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Viewing cable 07TOKYO61, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//07

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07TOKYO61 2007-01-10 01:10 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO3719
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0061/01 0100110
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 100110Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9649
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 1981
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9499
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2948
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 8979
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 0523
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5452
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1544
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2992
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000061 
 
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 01//07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4) In collision with Japanese tanker in Persian Gulf, US 
nuclear-powered sub was operating underwater 
 
Defense Ministry launched: 
5) New Defense Ministry transitioning into a policy-making agency, 
competing with Foreign Ministry in relations with US 
6) Many hurdles ahead for new Defense Ministry, including 
implementing USFJ realignment, missile defense promotion 
7) Bill to establish a permanent overseas dispatch law for the SDF 
will be postponed 
8) With launching of a defense ministry, some senior civilian posts 
will be filled by uniformed officers 
9) Chorus of criticism from the opposition parties about Defense 
Ministry launching 
 
Futenma issue: 
10) Okinawa governor presses JDM vice minister for minor changes in 
V-shaped runway plan at Camp Schwab shore 
11) V-shaped runway will be implemented as planned, despite 
Okinawa's demand for changes 
 
12) Kantei (Prime Minister's Official Residence) mad as hornet at 
personal diplomacy in Pyongyang by LDP's Taku Yamasaki 
 
13) Government to recognize India as nuclear power, give priority to 
building bilateral economic ties 
 
14) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) to focus Diet strategy on 
attacking LDP on social-disparity issue in run up to Upper House 
election 
 
15) Salary of secretary of LDP's Eto allegedly paid for by company 
with close ties to lawmaker 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi &Nihon Keizai: 
Mizuho, Shinko to merge to form Japan's No. 3 broker in revenue 
 
Mainichi: 
JAL to cut 3,000 employees over several years 
 
Yomiuri: 
Government to recognize India as nuclear power 
 
Sankei: 
Under revised Money-lending Control Law, Citigroup to close 80% of 
outlets 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Real picture of Iraq dispatch (Part 1): Changing SDF - Ceremony 
under preparation, ready to die in battle 
 
Akahata: 
 
TOKYO 00000061  002 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//07 
 
Zensho pays unpaid extra money for overtime to 6,000 part-timers at 
Sukiya 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Prime minister's tour of Europe has significance as chance to 
widen perspectives 
(2) Switch set of mind from "gymnastics" to "sports" 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Launch of Defense Ministry: Future is a cause for concern 
(2) Prime minister, foreign minister visit Europe: Turn attention to 
Asia 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Prime Minister's visit to Europe: Strengthen ties from new point 
of view 
(2) Resumption of Mihama Atomic Plant: Priority must be given to 
safety to restore confidence 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Defense Ministry must be modest 
(2) EU "frazzled by expansion" 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Mihama Atomic Plant: Efforts needed to give top priority to 
safety 
(2) Liberalization of telecom services: Employ ingenuity to perceive 
irregularities 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Launch of Defense Ministry: Defense-only policy must be 
maintained 
(2) ASEAN: Efforts necessary to strengthen footing 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Does prime minister still try to protect Agriculture Minister 
Matsuoka? 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, January 9 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
January 10, 2007 
 
08:57 
Issued an appoint letter to Defense Minister Kyuma at Kantei. 
Afterwards, attended a cabinet meeting. 
 
09:42 
Received a salute from an honor guard at Defense Ministry. Later, 
met with Kyuma and then attended the ceremony commemorating the 
shift of the JDA to a ministry. 
 
10:18 
Attended a party executives' meeting at LDP headquarters. Secretary 
General Nakagawa remained. Later, joined the first work of the party 
this year. 
 
11:03 
 
TOKYO 00000061  003 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//07 
 
Attended a government-ruling camp liaison meeting at Kantei. 
Afterwards, met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki and Deputy 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba. 
 
12:01 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
12:44 
Left Haneda Airport on a government plane. 
 
(Local time) 
 
Afternoon 
Arrived at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain. 
 
4) "Nuclear submarine was cruising underwater" according to US 
Navy's account when the collision occurred 
 
ASAHI (Page 31) (Full) 
January 10, 2007 
 
A US nuclear-powered submarine collided with the Japanese 
supertanker, the Mogamigawa, in the southern part of the Strait of 
Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. On this accident, the US Navy yesterday 
revealed that the nuclear submarine hit the tanker when cruising 
underwater. When a submarine navigates underwater, it is allegedly 
obligated to avoid any collision. Upon the return home of the 
tanker's crew, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) will question them under 
domestic law and investigate how the collision occurred. 
 
According to Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., when the collision 
occurred, two crewmembers were on lookout for sea and the radar, but 
reportedly they did not recognize any figure or lights of the 
submarine beforehand. 
 
Meanwhile the US Navy's 5th Fleet announced that an accident 
occurred while the US submarine the Newport News "was navigating 
underwater" in the Strait of Hormuz. The Navy is collecting data 
showing the details of damage to the submarine, but it says there 
are no reports of any damage to the engine (nuclear reactor) or any 
radiation leakage. The bow of the submarine seems to have struck the 
left rear side of the tanker. 
 
According to maritime experts, the UN Conference on the Law of the 
Sea allows a submarine to submerge when it navigates on the high 
seas. But when the submarine submerges, ships can't find out the 
location of the submarine, so the submarine is obligated to avoid 
any collision. 
 
The Mogamigawa is a Japanese vessel, so Japanese law will be applied 
to the collision case this time. The JCG will question the captain 
of the ship and other crewmembers under the Rule of Sea and other 
laws. 
 
5) With shift to ministry status, Defense Ministry aims to become a 
policy-planning office; May conflict with Foreign Ministry over 
relations with US 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 10, 2007 
 
Nobutake Yamashita 
 
TOKYO 00000061  004 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//07 
 
 
The Defense Agency (JDA) yesterday was formally upgraded to a 
ministry as the 11th one in the government. Following this upgrade, 
the Ministry of Defense (MOD) aims to depart from the previous 
status of the management office over the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) 
to become a policy-planning office. The ministry aims to amend the 
Defense Ministry Establishment Law in the upcoming ordinary session 
of the Diet in order to implement the reorganization of the internal 
offices in September. But a number of tasks remain to be resolved. 
The focus of attention in the days ahead is likely to be on what to 
do about the role-sharing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MOFA), with which the JDA had previously worked together to chart a 
security policy, and with the Japanese version of the national 
security council (NSC) planned to be established in the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 
 
"The Ministry of Defense needs to have a strategic viewpoint when 
considering the future of the state and also needs to strengthen the 
policy-planning functions so that the ministry can meet not only our 
country's security but also the international community's 
expectations." Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma thus stressed the need 
to beef up the policy-planning capability expected from the ministry 
at the ceremony commemorating the promotion of the JDA to a ministry 
yesterday. 
 
In the process of the reorganization, the MOD will establish a "US 
force realignment liaison post" in the Minister's Secretariat, which 
will be responsible for the realignment of USFJ. It will also 
establish a "Japan-US defense cooperation division" and an 
"international policy division" in the Defense Policy Bureau in 
order to enhance relations with national defense officials of other 
countries. 
 
On the other hand, the MOD's relations with MOFA are somewhat 
delicate. The JDA, which had increased its influence, leveraged by 
such elements as overseas dispatches of the SDF, has occasionally 
taken the lead in the talks with the US over the realignment of the 
US forces in Japan, and even a senior MOFA official noted, "The JDA 
has outsmarted MOFA." At the time of North Korea's nuclear tests in 
last October, a conflict between the JDA and MOFA over the concept 
of situations in areas surrounding Japan (or contingencies around 
Japan) surfaced. Both ministries are likely to engage in a tug of 
war in the coming months. 
 
6) Mounting challenges awaits Defense Agency, including US force 
realignment, promotion of MD system; Ministry to transform itself 
into policymaking body speedily 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
January 10, 2007 
 
The Defense Agency was upgraded to the Defense Ministry yesterday. 
With the Self-Defense Force's international peacekeeping activities 
also upgraded to primary duties, the ministry is now being pressed 
to transform itself into a true policymaking government body. With 
many policy challenges lying ahead, such as the realignment of US 
forces in Japan and the promotion of a missile defense system, the 
newly established Defense Ministry must now overcome its structural 
weakness in human resources compared to other ministries. 
 
Uniqueness 
 
 
TOKYO 00000061  005 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//07 
 
"We must change ourselves in order to become a true policymaking 
body. The ministry's policymaking functions must be strengthened not 
only for the security of Japan but also in order to fully meet the 
expectations of the international community." 
 
In a speech at the ceremony yesterday, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma 
underscored the need to strengthen the ministry's policymaking 
functions by repeatedly using the expression "policymaking 
ministry." The ministry is tasked with proceeding with such 
challenges as US force realignment, including the planned relocation 
of Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, improving the MD system, and 
continued reconstruction assistance in Iraq on the one hand, and 
planning medium to long-term security polities on the other. 
 
But chances are that the more the Defense Ministry tries to exhibit 
its uniqueness, the more discord will break out with the Foreign 
Ministry, which now oversees relations with the US, and with the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei), which is studying the 
option of creating a Japanese-version National Security Council 
(NSC) will be pronounced over role-sharing and adjusting views. 
 
In fact, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is eager to establish a 
permanent law on SDF overseas missions, Kyuma again took a cautious 
view yesterday, saying, "We must first determine on what kind of 
mission the SDF should be dispatched overseas to accomplish." 
 
Cultivating human resources 
 
A lack of home-grown talented senior officers is also a headache for 
the Defense Ministry. 
 
Vice-minister candidates have come from such offices as the Finance 
Ministry and the National Police Agency. Of the 28 past vice defense 
ministers, only five hailed from the Defense Agency. This can be 
explained partially by the fact that the ministry has not hired 
those who passed the advanced examination for national civil 
servants for its administrative posts for a long time. 
 
Incumbent Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya, who comes from the 
Defense Agency, assumed office in August 2003. Now in his fourth 
year, Takemasa has been in the post for an unusually long time. 
Takemasa's expected retirement from the post this summer reflects 
the ministry's shortfall in human resources. 
 
In the wake of a series of improprieties involving SDF personnel, 
including information leaks, Moriya issued under the date of Jan. 9 
a notice seeking an improved education system, including the strict 
observance of regulations by SDF personnel. The Defense Ministry 
intends to enhance training programs for defense officials and 
officers. 
 
7) Government decides to defer on a plan to submit to the ordinary 
Diet session a bill for establishing a permanent law on overseas 
troop dispatches out of concern for impact on Upper House election 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 10, 2007 
 
Yu Koyama 
 
The government decided to defer on a plan to submit to the ordinary 
Diet session to be convened on Jan. 25 a bill for the establishment 
 
TOKYO 00000061  006 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//07 
 
of a permanent law stipulating the requirements for overseas 
dispatches of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel. With the 
promotion yesterday of the Defense Agency to the Ministry of 
Defense, the SDF personnel's overseas operations have now become 
major duties. Taking advantage of this occasion, the government is 
trying to establish a permanent law on overseas dispatches of the 
SDF in order to expand their duties, but it has decided to defer the 
submission of the bill out of consideration for a possible impact on 
the Upper House election slated for July. The government also has 
decided to postpone coming up with a conclusion on the study of 
adding changes to the interpretation of the Constitution's Article 9 
as called for by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe so that the conclusion 
will be reflected in the permanent bill on overseas dispatches. 
 
Regarding this permanent bill, the government formed a study team 
(composed of some 20 persons) in the Cabinet Secretariat in August 
2003, and the team has been preparing legislation to date. At the 
New Year's press conference on Jan. 4, the prime minister indicated 
he was positive about that legislation, noting, "We need to rebuild 
a legal basis for security to meet the needs of the times." But the 
New Komeito, the junior coalition partner of the government, is 
cautious about such matters as relaxing the rules for the use of 
weapons and the expansion of the SDF duties ahead of the Upper House 
election. In addition, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma stated at a 
press conference yesterday: "In order to move forward discussions, 
we need to sort out the way of the use of weapons and the duties." 
 
8) Kyuma considering making changes to sanjikan system, including 
abolishing it and appointing uniformed officers 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
January 10, 2007 
 
In the wake of the Defense Agency's upgrade to the Defense Ministry, 
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma announced a policy direction in a press 
conference yesterday to review the current director-general 
(sanjikan) system of Defense Ministry officials not in uniform 
assisting the defense minister to either abolish it altogether or 
make fundamental changes to it. The system, introduced from bitter 
lessons learned from the military's reckless actions during the war, 
is designed to allow the Diet and cabinet to exercise civilian 
control and non-uniformed officers to control uniformed personnel. A 
review would increase the importance of control of the Self-Defense 
Forces by the prime minister and the Diet. 
 
Kyuma said regarding the system: "It has been 50 years since the 
system was established. I've been wonder if it should be left as it 
is. I think we should consider (changing it)." When he was serving 
as defense agency chief 10 years ago, Kyuma also tried to appoint a 
uniformed officer as chief of the then education bureau to educate 
and train SDF personnel. But his attempt failed due to the Defense 
Agency Establishment Law, which stipulated to appoint sanjikan as 
bureau chiefs. 
 
9) Defense Ministry inaugurated: Opposition camp criticizes upgrade 
as dangerous move 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 10, 2007 
 
In response to the inauguration of the Defense Ministry, opposition 
parties stepped up criticism of Prime Minister Abe, who is aiming at 
 
TOKYO 00000061  007 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//07 
 
continuing Self-Defense Forces' activities in Iraq and revising the 
interpretation of the Constitution, which bans the exercise of the 
right to collective self-defense. 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama during a press conference pointed out, "A set of bills to 
upgrade the Self-Defense Agency to a status of ministry stipulated 
in a manner like fishing in troubled waters that SDF operations in 
Iraq should be made mainstay operations." He also stated, "The Iraq 
war itself was mistaken. The Air Self-Defense Force is still 
operating in Iraq. I want Japan to quickly become aware of the 
mistake." He thus criticized the government for continuing ASDF 
operations in Iraq. 
 
Japanese Communist Party head of the Secretariat Tadayoshi Ichida 
during a press briefing criticized the upgrade of the Defense Agency 
to ministry status as a "very dangerous move that is being promoted 
with two wheels of a cart along with the move to change the 
interpretation of the Constitution."  Social Democratic Party head 
Mizuho Fukushima also stressed during a press conference: "The first 
step for the SDF to act along with US forces on global battle fields 
has been taken. I feel a sense of alarm about that." 
 
10) Okinawa expresses willingness to accept V-shaped Futenma 
relocation plan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
January 10, 2007 
 
Okinawa Vice Gov. Zenki Nakazato has conveyed Gov. Hirokazu 
Nakaima's wishes to Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya that the 
prefectural government would accept the government's plan to build 
V-shaped runways on the coastline of Camp Schwab to take over 
functions of Futenma Air Station with minor changes to it, sources 
said yesterday. Now that Okinawa has conveyed its willingness to 
accept the V-shaped plan on the condition of minor changes, the 
situation might move forward toward a breakthrough. 
 
According to the sources, Nakazato told Moriya on Jan. 8: "Moving 
the envisaged runways to a point in restricted waters (within 500 
meters from the shore) would be in the scope of the Japan-US 
agreement. The anti-base group would not be able to block it." In 
response, Moriya only said, "The government's plan cannot be 
changed." 
 
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma has indicated that he would 
not have to stick to the government's plan, saying, "As long as an 
agreement is reached among the US, the central government, and 
affected municipalities, anything will do." Kyuma also said in a 
press conference after the cabinet meeting yesterday, "There are 
people who rule out any change to a plan once an agreement is 
reached between governments. Such thinking is too stiff." 
 
Whether or not the government can work things out with the US is 
uncertain. A Defense Ministry official noted yesterday: "Okinawa's 
suggestion for minor changes might serve as a settlement line." 
 
11) Okinawa calls for minor changes in V-shape runway construction 
plan 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
January 10, 2007 
 
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The Okinawa prefectural government has proposed to the Defense 
Ministry minor changes in the plan agreed on between Japan and the 
United States last May to build runways in a V-shape formation in a 
coastal area of Camp Schwab in Nago as alternative heliport 
functions of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan. 
Under the proposal, the runways would be built farther from the 
shore than under the agreed plan but within the restricted waters, 
the aim being to avoid obstructive moves by base opponents. The 
Okinawa government's revised plan was revealed for the first time. 
 
Okinawa Vice Governor Zenki Nakazato presented the proposal when he 
met with Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya in 
Tokyo on Jan. 8. Nakazato asked Moriya that the ministry should 
seriously look into the revised plan, saying, "Since our plan calls 
for constructing runways in the V-shape formation and within the 
restricted waters, it should be within the scope of minor change. 
The plan is highly feasible because there will be no need to alter 
the agreement between Japan and the US." The restricted waters are 
under the control of the US military, and other vessels than US 
military ships are not allowed to enter the area. 
 
Nakazato also asked Moriya not to start such procedures as the 
environmental assessment before a plan agreeable to Okinawa is 
readied. Moriya stopped short of giving a clear-cut reply. 
 
12) Yamasaki visiting Pyongyang attaching importance to dialogue; 
Kantei infuriated at dual diplomacy 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 10, 2007 
 
Former Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Taku 
Yamasaki yesterday arrived in North Korea. His visit to the nation 
is aimed at finding a breakthrough in the stalemated efforts to 
settle such issues as North Korea's nuclear test and abduction of 
Japanese nationals through a dialogue policy. However, the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei), which is promoting a 
pressure policy, is reacting fiercely against his visit. Criticism 
calling Yamasaki's Pyongyang visit dual diplomacy is mounting. 
 
Yamasaki decided to visit Pyongyang because he is convinced that in 
order to settle the North Korea issue, efforts for dialogue and 
persuasion are necessary. Yamasaki has indicated his view every now 
and then that the Abe administration is biased toward pressure, such 
as economic sanctions. When he held a party in Fukuoka City on Jan. 
5, he said, "The Abe administration has applied pressure until the 
last moment, but the situation has not improved." 
 
Yamasaki met with a senior North Korean official in Dalian, China, 
in April 2004 before then Prime Minister Koizumi visited the North 
for the second time. He has thus this channel for direct talks with 
North Korea. In an effort to positively promote dialogue with the 
North, he also proposed to former Prime Minister Koizumi to visit 
the North after it test-fired ballistic missiles and carried out a 
nuclear test. 
 
With the determination to unlock the door for the reinstatement of 
the dialogue policy, Yamasaki during his visit to the North this 
time intends to confirm the validity of the Japan-North Korea 
Pyongyang Declaration, which mentions settling the nuclear issue and 
resuming talks for normalization of bilateral ties. He has of course 
 
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ambition as a politician. However, most government officials and 
ruling party members are critical of his visit to North Korea with 
one LDP senior official noting, "His visit to Pyongyang has more 
negative elements than positive elements." 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a press conference yesterday 
expressed his displeasure on an unusually sober note: "Japan is 
applying pressure on North Korea, including economic sanctions. I 
would like him to act, based on this basic policy." 
 
The prime minister is aiming at settling issues with North Korea by 
strengthening pressure. His measures include independently invoking 
economic sanctions against the nation for its nuclear test. He is 
increasingly concerned that if Yamasaki makes a statement to senior 
North Korea officials indicating that Japan would return to a 
dialogue policy, he would be sending a wrong message, as a senior 
government official put it. 
 
In addition, the major principle is that the government is solely in 
charge of diplomacy. If Yamasaki pursues negotiations with the North 
without communications with the government, the North would seize 
upon the lack of cooperation and take advantage of this. 
 
13) Government plans to recognize India as nuclear power as 
exception to non-proliferation regime, give priority to economic 
relations 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
January 10, 2007 
 
The government yesterday firmed up its intention to cooperate with 
India, a country that possesses nuclear weapons, in the civilian use 
of nuclear power and to allow Japanese companies to participate in 
such related projects as construction of nuclear power plants. 
Specifically, Japan has opened the way for such projects by 
announcing its support for the US-India nuclear-power cooperation 
pact that includes assistance from the US for India's civilian use 
nuclear power and recognizes India as a nuclear-weapons possessing 
state. This is an exceptional step in the non-proliferation policy 
of Japan, which firmly upholds the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 
(NPT). 
 
14) Minshuto to focus on social disparities in Diet session, with 
eye on Upper House election 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
January 10, 2007 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) decided in an executive meeting 
yesterday to define the regular Diet session to be convened on Jan. 
25 as "a session focusing on the challenge of redressing social 
disparities." Prime Minister Abe is willing to make constitutional 
revision and educational reform as campaign issues for the coming 
House of Councillors elections, but the main opposition party is 
ready to focus on social disparities. The party plans to present a 
disparity-correction bill that would include specific necessary 
measures in hopes of underscoring its eagerness to address the 
widening disparities in society in wide-ranging areas, such as 
employment and labor, pension and welfare, as well as parental 
care. 
 
Participating in the executive meeting were Acting President Naoto 
 
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Kan, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, and Upper House Chairman 
Azuma Koshiishi. 
 
Specific measures will be worked out under the lead of Policy 
Research Council Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto. Minshuto plans to come 
up with measures to redress the disparities in income and welfare 
between regular and part-time workers. In an interview held at the 
end of last year, Kan said, "Although a part-timer does similar work 
to that by a regular employee at a low standard, there is a 
significantly wide gap in (their wages)." President Ozawa 
emphatically said in an NHK program on Jan. 7: "The ratio of 
irregular workers to the total should be determined based on a quota 
system. We will work out measures to provide such workers with the 
same level of salary and prepare a proper social security system for 
them." 
 
Kan has cited specific measures to (1) partially freeze the law to 
help people with disabilities be independent, which provides for the 
10% individual payment for welfare services in principle; (2) raise 
the deduction for public pension to deal with the tax hikes for 
those who live only on pension; and (3) expand those eligible for 
scholarship money. 
 
15) Lawmaker Eto: Funding source for salaries paid to secretary 
unclear: Secretary received 200,000 yen to 300,000 yen from Eto and 
10 million yen from information company 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Slightly Abridged) 
January 10, 2007 
 
The state-paid senior secretary (57) to Lower House member Seishiro 
Eto (65), former Defense Agency director general, raised funds 
topping 100 million yen on the pretext of fees for subscription to 
brochures, when he was a private secretary to Eto. In this 
connection, it was found that almost the full amount of salaries 
that were claimed to have been paid to two employees of Information 
Service - 10 million yen a year, now disbanded brochure publisher in 
Osaka, was actually paid as a salary to this secretary. The only 
employees of the company were this secretary and his family members. 
The secretary himself revealed this during an interview with the 
Yomiuri Shimbun. 
 
Since this secretary's stated salary was only 200,000 yen to 300,000 
yen a year, chances are that the secretary in effect received a 
salary from this company. 
 
According to the account given by the secretary, Eto paid him 
several million yen a year as salary when he was assigned to Tokyo 
as his private secretary. However, because he established a company 
when he was assigned to Osaka as Eto's private secretary, his salary 
then was only 200,000 yen to 300,000 yen a year. However, he 
insisted that income he received from Information Service was not 
compensation for the salary he received for his secretarial post. 
 
However, Takeshi Tsuchimoto, professor of criminal law at Hakuo 
Graduate School, pointed out: "If this secretary earned high 
remunerations for collecting brochure fees but received almost no 
salary as a secretary, it can be said that the company was 
shouldering a burden that should have been assumed by the lawmaker. 
This is indeed a clever way of doing things. It is in a way a 
bypassed donation. There is the possibility of such a practice 
infringing on the Political Funds Control Law, which bans corporate 
 
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donations to individual politicians." 
 
Eto apologizes, but denies possibility of bypassed donations 
 
Eto yesterday held a press conference at his office in Saeki City, 
Oita Prefecture. He totally denied the allegation that bypassed 
donations were made and that collected funds were used to pay the 
secretary a salary. He said, "It was my secretary's business. There 
 
SIPDIS 
was no wrongdoing in the practice at all." 
 
DONOVAN