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 08TOKYO35, DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 01/07/08
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. #08TOKYO35.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08TOKYO35 | 2008-01-07 08:14 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Tokyo |
VZCZCXRO5848
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0035/01 0070814
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070814Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0769
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/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7714
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5318
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8983
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4007
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5936
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0949
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7017
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7677
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 15 TOKYO 000035
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 01/07/08
INDEX:
(1) Poll on political situation, global warming (Mainichi)
(2) Scope column: LDP's Machimura faction concentrates efforts on
strengthening capabilities by enlisting think-tank for policy
proposals; building network of contacts in U.S., Europe, China;
creating own website; and broadcasting its general meeting live
(Tokyo Shimbun)
(3) Next Lower House election: LDP, DPJ aiming at enemy's strong
constituencies; LDP to place emphasis on organized votes, DPJ on
urban areas (Mainichi)
(4) Eco-war: Japan hard-pressured to come up with measures against
climate change (Asahi)
(5) Farm produce growing areas could change drastically nationwide
due to global warming: Agriculture ministry to speed up studies on
countermeasures; Tangerines go off more quickly while in storage;
Vegetable prices collapse due to concentrated shipment time (Tokyo
Shimbun)
(6) Japan-U.S. defense interests (Part B) (Sentaku)
(7) Next midterm defense buildup plan to be frontloaded (Nikkei)
(8) U.S. nuclear-powered submarines made 48 port calls in Japan in
2007; Okinawa's White Beach most frequently visited (Akahata)
ARTICLES:
(1) Poll on political situation, global warming
MAINICHI (Page 8&9) (Full)
January 6, 2008
Questions & Answers
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female)
Q: It is said that the House of Representatives is highly likely to
be resolved for a general election in 2008. Are you interested in
the next election for the House of Representatives?
T P M F
Very interested 39 48 31
Somewhat interested 43 39 45
Not very interested 11 7 14
Not interested at all 3 3 3
Q: Which political party between the Liberal Democratic Party and
the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) would you like to see win
in the House of Representatives election?
T P M F
LDP 33 31 34
DPJ 46 55 38
Other political parties 13 8 16
Q: In the election for the House of Representatives, 300 persons
will be elected from single-seat constituencies and 180 from 11
proportional representation blocs across the nation. Which one do
TOKYO 00000035 002 OF 015
you think is important?
T P M F
Single-seat constituencies 68 74 62
Proportional representation 21 20 21
Q: What do you think is most important when you vote for candidates
in the House of Representatives election?
T P M F
Personal character 15 15 15
Image 3 4 3
Career, actual results 9 8 9
Policy 51 54 49
Their political parties 11 13 9
Request from acquaintances, relatives 2 1 2
Q: What would you like elected politicians to pursue first?
T P M F
Policies for the whole nation 62 64 60
Ties with senior government officials, political party executives 4
4 4
Contribution to home constituencies 27 27 26
Q: Do you think the government has changed in nature with Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe going out and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda coming
in?
T P M F
Changed for the better 14 15 12
Changed for the worse 11 14 8
No change 68 67 69
Q: A United Nations conference on global warming was held from Dec.
3 in Bali, Indonesia. Are you interested in the issue of global
warming?
T P M F
Yes 89 92 88
No 4 5 4
Q: What do you think about global warming?
T P M F
I have a strong sense of crisis 33 34 31
I have a vague feeling of anxiety 38 37 39
I believe we can overcome it 21 23 19
It's a natural phenomenon, so we don't have to worry 2 2 2
Q: It is said that global warming will have various effects. What is
the matter of primary concern to you?
T P M F
Midsummer heat 7 7 8
Abnormal climate like a heavy rain 27 26 28
Water, food shortages 29 31 27
Sea level rise 16 19 13
Animal, plant extinction 12 11 12
Q: What do you do to prevent global warming? Pick only one.
TOKYO 00000035 003 OF 015
T P M F
Set moderate air conditioning 32 29 34
Turn off TV and lights when unused 22 24 21
Abstain from using a car 9 13 6
Don't ask for plastic shopping bags at stores 16 10 20
Buy energy-saving electric appliances 7 9 5
Do nothing in particular 7 10 4
Q: There is an argument calling for an environmental tax to curtail
greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Do you support
this initiative?
T P M F
Yes 47 51 43
No 42 41 42
Q: The Kyoto Protocol, which sets greenhouse gas reduction goals,
mandates Japan to cut 6 PERCENT of its CO2 emissions from 1990
levels. There is a view saying the people will need to lower their
current standard of living so as to attain the goal. Can you do so?
T P M F
Yes 49 51 48
No 41 42 40
Q: What do you think Japan should do to attain its Kyoto Protocol
CO2 reduction goal?
T P M F
Hold down CO2 emissions even at the sacrifice of economic growth 14
14 13
Subsidize wind- and solar-power generation 41 44 39
Subsidize afforestation 29 28 29
Buy emission credit from foreign countries 3 3 2
No need to attain the goal at any sacrifice 4 4 4
Q: It is said that atomic power generation is effective to prevent
global warming. Do you support the idea of building more atomic
power plants?
T P M F
Yes 39 50 29
No 50 43 56
(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "No answer"
omitted.
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Dec. 15-16 over the
telephone across the nation on a computer-aided random digit
sampling (RDS) basis. Answers were obtained from 1,528 persons.
(2) Scope column: LDP's Machimura faction concentrates efforts on
strengthening capabilities by enlisting think-tank for policy
proposals; building network of contacts in U.S., Europe, China;
creating own website; and broadcasting its general meeting live
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
January 3, 2008
Miyuki Ando
TOKYO 00000035 004 OF 015
The Machimura faction, the largest in the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP), has decided to work on strengthening its policy-making
capability this year. The faction will work together with a
think-thank to come up with policy proposals. It will also send a
delegation to the United States, Europe, and China. With an eye on
the political situation after the next Lower House election, the
faction intends to consolidate its unity and boost its presence in
the party.
In its policy proposals, the subject the faction will ponder most
over will be an economic growth strategy. Japan saw its per capita
gross domestic product (GDP) fall in 2006 and the country is now
ranked 18th in the world. Prime Minister Fukuda, as well, is
troubled that Japan's nominal GDP has stayed flat for the past 10
years. The Machimura faction will draw up a reform plan to use in
order to put the economy, which seems likely to stall again, back on
the growth track.
Because a lack of policy measures for rural areas contributed to the
LDP's suffering a devastating defeat in the last Upper House
election, the faction is placing emphasis on agricultural policy.
On the question of how to manage the Diet, when the ruling bloc
holds a majority in the Lower House and the opposition controls the
Upper House, the faction will compile the results of discussions
conducted since last fall at its policy committee. The Machimura
faction intends to suggest promoting discussions between the ruling
and opposition parties in a pragmatic way by using sub-committees
that are free from the fetters of regular meetings.
The Machimura faction will publicize its proposals and will seek
approval from other policy groups in the party.
The purpose of sending a delegation to the U.S. is to build a
network of contacts with the new U.S. administration that will come
in after the fall presidential election in the fall. Based on the
results of the prime minister's visit to China at the end of last
year, the faction, by sending its delegation to China, will strive
to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party. Its
delegation to Europe plans to visit the Royal United Services
Institute for Defense and Security (RUSI).
The Machimura faction will also create its own website and to post
its proposals and the results of its overseas trips. Moreover, it is
considering introducing a system of delivering streaming images and
broadcasting live the general meeting that it holds once a week.
The Machimura faction has produced four prime ministers in
succession, namely, Yoshiro Mori, Junichiro Koizumi, Shinzo Abe, and
Yasuo Fukuda. It has 84 Lower and Upper House members at present and
is glorying in their ascendancy. But this situation will not
continue indefinitely.
The Koga and Tanigaki factions in the LDP have agreed to merge by
this spring. The Yamasaki faction recently invited former Policy
Research Council Chair Nobuteru Ishihara to join the faction.
Ishihara is now a member of the Yamasaki faction. Former Minister of
Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa of the Ibuki faction
organized a cross-factional study group of conservative lawmakers.
With an eye on when the next Lower House election will occur,
TOKYO 00000035 005 OF 015
factions in the LDP are becoming active. The Machimura faction
intends to counter other factions by enhancing its capabilities.
(3) Next Lower House election: LDP, DPJ aiming at enemy's strong
constituencies; LDP to place emphasis on organized votes, DPJ on
urban areas
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
January 5, 2008
A dead heat is expected in the battle between the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) and main opposition Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ or Minshuto) in the next House of Representatives election,
which is expected to occur before the end of the year. The two
parties are desperately trying to implant an awareness of their
being in a war mode into the minds of their members and supporters
by making their senior members stump nationwide. Both parties are
aiming at beating the other party to the punch. The LDP is now
trying to return to its past election strategy of conducting an
organized election. The DPJ is placing importance on gaining support
in urban areas. The two parties are already locked in battle to win
votes in the Lower House election.
The LDP has been on the offensive owing to such issues as the
pension record-keeping fiasco. The fact is that there is little hope
that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will be able to show a "strong
character" that the party could use to gain support from
unaffiliated voters in the next Lower House election. The LDP will
be forced to carry out a defensive election in the next Lower House
race, in contrast to the 2005 election in which the party won a
landslide victory. Under such circumstances, the LDP has called on
its members to conduct an organization-based election of the kind it
used to carry out.
Election Committee Chairman Makoto Koga spent much time stumping
nationwide until the end of last year because of the party's
crushing defeat in the 2007 House of Councillors election when
voters in the regions distanced themselves from the LDP. He attached
special importance to maintaining a dialogue with
construction-related associations, paving the way for a drive to
increase the number of party members, centering the effort on
industrial associations. This will also lead to a strategy of
crushing the DPJ's policy stances. Consideration for local areas was
pronounced in a draft national budget for fiscal 2008 that the
ruling camp approved late last year. The tactic is to give priority
to incorporating policies which the LDP thinks will be able to win
the election.
Against the background of criticism that structural reforms have
lost their effectiveness, the LDP increased grants to local
governments for the first time in three years. It also placed
emphasis on the allocation of budget money to agricultural areas.
The LDP apparently intended to prevent the differences in major
policies between it and the DPJ that showed up in the 2007 Upper
House election from coming to the fore.
Regarding the criterion of selecting candidates, the LDP abolished
in principle the slot for woman candidates to run in the
proportional representation segment introduced in 2005. It also
urged some of the so-called "Koizumi children," who were elected in
the 2005 Lower House election from the proportional representation
segment, to run in single-seat constituencies. It aims to increase
TOKYO 00000035 006 OF 015
the number of votes to be gained by creating a sense of alarm among
candidates.
The DPJ, however, has adopted a strategy that would allow it to grab
the reins of government in one election. Taking a serious view of
its defeat in urban areas in the 2005 Upper House election, the
party has come up with a strategy of focusing on urban areas in the
next Lower House race, slightly correcting its policy of placing
importance on rural areas that it used in the 2007 election.
At a press conference last December, Ozawa underscored:
"Gaps have grown between the urban and local areas. There is also a
growing gap in incomes and employment in the urban areas. This will
become a major issue in the Lower House election"
Lower House elections differ from those of the Upper House, in which
the number of single seats up for grabs determines whether the party
will win or lose. Ozawa's remarks indicate that expanding support in
the urban areas which have many seats is the key to win the race.
The DPJ, however, is facing a challenge in the urban areas. Due to
the aftereffects of the landslide defeat in the 2005 Lower House
polls, there remain many single-seat constituencies in which the DPJ
has been unable to field candidates. Although Ozawa took the
initiative in coordinating, he failed to resolve the situation.
The DPJ is having trouble cooperating with the Social Democratic
Party and People's New Party in 25 to 30 constituencies in the
election. It had planned to end coordination bye the end of last
year, but there is no electoral district in which the DPJ has agreed
with the SDP and PNP on election cooperation.
(4) Eco-war: Japan hard-pressured to come up with measures against
climate change
ASAHI (Page 3) (Abridged)
January 6, 2008
Shinnji Inada and Naoki Shoji
Climate change will be addressed as a major subject in the Group of
Eight (G-8) summit conference in Lake Toya, Hokkaido, slated for
this summer. In the 13th Conference of the Parties (COP13) to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in
Bali, Indonesia in December, Japan was severely criticized for its
irresolute attitude. In his New Year's press conference, Prime
Minister Fukuda declared that he would attach importance to the
environmental problem as well as reform of the pension system. Can
Japan redress its bad reputation heard in Bali?
Prime Minister Fukuda follows his predecessor-developed "Cool Earth
50"
The Fukuda administration has been since the beginning of the year
demonstrating its proactive stance toward the environmental issue.
The basis for his approach against global warming is "Cool Earth
50," a long-term vision hammered out by his predecessor Abe
administration.
At one point Japan appeared to move forward under its slogan "Cool
Earth," but its measures against climate change have been drifting
TOKYO 00000035 007 OF 015
now, being put behind the question of whether to resume the
Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and
the defense interests-related scandal.
In Japan, business leaders and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry (METI) are opposing any idea to put a strict limit to
corporate activities. METI's rollback began at the end of last
November at a meeting of a joint session between the Ministry of
Environment (MOE) and METI, where both ministries discussed a
domestic-emissions trading system and a green tax.
Attention was paid to which of the two ministries would assume the
role of summing up the session after the discussion. The two
ministries are wide apart (over measures against climate change), so
which of the two would play that role could have suggested a
direction Japan would head for in dealing with global warming. It
was MOE's turn to sum up the discussion, but METI strongly asked MOE
to change places. As a result, both ministries decided, though
unusually, to sum up the discussion together. Tohoku University
Prof. Junsen Asuka, who attended the session, noted: "At a time when
the decision was made that both ministries would sum up the session
together, I thought Japan decided to put off a conclusion (about its
measures against climate change)."
The confrontation between the two ministries also affects Japan's
diplomatic strategy. Prior to the COP13 conference in Bali in
December, relevant ministries and agencies formed Japan's policy
line to deal with the post-Kyoto Protocol age.
A proposal Japan submitted to the Climate Change Secretariat gives
the highest priority to establishing a working group which major
emitters of greenhouse gases take part in. The proposal makes it
ambiguous, however, what Japan would do to reduce the total
emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), an aspect that has encountered
strong opposition from economic circles. A senior MOE official said,
"High on agenda in the Bali conference was a roadmap, so whatever
was written in the proposal other than that would not be discussed."
A senior Foreign Ministry official made this comment: "At a time
when we are making efforts to bring the United States and China,
which do not like setting numerical targets, into the discussions,
it is not a good idea for Japan to mention numerical targets." A
head-on confrontation between MOE and METI was avoided thanks to
various concessions and speculations. In the meantime, there was no
sign that the Prime Minister's Official Resident (Kantei) had
intervened to come up with a proposal overcoming ministerial
interests.
Business leaders are also making requests about climate change. In
early December, the Japan Business Federation's (Nippon Keidanren)
Chairman Fujio Mitarai met with Environment Minister Kamoshita and
others before they headed for Bali and warned them: "If irrational
restrictions on the total emission of greenhouse gases are set like
the Kyoto Protocol did, Japan would be certain to suffer a weakening
of its international competitiveness."
At the Bali conference, Japan's proposal came under criticism more
than expected because of its vagueness. Environmental
non-governmental organizations reacted sensitively to Japan's move
with one NGO member arguing, "Japan, which produced the Kyoto
Protocol featured by setting total reductions of greenhouse gases
country by country, is now going to throw away the protocol."
TOKYO 00000035 008 OF 015
Hironori Hamanaka, chair of the Institute for Global Environmental
Strategies' Board of Directors who had been involved in global
warming negotiations for many years, sensed the mood of the Bali
conference by saying: "I think it has become considerably difficult
for Japan to restore its image."
Setting numerical targets imperative for Japan after suffering "Bali
shock"
Coming under heavy fire in the Bali conference, Japan turned around
its previous position suddenly at the end of December.
On Dec. 27, a meeting of four cabinet members was held to discuss
Japan's international strategy against climate change. Prime
Minister Fukuda plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland, slated for late January and address the forum about
Japan's basic position toward the G-8 summit in Lake Toya.
In the cabinet ministerial session, Environment Minister Kamoshita
held up an English language daily issued in Indonesia. The daily
carried the big pictures of the faces of Prime Minister Fukuda, U.S.
President Bush, and Canadian Prime Minister Harper with the caption
reading, "No targets -- Just global disaster coming soon. The world
should not give in." This was a full-page ad placed by an
environmental NGO.
"Japan is regarded by the rest of the world as a force of
resistance, but is this all right?" asked Kamoshita. In response,
Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura suggested, "How about setting
Japan's numerical targets for cutting emissions of greenhouse
gases?" Machimura was given support from Foreign Minister Koumura.
METI Minister Amari, who was reluctant to set numerical targets,
left the conference room without making his position clear.
The Kantei then came round to the thinking that Japan should work
out its mid-term goal. Around then, Fukuda appointed former Nippon
Keidanren Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, advisor to Toyota Motor, as a
special advisor to the Cabinet, anticipating Okuda would play the
role of urging other business leaders to change their minds.
Meanwhile, the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
began preparations to send its President Ozawa to the World Economic
Forum and display its measures against climate change to world
leaders. The DPJ is ready to put forward a bill intended to set up a
headquarters to deal with global warming shortly and present a bill
aimed at establishing a domestic emissions trading system. Its
Deputy Policy Research Council Chairman Tetsuro Fukuyama said, "Now
is the right opportunity for us to make (the environmental issue) a
campaign issue in the next general election." The DPJ's offensive is
also irritating the government and the ruling parties.
On Jan. 4, Fukuda held his New Year press conference, in which he
described the global warming issue as a "task that can't wait."
The cabinet made a sudden about-face and began emphasizing the
environmental issue. This has perplexed government officials with
one high-level official noting: "If the cabinet sets an unattainable
target as a result of being overly conscious of climate change, it
could assume a risk in the upcoming G-8 summit."
(5) Farm produce growing areas could change drastically nationwide
due to global warming: Agriculture ministry to speed up studies on
TOKYO 00000035 009 OF 015
countermeasures; Tangerines go off more quickly while in storage;
Vegetable prices collapse due to concentrated shipment time
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full)
January 7, 2008
The National Agriculture & Food Research Organization (NARO located
in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture) conducted a nationwide survey
from 2003 through 2005 on the impact of global warming on fruit,
vegetable and rice farming in Japan. The survey confirmed poor color
development of grapes and apples and a decline in rice quality
nationwide.
The opinion survey was conducted to sample views of public
agricultural research organs throughout the nation on the impact of
global warming.
Respondents in all of 47 prefectures answered that there are
experiencing the impact of global warming in terms of growth and
development, crop yields, quality, or pests and diseases. Global
warming affected vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants in 90
PERCENT of the prefectures and rice in 70 PERCENT of the
prefectures.
Regarding a major impact on fruits, Toshihiko Sugiura, senior
researcher at NARO, said, "Unlike vegetables and rice, which are
planted each year, fruits are harvested from the same trees for many
years, It is, therefore, not possible to adjust the time for
planting. Coming up with measures for fruit cultivation is of urgent
necessity."
As concrete effects of global warming, the survey respondents cited
increased cases of poor color development of apples, grapes and
tangerines, which is ascribable to higher night temperatures,
sunburn caused by high temperature on the surface of fruits and the
softening of fruits due to overriping.
Respondents also cited an increased case of vegetables and fruits
budding and flowering earlier and suffering from damage of frost
caused by the recurrence of cold. It is also noteworthy that pear
trees are not leafing out or flowering in the spring, because they
were not exposed to low temperatures in the winter because of the
warm weather.
Shizuoka Prefecture, a tangerine-producing area, has adopted a sales
strategy of shipping tangerines for a long period of time from the
turn of the year through March, by storing harvested products.
However, the quality of stored tangerines reportedly deteriorates
more quickly than before due to global warming. The early ripening
phenomenon seen among vegetables is affecting the sales of the
products, disabling a relay shipment system of each production area
staggering the time for shipments. As a result, concentrated
shipments are reportedly collapsing shipments. There is also a
vacuum period when there are no products on store shelves.
As cases of the impact of global warming on rice farming, there are
white immature grains with deteriorated quality and split grains.
Both grains are the results of excessively high temperature when
ears of rice plants grow. Though causal correlation has yet to be
proved, there is an increase in spotted rice grains with ears of
rice eaten by increased number of shield bugs.
TOKYO 00000035 010 OF 015
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) also
carried out as of last year a survey of prefectures on the impact of
global warming on agriculture and obtained similar results.
MAFF also ran a simulation on the moving of areas suitable for fruit
cultivation according to the advancing of global warming. According
to the simulation, areas suitable for growing apples and mandarin
oranges would move north. Temperatures in areas that are currently
suitable for growing those fruits would rise too high, changing the
map of major growing areas. The MAFF simulation also projected that
if national average temperature goes up 3 degrees centigrade in the
2060s, harvest yields of rice in Hokkaido would increase 13 PERCENT
, while those in areas south of the Tohoku region would drop by
between 8 PERCENT -15 PERCENT .
Following such survey results, MAFF will map out measures to deal
with impacts that are seen now. At the same time, it intends to
release a policy of strengthening studies on mid- to long-term
measures with the aim of giving a boost to efforts to accelerate
global warming preventive measures.
(6) Japan-U.S. defense interests (Part B)
SENTAKU (Pp. 110-113) (Almost full)
January 2008 issue
Kyuma's betrayal over Futenma replacement facility
As seen in the case of Armitage Associates, Yamada Corp.'s Miyazaki
made tremendous efforts to build his channels of communication to
U.S. lobbyists. Miyazaki frequently traveled to the United States to
have business lunches with several lobbyists. Meanwhile, Miyazaki's
friend, Naoki Akiyama, a director of the Japan-U.S. Center for Peace
and Cultural Exchange, also successfully gained access to some U.S.
Representatives and Senators. His connections also turned into
Miyazaki's ammunition. Needless to say that in order for Yamada to
become General Electric's exclusive agency and gain intimate access
to the then Defense Agency by beating other giant corporations, it
needed every connection to influential U.S. figures it could get.
Last fall, a group of ten prosecutors and administrative officials
from the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public
Prosecutors Office flew to Okinawa on a special mission. Their aim
was to look into the project to build a replacement facility for
Futenma Air Station in which it had been decided that the relocation
site would be along the coast in the Henoko district of Nago City.
The project, having attracted the attention of political and
business circles in Japan and the U.S., has now become a carbon copy
of the "Guam interests" model.
In 1996 during the administration of Prime Minister Hashimoto, Tokyo
and Washington reached an agreement to return Futenma Air Station to
Japan. The event was lauded as the greatest achievement since the
reversion of Okinawa. In 1997, the government drew up a plan to
construct as Futenma's replacement facility a heliport at Camp
Schwab with a 1,300-meter runway.
Recalling those days, a source connected with the Defense Ministry
said: "Around that time, general contractors and trading companies
vied fiercely to join the project, making contacts with defense
officials." Because major steel companies, shipbuilders, and general
contractors in Tokyo, such as Nippon Steel Corp., came forward, and
TOKYO 00000035 011 OF 015
Nissho Iwai Corp. (currently Sojitz) served as the coordinator, many
local companies reacted fiercely, saying, "Are the Tokyo-based firms
going to monopolize interests in Okinawa?"
At that point, Bechtel stepped in. Bechtel wanted to be the company
to build an airport on reclaimed land off Camp Schwab by teaming
with up with Kokuba Gumi Co., Okinawa's largest construction
company, and enlisting the general trading house Itochu to serve as
the coordinator. Bechtel secretly prepared an airport development
plan in 1998. Two runways were shown on the plan combining an aerial
photograph with computer graphics. It was a prototype of the
V-shaped pair of runways.
An Okinawa prefectural assemblyman noted:
"When Bechtel held a briefing session for Okinawa assemblymen,
former Secretary of Defense William Perry also came all the way to
promote the Bechtel plan. That really surprised us. Because the
reclaimed land plan would benefit local gravel suppliers, the
Okinawa side, including Governor Keiichi Inamine, started calling
for reclamation."
After many twists and turns, then Vice Defense Minister Moriya in
2005 introduced a ground-based plan. The design would have the
runway built at Camp Schwab.
A Defense Ministry source explained:
"Building a runway at Camp Schwab would not benefit Bechtel very
much, so the U.S. side fiercely opposed it. In the end, an agreement
was reached to reclaim land off Camp Schwab."
In 2006, Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro of Nago, the relocation site
for Futenma Air Station, and Higashi Kaihatsu and other local
businesses poured cold water on the government's Camp Schwab coastal
plan, coming up with an offshore plan to build runways two
kilometers off the coast.
A local assembly man said:
"Realizing the loss of steam of the Keiseikai in the Liberal
Democratic Party under the Koizumi administration, local business
circles after much thought made huge donations to LDP lawmaker Taku
Yamasaki, a defense policy specialist, in the hope that he would
apply pressure on his close friend, Prime Minister Koizumi."
But their plan fell through, and the government eventually adopted a
plan to build a V-shaped pair of runways based on the coastal plan.
The local assemblyman also added:
"But in January 2007, Defense Minister Kyuma raised an objection to
the government plan, saying, 'I think building a single runway will
suffice.' Kyuma thus began siding with local business circles that
were fixated on the offshore plan. Extremely irritated by Kyuma's
attitude, Moriya who wanted to steamroll the government plan ordered
the Intelligence Service Command to uncover Kyuma's secret meeting
with local business leaders."
"Do not add fuel to the Yamada scandal"
Kyuma stands at the head of defense interests associated with U.S.
TOKYO 00000035 012 OF 015
force realignment. Under his wing are local assemblymen, as
exemplified by House of Representatives member Mikio Shimoji. They
have been scurrying around trying to bring those interests to
Okinawa.
In early November 2007, shortly before Motonobu Miyazaki was
arrested, U.S. Secretary of Dense Robert Gates visited Japan to urge
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and government leaders to swiftly resume
Japan's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean and implement the
U.S. force realignment plan. Showing up at a Tokyo hotel around the
same timeframe was former Defense Secretary William Cohen and
defense adviser William Schneider. They attended the Japan-US
Security Strategy Conference, chaired by Naoki Akiyama. The
conference also brought together executives of major defense
companies, such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Boeing, and
Lockheed.
Former Defense Minister Kyuma also delivered a videotaped message
underlining the need to discuss essential defense issues without
being bound by trivial matters. The gathering of Japanese and U.S.
defense officials at that particular timeframe was not coincidental
but to send a clear message to Japanese prosecutors not to add fuel
to the Yamada scandal.
The Lockheed scandal, which was originally a bribery case over
defense interests over the P3C antisubmarine patrol aircraft, was
replaced by interests over ANA commercial planes. The
Douglas-Grumman scandal came to a deadlock before sticking the knife
into Nissho Iwai and the defense industry. The U.S. defense industry
is untouchable, and any attempt to touch it would result in the
arrest of even prime minister on trumped up charges. The expiration
of the tenure of Hiroaki Yagi as chief of the special investigation
squad is approaching. Even the Lockheed scandal failed to shed light
on the dark side of Japan-U.S. defense interests. The road ahead is
fairly steep.
(7) Next midterm defense buildup plan to be frontloaded
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
January 6, 2008
The government and ruling parties are looking into the feasibility
of discontinuing Japan's current midterm defense buildup plan in its
final fiscal year to frontload the next-term defense buildup plan
one year earlier than scheduled. The current midterm defense buildup
plan is set for a period of five fiscal years up to 2009. However,
the Defense Ministry was involved in scandals over its procurement
of equipment for the Self-Defense Forces. The government and ruling
coalition judged that such events marred the current midterm defense
buildup plan's reliability. The government, now reviewing the
Defense Ministry's procurement system, will set about working out
the new defense buildup plan at an early date. The government was
expected to decide under the current plan to introduce the follow-on
mainstay fighter plane (FX) model for the Air Self-Defense Force. FX
introduction will be rescheduled under the next-term defense buildup
plan.
A midterm defense buildup plan caps Japan's defense spending for a
period of five fiscal years, and it specifies procurement plans for
each new five-year period. This planning formula was introduced in
fiscal 1986. Each midterm defense buildup plan is based on the
National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG), which was formerly known
TOKYO 00000035 013 OF 015
as the National Defense Program Outline or NDPO for short.
The current midterm defense buildup plan (for fiscal 2005-2009) was
adopted in a cabinet decision of December 2004. Its spending totals
approximately 24.24 trillion yen, incorporating a plan to introduce
a missile defense (MD) system, such as enhancing the capability of
Aegis-equipped ships, and a plan to introduce the FX model.
The midterm defense buildup planning formula is also meant to
ratchet defense spending. Last year, however, a defense contractor's
bill-padding practices were brought to light. On Jan. 4, Akihiro
Ota, who heads New Komeito, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's
coalition partner, said the government should basically abolish
occasional contracts. In addition, Ota also suggested the need for
the government to check defense contractors' overestimates.
The government set up a panel at the prime minister's office for an
overhaul of the Defense Ministry. This panel is studying a new
procurement system, including the option of making a package
purchase of defense equipment. "It's a consensus of the government
and the ruling parties to have an improvement plan reflected in the
next-term defense buildup plan," a senior Defense Ministry official
said yesterday.
The panel will come up with an interim report in February. Based on
the interim report, the Defense Ministry will create the next-term
defense buildup plan for fiscal 2009-2013, starting in April. The
government is expected to make a cabinet decision in December this
year to adopt the new midterm defense buildup plan. The government
will likely retrench the new defense buildup plan's total cost in an
aim to emphasize a reform of the Defense Ministry.
The Ground Self-Defense Force looked to introduce the AH-64D Apache
as its mainstay combat helicopter model. However, the United States
has now discontinued its production. The Defense Ministry will
therefore have to reduce the number of new choppers to be procured
for the GSDF under the current midterm defense buildup plan. This is
also one of the reasons why the new defense buildup plan will be
moved up one year earlier than scheduled.
Meanwhile, the ASDF currently has about 90 F-4 fighter planes. These
ASDF F-4 fighters, however, are now superannuated. The Defense
Ministry has plans to replace the F-4s with the FX model. The
current midterm defense buildup plan specifies a plan to introduce
the first seven FX-model jets. The ASDF is interested in the F-22
Raptor, a U.S.-developed state-of-the-art stealth fighter jet model,
as a likely FX candidate. However, the United States embargoes the
F-22. The Defense Ministry's FX selection is therefore facing rough
going.
The Defense Ministry will now push back FX introduction under the
next-term defense buildup plan. Instead, the Defense Ministry would
like to introduce more than seven FX-model fighters under the
next-term defense buildup plan. This FX introduction will likely be
controversial in connection with financial circumstances.
(8) U.S. nuclear-powered submarines made 48 port calls in Japan in
2007; Okinawa's White Beach most frequently visited
AKAHATA (Page 4) (Full)
January 6, 2008
TOKYO 00000035 014 OF 015
In 2007, 12 U.S. Navy attack nuclear-powered submarines made 48
calls at Japanese ports in 2007, according to statistics by local
governments hosting such ports. Above all, White Beach in the city
of Uruma in Okinawa Prefecture topped the list with a record 24 port
calls (an increase of eight from the year 2006). The number of calls
at the Yokosuka base in Kanagawa prefecture dropped by one from the
year 2006 to 13 calls, and the Sabebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture
also dipped by five to 11 visits. Although the number of ships
declined by four as a whole, the number of calls increased by two,
hovering around the 50 level over the last several years.
In September 2006, radiation was detected in waters off Yokosuka as
the USS Honolulu left the port, resulting in a serious problem. It
was also found in October 2007 that the USS Hampton that entered
Yokosuka and White Beach had faked data to conceal the fact that it
failed to conduct a daily examination of radioactive substances for
a month during its seven-month western Pacific cruise, exposing its
extremely sloppy safety management.
It has also become clear through a declassified U.S. government
document obtained by international affairs researcher Shoji Niihara
that the governments of Japan and the United States concluded a
secret pact in 1971 not to monitor radioactive contamination in the
SIPDIS
air within 50 meters of U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarines when
they enter Japanese ports.
Planning to deploy the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George
Washington to Yokosuka in 2008, the U.S. government and the U.S.
Navy have played up the safety of nuclear-powered ships. But their
assertion has now been proven groundless.
The bow of the nuclear-powered Newport News also hit Kawasaki Kisen
Co.'s oil tanker Mogamigawa in the Strait of Hormuz in the Arabian
Sea in January 2007.
The move to realize the U.S. Defense Department's strategy
(Quadrennial Defense Review established in February 2006) of
deploying 60 PERCENT of the U.S. submarines in the Pacific for
securing its interests progressed smoothly in 2007, and Japan is now
an important base for it.
The Seawolf class attack nuclear-powered submarines Seawolf and the
Connecticut were transferred from the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific
Fleet in 2007. The Connecticut that entered a Japanese port in
November took part in a large joint exercise with the Maritime
Self-Defense Force. The Hampton has also been assigned from the
Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific Fleet. The Atlantic Fleet-based
Providence has also repeatedly made port calls in Japan.
In many cases, U.S. submarines visited Sasebo and White Beach for
less than one hour, and that trend continued in 2007 as well. In
fact, of the 10 calls at Sasebo, five calls lasted less than one
hour (additionally, one visit marked 71 minutes) and of the 24 calls
at White Beach, 17 were shorter than one hour.
Duties of U.S. attack nuclear-powered submarines include ground
attacks with cruise missiles, antisubmarine and anti-surface
warfare, injecting and collecting special operations troops,
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities. U.S.
submarines seem to make short port calls to transport special
operations troops and reconnaissance units and transmitting
monitored signals, in addition to replenishing supplies.
TOKYO 00000035 015 OF 015
DONOVAN