(* 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 Katsuya Okada

Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 3:00 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) The Foreign Minister's Accompanying the Prime Minister to the G8/G20 Summits
G8/G20 Summits
US Military Realignment Issue
Whaling Issue
Deepening of Japan-US Relations
Points of Foreign Relations that New Kan Government Will Highlight
Deployment of PKO Units to Sudan
Fiscal Management Strategy and ODA
Democratic Party of Japan House of Councilors Election Manifesto

1. Opening Remarks

(1) The Foreign Minister's Accompanying the Prime Minister to the G8/G20 Summits

Minister Okada: I would like to make just one announcement.
I plan to visit Canada from the 25th to the 28th of June. Prime Minister Kan will be making his first overseas visit, during which he will meet with the leaders of major countries during the G8 Summit and the G20 Summit. I have decided to accompany the Prime Minister to support him with diplomatic affairs, particularly during bilateral summits with such countries as Russia, the United States, China, and South Korea. Of course, I will not be participating in the G8 and G20 summits per se, but I will be leaving Japan one day later than the Prime Minister to attend those bilateral meetings or to make preparations for the meetings. I think that we will likely be taking the same flight to return to Japan late Monday night.

2. G8/G20 Summits

Nezu, NHK: With regard to (visiting) Canada, do you plan to hold your own bilateral meetings there?

Minister: Since hardly any foreign ministers will be going there, I am not thinking about holding bilateral meetings.

Ukai, Asahi Shimbun: I think that there have not been many cases in which a Japanese foreign minister accompanied the prime minister on overseas visits, but let me ask you whether it is all right to think that there will be more cases like this in the future.

Minister: I feel that it would be better for you to think that this time, it will be an exceptional case. Last year, I accompanied the Prime Minister to the Japan-China-ROK trilateral summit meeting. I attended the meeting because it was Prime Minister’s first meeting, but normally, in the case of Japan, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister do not participate in the same meeting. It did not happen in the past, and I consider it to be an exceptional case. We have to split (tasks), as we are short-handed. However, in the case of the Japan-Russia or the Japan-US bilateral meetings, it is better for me to be present at those meetings, considering past developments and other matters, and as I would be able to provide support with regard to various preliminary arrangements, etc. As for bilateral meetings, I think some bilateral meetings, such as that between Japan and Canada, will be held on the opening day. In that case, I expect that I would not be present. I think that by departing (Japan) one day later (after the Prime Minister), I will start with (participation in) the Japan-Russia (meeting).

Iwakami, Freelance: Prime Minister Kan held a press conference twice and during both conferences he brought up the case of Greece and said: “(Japan) must not become like Greece. We need to improve our fiscal situation. To that end, we will begin discussions on the consumption tax. You may take this as an election pledge.” Does this mean that at the G8 and G20 summits, he intends to speak about engaging in such tasks as raising the consumption tax and improving the fiscal situation in the form of an international pledge?

Minister: Since I will not be participating in the G8 and G20 summits, I think that it would rather be better for the Prime Minister to speak about that. As to whether it will be an international pledge, it is indeed still up in the air with regard to how this will be stated. Therefore, I feel that I should not speak so much about what I expect may happen. However, the Kan administration has been inaugurated in the meantime, and it (the administration) has compiled ideas for improving the fiscal situation and worked out a growth strategy. Therefore, I believe that (Prime Minister Kan) will naturally present such matters at least at such venues as the G8 Summit.

Ukai, Asahi Shimbun: I would like to ask you a question about the G8. There have been talks that “the role of the G8 has ended,” or that “from here on, it will be the era of the G20.” How do you feel about the raison d’etre of the G8?

Minister: I believe that it is currently a matter of role sharing. Especially during this time of extreme economic difficulties, I think that the G20, which includes emerging countries that are increasingly having their presence felt, is an appropriate venue to discuss economic issues, while the G8 is basically a gathering of developed countries that share the sense of values of democracy. It is necessary to have a venue for those countries, for example, to hold discussions centering on poverty and other issues related to development as well as political issues such as democratization, and I believe that the G8 serves that purpose.
I feel that from a global standpoint, the G20 is more appropriate when it comes to economic issues, but I also believe that it is natural for the G8 countries, whose economies are similarly advanced, to hold discussions (on economic issues). I think that it is rather difficult to discuss trade liberalization and similar issues at the G20. In that sense, I feel that it is important for the two summits to complement each other.

3. US Military Realignment Issue

Takimoto, Ryukyu Shimpo: It seems that Japanese and US experts held consultations on the Futenma issue yesterday. As the procedure to move forward with this matter from here on, does the Japanese side plan to propose a number of plans regarding the construction method and ask the US side to study them, or will it be that the US side will propose a certain plan as the desirable method? Please tell us about the kind of interaction that will take place.

Minister: That is still to come. No decisions have been made at the moment.

4. Whaling Issue

Sakagami, The Australian: The annual meeting of the IWC (International Whaling Commission) started yesterday, the 21st of June, in Morocco, and as there are differences between the pro- and anti-whaling countries over principles and assertions again, it is expected that the meeting will face rough sailing. I believe that you are already aware, but Australia, in particular, has taken a tough position, going as far as to lodge a complaint at the International Court of Justice, seeking a halt to (Japanese research) whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Do you feel that amid this situation, Australia should offer concessions a little more and reach a compromise? Please let us know if you have any comments about Australia.

Minister: First of all, individual meetings are being held at the IWC now. Therefore, my understanding is that the IWC is in recess. I hope that persistent consultations will be held toward an agreement by all means. It is regrettable that Australia has filed a lawsuit. Instead, we had wanted them to hold discussions at a venue like the IWC and aim at a certain amount of agreement. There are two things with regard to the latest lawsuit. One is that Japan and Australia have confirmed that we should prevent this (lawsuit) from adversely affecting the overall bilateral relations. The second is that given that the lawsuit has nevertheless been filed, Japan will firmly present its argument and assert its legitimacy.

5. Deepening of Japan-US Relations

Mizushima, Jiji Press: As Japan-US (relations) has come up (in the press conference); I believe that tomorrow will mark the 50th anniversary of the coming into force of the revised Japan-US Security Treaty. Therefore, please tell us about the situation of progress in consultations on the issue of deepening of the Japan-US alliance and as I believe that confirmation has been made with the US side to hold the 2+2 meeting during the first half of this year, please tell us when that meeting is expected to be held.

Minister: With regard to the deepening of the bilateral alliance, various discussions have been continued at the senior officials level, but when it comes to the ministerial level, four ministers must gather in one location, so I feel that although three ministers can manage to meet, the fourth minister may find it difficult to participate until the House of Councilors election is over. I believe that we will be thinking about what to do after the election is over.
This matter and the Futenma issue have been taken up at the 2+2, so we need to take various matters into considerations regarding the timing of that meeting. In any case, I think we should think about what to do after the election.

Shimada, Hokkaido Shimbun: On a related note, please tell us about the current problems with the Japan-US security arrangement or matters concerning Japan-US relations, if there are any, on which Japan and the United States ought to hold more in-depth discussions, moving forward.

Minister: Japan and the United States?

Shimada, Hokkaido Shimbun: Yes, concerning the Japan-US security arrangement or the Japan-US alliance.

Minister: Well, there are many things that need to be discussed. So, what I discussed with US Secretary of State Clinton over the telephone recently centered on the Iranian and the North Korean issues, but there are various other issues such as nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, as well as the problem of climate change, or the Myanmar issue. Therefore, as I think that I will be meeting with the US Secretary of State probably in Vietnam next time, I would like to firmly improve communication on those issues on that occasion.

Nezu, NHK: On a related note, may I understand that with regard to consultations on the deepening of the bilateral alliance, there are no changes at the moment regarding the direction of aiming at some kind of results such as a joint statement when US President (Barack) Obama visits Japan in November, for example?

Minister: Since we have a new prime minister, I think we need to hold close consultations. In any case, as a summit meeting between the Japanese and US leaders is scheduled, I believe that we will be thinking about the future, while taking such matters into consideration.

6. Points of Foreign Relations that New Kan Government Will Highlight

Shimada, Magazine X: Please tell us if you would like to highlight any points of foreign relations that will improve since the Kan Cabinet came into power.

Minister: What do you mean by "improve?"

Shimada, Magazine X: Whether there is any aspects of Japan's foreign relations that you would like people to see; in other words, foreign policy and so on will probably change a little to some degree, and although I think that some parts will be carried on (from the previous Cabinet), I would like you to tell us if there is anything new that you would like to highlight.

Minister: I would like to avoid directly mentioning how the nuances of foreign relations between state leaders will change due to the changing of the Prime Minister, because I will need to have a thorough exchange of views on this with the Prime Minister. I think that this is actually something that the Prime Minister should speak about. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I would like to carry out foreign relations properly, based firmly on the thinking of Prime Minister Kan.

Shimada, Magazine X: Will we learn the nuances of this sometime after the elections?

Minister: I think that the general direction will be decided after the G8 and G20 have ended, and after we have held the accompanying bilateral meetings, but as we are extremely busy, we will build it moving forward, but I am not really in the position to promise that it will be done by such and such a date. Of course the fundamentals will not change.

7. Deployment of PKO Units to Sudan

Murao, Yomiuri Shimbun: I believe that you met with the Defense Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary today. I heard that the (issue of dispatching) PKO (units) to Sudan came up during that meeting. As the Defense Minister has said during a press conference that it is quite difficult to get the preparations completed in time, please tell us about the Foreign Ministry’s official view on the outlook.

Minister: I am not aware that the preparations will not be completed in time. We have sent a fact-finding mission to Sudan to study whether we should dispatch PKO (units) there, so I do not think that the preparations will not be completed in time. I feel that we must hold sincere discussions on whether Japan should dispatch (PKO units to Sudan). We have not made a conclusion yet.

8. Fiscal Management Strategy and ODA

Yoshida, NHK: The Cabinet has decided on a fiscal management strategy, which I believe is aimed at imposing a de facto three-year cap in general expenditures, but you have long held the view that ODA should be increased qualitatively and quantitatively. Now the debate over the ceiling of budget request is going to come into full swing, but I think that it will probably be inevitable to impose a cap on each government agency’s budget request at the same level as last year. Could you tell us your views on this?

Minister: I do not think that this is the case. What we wrapped up today was aimed at making do within a framework that has already been decided, but when we decided on the framework, we did not decide to apply it indiscriminately. We are planning to thoroughly distinguish what is necessary from what is not, and increase what is necessary in a focused way. It is not my understanding that the reductions will be indiscriminate, including ODA.

9. Democratic Party of Japan House of Councilors Election Manifesto

Iwakami, Freelance: We have had a change from the Hatoyama administration to that of Kan. I would like to ask how the birth of this new Cabinet will change foreign relations, or what parts will be carried on, and what will be different. Comparing the Democratic Party of Japan's 2009 manifesto with the manifesto for the upcoming House of Councilors election, the statement about an independent diplomatic strategy has been dropped. Listening to Prime Minister Kan's statements at press conferences and other occasions, it would appear that the nuance is that he will first highlight that the Japan-US alliance is the cornerstone, and I get the impression that he will be slightly cautious about independent diplomacy by Japan, removed from the Japan-US alliance. What are your thoughts on this point? Please tell us your views.

Minister: I think that you are reading a little too much into it. The Hatoyama administration also called the Japan-US (alliance) the cornerstone, and the same holds for the Kan government. Just because the Japan-US (alliance) is the cornerstone does not mean that we cannot or will not conduct diplomacy independently. This is of course not an either-or situation, and the Kan government has by no means eliminated or reduced independent diplomacy.

Iwakami, Freelance: How about regarding the dropping of the wording?

Minister: I am also not following this too closely, but I do not think that it was all that significant.

Nishioka, Mainichi Newspapers: I have a question about foreign policy on North Korea. From what I have seen in Prime Minister Kan's general policy speech and the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto, the key phrase, or wording "based on the Japan – North Korea Pyongyang Declaration" appears to have been dropped. Is this an indication that the policy toward North Korea within the current government has changed in some way?

Minister: That is incorrect. Being "based on the Japan – North Korea Pyongyang Declaration" is the basic of Japan's foreign policy toward North Korea, so nothing about that has changed.

Nishioka, Mainichi Newspapers: What does it mean that it has been dropped?

Minister: It may not have been included in the text for word-length limitations, but our approach has not changed.

Takimoto, Ryukyu Shimpo: I have a question concerning the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto. The section of foreign relations includes the phrase, "propose a revision to the Status of Forces Agreement between Japan and the United States." How will Japan and the United States discuss this moving forward? I think that the issue for the time being will be Futenma, and the experts are running ahead to discuss the construction methods by the end of August, and I think that the fact that there are also high-level discussions of deepening the Japan-US alliance means that there are various channels, but I would like to ask the form that the proposal to revise the Status of Forces Agreement between Japan and the United States will take.

Minister: We will be putting together the overall strategy moving forward, so I do not think that I should speak too much on this. But the Japan-US agreement does mention a new agreement on the environment, so although it does not mention whether this will entail a revision to the Status of Forces Agreement, the Japan-US agreement does accept some sort of agreement on the environment, and I think that we will need to create a concrete agreement on this. Anything beyond that is a separate topic from the overall Japan-US agreement, so we would like to carefully study what order of proceeding with matters will result in the best conclusion, and tie into the reduction of the burden on Okinawa.

Takimoto, Ryukyu Shimpo: On the matter of the environment that you mentioned, it appears that the discussions between Japan and the United States based on the joint Japan-US declaration will start with discussions. Can I understand by this that this will specifically fall within the things to be done by the end of August?

Minister: We have not set a deadline that this must be done by. However, I think that we must discuss this issue in order to reach a conclusion as soon as possible. I think that it is also necessary in order to obtain the understanding of Okinawa.

Iwakami, Freelance: I would like to ask a question about the differences between the House of Representatives and House of Councilors manifestos mentioned earlier. There are major differences between the two in areas other than foreign relations as well. For example, the statement of making inquiries by investigative agencies visible has been dropped. The general electorate is at a loss about how to interpret this. When asked about this at the recent press conference, Prime Minister Kan did not state that it was completely dropped. He said that what is written in the manifesto for the House of Councilors election is not everything. In the last House of Representatives election, they won votes with their manifesto, and they won a majority in the House of Representatives election, so this makes it extremely difficult to understand whether we can consider the campaign promises made to the electorate to still be valid. Please tell us your views on this.

Minister: As the Prime Minister said, because something is not written (in the manifesto) does not necessarily mean that it has been dropped. I think the problem is what to emphasize within a limited amount of space. Although I am not aware of the current status of the issue of making (investigations) visible, in any case it is written in the manifesto for the general elections, so I think that by the next general elections, we will state whether we will deal with this issue, and if we do not, then we will explain the reasons for this properly, and then we will reach the next general elections. Just because things are written in the manifesto does not mean that we can do everything, but of course we are accountable to explain why something could not be done or was not done during the four years between general elections.

Iwakami, Freelance: As to whether this should be explained at those general elections, four years later, or I suppose three years from now, or alternatively, at the upcoming House of Councilors election, if you achieve a simple majority as you mentioned, then you will be able to form a stable government, so I think that some people will say that you ought normally to be accountable to explain at that juncture. How do you respond on that point?

Minister: The manifesto is a promise about what we will do by the next elections, so since only one year has passed, just because we have not done something by now does not mean that we cannot or will not do it. Therefore, I do not necessarily think that we are required to explain every little thing about it.

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