Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > November 25, 2011

(* 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 Koichiro Gemba

Date: Friday, November 25, 2011, 9:34 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) East Asia Summit (EAS) Chairman's Statement
    • (2) Japan-Indonesia Bilateral Cooperation on Climate Change
    • (3) Preparations by U.S. Government to Notify Public about Consultations with Japan on Participating in TPP Talks
  2. Agreement on New Framework in the Status of Forces Agreement to Exercise Jurisdiction over Civilian Employees of U.S. Military
  3. EAS Chairman's Statement
  4. Visit to Okinawa
  5. Issue of Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan
  6. Transfer of the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty

1. Opening Remarks

(1) East Asia Summit (EAS) Chairman's Statement

Minister Gemba: I would like to start by touching on three points. The first is the EAS chairman’s statement, to which I attached great importance during my recent visits to ASEAN countries. The EAS chairman's statement has just been released in Indonesia. As you are well aware, Japan has been articulating the importance of creating a forum for the free exchange of views on maritime cooperation. As a result of such diplomatic efforts, I believe, the statement incorporates our ideas on three points. The first is that it calls for promoting various forms of maritime cooperation, such as countermeasures against pirates, cooperation in search-and-rescue operations at sea, and marine pollution. The second is that it urges dialogue between EAS countries in the existing ASEAN Maritime Forum. The third is that it favorably considers our proposal to expand the ASEAN Maritime Forum in the future to include a broader range of East Asian countries. We welcome the inclusion of these points and are looking at ways to put the contents of the statement into practice in cooperation with countries concerned.

(2) Japan-Indonesia Bilateral Cooperation on Climate Change

Minister: My second announcement is somewhat related to the first. Today, we will release a document that we recently compiled on Japan-Indonesia bilateral cooperation on climate change. It describes efforts by our two countries to cooperate toward the success of COP17 along with plans to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of forest conservation and advanced environmental technologies. In addition, the statement lays out plans for enhanced cooperation to achieve early construction of a bilateral offset credit mechanism, the importance of which I have been emphasizing, and it articulates support for the East Asia Low-Carbon Growth Partnership Initiative, which Japan has been advocating. The promotion of these bilateral collaborative relationships will complement the UN framework and lead to the strengthening of multilateralism. The Japanese Government would like to work closely with Indonesia for the success of next week’s COP17 conference, which will be held in Durban, South Africa, starting Monday, November 28. When I visited Indonesia, I emphasized the importance of the bilateral offset credit mechanism, and in that sense, I think this document is a positive outcome of that visit.

(3) Preparations by U.S. Government to Notify Public about Consultations with Japan on Participating in TPP Talks

Minister: The third point is about preparations by the U.S. government to notify the American public about consultations with Japan, which we are planning with a view toward participating in the TPP negotiations. I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words on the subject. I have learned that that, in response to Japan's recent announcement that it will start consultations with other countries with a view toward participating in the TPP negotiations, the U.S. Government is preparing to publish a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment. I understand that this notice will be issued in order to move forward with this important trade issue by soliciting a wide range of opinions from all economic groups and strata of society in the United States.

2. Agreement on New Framework in the Status of Forces Agreement to Exercise Jurisdiction over Civilian Employees of U.S. Military

Akiyama, TV Tokyo: A revision of the operation of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement was announced yesterday, and Governor Nakaima of Okinawa said that he welcomed this. On the other hand, he said that his attitude to the relocation of the Futenma Air Station to Henoko remains unchanged. Again, please tell us your approach to the realization of the relocation of Futenma Air Station.

Minister: The bottom line, as I said yesterday, is that I have made a public pledge to the people of Okinawa to strive to reduce the burden of bases, and I think it is important to make each and every one of those efforts bear fruit. With that as my basic attitude, I am very much determined to tackle these sorts of issues

Shimada, NHK: There was a protest rally in Okinawa over the accident that occurred in January. Public opposition has risen to an exceptionally high level. Is it correct to think that such voices of discontent were related to your instructions to speed up the negotiations [on reviewing the SOFA]?

Minister: As I said before, I was keenly aware of the issue. It goes without saying that it is important to take measures against incidents and accidents. After becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs, I asked myself what I could do for people who feel a sense of injustice, particularly from the standpoint of the people of Okinawa.
That’s what led me to decide to focus on this issue. Regrettably, the Japanese Government had not been able to achieve concrete results in the past. I am determined to make every effort to achieve concrete results that are positive from the perspective of the Okinawan people.

3. EAS Chairman's Statement

Shimada, NHK: Could you reiterate the significance and your view of the inclusion of Japan's proposal in the EAS Chairman's statement?

Minister: As you are aware, Japan has been articulating this proposal for some time. It is true that I spent a considerable amount of time explaining it when I visited some ASEAN countries.
We even exchanged correspondence on the issue. However, this proposal was not made with any particular country in mind. I have been reiterating that it is important to make the Asia-Pacific region stable and prosperous. The ocean is a public good, and the establishment of a forum to exchange ideas freely will result in the creation of a prosperous and stabile region in the Asia-Pacific. This concept is almost like an article of faith for me, and it’s been the basis for unceasing efforts on my part. For that reason, I was very pleased with the statement. I think we should spare no effort to find a way to put this proposal into practice.

4. Visit to Okinawa

Kitai, Jiji Press: You are visiting Okinawa today. What are you going to say specifically to Okinawan people? Is it correct that you are going to seek again their understanding on the relocation of Futenma Air Station?

Minister: I am visiting Okinawa today, and I will be addressing these issues tomorrow in public. At the same time, I am thinking that I would like spend some time during my trip looking into the history of the Battle of Okinawa. I am also hoping to have an opportunity to exchange views with the DPJ's Okinawa prefectural chapter. Finally, I would like to have an opportunity to exchange views with the business community. I hope that you can hear my comments on those occasions.

5. Issue of Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan

Sakai, Sankei Shimbun: I have a related question. One of the hurdles to resolving the Futenma issue is the deep-rooted opposition of the DPJ's Okinawa prefectural chapter to the DPJ-led government’s proposal. What do you think of this problem?

Minister: What you have pointed out is true. Therefore, we as members of the Government should make efforts to narrow that gap through a thorough exchange of views with the prefectural chapter. Furthermore, I think it a matter of course for the party leadership to make such efforts. Right now there is a lot of distance between the two sides, in connection with the pledges [concerning Futenma| that have been made by the party in the past. I think it’s going to take a lot of hard work to gain their understanding on how this issue has developed and to reduce the distance between us.

6. Transfer of the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty

Aiuchi, Hokkaido Shimbun: My question concerns the Republic of Korea. The deadline for the transfer of the Royal Protocol of the Joseon Dynasty is approaching, and there are media reports that the president of the Republic of Korea is planning to visit Japan soon. Are you going to transfer them at that time?

Minister: I remember that the deadline for the transfer has already been set, so it will necessarily be a relatively procedural matter. I suppose the transfer will follow these legal procedures.

Aiuchi, Hokkaido Shimbun: Do you mean the necessary arrangements are being made with a view toward the transfer of the Royal Protocol of the Joseon dynasty before the visit by the President of the Republic of Korea?

Minister: Most probably so.

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