(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura

Date: Friday, February 15, 2008, 9:13 a.m.
Place: Briefing Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Issue of Takeshima
North Korean Issues
Incident of Health Hazard Thought to be Caused by Chinese-made Frozen Dumplings
Suspected Assault by US Marine of a Schoolgirl in Okinawa
Media Reports Regarding the Next Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea

1. Issue of Takeshima

Question:
22 February will be the third annual Takeshima Day, which was established by Shimane Prefecture. As we approach this third Takeshima Day, how does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs see this? Also, at the local level, it seems that there is dissatisfaction that the Government is not working very hard on this issue. Please tell us how the Government will deal with the issue from now on with regard to considering cooperation with the local people?

Minister:
This is an event that the local authority decided to establish and conduct on its own, so the Government has no particular comment on it. However, Japan's stance concerning Takeshima is consistent. The Government is making steady efforts on this issue while considering what will be effective in achieving the goal.

2. North Korean Issues

Question:
Christopher Hill, Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State will visit China and the Republic of Korea from 18 February, and will arrive in Japan on 20 February. Can you please tell us what the purpose of his visit is?

Minister:
I have no specific information, but I believe he comes to discuss what the current situation is and steps should be taken going forward from the perspective of making progress in the Six-Party Talks.

Question:
Are there any indications that progress will be made?

Minister:
I do not know about indications. We hope that progress will be made, but I cannot say anything about indications.

3. Incident of Health Hazard Thought to be Caused by Chinese-made Frozen Dumplings

Question:
Referring to the dumplings incident, the Chinese side has said the causes were not found on its side. This statement has apparently deepened the state of confusion. You are scheduled to meet State Councilor of China Tang Jiaxuan next week. What do you plan to talk about concerning this issue?

Minister:
State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan does not necessarily come to Japan because of the dumplings incident. He and I have however known each other for a very long time. In addition, I have arranged an ample time for our talks and for our dining together. Under these circumstances, it will totally be unlikely that this issue will not be referred to. It may be his side that will raise this issue or it may be my side; I believe either of us will definitely start the topic. Our talks will not be mere formalities, but rather, in-depth talks including significant degrees of personal views.

Question:
A spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that the country hoped to create a Japan-China joint investigation team of quarantine and police authorities in order to clarify the incident. Please tell us your opinions about this idea.

Minister:
Significant cooperation has already been made between the quarantine authorities of the two sides. I have also recognized cooperation between the investigative authorities as well, such as exchange of information. While, I have recognized that there was the comment in question at the press conference, it is yet to be known what it means in concrete terms that they hope to jointly deal with the matter in a significant depth. They have not yet made a concrete proposal in this regard and I would like to respond after learning their concrete ideas. But I find it meaningful to make decisions on these concrete matters and forge stronger cooperation and therefore would like to make thorough responses.

Question:
The visit to Japan by State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan is regarded as the lead-up to the visit to Japan by President Hu Jintao. I would once again like to ask how you solve the dumpling incident at a time so close to the scheduled visit by President Hu Jintao.

Minister:
The point is not the visit by President Hu Jintao scheduled shortly. For the Japanese side, it is an issue of food safety for its people, while for the Chinese side, it would mean the suspension of exports if the Chinese side were not trusted by the Japanese side. It is therefore of a common interest for both sides, in that both will cooperate with each other and solve the incident the visit of. President Hu Jintao may have some influence, but this is not the main event for this incident. I believe this incident should be solved as it is.

4. Suspected Assault by US Marine of a Schoolgirl in Okinawa

Question:
This question is related to the incident of the assault on a school girl. Since the residence of the suspect in the incident in question is outside of the US military base, it is difficult to completely put him under military discipline. In the case of US military personnel living off-base, because they are under no obligation to register their residency with the local authority, it is difficult for the local authorities to ascertain how many US military personnel are actually living where. From this state of affairs, it is considered quite difficult to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Could you please tell us your thoughts on this matter?

Minister:
We have made an inquiry to the US forces concerning how many US military personnel are living off-base, etc., and we are currently awaiting their response. I understand that we know roughly how many US military personnel have entered into off-base rental agreements, but there are no proper reports about such things as whether these people are actually living in these properties or not, or how many family members are accompanying them, etc., so we are inquiring about these things with the US forces at present.

Question:
Concerning the assault incident, with regard to the Status of US Forces Agreement, New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa has pointed out that the Japanese authorities were able to take the suspect into custody because he was living off-base, but if things were otherwise, it might have taken a longer time, which may indicate it may be necessary to conduct a review that goes beyond Improve Status of Forces Agreement Procedures. What are your thoughts concerning such opinions coming from within the ruling coalition?

Minister:
Concerning extremely abhorrent incidents such as this, if we consider how we have operated the agreement up to now, I think that even if the US side were to take the suspect into custody first he would be handed over to the Japanese side on short order.

As I said in my statement at the Diet yesterday, US forces are stationed not only in Japan but also in the NATO countries and in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Under such circumstances, the Status of Forces Agreements with each of the host countries are almost the same. The US and these countries have discussed how to protect the host countries' sovereignity. And from the US point of view, the US dispatches their forces to these countries in readiness to shed their own blood for the purpose of defending these countries, albeit with the aim of protecting US interests too. So they also discuss how to defend the human rights of US military personnel. They adjust their opinions with each of the host countries, and then a global standard is drawn up from the US side's point of view. The Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement was established under such circumstances, and that agreement is almost the same as the NATO-US Status of Forces Agreement. Under the Japan-US Agreement, prior to an indictment being issued, in the case that the US side takes the suspect into custody before the issue of indictment, the US side continues to hold the suspect and cooperates with the investigation. Then, in the case that the suspect is indicted, the US side transfers custody to the host country. This is precisely the same as under the NATO-US Agreement. Under such circumstances, we have properly obtained an agreement on operation stipulating that in cases of very violent crimes, etc., such as the current incident, the US side will transfer custody of the suspect to the host country even prior to an indictment being issued. Moreover, Japan is the only country in which there have been numerous such actual cases of transfers of custody. So in this respect, from the global standard established from the US point of view, the situation in Japan is slightly in advance. Based on these objective facts, how much more can Japan ask for is debatable.

In the past, the Japanese side has judged that they could request an initial transfer of custody and actually requested in five cases. And among those five cases, custody was transferred in four cases. Although custody was not transferred in one case, the purposes of the investigation were properly achieved, then the suspect was indicted and custody was transferred. So in four cases custody was transferred before indictment, and in one case, custody was transferred upon the suspect being indicted. The goals of the investigation were achieved in all five cases.

With respect to this kind of operation, in the current case, the Japanese side took the suspect into custody from the start and no problems with respect to the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement arose whatsoever. Under such circumstances, from the US side's point of view, the US forces have followed the agreement as a standard for US forces around the world. Therefore it would be unusual for the Japanese side to diplomatically demand more than that, notwithstanding the heinous nature of this incident. At the moment, I feel that this is an occasion for negotiation in which our efforts should be aimed at discussing ways to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents, and requesting the US to further improve its recurrence prevention program, education program, etc.

5. Media Reports Regarding the Next Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea

Question:
The administration of President Lee Myung Bak in the ROK seems to be going to appoint the ROK's Ambassador to Japan Yu Myung Hwan as Foreign Minister. Could you tell us what your thoughts are on this matter?

Minister:
Even about the Cabinet formation in Japan, I have never made a comment such as that it would be good or bad to appoint this or that person, so I am not in a position to comment about the Cabinet formation in a foreign country. Yesterday the ambassador visited my office to pay me a courtesy call, but I do not know anything about the personnel situation.

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