on Sept. 24 (on the morning of Sept. 25, Japan
time), during which he clarified that Japan, in its relations with
the United States, would give top priority to putting together its
own assistance measures to help stabilize Afghanistan.

20) New LDP president to be elected today

ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpt)
September 28, 2009

The opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect its 24th
president today. The winner will be determined by ballots by the
party's 199 Diet members and 300 votes by local party members.
Sadakazu Tanigaki, 64, is ahead in the race in terms of Diet votes.
Taro Kono and Yasutoshi Nishimura, both 46, are pinning their hopes
on local votes.

21) Basic policy cabinet ministers committee to hold first meeting
today

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full)
September 28, 2009

Yesterday Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met with Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano at the Prime Minister's Official Residence
(Kantei). They decided to hold today the first meeting of the "Basic
Policy Cabinet Ministers Committee," at which party-head-level
officials of the three ruling parties coordinate policy.

The committee comprises Deputy Prime Minister and National Strategy
Minister Naoto Kan of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ); Mizuho
Fukushima, chairperson of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and
state minister for consumer affairs; and Shizuka Kamei,
representative of the People's New Party (PNP) and state minister
for financial affairs. Hatoyama also will attend today's meeting.
The four leaders are expected to mainly discuss the basic policy of
compiling a state budget for next fiscal year.

ROOS

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