(* 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: Friday, January 28, 2011, 5:09 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) Visit to Japan by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa
Realignment of US Military Forces
Meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg
Diet Session (omitted)
Korean Peninsula Situation (Resumption of Six-Party Talks)
Joint Military Exercises between Japan, US, and South Korea
Meeting with South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister Kim Sung-hwan
Situation in the Middle East
Visit to the United States by the Prime Minister
Downgrading of Japanese Government Bonds
Japan-Russia Relations (Concept of Free Trade Zone in Northern Territories)

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Visit to Japan by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa

Minister Maehara: I have one announcement. Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa of Indonesia and his wife are to visit Japan from February 2 (Wednesday) to February 4 (Friday) as guests of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During their stay, Foreign Minister Marty and I will be holding the first Japan-Indonesia Ministerial-Level Strategic Dialogue to conduct dialogue on bilateral relations, as well as cooperation and partnership on regional and global issues, from the standpoint of strengthening strategic partnership. Foreign Minister Marty is also scheduled to observe the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, give a lecture at a university, and exchange views with members of the Japanese economic circles, among other activities. Through these activities, we hope -- and are certain -- that relations between Japan and Indonesia will be further strengthened.

2. Realignment of US Military Forces

Yoshioka, Jiji Press: I have heard that you are to visit Okinawa tomorrow to give a lecture. As I believe that during the lecture, you will touch on the issue of the burden of US military bases imposed on Okinawa, what do you intend to convey? Also, aside from the lecture, do you intend to hold a meeting with Governor Nakaima and once again seek his understanding of the government's policy on the Futenma issue?

Minister: The Okinawa JC (Junior Chamber of Commerce) requested the lecture, so I accepted it. I will probably touch on the issue of military bases. With regard to the details, please allow me to give (the details during) the lecture tomorrow. Since I will be going to Okinawa, I hope to be able to meet Governor Nakaima.

Inafuku, Ryukyu Shimpo: During yesterday's Diet deliberations, the Prime Minister made a comment on the revision of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement, (SOFA) saying, "We will study that while taking into account urgent issues such as the Futenma issue." That could be interpreted as not tackling the issue of revision of the SOFA unless progress is made in the Futenma issue. Please tell us your view on this.

Minister: The Futenma issue and the SOFA issue are completely different ones. I have never thought about linking them at all from the very beginning. With regard to such issues as the prevention of incidents and accidents and environmental issues, we intend to start working on what we can handle. Therefore, first of all, instead of taking a high-handed attitude such as trying to revise the SOFA, we would like to hold substantial talks with the US side, just like ones I have recently held with US Ambassodor Roos and Okinawa Area Coordinator Robling, on the issue of noise, the issue of making efforts to completely eliminate incidents and accidents, and the issue of (emergency alternate) divert and make utmost efforts to respond to the requests of the Okinawan side.

Inafuku, Ryukyu Shimpo: Then, as it can be interpreted from listening to what you just said that there are no links at all between the revision of the SOFA and progress in the Futenma issue, do you think that there was a mistake in the Prime Minister's comments?

Minister: I feel that if you read the Prime Minister's comments, the comments do not link the two issues together in particular. In addition, the government as a whole does not link them, so I believe that the Prime Minister's comments cannot be interpreted in such a way.

3. Meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg

Inukai, Mainichi Newspapers: I heard that yesterday, you held talks with Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg, who came to Japan from the United States, and asked questions about the US-China summit held on the 19th and discussed various matters such as issues related to North Korea. Please tell us what you talked about, and although you may not be able to talk about the details, please tell us whether there were any discrepancies between the United States and Japan with regard to their views on China.

Minister: I was able to hold talks with Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg, although I did not have sufficient time, since the meeting was held on the sidelines of the Diet session. We mainly discussed three matters. The first was coordination of Prime Minister Kan's visit to the United States in the first half of this year, including the topics on the agenda. The second concerned the details of the US-China talks, which were explained by White House Senior Director Bader at the instruction of Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg. I heard about the details of the US-China talks, the exchanges that took place, and the evaluation by the US side. The third concerned issues related to North Korea. We exchanged and reconfirmed each other's views on such matters as South-North dialogue and the Six-Party Talks.

Inukai, Mainichi Newspapers: In other words, although you may not be able to speak about the details of the US view of China, or the part that concerns the evaluation, may I understand that your perception was that there were no discrepancies between the Japanese side and the US side with regard to that?

Minister: Rather than discrepancies, as this is about US-China relations to begin with, I said that Japan gives high marks to the efforts of the US side, as the US-China talks and the joint statement were excellent considering that, for example, an agreement was reached between the two countries with regard to sharing concerns over North Korea's uranium enrichment program.

4. Diet Session (omitted)

(omitted)

5. Korean Peninsula Situation (Resumption of Six-Party Talks)

Noguchi, Nippon Television: I would like to ask a question concerning the Korean Peninsula situation. The South Korean side has proposed to the North Korean side to hold preliminary talks between high-ranking military officers on February 11. With regard to this, voices have been raised expressing doubts that progress would be made. How do you evaluate this? While it could be a small step forward toward resumption of the Six-Party Talks if the preliminary talks go well, how do you feel about the practical arrangements, or the process toward the resumption of the Six-Party Talks?

Minister: My understanding is that South Korea agreed to holding South-North talks on grounds that North Korea would explain its thoughts on the Cheonan incident and the attacks on Yeonpyeong Island within the context that South Korea would not accept the South-North talks unless these two incidents, including settings things straight with regard to the incidents, are taken up in the talks. Although we cannot predict at the moment what kind of talks would be held, we are paying close attention.

Noguchi, Mainichi Newspapers: I would like to ask what Japan's basic view is in view of the resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Minister: We cannot make any clear statements unless the talks are held and we see how the situation develops. At the moment, we are paying close attention to the way that the talks will be held and the details of the talks.

Saito, Kyodo News: In connection with the same issue, at the moment, what conditions has the Government of Japan attached or set as preconditions to resuming the Six-Party Talks? Please tells us what kind of environment or conditions, including demands toward North Korea, have to be met before the talks can be resumed.

Minister: During the meeting of the foreign ministers of Japan, the United States and South Korea held in December last year, we confirmed that concrete action by North Korea would be the precondition to our participating in the Six-Party Talks, and this has been conveyed to North Korea. I would like to refrain from speaking about the details, as that has been agreed upon among the three countries.

6. Joint Military Exercises between Japan, US, and South Korea

Nanao, Niconico Douga: I will ask you a question on behalf of our viewers. It has been reported in the press that on the 27th, US Pacific Commander Willard said in Tokyo that it was fully possible that Japan, the United States, and South Korea will hold three-way joint military exercises in the future. He also mentioned intelligence collaboration between the three countries. What is your view of joint military exercises between Japan, the United States, and South Korea?

Minister: Even before now, South Korea has participated in joint Japan-US exercises as an observer, and Japan has also participated in US-South Korean exercises as an observer. I think that it is preferable to advance a cooperative relationship in a natural way, and although it may be possible that this could include intelligence, as I have confirmed repeatedly in Japan-South Korea Foreign Ministers’ meetings, I think that this kind of security cooperation is a theme that should be advanced cautiously, taking the history (of our relationship), and the views of the people of South Korea into consideration. Although we intend to advance Japan-South Korea cooperation in all fields, we believe that this should be advanced based on an understanding of the position of the South Korean side.

7. Meeting with South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister Kim Sung-hwan

Hashimoto, Kyodo News: There are reports that South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister Kim Sung-hwan is to visit Japan as soon as in mid-February. Is there any truth to that? In the event that Foreign and Trade Minister Kim does visit Japan, what kind of topics would be discussed?

Minister: When I visited South Korea recently, Foreign and Trade Minister Kim expressed his desire to visit Japan soon, and coordination is under way regarding the itinerary. In the event that he does come to Japan, I hope to further strengthen our cooperative relations by exchanging views with him on issues of bilateral concern, issues related to strengthening bilateral relations, issues related to the Korean Peninsula, and various global and regional issues.

8. Situation in the Middle East

Yamao, Asahi Shimbun: I have a question about the continued demonstrations in the Middle East. Following Tunisia, there have been movements in many places, including Algeria and Egypt, demanding that long-term autocratic regimes step down. What is your view of this movement to demand democratization in the Middle East, and what kind of result do you think would be preferable?

Minister: I think that it is of grave concern that people have been killed and injured in demonstrations in Egypt and other Arab countries in the Middle East. We hope that a peaceful solution can be found to the current situation, and we hope that the Egyptian Government will listen carefully to the voices of its many citizens, and commit to reforms in a manner that will obtain the broad support of the Egyptian people. We also have strong expectations that amid this, the government will not go too far in information management, strengthening of information controls, and suppression of demonstrators.

9. Visit to the United States by the Prime Minister

Nishida, Mainichi Newspapers: My question is about the visit to the United States by the Prime Minister, which is said to be set for the first half of the year. I think that there are many things happening from now until June, such as difficulty finding a way forward on budget bills due to the situation in the Diet, and the conclusion on participation in TPP negotiations, and the consumption tax. Will critical junctures in the domestic political situation have some sort of impact on the Prime Minister’s decision as to the timing of his visit?

Minister: Of course, the Prime Minister is responsible not only for diplomatic issues, but for various domestic issues as well, so it is my understanding that the Prime Minister will decide on the timing of his visit to the United States in light of the overall situation, including various debates in the Diet, and how these will be brought to conclusion. However, the relations of the Japan-US alliance are very important, and we have confirmed that the leaders of Japan and the United States will issue a joint declaration. As I am now working on the particulars of that declaration, I personally am expectant that the Prime Minister will visit the United States in the first half of the year, and that a joint declaration between the two countries will be finalized.

10. Downgrading of Japanese Government Bonds

Mori, Nikkei Business: My question is about the issue of the downgrading of Japanese government bonds, which you touched on earlier. Please tell us your assessment of this decision to downgrade the bonds, and your outlook for future impact from this.

Minister: As a member of the government, speaking from the government’s position, it is not my place to comment on the ratings by private-sector companies. It is clear, however, that Japan’s finances are in a severe state, so I think that what is important is first to tighten our belts, and thoroughly eliminate waste. It is important for this Cabinet to once again confirm things like the number of members of the Diet, and thoroughly reducing the total personnel costs of civil servants by 20% over four years, as promised in the manifesto. At the same time, it will cause an economic downturn if we simply raise taxes, without overcoming the deflationary gap, which is said to be 23 trillion yen. Therefore, I think that it is also essential to take measures against deflation, in both fiscal and financial terms. For doing this, I think that it is important for the Kan Cabinet and the Democratic Party of Japan government to show a firm will to thoroughly tighten our belts, give consideration to the economy, in particular taking specific measures against deflation, and rebuild the government’s finances after doing these, including creating a schedule table. I would like for the Cabinet to work on this as a united team.

Kamide, Freelance: The rating. Although this may be slightly different from economic diplomacy, this has been taken up by the Diet, and although this may have been somewhat of a slip of the tongue, could you please add something to your explanation now, regarding the sense that it has received extremely close attention?

Minister: The government does not comment on ratings by private-sector companies. I have also seen all of the video of Prime Minister Kan’s doorstep interview yesterday, and by “out of touch,” he meant that he was out of touch in the sense of being unfamiliar with that information. He is aware of the issue of government bonds, and further, having an experience as the Minister of Finance, is aware of the Japan’s severe fiscal situation. This is why he purposefully mentioned raising the consumption tax in the House of Councilors election. Therefore, it is my understanding that he said he was out of touch in the sense of being out of touch with this information during an doorstep interview immediately after this meeting.

11. Japan-Russia Relations (Concept of Free Trade Zone in Northern Territories)

Inukai, Mainichi Newspapers: My question concerns Russia. While this had already been reported, Deputy Minister of Russia’s Ministry of Regional Development Travnikov spoke to the media yesterday with regard to the free-trade zone concept President Medvedev was said to have proposed to Japan at the end of last year that there are no impediments to financing investment in this by third-party countries. Although I think that this is in opposition to Japan’s stance, please tell us your views on this.

Minister: The Northern Territories are the inherent territory of Japan, and generally speaking, we cannot accept anything that lowers this legal stance even slightly. I have absolutely no intention to debate territorial issues via the mass media or the like, so I intend to state the general case only.

Inukai, Mainichi Newspapers: You will visit Russia this coming February. Although I believe that Japan’s stance is that it has not received a specific proposal from the Russian side, will you discuss advancing economic cooperation and the like, including such things?

Minister: Although the territorial issue is an extremely critical issue, the territorial issue is not the entirety of Japan-Russia relations. I think that this is an important bilateral relationship, and we should cooperate in the important Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, I intend to hold thorough discussions on how to strengthen our relations.

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