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Viewing cable 07TOKYO7, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01/04/07

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07TOKYO7 2007-01-04 05:14 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO8500
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0007/01 0040514
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040514Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9521
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 1894
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9414
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2857
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 8899
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 0435
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5382
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1472
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2930
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000007 
 
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 01/04/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
Prime Minister's daily schedule: Still on New Year's holiday 
 
3) Prime Minister Abe's aides distressed by his falling popularity 
rates 
 
Alliance affairs: 
4) US, Japan agree to begin study of joint tactical response plan in 
event of contingency between China and Taiwan 
5) US, Japan to draft specific joint response plan, postulating a 
Korean Peninsula contingency 
6) Joint tactical response plan between US, Japan may be another 
step toward unification of SDF under US armed forces 
7) Low altitude flights by US military jets in Japan resulted in 11 
damage cases over last five years, seven involving payment of 
compensation to victims 
8) JDA chief Kyuma plans to reconsider Futenma relocation plan to 
favor construction of single runway in shallow waters off Camp 
Schwab 
9) Government plans to building housing for US military at Iwakuni 
base, premised on relocation there of carrier jets from Atsugi 
 
Defense and security issues: 
10) JDA Director General Kyuma meets top brass of Thai military in 
Bangkok 
11) Kyuma: New defense ministry will add MD-related Japan-US defense 
cooperation division, coordinator for USFJ realignment 
12) DFAA to be dismantled in Sept., integrated into defense ministry 
 
 
13) METI to tighten restrictions on foreign capital purchased of 
Japanese companies, linked to halting transfers of sensitive 
technology to terrorists 
 
14) 44 Chinese victims of exposure to poison gas left after war by 
Japanese military to sue Japan for compensation 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Japan, US to flesh out contingency plan by envisaging Korean 
Peninsula situation; Seaports, hospitals to be used 
 
Mainichi: 
Many lawmakers stay away from much criticized Akasaka Diet members' 
apartments 
 
Yomiuri: 
Defunct UFJ Bank collected 1 billion yen from Fujichiku knowing its 
tax evasion 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Land and Transport Ministry and Finance Ministry agree to shoulder 
road-related public corporations' debts at government expense 
 
Sankei: 
Sankei poll: Less than 10% of companies considering raising wages 
 
TOKYO 00000007  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
44 Chinese suffering from respiratory illnesses due to poison gases 
abandoned by Imperial Japanese Army to sue Japanese government 
seeking 1.3 billion yen in compensation 
 
Akahata: 
Amendments to labor legislation to become focus of attention in 
regular Diet session 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) No quick remedy for education 
(2) Defense Ministry: Solid foundation essential 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Education reform requires heated debate 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Japan-US alliance key to handling DPRK threat 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) No growth without liberalization (Part 3): Open door to foreign 
workers to create multicultural society 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Fiscal reconstruction: Discussion on tax hikes imperative 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Thoughts at beginning of year: Every one should be main player 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Peace and coexistence possible with diplomatic efforts 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence worrying about level of Prime 
Minister Abe's media exposure in order to stop declining public 
support rating for Abe cabinet 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 4, 2007 
 
The Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) is having a 
difficult time over Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's response to the 
media. The Kantei wants to put an end to falling support for the 
cabinet by improving Abe's appearance in the media. However, it has 
yet to come up with a basic policy regarding whether the prime 
minister's appearances in the media should be increased or 
decreased. It has not found a good idea. 
 
Aides to the prime minister have decided to have Abe respond to 
questions by reporters once a day for about four to five minutes. 
 
Compared with former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who was good 
at avoiding questions by reporters with his ad-lib remarks and 
"one-phrase" responses, Prime Minister Abe appears to be cautious 
and too serious. One of Abe's aides said, "I don't want to have 
Prime Minister Abe spend a long time to respond to reporters' 
questions." 
 
There is a growing concern in the government about the recent low 
approval ratings for the cabinet, with one government official 
 
TOKYO 00000007  003 OF 010 
 
 
saying, "The public does not understand the Age government's 
efforts." 
 
In the Kantei, some aides have suggested increasing Abe's responses 
to questions by reporters to twice a day, as well as introducing the 
idea of Abe replying to questions sitting, but some others have 
opposed to such ideas. 
 
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Hiroshige Seko proposed last 
September holding the prime minister's meeting with reporters once a 
day. However, reporters have complained that the agreement that the 
prime minister meets with them twice a day - in the afternoon and 
evening - under the Koizumi government was decreased. The Kantei and 
the reporters have decided to continue discussion on this matter. 
 
4) Japan, US reach basic agreement on preparing response plan, 
premised on Japan providing logistical support, with China-Taiwan 
contingency in mind 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 4, 2007 
 
It was revealed yesterday from several sources connected with 
Japan-US relations that the Japanese and US governments have reached 
basic agreement to start studying a joint response plan by the 
Self-Defense Forces and the US forces, envisioning a contingency 
between China and Taiwan. Responsible foreign affairs and defense 
officials from both countries will meet in February to start 
research on several scenarios leading to a China-Taiwan contingency. 
The Japanese side, based on the regional contingency law, plans to 
look into the possibility of such logistical support as fuel oil and 
medical treatment, but it seems likely that China, which will never 
allow an independent Taiwan, will react sharply. 
 
Japan has never made clear whether the applicable scope of the 
regional contingency law included Taiwan. It will be questioned 
about the consistency of the planning effort with its previous view. 
 
 
Among the joint strategic objectives that Japan and the US agreed on 
in February 2005 as the premise for the realignment of US forces in 
Japan, there was one that aimed at a peaceful settlement of the 
Taiwan issue. On the other hand, there also was this clear goal for 
the Asia-Pacific region: "Maintain the capability to respond to 
contingencies that would impact on Japan and the US." A joint 
response plan that aimed at a China-Taiwan contingency would 
implement this strategic goal, underscoring the deep-seated sense of 
alarm in the US about a rising China. 
 
According to an informed source, Japan and the US will research 
several possible scenarios, including a declaration of independence 
by Taiwan and the use of armed force by China. 
 
5) Japan, US to flesh out contingency plan by envisaging Korean 
Peninsula situation; Seaports, hospitals to be used 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
January 4, 2007 
 
The governments of Japan and the United States began mapping out in 
December a joint operational plan detailing the use of Japan's 
seaports and airspace and logistical support to deal with a possible 
 
TOKYO 00000007  004 OF 010 
 
 
contingency on the Korean Peninsula and a resulting armed attack 
against Japan, Japanese government sources revealed yesterday. The 
two governments aim to finish up the program by the fall of 2007 in 
view of growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North 
Korea's nuclear test and missile launches. 
 
Work has been underway since last December by the Bilateral Planning 
Committee (BPC) composed of uniformed officers of the two countries, 
including the Self-Defense Forces joint staff deputy chief and the 
deputy commander of US Forces Japan. In 2002, Tokyo and Washington 
signed a plan codenamed 5055, which only specified policy and the 
number of necessary facilities under each item of joint cooperation. 
The ongoing effort is designed to raise this to a level of a viable 
joint operational plan. 
 
Work envisages the outbreak of a contingency on the Korean 
Peninsula. The overview will discuss specific responses to such 
situations as contingencies in areas surrounding Japan and a 
direct-armed attack against Japan in such subdivisions as situation, 
operational duties, implementation, replenishment, and the chain of 
command. 
 
Under the 1997 Guidelines for Japan-US Defense Cooperation, Japan 
and the US are in accord to separately prepare a joint operational 
plans and a mutual cooperation plan. Given the likelihood that a 
contingency on the Korean Peninsula and an armed attack against 
Japan could occur at the same time, 5055 took the form of covering 
two plans. 
 
6) Japan-US joint operational plan: Unification of military forces 
stands out 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 4, 2007 
 
(Commentary) 
 
Ongoing work to map out a joint operational plan detailing 
everything from frontline units to drugs for injured military 
personnel is designed to clarify roles and duty-sharing between 
Japan and the United States in dealing with a contingency on the 
Korean Peninsula. 
 
In past security talks with Japan, the US has repeatedly urged Japan 
to come up with clear ways to provide cooperation. Japan has been 
uncertain about to what extent the US military would support the 
Self-Defense Forces in the event (a contingency on the Korean 
Peninsula) escalated into a contingency in Japan. 
 
Producing a joint operational plan will not be easy. The plan will 
be a military secret of the highest classification and it will 
require the cooperation of relevant government agencies, local 
governments, and private firms. Determining the extent to which the 
government should reveal information about the plan will be a 
difficult issue. The insufficient security dialogue between Japan 
and South Korea might hinder talks on the evacuation of Japanese 
nationals on the Korean Peninsula. 
 
The joint effort began when Tokyo and Washington inked the 
Guidelines for Japan-US Defense Cooperation in September 1997. The 
delay is ascribable to Japan's contingency legislation, the 
terrorist attacks on the US on Sept. 11, 2001, the realignment of US 
 
TOKYO 00000007  005 OF 010 
 
 
forces in Japan, and other pressing factors. In addition, there are 
rising voices in Japan calling for totally opening the way to 
exercising the right of collective self-defense. The ever-changing 
situation may force an operational plan codenamed 5055 to be altered 
markedly. 
 
Although the plan is for preparations against a contingency on the 
Korean Peninsula and an attack on Japan, placing high priority on 
smooth cooperation between Japan and the US, the two countries are 
required to abide by separate legislation in Japan. Some are that 
military unification of the Japanese and US forces will stick out 
over other aspects of bilateral relations, including the political 
and diplomatic spheres. 
 
7) 11 cases of damage caused by US military planes' low-altitudes 
flight for five-and-a-half years through December 2006 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 38) (Full) 
January 4, 2007 
 
It was learned yesterday that there have been 11 cases recognized by 
the US Forces Japan (USFJ) and the Defense Facilities Administration 
Agency (DFAA) of houses suffering damage caused by the US military's 
low-altitude flights during the period from May 2001 through 
December 2006. The DFAA paid compensation to 7 of the 11 cases under 
the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement. The total payments reached 
some 2 million yen. 
 
The cases of damage that the DFAA recognized have so far been made 
clear on a piecemeal basis, because local governments that receive 
the notice of the occurrence of damages announced there were such 
cases of damages or the USFJ headquarters recognized facts of 
damages. The breakdown of the 11 cases is as follows: four cases in 
fiscal 2001, three in fiscal 2002, two in fiscal 2003, one in fiscal 
2004, and one in fiscal 2005. By prefecture, seven cases occurred in 
Hokkaido, followed by two in Hiroshima Prefecture and one each in 
Akita Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture. 
 
8) JDA director general intends to reconsider Futenma relocation 
plan, with possibility in mind of constructing single runway in 
shallow waters 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
January 4, 2007 
 
By Masahiro Tsuruoka in Bangkok 
 
Defense Agency (JDA) Director General Fumio Kyuma expressed his 
thinking yesterday on the plan to build a V-shaped runway at Henoko 
Point, Nago City for the relocation of Futenma Air Station (Ginowan 
City, Okinawa Prefecture) as part of the realignment of US forces in 
Japan. He said: "Constructing a V-shaped runway will require a large 
budget. A single runway would be cheaper. If the United States, 
local government, and the government all agree, any plan would be 
good." He indicated that JDA was considering a proposal for a single 
runway that would be shifted over into shallow waters off Henoko. He 
was speaking to the press corps in Thailand. 
 
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima is opposed to the current plan for 
a V-shaped runway. "We will carry out (the relocation) by setting up 
conditions, not by the shape (of the runway)," he said. It seems 
likely that the government and Okinawa Prefecture will make a 
 
TOKYO 00000007  006 OF 010 
 
 
readjustment in the plan. 
 
However, within the government, there is a view that given the 
agreement between Japan and the US that gave priority to the 
V-shaped runway, it will be difficult to make large changes in the 
plan, or as one Foreign Ministry official put it, "Turning a dual 
runway into a single one will not be that simple." There also is 
concern that if the runway is shifted over into shallow waters, a 
protest movement could flame up again, so whether things will go 
smoothly as Kyuma says cannot be predicted. 
 
Kyuma hinted to the press about the possibility of talks with the US 
on revising the plan, saying: "It will be OK with the US if we can 
guarantee it will not be hampered on the operational side by the 
changes. Even with one runway, take offs and landings can occur in 
either direction." On the location of the runway, as well, Kyuma 
noted: "(As Nago City and other communities requested,) there should 
not be flights over the hamlet nearby, so we must move the runway 
offshore to a fair extent. If we move it to the weed beds (to the 
southwest), it must not be up against the island (to the southeast 
where there are local residents)." He took the view supporting a 
proposal to move the location to shallow waters where there is a 
seaweed bed. 
 
9) Government to build US military housing if Iwakuni City agrees to 
relocation of carrier-based aircraft from Atsugi Naval Air Station 
to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 4, 2007 
 
The government has decided to buy up the Atagoyama housing land 
(about 100 hectares) in Iwakuni City, which is now being developed 
by Yamaguchi Prefectural Housing Corp. in order to build US military 
housing if Iwakuni City agrees to the relocation of carrier-borne US 
aircraft from Atsugi Naval Air Station (Kanagawa Prefecture) to the 
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. It plans to urge Iwakuni Mayor 
Katsusuke Ihara to soften his stance of opposing the relocation by 
proposing a way for the city to ease and resolve its huge deficit in 
developing housing sites. 
 
The final report on the realignment of US forces in Japan compiled 
in May 2006 stipulates that carrier-borne aircraft now based at 
Atsugi Naval Air Station would be relocated to Iwakuni. According to 
the Defense Agency (JDA), the government needs to secure new housing 
for about 4,000 US military service personnel and their family 
members, who will move to the vicinity of the base. The JDA intends 
to formulate a "master plan for the US Marine Corps Air Station 
Iwakuni" and Atagoyama is a likely candidate site for the new US 
military housing. 
 
Yamaguchi Prefecture started the Atagoyama development project in 
1998 with a total project cost of about 85 billion yen. It planned 
to build about 1,500 houses in order to start selling them in fiscal 
2009. 
 
According to the prefecture's provisional estimation in November 
2006, however, if it continues the project, it will fall into a 
deficit of about 18.4 billion yen to 49.2 billion yen, due to the 
low demand for housing and a drop in land prices. Even if it cancels 
the project, it will not be able to avoid a deficit of about 25 
billion yen. The prefecture has stated that it is difficult to 
 
TOKYO 00000007  007 OF 010 
 
 
continue the project at present. It has been decided that the 
prefecture and the city will share the burden of the deficit. 
 
The prefecture intends to propose to the government the idea of 
building US military housing in the Atagoyama housing land, but it 
has yet to get the city's approval. A senior JDA official commented: 
"Unless Iwakuni City agrees to the relocation plan, it is difficult 
to buy up the Atagoyama housing land." 
 
10) Defense chief Kyuma meets with Thai national military supreme 
commander 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 4, 2007 
 
Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma held talks yesterday in 
Bangkok with Thai National Military Supreme Commander Boonsrang. In 
the meeting, Kyuma told the supreme commander: "I hope to see the 
interim government draft a constitution as early as possible and 
democratize the country." Referring to the planned his agency's 
upgrading to a ministry, Kyuma sought his understanding, saying, 
"Japan will not become a military state as it was in the prewar 
period. We will continue with our pacifism." 
 
11) Japan-US Defense Cooperation Division, US force realignment 
coordinator to be installed in Defense Ministry 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 4, 2007 
 
Masahiro Tsuruoka, Bangkok 
 
Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma revealed on the night of 
Jan. 3 a plan to establish a Japan-US Defense Cooperation Division 
and a post of US force realignment coordinator in the new Defense 
Ministry, the aim being to accelerate bilateral efforts to implement 
the realignment of US forces in Japan and a missile defense system. 
 
Kyuma plans to incorporate the new division and position in related 
bills to be submitted to the regular Diet session, scheduled to open 
later this month. The plan would be take effect in September. The 
defense chief also referred to a plan to abolish the Defense 
Facilities Administration Agency and integrate it into the 
envisioned Defense Ministry in September 2007 instead of in January 
2008. Kyuma was speaking to reporters traveling with him to 
Thailand. 
 
12) Defense Facilities Administration Agency to be abolished in 
September 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 4, 2007 
 
Yoshifumi Sugita, Bangkok 
 
In his informal press conference, Defense Agency (JDA) Director 
General Fumio Kyuma revealed yesterday in Bangkok, where he is now 
visiting, that the Defense Facilities Administration Agency (DFAA) 
would be dismantled in September 2007, which is earlier than the 
original plan to do so in January 2008. The integration of DFAA into 
JDA is part of efforts to prevent a recurrence of bid-rigging 
scandals that involved DFAA, and was included in the law to upgrade 
 
TOKYO 00000007  008 OF 010 
 
 
JDA to ministry status that was enacted in the previous extra 
session of the Diet. JDA will establish the Defense Inspection 
Headquarters, which will be headed by a vice minister-level defense 
inspector, as well as a post of director for coordination of the 
realignment of US forces in Japan. Kyuma said, "Following the 
upgrading of the JDA to a ministry, I want to reorganize the agency 
as quickly as possible." 
 
13) METI to tighten regulations on M&As by foreign capital as part 
of effort to prevent conversion of technology for terrorism 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 4, 2006 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) yesterday decided 
to tighten its regulations on foreign capital M&As of Japanese firms 
as part of efforts to prevent the proliferation of technology that 
may be used for the production of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) 
or for international terrorist activities. More industries will be 
obligated to report on their technologies to the government, and the 
government will also consider negating voting rights acquired by 
foreigners in violation of such laws as the Foreign Exchange and 
Foreign Trade Control Law. The purpose of tightening the regulations 
is to improve the security system at a time of growing M&As 
globally, including those by China's state-run firms. 
 
Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law obligates 
foreign direct investment in Japan that may harm the nation's safety 
to report on the purposes of investments and businesses, as well as 
their scale. The minister in charge, after examining the foreign 
firm's investment plan, can advise or order it to change or drop the 
plan. 
 
However, the industries subject to the law are limited to aircraft, 
weapons, nuclear power, and space development as notified. 
 
In contrast, the US, under the Exon-Florio provision, and Britain, 
under the Antitrust Law or other laws, can put restrictions on every 
merger and acquisition of domestic firms by foreign capital if the 
M&A is deemed as affecting the country's security. 
 
Taking this into consideration, METI late last year organized a 
study forum of experts to strengthen measures against international 
terrorism, and using examples from the US and European countries, 
METI began considering tightening regulations on foreign capital to 
meet with the wave of globalization. 
 
METI will put together ideas into a report by March this year and 
will set about preparing ordinances for relevant ministries to issue 
as well as creating a bill revising the Foreign Exchange and Foreign 
Trade Control Law. 
 
Specifically, METI, considering highly advanced weapons, will add 
machine tools to the industries subject to the regulations, and it 
will also put stock acquisition of a holding company on the list of 
industries subject to monitoring. 
 
Strengthening the regulations in view of security reasons was once 
discussed in the process of amending the Corporate Law in 2005, but 
it was not realized because the discussion was focused on defensive 
measures against hostile acquisition. 
 
 
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14) 44 Chinese to sue Japan for damage from poison gas left by 
former Japanese Imperial Army in China, seeking 1.3 billion yen in 
compensation for "dangers left unattended by Japan" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) 
January 4, 2007 
 
Forty-four Chinese who suffered breathing problems from the leakage 
in Qiqihar City in Heilongjiang Province, China, in August 2003 of 
poison gas abandoned by the former Japanese Imperial Army in the 
late days of World War II will bring a case later this month before 
the Tokyo District Court against the Japanese government, seeking a 
total of 1.32 billion yen in compensation for damages. They will 
pursue the illegality of the way Japan atoned for misdeeds of the 
war, arguing that Japan left the poison gas uncared for and 
neglected its duty to remove danger. On the poison gas abandoned by 
the former Japanese Imperial Army, two other suits for damages 
caused by other accidents are going on at the Tokyo High Court, but 
the planned suit will be the largest in terms of the number of 
plaintiffs and the compensation amount. 
 
Japan's way of taking responsibility for misdeeds of the last war 
now questioned 
 
Commentary 
 
Yoichi Oniki 
 
"What we want to pursue is the responsibility of the current 
Japanese government, which has delayed collecting the poison gas in 
spite of their dangers, rather than the past responsibility of 
Japan, which abandoned such gas," a lawyer of the legal team 
representing the Chinese victims stressed. This means that the case 
will shed light on the way Japan has failed to take the 
responsibility for the war. 
 
Under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that was adopted in the 
United Nations and went into effect in 1997, the Japanese and 
Chinese governments exchanged memorandums obligating Japan to 
dispose of its chemical weapons in 1999. Following this, the 
Japanese government has at last begun collecting chemical weapons 
since that year to date but the number of poison gas bombs Japan has 
removed so far is merely 40,000 or so, a long way short of the 
estimated number by the Japanese government of 300,000-400,000 
bombs. 
 
The initial deadline for the collection of poison gas bombs was 
April this year, but the Japanese government applied to the 
Organization for the Protection of Chemical Weapons (OPWC) in the UN 
and received an extension. Japan's poison gas bombs have been 
discovered in some 60 locations across China, but no one can tell 
whether there may be some other bombs buried in somewhere else. Even 
though the deadline has been extended, it is unclear whether Japan 
will be able to dispose of all the bombs. Unlike postwar 
compensation for military comfort women or forced labor, damages 
caused by poison gas abandoned by Japan are still spreading even 
now. Even after the poison gas accident in Qiqihar City, similar 
accidents, though on a smaller scale, have occurred. 
 
Most of postwar compensation cases have come under the theory that 
the state was not liable for compensation or have blocked by the 
"barrier of time," which means the right to claim for compensation 
 
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was extinguished. The accident in question occurred in three and a 
half years ago in Qiqihar City. How the Japanese court will judge 
the Japanese government's responsibility for "ongoing damages"? This 
will be the focus of the lawsuit this time. 
 
DONOVAN