Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07TOKYO3100, DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/06/07-2
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07TOKYO3100.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07TOKYO3100 | 2007-07-06 08:05 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Tokyo |
VZCZCXRO4645
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3100/01 1870805
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 060805Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5259
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//
RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA//J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 4337
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1917
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5501
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1018
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 2726
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7763
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3823
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4908
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 003100
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: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/06/07-2
Index:
(3) Simulation of Upper House election: If slightly over 40 LDP
seats, Abe will pressed to resign
(4) Editorial: Election issues, "Abe's politics" will be questioned
(5) Defense white paper expresses "concern" about the modernization
of China's military, stresses building missile defense to meet North
Korean threat
(6) Japan now on very thin ice, starts sinking (Part 4): "I want to
erase wrong image of Japan"
(Corrected copy) Koike assumes one key post after another owing to
"keen sense of (political) smell," arousing jealousy of lawmakers
eager to join cabinet
ARTICLES:
(3) Simulation of Upper House election: If slightly over 40 LDP
seats, Abe will pressed to resign
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged)
July 6, 2007
The official campaign for the House of Councillors election -- this
year's largest political battle -- will kick off on July 12 for
voting on July 29. The major focus of attention is whether or not
the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which has
been under fire due to the pension fiasco and former Defense
Minister Fumio Kyuma's A-bomb remarks, can win a majority. The
dominant view is that if the ruling coalition suffered a serious
setback -- meaning less than 57 seats for the entire ruling camp,
including the Liberal Democratic Party obtaining slightly over 40
seats -- that would spell an end to the Abe administration.
Meanwhile, major opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan)
President Ichiro Ozawa declared that he would resign from his
position if the opposition parties failed to win a combined
majority. This newspaper has simulated the outcome of the upcoming
election.
Ruling camp wins a majority
Of the 242 Upper House seats, 121 seats -- 73 electoral district
seats and 48 proportional representation seats -- will be up for
election. Fifty-eight seats held by the ruling coalition will be up
for grabs. In order for the ruling coalition to obtain a majority
(122 seats), it needs to win 64 seats.
In the event the New Komeito wins its 13 seats up for election, the
LDP would need 51 seats. Many observers are pessimistic about the
ruling bloc keeping a majority due to the pension fiasco, Kyuma's
resignation, and other unfortunate events. If the ruling coalition
succeeded in maintaining the majority, that would certain to give
stability to the Abe administration.
At the same time, it would force Ozawa to resign as Minshuto
president. Ozawa in fact took this view in yesterday's interview:
"(The opposition parties) must jointly obtain a majority in order to
change political trends. The upcoming election will be the last
chance. If that can't be achieved, it's meaningless for me to remain
TOKYO 00003100 002 OF 009
as Minshuto head."
Ozawa referred to his post-election responsibility for the first
time. "Mr. Ozawa clarified his responsibility in a bid to pave the
way for the prime minister's resignation following a defeat of the
ruling camp," a senior Minshuto lawmaker explained.
Ruling camp fails to win a majority
The ruling coalition might fail to win a majority, winning only
58-63 seats as a whole with the LDP getting 45-50 seats. Even in
such a case, the prime minister would not be pressed to leave office
to take responsibility, although the opposition bloc is certain to
gain an upper hand.
In the previous 2004 Upper House race, the LDP garnered 49 seats
under the leadership of Prime Minister Koizumi and Secretary General
Abe. The LDP's poor performance only resulted in Abe's demotion to
the post of acting secretary general with no changes to the fate of
the Koizumi administration. Even a former cabinet minister keeping
his distance from the prime minister took this view: "Mr. Abe
doesn't have to worry about leaving office for the time being."
But in this scenario, an unstable Abe administration is certain to
prompt the ruling bloc to lure opposition parties into joining
forces with the ruling parties.
The People's New Party head Tamisuke Watanuki on July 4 left the
door open for non-cabinet partnership, although he ruled out the
option of forming a coalition with the LDP. Many ruling party
members are eager to win PNP and Minshuto lawmakers over to their
side with a view to winning a majority. Minshuto's unity is not rock
solid, as seen in former postal minister Hideo Watanabe's vote for
the ruling camp-presented national referendum legislation.
In this scenario, Ozawa would not be able to achieve his goal of
toppling the Koizumi administration and might lose his momentum as a
result.
Ruling camp gets less than 57 seats
In the event the LDP wins 44 seats or less, pushing down the ruling
bloc's total to less than 57 seats, chances are that Prime Minister
Abe will have to resign. Although former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori
and LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa have fended off Abe's
possible resignation over the outcome of the Upper House election,
some have begun pointing to the 1998 Upper House election in which
the LDP won 44 seats and then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
resigned to take responsibility. "The Abe cabinet was launched
mainly to win the Upper House election. What will happen to it if
the ruling bloc suffered a set back is quite clear," said a senior
member of the Machimura faction, to which Abe used to belong.
Such persons as Foreign Minister Taro Aso, former Chief Cabinet
Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki,
SIPDIS
and even former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are being mentioned
as possible successors to Abe, but they all lack decisive factors.
Abe might refuse to resign, saying that the election was not a race
to determine who should take the reins of government. With less than
57 seats, the LDP-New Komeito coalition would find it difficult to
run Diet business and the prime minister would be pressed for an
early dissolution of the Lower House. Some are already whispering
TOKYO 00003100 003 OF 009
another round of political realignment after the Upper House race.
Minshuto head Ozawa predicted on June 24 that political realignment
would follow the opposition camp's overwhelming victory in the
upcoming race.
An unclear majority line
Uncertainties have emerged for the majority line of the ruling bloc.
New Party Nippon Upper House member Hiroyuki Arai announced
yesterday that he would leave the party. Minshuto Upper House member
Shinpei Matsushita also filed a letter of withdrawal with the
party.
If Arai and Matsushita were to join the ruling camp, the number of
seats necessary for the ruling parties to keep the majority would be
lowered from 64 to 62.
(4) Editorial: Election issues, "Abe's politics" will be questioned
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
July 6, 2007
The latest session of the Diet came to a close yesterday, and each
party is now gearing up for the campaign battle leading to the Upper
House election (the official announcement of the campaign season is
on the 12th, and the election is on the 29th). The Abe cabinet's
plunging support rate, which began its precipitous drop after the
pension fiasco, has shown no sign of improvement. On the 3rd,
former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma resigned in order to take
responsibility for his comments regarding the dropping of the atomic
bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Amidst this chaos, the election is
taking place.
How should we view the upcoming election? In short, this election
asks voters to decide whether or not they want the Abe
administration to remain in office - in other words, we think that
Abe's politics itself will be put to the question in this election.
Perhaps sensing that a tough battle is inescapable, senior
executives of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have repeatedly
stated that "the Upper House election is not an election to choose
an administration" and thus "it will not be linked to Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe's remaining in or leaving office." However, this is the
first time that Prime Minister Abe is facing the judgment of the
nation's voters in a national election. If one is going to say that
"choosing an administration is done during the Lower House
election," the Lower House should have been dissolved last fall,
right after Abe's inauguration, and a general election should have
been held to seek the voters' affirmation. Prime Minister Abe said
at a press conference yesterday, "I cannot discuss (the election)
with the assumption that we will lose," but if his party loses this
first evaluative election, the Abe cabinet should assume that they
could not obtain the public's trust.
At the press conference, the prime minister also announced that he
would move up the deadline for verifying social insurance payment
records, and it seems that pensions will be the main issue of the
election. Yet the most important thing that the prime minister must
address is his delayed response after members of the Democratic
Party of Japan (Minshuto) notified him of the pension problem.
The prime minister has moved forward with his project to "emerge
TOKYO 00003100 004 OF 009
from the postwar regime." Following last year's revision to the
Fundamental Law of Education, at the beginning of this year the
prime minister announced that constitutional revision would be the
main platform of the Upper House election and established a bill to
set procedures for a national referendum on the constitution. The
LDP has never touched any of these issues in the past. There are
probably people who highly value these accomplishments. On the
other hand, there are probably those who feel that there is a huge
gap between what the people currently want and how the prime
minister thinks. This is what it means to question Abe's politics.
Of course, pensions are not the only important election issue. This
is an election where candidates who may propose constitutional
revisions in a few years could be chosen. Even if Prime Minister
Abe resigns, constitutional revision will be a big theme in future
politics. We must begin a proper discussion now.
There is more. How should we resolve the problem of growing social
disparities, a problem said to be the shadow of Koizumi's politics?
How do we move forward with structural reforms? And what about
US-Japan relations, Asian diplomacy, national security,
decentralization of power from central to local governments...? An
election where each party debates different policy issues and where
voters vote after closely observing this debate - that is the type
of election we want to have.
Minshuto President Ichiro Ozawa says that he wants this election to
be a stepping stone to a change in administration. If he and his
party are truly aiming for an "Ozawa/Minshuto administration" after
the next Lower House election, then rather than simply criticizing
the LDP's handling of the pension fiasco, they must offer specific
plans to build the country. The LDP criticizes Minshuto's campaign
pledges as being financially irresponsible and lacking viability.
Minshuto must respond to these critiques.
(5) Defense white paper expresses "concern" about the modernization
of China's military, stresses building missile defense to meet North
Korean threat
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full)
Eve., July 6, 2007
The government this morning at a Cabinet meeting approved the 2007
edition of the Defense of Japan (Defense white paper). The white
paper expressed concern about China's military modernization and
stated for the first time in connection with the military balance
with Taiwan, "Changes are occurring that are giving the advantage to
the Chinese side." In addition, the paper criticized North Korea's
launching of ballistic missiles and nuclear testing last years,
calling them "a serious threat to peace and stability of the
international community." It stressed the need to quickly build a
missile-defense system, including setting up an intelligence-sharing
system between Japan and the United States.
Regarding China's military modernization, the white paper pointed
out: "Since the immediate target is the Taiwan issue, there is
heightened concern that has brought forth the argument, for example,
that perhaps they have surpassed what is needed to respond to the
Taiwan issue." The wording has gone farther than what was in the
white paper in 2006 that went: "The prudent judgment might be made
that China is exceeding the scope needed for its own defense, so we
need to carefully watch such from now."
TOKYO 00003100 005 OF 009
Specifically, the paper, referring to China's naval power, stated,
"It is aiming to build the capability of carrying out tactical
operations in waters even farther away than before." On its air
power, too, the paper stated: "It is aiming to build a capability to
command the air, as well as an air to ground and air to ship attack
capability that is even more forward positioned."
On North Korea, in the 2006 white paper, because of the time factor,
the missile issue was not mentioned, but in the 2007 edition, there
is analysis of the ballistic-missile launches. It noted that out of
the seven missile launches, one was Taepodong-2 (range of 6,000
kilometers) that failed. The paper took the view that "it is
conceivable that they are working on an even longer-range ballistic
missile, including the possibility of it being a derivative type."
There was little analysis of North Korea's nuclear weapon text last
October, with the text only going so far as to state: "There is a
full possibility of further development of a nuclear weapons
program, so there is need to carefully watch their moves, including
miniaturization and war-head development."
In addition, with this being the first white paper to be published
since the raising of the defense agency to a ministry, there is a
new chapter on the Self-Defense Forces, since the change, being
given international peacekeeping operations as a main duty.
(6) Japan now on very thin ice, starts sinking (Part 4): "I want to
erase wrong image of Japan"
SANKEI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged)
July 6, 2007
Researcher Yuki Tatsumi at the Henry L. Stimson Center, a think tank
in Washington, received a telephone call in early September of last
year from Dennis Halpin, an assistant to Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman Henry Hyde (Republican). Halpin said: "What's going on in
Japan?"
On August 15, just before the phone call, (then) Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine, coming under heavy fire
from major American press companies. Some of them reported that
nationalism was surging in Japan.
Halpin told Tatsumi that the committee would hold a public hearing
titled, "Relations between Japan and its neighbors," and asked her
to speak as a Japanese on such issues as the rise of nationalism.
Sakie Yokota, mother of abduction victim Megumi Yokota, had
testified at the same committee five months before, but it is quite
rate for a Japanese to speak of Japan's policy on such an occasion.
Tatsumi hoped to do her best to wipe out the wrong image about
Japan.
Tatsumi felt uncomfortable when she read these two articles:
"Thought police are gaining power in Japan" that ran in the Aug. 27
issue of the Washington Post and "A series of worrisome events" in
the news letter issued by the Pacific Forum CSIS on August 24. The
first article stressed that right-wingers seeking a return to the
militarism that dominated the nation in the 1930s were becoming
mainstream in Japan, while the second one analyzed that a political
atmosphere of constraining free speech was being created.
TOKYO 00003100 006 OF 009
Tatsumi said: "These articles give us the impression that Japan is
tinged with extremist nationalism. I must accurately convey Japan's
current circumstances." Tatsumi was born in Tokyo. She studied
security affairs at the John Hopkins University Graduate School
after graduating from International Christian University. She once
worked at the Japanese Embassy as a special analyst. She was trained
to be able to express what she wants to say in a five-minute
speech.
In the public hearing on Sept. 14, Chairman Hyde said, "Yasukuni
Shrine worships the souls of war criminals." Tom Lantos (Democrat)
also critically said: "(The prime minister's visit to Yasukuni
Shrine) is tantamount to placing a wreath on the grave of the Nazi
Himmler."
Michael Green, former senior director for Asian Affairs at the
National Security Council, Kurt Campbell, former deputy assistant
secretary of defense, and Mindy Kotler, a female activist, testified
SIPDIS
in the public hearing. Following them, Tatsumi talked about the
significance of the prime minister's annual visit to Yasukuni Shrine
as follows:
"The prime minister's visit is intended to pay respects to soldiers
who died in World War II and to renew his pledge for peace. A visit
to Yasukuni Shrine means there is healthy development in Japan, that
is, Japan is facing its own past and self-reflecting on it ... Most
Japanese do not support those views that admiring their country's
past military aggression. Nationalism in Japan means to many people
a feeling of being proud of one's country. It is close to the
concept of patriotism in the United States."
Of 52 Congress members who participated in the public hearing, eight
took the floor as questioners. Barbara Lee (Democrat) said: "I heard
that Japan is preparing to enable Japan to engage in warfare by
changing its pacifist constitution." In response, Tatsumi stated:
"There exists in Japan among the people an understanding that we
must never again engage in aggressive war. Under the government's
current interpretation of the Constitution, when Self-Defense Force
(SDF) troops participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations
with American or Chinese troops, SDF personnel are not allowed to
come to their aid even if they are attacked. The ongoing debate in
Japan is aimed to enable the SDF to assist troops from other
countries."
Lantos summarized the meeting with this comment: "All of us learned
a lot." Halpin also shook hands with Tatsumi, saying, "It was very
good." Tatsumi believed she did her best to portrait the real
picture of Japan with her own words, but she was not sure about to
what extent she was able to have the US, Japan's sole ally,
understand its basic position.
English newspapers give the image of Japan as "a terrible country"
"Even 10 PERCENT of what Japanese think has not been properly
relayed to foreign countries. The United States determines its
policy, based only on what was dispatched in English."
In a symposium in Tokyo this March, Tsuneo Watanabe, a visiting
researcher at CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies),
stressed how poor Japan's capability to transmit and disseminate its
messages to foreign countries. He then quoted a statement by a
TOKYO 00003100 007 OF 009
minister in Southeast Asia as saying: "Reading English newspapers,
we think what an awful country Japan is, but it is not true in
actuality. I wonder why there is such a wide gap between the reality
of Japan and what is related in English."
The English-language media tend to take Japan as a somewhat weird
country. Even within the nation, there are also some who dispatch
such an image of Japan, resulting in stressing the image of a
distorted Japan. For instance, some report that Japan is about to
rush toward militarism.
In actuality, though, Japan is about to become a normal state in
accordance with what the international community see as common
sense, as Tatsumi said.
The problem is how far the Japanese government has talked about it
and how it has dispatched this fact to foreign countries.
Since he assumed office last September, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
has an intention to revise the Constitution and to study scenarios
about the use of the right to collective self-defense. He is the
first postwar prime minister to speak of amending the Constitution.
The Washington Post noted on Sept. 25 of last year: "Japan's
pacifism is about to be weakened." But it can be taken as just the
opposite to mean that Japan's face is becoming more visible.
Abe's predecessors never talked much about the government's policy,
because they blindly followed the established policy of giving
priority to economic growth while relying on the US on the security
front.
Should Japan continue to be a "silent power," it will just be tossed
about by the wild waves of international politics.
(Corrected copy) Koike assumes one key post after another owing to
"keen sense of (political) smell," arousing jealousy of lawmakers
eager to join cabinet
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 24) (Full)
July 5, 2007
The first female defense minister in history was inaugurated
yesterday. This is the second cabinet post given to Yuriko Koike,
who has served five terms in the House of Representatives. Some
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members who are yearning for a
cabinet post are overheard saying, "I wonder why only Koike has been
treated favorably." But such lawmakers first should learn from her
how to get along in the political world.
In a press conference she gave after assuming the top defense post,
Defense Minister Koike countered an attack against Democratic Party
of Japan (Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa, who has stepped up his
criticism of the Abe administration.
Koike said: "I know best about Mr. Ozawa's defense policy. In
Minshuto, (views over defense policy) are split. Ozawa should
announce not his own ideals but the party's policy. Unfortunately, I
have to return (his criticism) to him." The reason why she had to
"unfortunately" denounce the leader of the main opposition party is
because she moved from party to party.
TOKYO 00003100 008 OF 009
After graduating from Cairo University, Koike served as an
anchorwoman for the TV Tokyo program, "World Business Satellite." In
1992, she ran as a candidate backed by the Japan New Party in the
House of Councillors election, ranked 2nd, following party head
Morihiro Hosokawa, among candidates for the party's proportional
representation segment and was elected for the first time.
In 1993, Koike ran in the Hyogo No. 2 constituency of the Lower
House election and won a Lower House seat for the first time. She
joined the defunct New Frontier Party supporting current Minshuto
leader Ichiro Ozawa in 1994. After the party was disbanded in 1997,
she became a member of Jiyuto (the Liberal Party). When Jiyuto left
the coalition government in April 2000, she took part in
establishing Hoshuto (the Conservative Party), separating from
Ozawa.
Koike became a member of the LDP in December 2002. In July 2003, she
joined the Mori faction (now, the Machimura faction), from which
Junichiro Koizumi became prime minister in July 2003. She served as
environment minister from September 2003 through September 2006,
during which she pushed for the introduction of the Cool Biz
campaign, a casual business dress code.
In the 2005 general election, Koike volunteered for Koizumi's first
"assassin" position against an LDP lawmaker who voted against postal
privatization bills, changing her constituency from Hyogo to the
Tokyo No. 10 constituency. At that time, Koizumi flattered her by
saying: "You are really courageous, though you are also charming."
When the Abe administration was launched last September, she was
appointed as Abe's special advisor.
Some call her a "migratory bird," focusing on her hopping from one
political party to another. But all of the five political parties to
which Koike once belonged are now defunct. It can also be taken that
Koike is a successful woman who rode out the storm of the
reorganization of the political scene that started in the 1990s.
What is to be particularly noted is that she got in close to the
most influential figures in the political parties to which she
belonged or belongs, such as former Prime Minister Hosokawa, Ozawa,
former Prime Minister Koizumi, and Prime Minister Abe.
The following was a typical success story in the LDP in the past: A
high position is finally awarded to a person who pledged loyalty to
his or her factional boss and steadily dealt with unspectacular work
for decades. Koike's political stance, however, is far from this
style. Her case might be regarded as a new success model.
Kichiya Kobayashi, a political commentator, said: "Ms. Koike has a
keen sense of smell to sniff out who holds the supreme power of the
time. This must be something she was born with." He added: "While
assuming political power for five years and five months, Prime
Minister Koizumi picked himself those with whom he wanted to work,
abolishing the conventional stance of giving priority to a balance
between factions and to seniority. This new approach has now taken
root. In the current political world, lawmakers who have a poor
sense of smell will never be blessed with an important post, even if
they are competent."
Will anyone be promoted to an important post if they improve their
sense of smell? To this question, Kobayashi replied: "If you make
such efforts unskillfully, those around you might take the efforts
as part of trickery and boo you. In such a case, the prime minister
TOKYO 00003100 009 OF 009
will find it difficult to field you to a key post. If such a sense
of smell is natural one, though, criticism will not grow louder." It
seems difficult for conventional-type lawmakers to follow Koike's
political stance.
Koike published the book titled, "Ways for women to establish
personal contacts - Success women's passport." Koike might become
the first (prime minister) in (the nation's) history.
SCHIEFFER