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Viewing cable 06TOKYO1469, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/22/06

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06TOKYO1469 2006-03-22 00:44 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO7274
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1469/01 0810044
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 220044Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9963
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 7857
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5227
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8372
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5249
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6412
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1235
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7423
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9385
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001469 
 
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 03/22/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4)   President Bush in speech refers to Prime Minister Koizumi as 
  "one of my best buddies" in the international community 
 
Poll: 
5)   Koizumi Cabinet support rate recovers to 46% in Asahi poll 
6)   Though 47% of public favor Shinzo Abe as next prime minister 
in Asahi poll, support for Yasuo Fukuda jumps to 20% 
7)   Asahi poll shows 78% of public against Japan picking up most 
of the tab for relocating US Marines from Okinawa to Guam 
 
Defense and security issues: 
8)   Prime Minister Koizumi agrees to "minor revisions" in 
  Futenma relocation coastal plan 
9)   Talks to continue with Nago City mayor about accepting 
revised government plan to relocated Futenma to coast portion of 
Camp Schwab 
10)  Government compromises by allowing minor changes to Futenma 
relocation plan, but local community holding out for major 
revisions 
11)  JDA chief Nukaga to continue efforts to break deadlock with 
local government over Futenma relocation issue 
12)  What are the "minor revisions" that the government is 
willing to make in Futenma relocation plan? 
13)  Kadena Air Base F-1 jet training to be relocated to six 
other bases on mainland Japan 
14)  Moving Okinawa Marines to Guam may be financed by GOJ loans 
15)  Government decides to extend SDF ocean-refueling operations 
in the Indian Ocean by a half-year, giving priority to GSDF 
pullout from Iraq 
 
Beef issue: 
16)  With still no prospect of resuming beef exports to Japan, 
  irritated US could turn issue into a trade dispute 
17)  US, Japan still not close to reaching agreement on removal 
of US beef ban 
18)  USDA Secretary Johanns: We replied to Japan's beef questions 
"swiftly and thoroughly" 
 
Political agenda: 
19)  SDP (former Japan Socialist Party) and Japanese Communist 
  Party leaders meet formally for the first time in 28 years 
20)  Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe rebuts charge by Foreign 
Minister Aso that he is weak on economics 
21)  Minshuto's Okada meets Taiwanese president in Taipei 
 
22)  Japan may adopt a 2% real economic growth target 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Mainichi:Yomiuri: Sankei: Tokyo Shimbun: 
Japan on top of the world, beating Cuba in inaugural WBC final; 
Pitcher Matsuzaka awarded MVP 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
 
TOKYO 00001469  002 OF 013 
 
 
Recruitment of college graduates will increase 21% next spring, 
according to first-stage tabulation of Nihon Keizai survey; 
Financial services and electronics makers serve as driving force 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Japan wins inaugural WBC title: Victory after cliffhanger 
games 
(2)  Put off implementation of PSE mark approval system for 
electric appliances planned for April 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Japan on top of the world in inaugural WBC: Thanks for the 
excitement and memories 
(2)  Thoughts on social disparities by writer Yasuo Inaba: Prime 
Minister takes no notice of reality and should listen to how the 
public is feeling 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  WBC: Oh's team now on to top of the world 
(2)  Softbank Corp.: Japanese companies are now players in the 
corporate acquisition market 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Structural changes urge global-scale industrial 
restructuring 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Japan wins WBC title: Honoring the achievement of the 
Japanese team 
(2)  Gas fields in East China Sea: Countermeasures necessary 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
 (1) Japan wins inaugural WBC title: Hope for all Japanese 
(2)  Bring an end to the Nagata issue: 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 21 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 22, 2006 
 
09:37 
Attended the ceremony for the Spring Imperial Ancestors' Day at 
the Imperial Palace. 
 
10:52 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
11:10 
Met with Defense Agency Director General Nukaga. 
 
Spent the afternoon at his official residence. 
 
4) Bush calls Koizumi his "best buddy," citing Japan as model for 
Iraq 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 22, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00001469  003 OF 013 
 
 
Hiroshi Maruya, Washington 
 
"Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is one of my best buddies in 
the international community. History shows that democracy changes 
society. I would like to cite Japan as a model case." 
 
President George W. Bush referred to Prime Minister Koizumi and 
Japan in his speech and a subsequent question-and-answer session 
in Ohio March 20. 
 
Bush cited Koizumi and Japan in explaining the purpose of the 
Iraq war, which raised the question whether democracy would take 
root in the Middle East. 
 
Bush noted: 
 
"If someone here said 60 years ago, 'Don't worry. Japan will 
become peaceful someday. The 43rd President will discuss ways to 
maintain peace.' Then people would say, 'What is he thinking 
about? Get him off the podium.'" 
 
Fully aware of the difference between Iraq and postwar Japan, 
Bush cited Japan as a successful example of yesterday's enemy 
becoming today's ally. This also indicated that he had no other 
convincing arguments to cite regarding his Iraq policy, which has 
been taking a heavy toll on his popularity. 
 
Japan-US relations have been straining due to the realignment of 
US forces in Japan, suspended US beef trade, Japan's planned 
withdrawal of SDF troops from Iraq, and other matters. Despite 
that, bilateral relations are not in a critical situation owing 
largely to Prime Minister Koizumi's presence and President Bush's 
view that Japan can serve as a model for Iraq. 
 
5) Cabinet support rate recovers to 46% in Asahi poll; 59% of 
public want Nagata to quit Diet seat 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 21, 2006 
 
In a nationwide opinion survey carried out by the Asahi Shimbun 
March 18-19, the Koizumi Cabinet support rate registered 46%, 
with a non-support rate at 38%. The Prime Minister has recovered 
from the previous poll in February when the support rate was 43% 
and the non-support rate 41%. In addition, 59% of the public 
called for the resignation of Lower House Minshuto (Democratic 
Party of Japan) lawmaker Hisayasu Nagata, who used a fake e-mail 
to pursue the Liberal Democratic Party in the Diet. 
 
Asked if they thought Minshuto had the capability of running the 
government, 68% said, "I don't think so." In the background of 
the recovery of the Cabinet's support rate seems to lie the 
incompetent handling of Diet affairs by Minshuto, as seen in the 
e-mail fiasco. 
 
6) Opinion poll on choice for prime minister after Koizumi: 47% 
favor Abe; 20% pick Fukuda, with 5% for Aso, 4% for Tanigaki 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
March 21, 2006 
 
The Asahi Shimbun carried out a nationwide poll on March 18-19 to 
 
TOKYO 00001469  004 OF 013 
 
 
query the public on who was the most popular candidate to succeed 
Junichiro Koizumi as prie minister. The result found 47% choosing 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe as the top choice, followed by 
former chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda, with 20%. 
 
The question of who is most appropriate to be the next prime 
minister had five choices: one of the four known candidates and a 
fifth "other person." Abe and Fukuda were much higher than the 
third contender, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who had 5% support, 
and Finance Minister Sadaichi Tanigaki, with 4%. 
 
In a poll taken right after the Cabinet reshuffle last October, 
the candidates were not yet lined up, so respondents had free 
choice to choose anyone from the Diet except Koizumi. The result 
was that 33% favored Abe, while 5% chose Aso, and 3% picked 
Minshuto President Seiji Maehara. Fukuda and Tanigaki only 
received 2% each. In a similar question in the January poll, Abe 
got 28%, Fukuda 5%, Aso 2%, and Maehara and Tanigaki had one % 
each. Fukuda was a distant second in the poll. 
 
This time, with the names of the candidates settled, respondents 
were asked to choose one from the group, with Abe again 
maintaining his top lead, though still shy of a majority. But 
Fukuda has jumped right up in the poll. Although Abe remains 
overwhelmingly strong in the eyes of the public as a favorite, 
the public's awareness of Fukuda's existence (as a serious 
contender) has risen. 
 
However, looking only at the LDP supporters, who have a deep 
connection with the LDP presidential election, Abe is the highest 
with 61% support, followed by Fukuda with a mere 15%. 
 
7) Asahi poll: 78% of public "cannot accept" Japan's share of 
cost of moving US Marines to Guam 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 21, 2006 
 
In a nationwide opinion survey carried out by the Asahi Shimbun 
(March 18-19), one of the questions was on the request by the 
United States for Japan to pay approximately 900 billion yen to 
build facilities and otherwise fund the relocation of US Marines 
from Okinawa to Guam. The poll found a deep-seated critical view 
of Japan bearing this great a fiscal burden, with 78% of the 
respondents picking the answer, "I cannot accept it." Only 14% 
chose the answer "I can accept it." 
 
No matter what age bracket, over 70% were unconvinced that Japan 
should bear such a burden. Among supporters of the Koizumi 
Cabinet and of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as 
well, 72% in each category found the proposed burden sharing 
unacceptable. Moreover, 84% of women found such a fiscal burden 
unacceptable, compared to 73% of men with a similar view. Men 
over 50 tended to be somewhat more willing to accept the fiscal 
burden, but even in that category, the portion was less than 30%. 
 
The poll also confirmed a growing mood of opposition to the 
realignment of US forces in Japan, as seen in recent moves by the 
City of Nago in Okinawa Prefecture and the City of Iwakuni in 
Yamaguchi Prefecture, both sites of planned relocations of bases 
or troops. On the relocation issue, 27% of respondents replied, 
"It should be the central government's decision to go forward," 
 
TOKYO 00001469  005 OF 013 
 
 
far less than the 63% who answered, "It should be premised on the 
agreement of local communities."  Even among LDP supporters, a 
majority urged that local agreement take precedent. Based on age 
brackets, the poll found this trend quite strong among young 
people in their 20s. 
 
8) Koizumi OK's slight changes, if feasible, to Futenma 
relocation plan 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
March 22, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Koizumi yesterday met at his office with Defense 
Agency Director General Nukaga to talk about the planned 
realignment of US forces in Japan. During the meeting, Koizumi 
indicated that he would accept modifications, if feasible, to the 
government's plan to relocate the heliport functions of the US 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa 
Prefecture, to a coastal area across the cape of Henoko in the 
island prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago. Koizumi was 
negative about retouching the relocation plan but is now deemed 
to be flexible. Meanwhile, Nukaga met with Nago Mayor Yoshikazu 
Shimabukuro in Tokyo yesterday evening and told the mayor that 
the government would be ready to modify the plan if possible. 
Nukaga and Shimabukuro agreed to work out an alternative idea 
this week. 
 
In the meeting, Koizumi and Nukaga discussed how to coordinate 
with Nago City and Okinawa Prefecture. They confirmed three 
points: 1) the government, based on its plan, will proceed with 
local coordination; 2) the government will not rule out the 
possibility of modifying the plan; and 3) there must be a 
feasible plan. Koizumi has given his ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party and Nukaga a free hand to coordinate with local authorities 
within the scope of these three preconditions, officials said. 
 
9) Futenma relocation: Government to make slight changes to 
coastal plan; Nago City appreciates changes; Government, Nago 
Mayo to meet again today 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
March 22, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi yesterday met with Defense 
Agency Director-General Fukushiro Nukaga at his official 
residence and on the planned relocation of the US military's 
Futenma Air Station to the coastal line of Camp Schwab as agreed 
on by Japan and the United States, he decided to accept slight 
changes to the relocation plan, for instance, constructing the 
planned runway at a site slightly closer to the ocean side, in an 
effort to obtain local understanding. Koizumi also confirmed his 
determination not to accept a shallow water plan as called for by 
Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, thus refusing to add a drastic 
change to the present relocation plan. Late yesterday, Nukaga met 
with Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro at a Tokyo hotel and 
conveyed this government policy to the mayor. Shimabukuro again 
made it clear he would oppose the coastal plan, but appreciated 
an addition of slight changes to the plan and agreed to hold 
talks again with the JDA today. 
 
10) Government agrees to minor changes to Futenma plan, but local 
communities continue uncompromising position 
 
TOKYO 00001469  006 OF 013 
 
 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
March 22, 2006 
 
The government decided yesterday to make minor changes to its 
plan to relocate US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, 
Okinawa Prefecture, to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in Nago. The 
proposal would include a change in the location and angle of the 
planned runway. By indicating a compromising stance, the 
government aims to win the cooperation of local communities 
affected by the relocation. 
 
The Nago municipal and Okinawa prefectural governments, though, 
have stood fast on their position opposed to the government's 
plan. It is likely to take time to obtain understanding from 
them. 
 
The central and local governments have been at loggerheads over a 
relocation site. The Nago municipal government is calling for 
relocating the air station to waters off Camp Schwab in hopes of 
reducing noise and producing economic effects. Meanwhile, the 
central government would like to push through with the coastal 
plan. Keeping in mind the experience in which a plan to relocate 
the air station to waters off Henoko district in Nago was 
deadlocked due to protest activities, the government is willing 
to construct the alternative facility in the US camp, which is 
closed to all unauthorized people. 
 
The US has asked Japan to start construction work at an early 
date on its responsibility. Although the government is aiming to 
move negotiations with local governments forward by making 
concessions, the light at the end of the tunnel is not in sight, 
with wide discrepancies in their positions. 
 
11) Futenma relocation: Talks between Nukaga and Shimabukuro fail 
to find common ground on coastal plan; Talks to continue 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 22, 2006 
 
Defense Agency Director-General Fukushiro Nukaga held talks last 
night for about two and a half hours with Nago Mayor Yoshikazu 
Shimabukuro over the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Nukaga urged 
the Nago mayor to accept the plan to relocate the air station to 
the coastline of Camp Schwab, as agreed upon between Japan and 
the United States. But Shimabukuro insisted on moving the 
airfield out to sea. The two failed to reach an agreement. 
Shimabukuro will continue holding talks with the Defense Agency 
today. 
 
After his talks with the Nago mayor last night, the defense chief 
said to reporters: 
 
"We have decided to come up with a certain direction before the 
end of this week. We have established a point of contact, and 
that carries significance. I believe the mayor is determined not 
to allow talks to break down. However, views between the 
government and Mayor Shimabukuro are still wide apart." 
 
Shimabukuro also noted: "The talks did not go anywhere. I 
explained the scope of what Nago would allow." 
 
TOKYO 00001469  007 OF 013 
 
 
 
Prior to his talks with Shimabukuro, Nukaga met with Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi at his official residence, and the two 
confirmed a policy direction of proceeding with local 
coordination basically in line with the Camp Schwab coastal plan. 
After his talks with Koizumi, Nukaga left some room for changes 
to the plan by saying to the press, "It's not that the government 
will not budge an inch." 
 
With his talks with Shimabukuro later in the day in mind, Nukaga 
obviously used an expression a bit different from the 
government's previous position of not revising the plan. Around 
that time in Naha, Shimabukuro held talks with Okinawa Gov. 
Keiichi Inamine, and the two agreed to reject LDP policy chief 
Hidenao Nakagawa's proposal to make minor changes to the Camp 
Schwab plan. 
 
Difficult coordination with local municipalities has given rise 
to new plans in the Foreign Ministry and the ruling coalition to 
make some changes, such as altering the direction of the planned 
runway. But the Defense Agency is dismissive of making any 
changes. Even though Japan and the US reached an agreement in 
1996 to relocate Futenma Air Station, the government was never 
able to begin an environmental assessment, a prerequisite for 
relocation work. Learning bitter lessons from it, the agency 
fears that minor changes would elicit additional changes and the 
matter would eventually get out of hand. 
 
12) How will "minor changes" be made in the Futenma relocation 
plan? Will there be change in the angle of the runway? Or will 
there be a major shift toward the ocean side? 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 22, 2006 
 
With only 10 days left until the end of March deadline for 
conclusion of the final agreement on the relocation of US forces 
in Japan, the government has turned sharply and will now allow a 
revision of the plan to relocate the US Marines' Futenma Air 
Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture). The Defense Agency 
(JDA), too, which has been adamant about sticking to the Camp 
Schwab coastal plan (Nago City), has ended its resistance to 
revising the plan, faced with pressure from all sides. But even 
though the word "revision" has been uttered, difficulties are 
expected in the efforts to bridge the gulf between the 
government, that want a land-based plan, and the local community, 
that wants an ocean-based plan. 
 
Surprise 
 
"That statement came as a surprise to me," a government source 
who favors accepting a revision in the plan admitted, referring 
to the remark made by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Policy 
Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa. He was referring to 
this statement by Nakagawa on a news program on March 19: "I 
can't say that there won't be any (revision). Efforts to some 
degree are conceivable during coordination with local 
governments."  For the government's side to hear the subject 
broached of revising the coastal plan was like a thunderbolt out 
of the sky. 
 
Three days earlier, the government agreed in a meeting of cabinet 
 
TOKYO 00001469  008 OF 013 
 
 
ministers connected to USFJ realignment to consider the 
possibility of a revision based on the wishes of Nago City. With 
Nakagawa's statement as the trigger, the government and ruling 
camp have speeded up their work on a revision. 
 
But the gap between the central and local governments is huge, 
with the government only willing to make "minor revisions" in the 
plan. 
 
13) US military to disperse flight training missions to 6 
mainland bases from Kadena, other bases 
 
OKINAWA (Page 2) (Abridged) 
March 22, 2006 
 
The Defense Facilities Administration Agency yesterday briefed 
local government officials on the ongoing intergovernmental 
consultations between Japan and the United States on the planned 
realignment of US forces in Japan. In yesterday's briefing, the 
DFAA told local authorities that the government would make 
efforts to disperse US military aircraft's flight training 
missions from Kadena airbase in Okinawa Prefecture and other 
bases to six mainland bases this fall and afterward and to other 
mainland bases in the future. The government has set a ceiling to 
the number of days for bilateral joint training exercises at 
each, and the US military conducts flight training within the 
limits of each base's ceiling. However, the DFAA told them that 
the government would like to remove the current ceiling of 
flights. 
 
According to the DFAA's account, the government will propose 
dispersing US fighter jets' training from three US bases at 
Kadena, Misawa in Aomori Prefecture, and Iwakuni in Yamaguchi 
Prefecture to five Air Self-Defense Force bases at Chitose in 
Hokkaido, Hyakuri in Ibaraki Prefecture, Komatsu in Ishikawa 
Prefecture, Tsuiki in Fukuoka Prefecture, and Nyutabaru in 
Miyazaki Prefecture, and also to Misawa. 
 
The US military will start some flight training missions in the 
fall of 2006 and then full-fledged training in fiscal 2007. The 
DFAA also revealed that the Japanese and US governments have 
agreed to make efforts for the availability of other Self-Defense 
Forces bases. 
 
14) Japan to propose loan-based funding for Marine relocation to 
Guam 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
March 22, 2006 
 
Japan will loan money to the United States in order to share the 
cost of moving US Marines from Okinawa to Guam in the realignment 
of US forces in Japan, according to the government's determined 
course of action. This loan-based funding formula is mainly 
intended to cover housing construction in Guam. Senior officials 
from the Japanese and US governments will meet tomorrow in Tokyo 
to hold realignment talks on a two-day schedule. On that 
occasion, the Japanese government would like to propose such loan- 
based funding. The government deems it easy to obtain public 
understanding for this loan-based cost sharing since it can 
constrain Japan's fiscal burden. However, the United States has 
asked Japan to shoulder housing and other infrastructural costs. 
 
TOKYO 00001469  009 OF 013 
 
 
It is unclear if the two countries can concur. 
 
The Japanese government plans to cover housing for US Marines and 
their family dependents. Its affiliated banking institution first 
invests in a US business for housing construction and management. 
The US government pays back to the Japanese government on an 
accrued repayment basis from its coffers, including rents to be 
paid by US Marines. This system is called public-private 
partnership or PPP for short. 
 
15) Government to extend MSDF's Indian Ocean mission for six 
months; GSDF troops to leave Iraq first 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
March 21, 2006 
 
The government began coordination yesterday to extend the basic 
deployment plan to allow Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) 
personnel to continue refueling foreign vessels in the Indian 
Ocean beyond May 1 in accordance with the Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law. The government intends to extend the deadline for 
six months until November 1. 
 
The basic deployment plan was been extended every six months. The 
government was planning to withdraw MSDF troops without renewing 
the deployment plan in accordance with Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi's intention to withdraw all SDF troops from overseas in 
May or later. 
 
But now that Ground Self-Defense Force troops may begin leaving 
Iraq as early April, a cautious view has surfaced about 
terminating the MSDF's mission at around the same time. As a 
result, the government has decided to extend the MSDF's mission 
in the Indian Ocean, which has won a good reputation from other 
countries, and withdraw GSDF troops from Iraq first. 
 
16) US increasingly irritated with Japan's prolonged ban on US 
beef imports; Beef issue may become trade issue; Prospect of 
resuming beef imports not in sight due to Japan's cautiousness 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Excerpts) 
March 22, 2006 
 
By Tatsuya Watanabe 
 
Japan reinstated its ban on US beef imports in January after 
backbones were found in US beef shipments to Japan. The dispute 
between the United States and Japan is deepening, as the US is 
urging Japan to reopen its beef market quickly while Japan 
remains cautious. Concerns are emerging that if this issue is 
prolonged, it could turn a serious trade dispute. 
 
The US reply released on March 20 by the Ministry of Agriculture, 
Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Health Ministry indicates 
that the reason why bones were mixed in beef shipments to Japan 
was that "the inspector was unaware that the plant was an 
authorized facility for beef exports to Japan." The US in its 
reply insists "that is not something that shows weakness in the 
US export system," noting that the plant in question has been 
decertified and the inspector in question is receiving training. 
 
But on the same day, Administrative Vice Agriculture Minister 
 
TOKYO 00001469  010 OF 013 
 
 
Ishihara indicated a cautious position about reopening the beef 
market to the US, saying: "We need to provide consumers with 
various levels of information in order to secure transparency. 
It's important to respond carefully to the matter. It's 
inadequate to deal with the issue based on a political decision." 
He said he plans to hold a meeting of Japanese and US experts in 
Japan and listen to details of the matter from them. 
 
The discovery of bones in beef shipments to Hong Kong after Japan 
has also made Japan distrustful of the US export system. Many in 
the ruling parties have come around to the view of Liberal 
Democratic Party lawmakers affiliated with farm organizations 
that the US is to blame and that Japan should closely probe the 
matter. Japan's ban on US beef imports is likely to be prolonged. 
 
The US is increasingly irritated with Japan's response. In a 
meeting on March 18 with Foreign Minister Aso, US Secretary of 
State Rice expressed strong discontent, arguing: "Isn't Japan 
going too far?" US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer also 
pointed out in a speech that if the ban on US beef imports 
becomes protracted, it is possible that the US Congress will run 
out of patience and that the issue will turn into a trade war." 
As shown in the use of the provocative term "trade war" to shake 
Japan, the US is apparently shifting to a hard-line stance. 
 
17) Japan, US remain divided over issue of US beef shipment 
containing banned materials; Washington pressuring Japan to 
quickly resume imports 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Excerpts) 
March 21, 2006 
 
The US government yesterday unveiled its written replies to 
Japan's questions about the incident in which vertebral columns, 
a banned material due to the risk of BSE, were found in a US beef 
shipment to Japan. The US replies reiterated its view that the 
incident was a "unique case." While asserting there was no 
problem in the inspection system itself, Washington is ratcheting 
up its pressure on Japan to reopen its market to US beef at an 
early date. Reflecting the gap between their positions, both 
sides now expect to face stormy negotiations. 
 
Tokyo in its questionnaire asked Washington to uncover the cause 
of the incident in detail, noting: "Problems at each stage should 
be sorted out in a comprehensive way and examined in detail." But 
the US in its replies noted: "The US has already singled out 
problems and taken appropriate preventive measures." Citing the 
reason that the responsible inspector did not know about the 
export conditions, the US report spelled out measures to 
thoroughly train inspectors. 
 
The US government plans to dispatch experts to Japan this week to 
explain the measures it plans to take to prevent a recurrence of 
a similar incident in an effort to urge Japan to resume US beef 
imports. 
 
18) Johanns: USDA has responded "swiftly and thoroughly" to 
Japan's beef questions 
 
MAINICHI (Page 10) (Full) 
March 22, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00001469  011 OF 013 
 
 
Jun Kimura, Washington 
 
Commenting on the replies the US has made to Japan's questions 
about the issue of a specified risk material found in a US beef 
shipment to Japan, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns 
emphatically stated on March 20: "We responded to Japan's 
questions as swiftly and thoroughly as possible." Speaking before 
reporters in Washington, he added: "I hope Japan will resume US 
beef imports at an early date." 
 
The agriculture secretary said, "The incident was a unique case," 
reiterating his view that there was no problem in the US 
inspection system. He added: "I would like to discuss the next 
step with Japanese officials. If necessary, we will dispatch an 
expert team to Japan overnight." He thus expressed his desire to 
move the process of Japan's resumption of US beef imports 
forward. 
 
Johanns also emphasized the need for Japan's early resumption of 
imports in order to prevent calls for sanctions against Japan 
from growing stronger, saying: "Dissatisfaction in the US 
Congress is intensifying. The situation might become 
unpredictable." 
 
19) Meeting of JCP and SDP top leaders to occur for first time in 
28 years to prevent constitutional amendments 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
March 22, 2006 
 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Central Committee Chairperson 
Kazuo Shii and Social Democratic Party (SDP) head Fukushima will 
hold talks tonight. Fukushima accepted Shii's request for a 
meeting. Shii aims to forge a coalition with the SDP to prevent 
constitutional reform. The leaders of the two parties will meet 
for the first time in 28 years since one was held in 1978 between 
JCP head Kenji Miyamoto and then Japan Socialist Party Chairman 
Kazuo Asuka. 
 
Shii and Fukushima will exchange views over dinner at a Tokyo 
restaurant on measures to deal with a national referendum bill 
that would set procedures for amending the Constitution. Senior 
members of the two parties will join the session. 
 
The two parties have been unable to mount joint efforts in the 
Diet ever since the then Japan Socialist Party set a policy 
course in 1980 of excluding the JCP and forming a coalition 
government with the New Komeito. In 1999, they worked as together 
to oppose the Japan-US defense cooperation guideline bills, but 
their leaders never met. 
 
The reason for the two parties having planned the meeting is 
because the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), New Komeito and the 
largest opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) 
have formulated their own proposals for constitutional reform and 
are working on ironing out differences of opinions within their 
parties. The three parties hold more than two-thirds of the seats 
in the Diet seats -- and thus have the required number for 
proposing constitutional amendments. The JCP and SDP, therefore, 
have no choice but to cooperate with each other in a bid to 
oppose constitutional reform. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001469  012 OF 013 
 
 
20) Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe rebuts Foreign Minister Aso: "I 
talk about economic issues almost every day" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 21, 2006 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso told reporters in Sydney, "I have never 
seen Mr. Abe talk about his economic policy." At a regular press 
conference on March 20, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe took 
issue with Aso's remark, arguing, 
 
"Since I'm the government spokesman, I'm not in a position to 
talk about my personal economic policy. But I talk about the 
government's economic policy almost twice a day (at press 
briefings). What I state is the road that the Koizumi government 
should take on economic policy." 
 
21) Former Minshuto head Okada meets with Taiwan President Chen 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 22) (Full) 
March 22, 2006 
 
Katsuya Okada, former president of the main opposition party 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), now visiting Taiwan, met on 
March 21 with Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian for about one 
hour at the Presidential Office in Taipei. The pair exchanged 
views on Taiwan-Japan relations among other issues. 
 
During the meeting, Okada revealed anew his party's position of 
supporting the 1972 Japan-China joint statement. He also stressed 
that his party strongly opposes China's use of force against 
Taiwan but it does not support Taiwan's independence. 
 
According to Okada, Chen told him that Taiwan would need to 
enhance its defense capability, since China has stepped up 
pressure on Taiwan through an increasing number of missiles. He 
also said to Okada that he would do his utmost to protect Taiwan 
during his term of office, which has about two years remaining. 
 
22) METI to present to CEFP real growth target of more than 2% 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Full) 
March 22,2006 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has decided 
to include in a new economic growth strategy, which it will 
shortly present to the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy 
(CEFP), an economic growth target of more than 2% in real terms. 
METI plans to include a projection that even if the nation's 
population drops, it is possible to raise growth potential 
through technological advances, streamlining in the services 
sector, and the effective use of information and technology (IT). 
 
The target METI will present is for a real growth rate in 2015. 
METI Minister Toshihiro Nikai will present it at a CEFP meeting 
on March 29. Government officials remain at odds over the future 
growth rate, a prior condition for charting the course of fiscal 
reconstruction. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister 
Heizo Takenaka has called for setting a nominal growth target of 
4% -5% by adding price increases of about 2% to a real growth 
rate of about 2%. On the other hand, State Minister for Economic 
and Fiscal Policy Hajime Yosano has indicated a slightly lower 
 
TOKYO 00001469  013 OF 013 
 
 
growth rate of about 3%, premised on real growth well above the 
1% level. 
 
METI has also constructed a third scenario in which if necessary 
measures are taken, the real growth rate will top all 
projections. In drafting the third scenario, METI assumed 
strengthened development of human resources, including the use of 
older engineers, as well as technological innovation and improved 
productivity through the use of IT. 
 
SCHIEFFER