(* 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 Seiji Maehara

Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 2:30 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) Thoughts on What I Look Forward to in Promoting Diplomacy This Year
Japan-South Korea Relations
North Korean Situation
Japan-China Relations
Domestic Politics (Ozawa Issue) (Omitted)
Deepening of Japan-US Alliance

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Thoughts on What I Look Forward to in Promoting Diplomacy This Year

Minister Maehara: Happy New Year! I look forward to working with you this year, too. Please allow me to deliver a brief message, as a new year has arrived.
   This morning we held a meeting of the council of the political-level officials and a Ministry meeting, with each meeting lasting one hour. I spoke about what I look forward to in promoting diplomacy this year and also exchanged views. Let me briefly explain what I spoke about at the Ministry meeting. In Darwin's "On the Origin of Species," there is a passage on what kind of species survive. The passage reads, "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent but the ones most responsive to change." Citing this, I said, "We Japanese need to be a species that can respond to change, so let us work hard to promote diplomacy to that end." In other words, I said to everybody, "This year, let us try to promote proactive diplomacy that can respond to change."
   Specifically speaking, the changes taking place in Japan are decrease in population, a birth rate, an aging society, and we have a huge budget deficit. However, the world's population is growing. In particular, considering the fact that Asia is the center of growth, economic diplomacy indeed should be a major pillar of diplomacy that Japan ought to promote. We confirmed that it is important to further create an environment conducive to free trade so that such things as monozukuri and the services industry, which are areas where Japan has its strength, can freely advance overseas. For example, this time, we had former Prime Minister Aso attend the inauguration ceremony of the new president of Brazil as a special envoy for the Government of Japan. In the case of South Korea, Prime Minister Kim himself went there. In talks with the new president, FTAs with MERCOSUR are being considered, and as for MERCOSUR, to which Brazil belongs, an FTA with the EU is being considered. In order to take advantage of areas where Japan has its strengths as well as take advantage of our competitive power, it is important to firmly create a more liberalized trade system, and in that sense, we would like not only to hold discussions on our efforts with regard to FTAs, EPAs, or multilateral free trade, which are fitting of the Prime Minister's remarks on making 2011 the base year for launching a 21st-century opening up of Japan, but also turning this year into a year for producing results or making final decisions. It is also important to thoroughly promote the export of infrastructure and promote resource diplomacy, as well as thoroughly work on increasing the number of inbound tourists from 10 million to 30 million this year.
   The other thing is that although economics is important, the stability of our country and national security are also extremely important in carrying on economic activities. Japan needs to ensure security on its own and further strengthen the Japan-US alliance as well. From the standpoint that strengthening of this Japan-US alliance is a public asset not only for the stability of Japan but also for the stability of the region, I believe that we need to firmly work on deepening the alliance with the United States. On top of that, we would like, for example, to strengthen our relations with countries that share the same values and also strengthen our relations with our neighbors that have been making rapid growth such as China, Russia, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, not to mention South Korea and Australia, of course. In any case, although there are various issues, we would like to firmly take on various diplomatic challenges centering on two major pillars -- "promotion of economic diplomacy" and "deepening of the Japan-US alliance" -- over this year.

2. Japan-South Korea Relations

Deguchi, Kyodo News: I would like to ask a question concerning Japan-South Korea relations. I understand that a report carried by a South Korean newspaper yesterday slightly misquoted your comments. What are your thoughts about security cooperation with South Korea in the future?

Minister: I feel that we need to thoroughly promote security cooperation with South Korea in the future. I have heard that Minister of Defense Kitazawa is to visit South Korea shortly and that discussions will be held on acquisition and cross-servicing arrangements as well as on cooperation on information sharing. I feel that cooperation over such matters is important. However, I also feel that in promoting security cooperation with South Korea, it is important for Japan to look closely for a situation in which this proposal emerges from the South Korean side. In other words, although last year marked the 100th Anniversary of Japan's Annexation of Korea and 65 years had passed since the end of World War II, I feel that our views and the views of the people of South Korea may naturally be different with regard to promoting security cooperation between the two countries. As I believe that Japan needs to have a sense of delicacy in this aspect, we would like to make this year a year for achieving further progress by promoting cooperation with South Korea in all areas, while holding close discussions, including this matter, as our relationship with South Korea is an especially important bilateral one.

Yamaguchi, Asahi Shimbun: In relation to that question, I believe that you commented that it was "premature" to do that with South Korea or that the environment is not ripe yet.

Minister: I did not say that. I stated that it is important to promote this deliberately within the scope of our mutual recognition because we need to respond while thoroughly taking their position into consideration. I never used the expression "premature."

Yamaguchi, Asahi Shimbun: I apologize. In any case, is what you have in mind a future vision of the so-called 2+2 that is similar to the current arrangements with Australia and the United States? Please tell us if there are any differences.

Minister: It is important to work on this, including its format, while thoroughly coordinating the views of the South Korean side, including how they would like to promote South Korea-Japan relations from their standpoint. Therefore, we would like to deepen our relations with South Korea by conducting thorough discussions in a harmonized way instead of unilaterally expressing our views.

Yamaguchi, Asahi Shimbun: I have heard that you may possibly visit South Korea as early as by the end of this month, and since South Korea is a neighbor, I think that you will have several opportunities to hold meetings (with South Korean officials) within the year. On the occasion of such a meeting, are not there any plans at the moment for you or the Japanese side to present this proposal?

Minister: As I mentioned earlier, Minister of Defense Kitazawa will visit South Korea. Naturally, since it will be a meeting between defense ministers, I believe that discussions will be held on how security cooperation ought to be. I believe that how to manage the overall Japan-South Korea relations and strengthen the bilateral relations is an important theme for me as Foreign Minister. As such, I also believe that it is important to manage and further strengthen our cooperative relations by thoroughly listening to the intentions of the South Korean side, while conveying our thoughts.

3. North Korean Situation

Iwakami, Freelance: North Korea’s New Year’s Day joint editorial spoke of fomenting an atmosphere of dialog or collaboration. I think that there may be many interpretations of this editorial. How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or how do you as Minister for Foreign Affairs, analyze or view this attitude shown by North Korea, which has in a sense changed since the shelling incident?

Minister: I think that in January of last year as well, the editorial also took a very soft tone. In short, North Korea is throwing out to the world the idea of changing from an Armistice to a Peace Accord. Meanwhile, it continues to develop uranium enrichment, shelled Yeongyeong Island, or before that sank the Cheonan. In that sense, while of course we wish for peace, denuclearization, and stability on the Korean peninsula, I think that we must react cautiously, with consideration for North Korea’s true intentions, and its patterns of action to date.
In any case, although we still do not have diplomatic relations between our countries, the abduction issue is one that involves Japanese sovereignty, so we should not leave the issue of North Korea to other countries, or to the Six-Party Talks, or multilateral initiatives only, while talks between Japan and North Korea have not been too active. I believe that this is one of the major themes for this year. I believe that it is important to create conditions for direct and thorough discussions of such issues as the abductions, missiles, and nuclear weapons between Japan and North Korea.

Mukai, Yomiuri Shimbun: I would like to ask a small question about the discussions between Japan and North Korea that you just mentioned. I think the real issue is that talks between Japan and North Korea have not been held while the Six-Party Talks were suspended. My question is about the timing of such talks. Is it your view that the timing of negotiations between Japan and North Korea should be coordinated with that of the Six-Party Talks? Please tell us your view on the timing of this matter.

Minister: I learned about the diplomacy conducted under the Liberal Democratic Party government after the change of governments. However, as I came into a position to learn everything, I think that we must be careful about revealing the diplomatic negotiations between the various countries to date. Diplomacy and national security are conducted for the sake of Japan’s national interests, in a nonpartisan fashion. I think that we must exercise moderation on this point.
Although I will not speak in detail about the past exchanges between Japan and North Korea, this year I intend to create an environment permissive of bilateral talks, instead of only talks in a multilateral context, in the form of strengthening opportunities for direct talks.

Mukai, Yomiuri Shimbun: As you just pointed out, under the Liberal Democratic Party government, politicians from the ruling party visited North Korea directly to conduct negotiations. What is your view of using politicians from the ruling party, and channels outside of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for negotiations with North Korea?

Minister: I think that any country has a variety of channels for diplomatic negotiations, and I think that this is as it should be. I think that diplomatic efforts by Diet members typify this. It is important, however, for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to play the central role in diplomacy, and I think that it must not take the shape of two-track or three-track diplomacy.

4. Japan-China Relations

Lee, Hong Kong Phoenix TV: Although it appears that relations between Japan and China worsened considerably last year due to the Senkaku issue, please tell us your views on how to improve relations between Japan and China this year.

Minister: Although I think that the issue of the Senkaku Islands did cause tensions, I think that taking the long view, relations between Japan and China are extremely important, and I think that our interdependence will grow stronger in a wide range of aspects, including economically and in terms of interpersonal exchange. In this sense, since next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between our countries, this year I intend to advance cooperative relations in a wide range of fields, such as the ones I mentioned, in a way that will enable us to confirm the importance of each of our countries to the other on this 40th anniversary.

Lee, Hong Kong Phoenix TV: There have been reports in the media that you will visit China this spring. Is this true? Please tell us any views you have on the subject, including the timing of a visit to China, and any conditions.

Minister: Although I am aware that there have been articles to that effect in some of the media, there is nothing solid as of this time.
However, China is an important neighbor, and I think that you will probably be hearing of talks between the Foreign Ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea around March or April, although it is still not determined. This year, it is Japan’s turn to host the talks, so I do not think that a meeting in Japan between the Foreign Ministers of these three countries is that far off.
I also think that there should be more visits to and from China by high government officials. In that sense, I intend to advance talks with the Chinese side, in order to advance exchanges on a wide range of levels.

5. Domestic Politics (Ozawa Issue) (Omitted)

(Omitted)

6. Deepening of Japan-US Alliance

Nanao, Niconico Doga: On behalf of our viewers, I offer our greetings for the New Year.
I have a question about deepening the Japan-US alliance. At a summit last year at APEC, Prime Minister Kan and President Obama agreed to accelerate talks toward deepening the Japan-US alliance. You will be visiting the United States from January 6th to the 10th, and the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the United States this spring, where reportedly you are aiming to make a joint declaration by Japan and the United States on security. As an example, the revision of common strategic objectives is said to be the fundamental task of deepening the alliance. Will there be any preconditions for such a revision, such as resolving or making progress on the Futenma issue by then?

Minister: At the Japan-US summit at the recent APEC, the Prime Minister and President confirmed the deepening of the Japan-US alliance. There are three pillars to this: the first is cooperation in security; the second is economic cooperation; and the third is cooperation in terms of cultural and interpersonal exchange. We will create a variety of new frameworks in these three fields, and work more cooperatively. As one part of this process, I think that I will be sent to Washington on the 6th.
Regarding the Futenma issue, although we intend to comply strictly with the agreement between Japan and the United States of May 28th, Mr. Nakaima was elected Governor of Okinawa with a campaign promise of relocating Futenma outside the prefecture. It is our position to make the request, and above all, while in the last election of the House of Representatives we said that we would move Futenma at least outside the prefecture, and if possible outside the country, in the end it has returned to Henoko. In this sense, I think that it is disrespectful to Okinawa to place deadlines on the relocation. While I would like to apologize for our failure to meet our campaign promise, I hope to gain the understanding of Okinawa by thoroughly explaining that if we go forward with the process sincerely, although a new base will be built in Henoko, it will unquestionably reduce the burden on Okinawa as a whole. Consequently, we will not set a deadline on the relocation of Futenma. I do, however, think that ceaseless efforts in this direction are necessary. We therefore intend to move ahead with the tasks that can be accomplished together with the United States, and the things that Okinawa wants, such as the relocation of training, or whether there are any facilities that can be reverted beforehand, taking the advancement of the May 28th process as a given.

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