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Viewing cable 08TOKYO697, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/17/08

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08TOKYO697 2008-03-17 01:25 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO6329
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0697/01 0770125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170125Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2572
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 9042
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6650
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0323
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5164
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7254
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2224
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8274
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8841
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000697 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/17/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
4) Kyodo poll shows Fukuda Cabinet non support rate rises 6 points 
to above 50 PERCENT , with support rate down to 33.4 PERCENT 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
5) Liberal Democratic Party's child-porno bill will level stiff 
penalties on those who possess such material  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
6) North Korea suspected of jamming electronic transmissions at 
Narita Airport, hindering air traffic control and apparently timed 
to the G-20 meeting  (Sankei) 
 
Global warming: 
7) U.S. works on Japan to arrange a summit of major carbon dioxide 
emitters around G-8 Toyako Summit (Yomiuri) 
8) G-20 agrees to continue discussion of Japan's proposed plan for 
reducing greenhouse gases  (Yomiuri) 
 
Diet in turmoil: 
9) Diet resumes today with a fierce confrontation between the 
Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party 
(Yomiuri) 
10) Muto is out as a prospective BOJ governor candidate  (Asahi) 
 
11) Names of Yamaguchi, Shirakawa may be included in resubmitted 
candidates for Bank of Japan governor and deputies  (Sankei) 
12) Another Diet member league, this one centered on the DPJ, being 
formed  (Yomiuri) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
13) Defense Ministry to start environmental assessment of Futenma 
relocation site  (Yomiuri) 
14) GSDF starts drill today at U.S. forces' Camp Hansen in Okinawa 
(Nikkei) 
15) Okinawa police ask U.S. forces for cooperation in investigation 
of the robbing of a taxi driver outside Kadena Air Base by three 
possible GI's  (Mainichi) 
16) More problems found in developing the new SDF transport aircraft 
 (Tokyo Shimbun) 
17) After three years hiatus, LDP, DPJ and New Komeito lawmakers 
resume study group on security affairs  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Nomination of Muto for BOJ governorship seen unlikely; Government to 
submit new plan today 
 
Mainichi, Tokyo Shimbun: 
Tibetan riots spread to Sichuan Province, 80 dead in Lhasa 
 
Yomiuri: 
2.3 billion yen spent in five years for taxi tickets from road 
improvement special account 
 
 
TOKYO 00000697  002 OF 011 
 
 
Nikkei: 
23 PERCENT  of major company chiefs see domestic economy 
deteriorating 
 
Sankei: 
Tibetan riots spread to three provinces; The Dalai Lama: "It is a 
cultural massacre" 
 
Akahata: 
Sympathy budget covers even entertainment, bars, and golf course 
labor costs, out of consideration to U.S. troops 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Proposals to make Japan into society of hope (21): Make 
agriculture a "growing industry" 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Five years of Iraq war make world more uncertain; Key lies in 
U.S. troops' early withdrawal 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Fifth anniversary of start of Iraq war: Declining U.S. power 
concerning 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) G-20 meeting produces few positive results; Revamp strategy for 
Lake Toya Summit 
(2) U.S.-North Korea talks produce no achievement again 
 
Sankei: 
(1) China's return of books published in Japan makes it unfit to 
host Olympics 
(2) Case of Yokohama City University Medical Department head 
receiving money for PhD might constitute bribery 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Tibet riots: Don't close door to talks with Dalai Lama 
(2) Make efforts to reduce tolls for expressways in capital 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Plan to form SDF intelligence and security unit: We cannot allow 
strengthened monitoring of public moves 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 14 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 15, 2008 
 
07:04 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwaki at the Kantei. Then 
attended a meeting of cabinet ministers related to the pension 
contribution record issue. 
 
08:31 
Cabinet meeting in the Diet. Finance Minister Nukaga remained. 
 
09:00 
Upper House Budget Committee meeting. 
 
TOKYO 00000697  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
11:58 
Arrived at the Kantei. 
 
13:00 
Upper House Budget Committee meeting. 
 
18:10 
Met with former British Prime Minister Blair. 
 
19:00 
Met with New Komeito head Ota and Secretary General Kitagawa, joined 
by Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. Machimura remained. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 15 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 16, 2008 
 
Spent the day at the official residence 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 16 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 17, 2008 
 
Spent the morning at the official residence. 
13:52 
Enjoyed opera "Aida" at New National Theater in Shibuya with his 
wife Kiyoko. 
 
18:30 
Arrived at the official residence. 
 
4) Poll: Cabinet disapproval rate tops 50 PERCENT ; 60 PERCENT 
calls for avoidance of vacancy in BOJ governorship 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
March 17, 2008 
 
Kyodo News Service conducted a nationwide telephone-based survey on 
March 15-16 in which the approval rate for the cabinet of Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda dropped 2.2 points from the previous February 
survey to 33.4 PERCENT , the lowest ever (in the Kyodo poll series) 
since the establishment of the Fukuda administration. The 
disapproval rate increased 6.1 points to 50.6 PERCENT , exceeding 
the 50 PERCENT  line for the first time (in the Kyodo poll). With 
the falling support rate now clearly unstoppable, Prime Minister 
Fukuda seems likely to find steering his administration even more 
difficult. 
 
Asked about the provisional gasoline tax rate that expires at the 
end of March, 61.0 PERCENT  of respondents said the rate should not 
be extended after its expiration, up 3.9 points from the previous 
survey. Only 29.3 PERCENT  said it should be extended, down 2.3 
points. 
 
 
About the government's proposal to promote Bank of Japan Deputy 
Governor Toshiro Muto, a former vice-finance minister, to the bank's 
top post, views were split, with 40 PERCENT  finding him 
"appropriate" and another 40 PERCENT  seeing him as "inappropriate." 
 
TOKYO 00000697  004 OF 011 
 
 
However, 61.5 PERCENT  responded that a vacancy in the post must be 
avoided. 
 
In addition, 73.4 PERCENT  gave negative assessments to the 
government's response to the recent Aegis destroyer collision 
accident. Only 5.9 PERCENT  said that Defense Minister Shigeru 
Ishiba should immediately resign from the post to take 
responsibility, while 57.8 PERCENT , a majority, indicated that he 
should step down after settling post-accident matters and drawing up 
preventive measures. 
 
5) LDP intends to amend child pornography law to criminalize 
individual possession 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
March 15, 2008 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party decided on March 14 to amend the Law 
for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child 
Pornography to criminalize even the simple possession of child 
pornography and images. The aim is to prevent the proliferation of 
child pornography, a serious violation of the human rights of 
children. The LDP aims at submitting a bill to the Diet for its 
enactment in the current session after talks with New Komeito upon 
working out specifics of the legislation. 
 
Although the production and sale of child pornography are punishable 
under the law, the possession of child porn by individuals not for 
sale is not criminalized. As a result, there seems to be no end to 
child pornography on the Internet originating from Japan despite 
international criticism. U.S. Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas 
Schieffer met Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama on March 11 and asked 
the Japanese government to criminalize the simple possession of 
child pornography. 
 
The LDP subcommittee on reviewing the child pornography law that met 
on March 14 confirmed the policy course to criminalize even storing 
electronic image data on personal computers, in addition to 
photographs. At the same time, some pointed out that anyone leaving 
spam emails containing such images on his computer could also be 
punished. 
 
6) North Korea interfering with electronic wave transmissions at 
Narita Airport, jamming of air control system, possibly related to 
the meeting of the G-20? 
 
SANKEI (Page 31) (Excerpts) 
March 17, 2008 
 
It was learned from an investigation by the Ministry of Internal 
Affairs and Communications that wave transmissions of the air 
traffic control system used at Narita International Airport on the 
evening of March 15 were jammed for nearly four hours by jamming 
signals on the same frequencies transmitted from North Korea. There 
was no interference in such airport functions as aircraft takeoffs. 
Although the ministry could not calculate the intentions of the 
North in so doing, since the G-20 was then meeting at the cabinet 
level to discuss the global environment, it is possible that the 
transmissions were aimed at the G-20 meeting. In the event of strong 
electronic transmissions, there is the possibly of creating turmoil 
in air traffic control. Because there are a number of cabinet-level 
meetings in Japan leading up to the G-8 summit in July, the ministry 
 
TOKYO 00000697  005 OF 011 
 
 
plans to beef up its surveillance system toward jamming signals from 
the North. 
 
7) U.S. works on Japan to arrange a summit of major carbon dioxide 
emitters around G-8 Toyako Summit 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 16, 2008 
 
Visiting U.S. Under Secretary of State Dobriansky, who is attending 
the cabinet-level dialogue of the group of 20 countries on climate 
change, clean energy and sustainable development, which is now in 
session in Makuhari, Chiba Prefecture, on March 15 responded to an 
interview with the press, including the Yomiuri Shimbun. In the 
interview, Dobriansky revealed that the United States government is 
working on the Japanese government to set the stage for the U.S. 
government to host a final dialogue of the top leaders from major 
carbon dioxide emitters around the Group of Eight (G-8) Toyako 
Summit in July. America's aim is to put together ideas on climate 
change issues under its leadership by hosting the final dialogue of 
the top leaders and thereby to "prevent" European countries from 
taking the leadership in setting a trend. 
 
When asked whether the U.S. is proposing hosting a summit of major 
emitters in Japan before the Toyako Summit, Dobriansky said: "We are 
discussing Japan on a plan to hold a summit of major emitters and 
issue a declaration in connection with the Toyako Summit." 
 
The first meeting of major emitters joined by the European Union was 
held in Washington in last September. The second session took place 
in Hawaii at the end of this past January. 
 
8) G-20 dialogue winds up with participants agreeing to continue 
discussion on Japan's proposal of sectoral CO2 reduction formula 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 17, 2008 
 
The Group of 20 major greenhouse gas emitters (cabinet-level meeting 
on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development), held 
in Chiba City as the first step of a series of cabinet-level 
meetings to be held in the run-up to the Lake Toya G-8 in Hokkaido, 
yesterday ended with participants agreeing to continue discussion on 
Japan's proposal of a sectoral approach formula as a method of 
cutting greenhouse gas emissions to be adopted in a framework in 
ΒΆ2013. Japan as the host nation will finalize the proposal and report 
it to the July Summit. 
 
The sectoral approach is a method of high-emitting industrial 
sectors in the world, such as the steel or cement industries that 
are facing harsh international cooperation, cooperating each other 
in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This is intended to complement 
the total reduction formula based on country-by-country goals. The 
G-20 was the first international conference to discuss climate 
change. Under the proposed approach, energy efficiency goals will 
also be set for developing countries to make efforts to cut 
greenhouse gas emissions, assisted with technology transfer and 
financial aid. 
 
China and India, whose CO2 emissions are sharply increasing, opposed 
the proposal at the G-20 meeting. They expressed concern that Japan 
may be trying to urge developing countries to cut emissions, while 
 
TOKYO 00000697  006 OF 011 
 
 
steering clear of a commitment to set its own total emissions goal 
in the new framework. As such, Japan sought understanding from those 
countries, by stressing its plan to establish country-by-country 
total totals, making it a premise that industrialized countries bear 
heavier responsibility than developing countries. 
 
9) Fierce Diet battle expected this week; Possibility of lower tax 
on gasoline moving closer to reality 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
March 16, 2008 
 
The fierce maneuvering between the ruling and opposition camps is 
expected to intensify even further this week, as deliberations begin 
in the House of Councillors on tax-related bills, including one 
amending the Special Taxation Measures Law, which is aimed at 
maintaining the current provisional tax on gasoline and road-related 
taxes. The ruling parties intend to begin revising the 
taxation-related bills in a bid to put the Special Taxation Measures 
Law revision bill to a vote before the end of this fiscal year 
(March 31). The ruling coalition then will seek for an early 
convocation of deliberations on these bills. However, the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) has shown no 
intention to go along with the ruling camp's plan, there is a 
possibility that the provisional tax rates will expire on March 31 
and that the gasoline tax rates will drop after April 1. 
 
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party Diet Affairs Committee Chairman 
Seiji Suzuki and his DPJ counterpart Susumu Yanase will hold talks 
on this issue on March 17. They will discuss a timetable for 
deliberations at committees, excluding the Budget Committee, which 
is now deliberating on the fiscal 2008 state budget and 
budget-related bills. The financial and general affairs committees 
are expected to hold their directors meetings separately on the 
17th. 
 
10) Reappointment of Muto for BOJ governorship difficult; Government 
to submit new plan today 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Full) 
March 17, 2008 
 
The government will submit a new proposal to the Diet today for a 
nomination for the post of Bank of Japan governor, following the 
House of Councillors' rejection of the government's initial plan to 
appoint BOJ Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto as new governor. The 
opposition bloc has decided that if the government resubmits Muto's 
name, it will reject him again. A number of lawmakers in the 
government and the ruling camp believe they will have to propose an 
alternative to Muto in order to avoid leaving the post vacant after 
the incumbent governor's term of office expires on March 19. Prime 
Minister Fukuda, though, still insists that the Muto plan is the 
best choice, indicating that if the government cannot confirm that 
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will approve a new nomination, 
it will resubmit the Muto plan. The prime minister intends to make a 
final judgment after ascertaining what response the DPJ will make. 
 
On March 7, the government presented a plan to nominate Muto for the 
governorship and Kyoto University Professor Masaaki Shirakawa and 
Tokyo University Professor Takatoshi Ito for the two posts of deputy 
governor. But only Shirakawa was endorsed in both chambers of the 
Diet. Since the process for appointing Muto and Ito has returned to 
 
TOKYO 00000697  007 OF 011 
 
 
square one, the government called for a joint meeting of 
representatives from both Diet chambers on the 17th and has decided 
to present a new proposal there. 
 
If the government resubmits the proposal for appointing Muto, the 
opposition camp will certainly reject it. In addition, because there 
is the principle that a bill on which a vote was once taken in the 
Diet cannot be discussed again in the same Diet session, there is no 
guarantee that the plan will be voted on in the Upper House. In this 
case, a vacancy will unavoidably be created. Meanwhile, if the 
government submits a new name and if the alternative is rejected, 
the government will inevitably receive a serious blow. Keeping that 
in mind, the prime minister is carefully considering the matter. 
 
Appearing on a TV program yesterday, former Liberal Democratic Party 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano said: "It is reckless to 
resubmit a plan that was once rejected in the Upper House." In the 
New Komeito, as well, many members are calling for nominating a new 
candidate. In response, a senior DPJ officer indicated yesterday 
that the party would approve it if the government presents an 
alternative to Muto. 
 
When the moderator on a TV program yesterday cited the names of 
Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda and Hiroshi 
Watanabe, an advisor to the Japan Center for International Finance, 
both former vice finance ministers for international affairs, as 
possible candidates, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama replied: 
"A vice finance minister for international affairs is engaged in 
greater global matters. We do not mean that all former Finance 
Ministry officers are inappropriate." 
 
A senior government official, though, stated: "Different members in 
the DPJ say different things, so we cannot easily sound out the 
party on a possible candidate." 
 
11) Prime minister to resubmit today nomination of BOJ governor with 
eye on either Yamaguchi or Shirakawa 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
March 17, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will today resubmit nominees for Bank of 
Japan (BOJ) governor and deputy governors. It is unlikely that he 
will once again propose promoting Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto (64) 
to governor, a plan that was submitted before but failed to secure 
approval in the Upper House. It appears that the prime minister has 
undergone coordination with eye on former Deputy BOJ Governor Yutaka 
Yamaguchi (67) hailing from the BOJ and Kyoto University graduate 
school professor Masaaki Shirakawa (58), who has secured approval of 
both chambers of the Diet, as candidates for governor. 
 
The prevailing view in the government and the ruling parties 
regarding the controversial BOJ management personnel selection is 
that it would be difficult to resubmit Muto as a candidate with 
former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano of the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) noting on an NHK TV talk show, "It would be 
reckless to once again propose the person who was rejected in the 
Upper House." The prime minister will also likely shelve the idea of 
resubmitting a proposal for picking Takatoshi Ito (57), a Tokyo 
University graduate school professor, who was also rejected by the 
Upper House, as a deputy governor. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000697  008 OF 011 
 
 
An official at the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) yesterday 
telephoned the chairmen of the Diet Steering Committees of both 
chambers of the Diet and conveyed the government's plan to resubmit 
nominations of BOJ governor and deputy governors. Diet Policy 
Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima of the LDP on the evening of the 
same day told his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 
counterpart Kenji Yamaoka, "I would like to see you on the morning 
of the 17th for consultations." 
 
Voices approving the promotion of Shirakawa to governor or the 
nomination of Haruhiko Kuroda (63), former Vice Finance Minister for 
International Financial Affairs, or Hiroshi Watanabe (53), an 
advisor to the Japan Center for International Finance, are growing 
strong in the DPDJ. 
 
12) LDP, New Komeito, DPJ members to resume security study group 
after three-year hiatus 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 17, 2008 
 
The outlook is that the "Forum of young legislators to build a 
security system for the new century," which is comprised of junior 
and mid-level Diet members from the ruling and opposition parties, 
will resume its activities for the first time in three years by 
holding a general meeting in April. The group plans to study a broad 
range of security policy issues, including looking into a permanent 
law to allow overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces, the 
interpretation of the Constitution in regard to the use of right of 
collective self-defense, and the current Japan-U.S. security 
arrangements. 
 
Gen Nakatani, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Security 
Research Commission, Seiji Maehara, vice president of the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), and Isamu 
Ueda, a House of Representatives member of the New Komeito, the 
 
SIPDIS 
LDP's coalition partner, agreed on March 13 to resuming the group's 
activities. The study group will soon select new board members and 
hold a general meeting. 
 
The group was established in November 2001, with the participation 
of 101 Diet members. It later came up with such proposals as 
emergency legislation and measures for Japan to secure maritime 
rights, but it suspended its activities in April 2005 after the 
members inspected the site of gas reserves in the East China Sea. At 
present a total of 82 members -- 56 from the LDP, 23 from the DPJ, 
and three from the New Komeito - are in the group. The group intends 
to call on lawmakers, who are now their first-term in the Diet, to 
join. The membership will likely exceed 100. 
 
Some politicians think that the resumption of the group's activities 
may lead to a move to political reorganization. A group member, 
however, said: "We will continue our activities while drawing a line 
with the political situation." 
 
13) MOD launches EIA of relocation site for Futenma airfield 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 16, 2008 
 
The Ministry of Defense (MOD) on March 15 launched an environment 
impact assessment (EIM) of a coastal area on Camp Schwab (in Nago 
 
TOKYO 00000697  009 OF 011 
 
 
City, Okinawa), a planned relocation site for the United States 
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan City, Okinawa. The EIM 
was initially planned to be conducted in last May, but it was 
delayed because of flaws pointed out by the prefectural government 
in a manual (prepared by the central government) that mentioned the 
items and methods for surveys. 
 
According to MOD, it will survey over one year how coral and algae 
live in the area, complete the procedures for the EIM by the end of 
fiscal 2009, and start the reclamation work. 
 
On March 15, MOD conducted a weather survey, such as the direction 
of wind and the velocity of wind, in Camp Schwab and the coastal 
area, and measured the amount of sodium contained in air. MOD plans 
to apply early next week for permission on collection of coral. 
 
14) GSDF drill using U.S. military's facility to be conducted today 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 17, 2008 
 
The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) will conduct a two-day drill 
using the U.S. military's Camp Hansen in the town of Kin, Okinawa 
Prefecture, starting today. The drill is based on the final report 
on the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan, which Tokyo and 
Washington agreed on in May 2006. This is the first time for the 
GSDF to carry out a drill using U.S. military's facilities in 
Okinawa. A company attached to the First Regiment, consisting of 
about 150 personnel, will take part. The drill will include 
billeting, rappelling and mock urban warfare. There is no plan for 
using live ammunition or explosions. 
 
15) Taxi robbed by three black men; Okinawa police ask for U.S. 
military's cooperation in investigation 
 
MAINICHI (Page 30) (Full) 
March 17, 2008 
 
Around 0:20 a.m. March 16, a 55-year-old male taxi driver was 
ordered by three black men to stop the car on a road in Okinawa 
City, and he was hit by one of them in the head as he climbed out of 
the car. Falling down, the driver suffered minor injuries to his 
right knee and right wrist. The change box (containing approximately 
8,000 yen) beside the driver's seat was allegedly stolen. Okinawa 
police have asked for the U.S. military's cooperation in 
investigating the robbery and injury case, suspecting that the three 
men could be connected with the U.S. military. 
 
According to investigators, the crime took place about 150 meters 
east of Kadena Air Base Gate No. 2. 
 
16) With defect again found in C-X, MOD mulling fining Kawasaki 
Heavy Industries for possible delay in delivery 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
March 16, 2008 
 
Even now it remains uncertain when the next generation cargo 
aircraft (C-X), which Kawasaki Heavy Industries, based on a contract 
with the Ministry of Defense (MOD), is developing, will be delivered 
to MOD because a defect in the C-X was again discovered, sources 
revealed on March 15. The defect is that the C-X's fuselage has yet 
 
TOKYO 00000697  010 OF 011 
 
 
to meet the strength criteria. MOD intends to put in a claim for a 
penalty for a possible delay of the delivery after the end of March, 
the planned delivery date. 
 
The first flight of the C-X has already been put off twice but it is 
likely to be further delayed until August. Because of the delay in 
the development of the C-X, the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) has 
already foregone a plan to mass-produce the C-X in fiscal 2008, but 
the C-X is unlikely to be mass-produced even in fiscal 2009. 
 
The defect is the lack of strength of the fuselage frame that bears 
the main-landing gear. It was found in a static strength test 
conducted on the ground. Reportedly, there is the possibility that 
the fuselage would break up in flight and lead to a crash. 
 
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a subcontractor in charge of 
manufacturing the midsection of the fuselage, has now been engaged 
in redesigning and repairing the fuselage. 
 
The C-X is a successor to the current C-1 transport aircraft. 
Kawasaki has contracted to simultaneously develop the C-X as well as 
a next generation patrol aircraft (P-X). In February 2007, a lack of 
strength was found in rivets used for manufacturing. This forced 
Kawasaki to delay a rollout from March to July. 
 
Another instance of a lack of strength in the main landing gear was 
found, and the first flight plan was delayed from last September to 
December, but this first flight has yet to occur. 
 
The P-X made its first flight in September as scheduled. 
 
The C-X's fuselage's curvilinear design, whose strength calculation 
is difficult, might have been the problem. If the development of the 
C-X were to be further delayed, MOD would find it necessary to 
continue to use the current C-1 transport aircraft by repairing it. 
 
17) New parliamentary group of 60 members to be formed under 
auspices of Ichiro Ozawa 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 16, 2008 
 
It was learned on March 15 that a new parliamentary league of Diet 
members, who once served as local assembly members and the head of 
municipalities, would be established this week in the largest 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto). It is 
believed that the parliamentary group will be inaugurated at the 
auspices of DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa. The group will become the 
largest force in the DPJ with the membership of about 60. The 
purpose of this parliamentary league is to play up that its local 
assembly members turned to DPJ Diet members support the idea of 
integrating the special account of road-related taxes into the 
general account by abolishing the provisional tax rates prior to a 
fierce battle occurring between the ruling and opposition camps over 
an extension of the provisional tax rates for gasoline and highway 
construction. 
 
The name of the parliamentary league is the DPJ Association of 
Decentralization. Its parent body is the Group of Administrative 
Democrats, chaired by Lower House member Tetsundo Iwakuni, which was 
established in February by four former heads of municipalities. The 
organizers are five Lower House members: Katsumasa Suzuki, Akio 
 
TOKYO 00000697  011 OF 011 
 
 
Fukuda, Seiji Osaka, Tenzo Okuno and Iwakuni. They will formally 
call on party members to participate in them as early as March 17. 
 
The National Governors' Association has called for retaining the 
provisional tax rates. The number of prefectural assemblies, which 
have adopted a resolution calling for the current system, has 
gradually increased across the nation. The DPJ's parliamentary 
league criticizes such a move, arguing that governors and mayors 
were forced to take part in such a move that is against democracy 
and decentralization. One organizer said: "We want to secure support 
in regional areas by playing up the propriety of our party's 
policy." 
 
However, a mid-level DPJ Lower House member said: "The establishment 
of the parliamentary league is part of efforts to strengthen Ozawa's 
political footing in the party." Since 47 DPJ members, including 
Yoshiko Noda, former Diet affairs committee chairman, and former 
President Seiji Maehara, joined the nonpartisan parliamentary league 
Sentaku, which cooperates with former Mie Gov. Masayasu Kitagawa and 
others, peoples close to Ozawa were concerned about the move that 
Noda and Maehara might take the initiative. 
 
SCHIEFFER