Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > June 17, 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 Takeaki Matsumoto

Date: Friday, June 17, 2011, 1:55 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

  1. Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (2+2 Meeting)
  2. Dispatch of Chinese Research Vessel to West Pacific Ocean
  3. Libyan Situation
  4. Maritime Security Policy

1. Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (2+2 Meeting)

Saito, Kyodo News: I would like to ask a question about the 2+2 Meeting. What will you decide at the 2+2 Meeting if it is materialized and you visit the United States? Please tell us your opinion about the purposes and themes of the 2+2 Meeting.

Minister Matsumoto: I would like to talk on the premises that the 2+2 Meeting is materialized as Mr. Saito suggested. The four representatives will meet together after four years' absence if the 2+2 Meeting is realized. We would like to look back on the various cooperative activities of Japan and the United States in the past, and thoroughly discuss the future of the alliance between Japan and the United States.  If possible, we would like to show the direction of the alliance in the future, and issue a common strategic objective in an appropriate form. Besides, we would like to have a sufficient discussion on Japan-U.S. security cooperation  for the future with consideration of the recent Japan-U.S. cooperation in remedial arrangements for the disaster and nuclear accident and the realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan. I think that we should announce anything necessary at that stage.

Nakaima, Ryukyu Shimpo: The Japanese and U.S. Governments have been explaining to Okinawa Prefecture in the past that the flight route of U.S. craft deployed at the alternative base to be constructed in Henoko in accordance with the 2+2 decisions would be in the form of a trapezoid. I understand that it will be changed to the form of an oval. Do you think that the change of the flight route will require an additional environment all assessment or reassessment?

Minister: We cannot talk about any concrete contents of the 2+2 Meetings at the moment or say whether the flight route is in the discussion themes. As for the assessment of the alternative facilities as a result of the changes in aircraft types, in our understanding, we do not think it necessary to redo assessment from scratch.

Nakaima, Ryukyu Shimpo: You said that there is no need to redo assessment from scratch. What do you think of an additional assessment rather than redoing assessment?

Minister: We must do what is necessary according to law. As I mentioned, in our understanding, we do not think it necessary to redo assessment.

Inada, NHK: You said that you would like to hold the 2+2 Meeting with consideration of the arrangements after the disaster and nuclear accident. It will be the first 2+2 Meeting in four years. What ideal relations between Japan and the United States would you like to establish at the Meeting? I have another question. The Liberal Democratic Party insisted at the Governing Council of the  House of Councilors  that it would not admit the Ministers' overseas trip for the 2+2 Meeting. Then the talks broke down. Do you wish to attend the 2+2 Meeting regardless of the consent of the Diet?

Minister: I said that the four representatives would meet together after four years' absence, and it will be the first 2+2 Meeting for the government under Democratic Party rule. The Democratic Party has been reiterating that the Japan-U.S. alliance is a cornerstone, as a part of  its basic policies, including the manifest in the opposition period. Since it became a ruling party, it has been managing Japan-U.S. relations or conducting the bilateral foreign policy based on the said concept. We would like to confirm the basics of Japan-U.S. relations at the Meeting where the four Ministers in charge of foreign affairs and defense will get together. We would also like to show the future direction of Japan-US Alliance, about its contribution to Japan’s security, to the security or peace and stability of Asia Pacific region, and to the international community in general, fully taking the past Japan-US cooperation, including those in the response to the earthquake, and analysis on future security environment into account.
The deliberations of the ruling and opposition parties at the Governing Council have not reached an agreement. Although I still believe that it is desirable for us to take an official trip with the consent of the ruling and opposition parties finally, as I think that the 2+2 Meeting is very important to the Government as well as Japan, the Government, not only myself,   would eventually make a  decision after through considerations.

Saito, Kyodo News: I have a question related to the 2+2 Meeting first. I would like to hear the significance of the 2+2 Meeting at this age. It will be the first 2+2 Meeting in four years, during which I believe that the security environment has been changing. At this stage, what meaning do you as Foreign Minister of Japan think that the Meeting has for the security of Japan? How has the situation of security been changing for the last four years? Is the circumstance of Japan becoming more dangerous or is it becoming more peaceful? Would you tell us your understanding about the circumstance of Japan?

Minister: Japan experienced North Korea's provocation last year. It is regrettable but we cannot say that the security environment of East Asia has been improving for the last three to four years.
Under the circumstance, it is meaningful for the Government under DPJ to confirm the direction of Japan-U.S. cooperation for the future. In that sense, we wish to realize the 2+2 Meeting attended by the four representatives,  in the form for which we have been making arrangements  It has passed more than a year and a half since the government change. However, in a sense, we would like to position the 2+2 Meeting as a base for the Democrat Administration to confirm the entire Japan-U.S. alliance.

Inada, NHK: I think "The Meeting with consideration of the responses after the disaster and nuclear accident" as you mentioned a while ago will be a very significant factor. Could you give us more concretely about your idea "with consideration of the responses"? You have been reiterating the meaning of the Meeting to the DPJ Government , but what concrete difference are you going to present? In short, you have been emphasizing that the Meeting will be the first one after the Democratic Party took the helm of state. What distinctiveness are you going to present at the Meeting to differentiate the Meeting from the previous or the one before the previous meeting under LDP rule?

Minister: First, responses to the nuclear accident after the earthquake have been made in various forms of Japan-U.S. cooperation. In a sense, the  disaster response measures are a large-scale achievement of actual Japan-U.S. cooperation. With consideration of what we obtained from them, I think possibilities for Japan-U.S. cooperation for the future have been confirmed. I wanted to say that we would like to issue a concrete form of Japan-U.S. cooperation for the future in writing with consideration of the arrangements after the disaster and nuclear accidents.
Second, we have been reiterating that the Japan-U.S. alliance is a cornerstone of the security policy of the Government and the Democratic Party. We would like to reconfirm this and expand Japan's diplomatic activities based on it. I dare say that we do not intend to do something entirely new.

2. Dispatch of Chinese Research Vessel to West Pacific Ocean

Tajima, Nihon Keizai Shimbun: I would like to ask a question about China. According to the Xinhua News Agency, China's State Oceanic Administration has dispatched an oceanographic research vessel to waters around Okinotorishima. The purpose of the dispatch is to investigate is the impact of the nuclear accident in Fukushima on the waters. To what extent has MOFA grasped the facts of the case?
Prior notification is required if the research vessel should enter the EEZ. Did the Government of Japan receive prior notification from China?

Minister: According to the Xinhua News Agency, China's State Oceanic Administration has dispatched a research vessel for marine environmental impact studies on radioactive material in the western Pacific Ocean. It only reads that the target area is the western Pacific Ocean, and we do not know about the Xinhua News Agency's report on Okinotorishima. I have heard that there are references to that effect in  media reports based on the Xinhua News Agency's report, but I have not confirmed that the Xinhua News Agency's original report includes the word "Okinotorishima."
As you mentioned, if a marine research is conducted in Japan's EEZ, notification is required in accordance with the Convention. Presently, I have not received that the Government of Japan has received such notification.

Tajima, Nihon Keizai Shimbun: First, I would like to ask you whether MOFA intends to check the facts from now on. Recently, Chinese vessels have become active in maritime activities in waters near Japan. In the meantime, Governor of Okinawa issued a request for ensuring the safe operation of fishing boats. What arrangements is the Government of Japan going to advance for improvements in Japan's maritime safety?

Minister: Each country needs to keep all agreements and international rules including treaties, and bilateral commitments. If a country is in violation of them, we are to request rectifications through diplomatic channels.
You mentioned that the request was made yesterday for the safe operation of fishing boats. We have been giving necessary requests to China as well as other countries concerned in the past, and we would like to continue the same.

Inada, NHK: We understand that marine safety is a very big theme in the Asian waters, in particular, centered on the East China Sea and South China Sea. Do you intend to issue a message in any form with regard to this to the United States as Japan's alliance partner?

Minister: We are looking forward to attending the 2+2 Meeting. The issuance form of the message will be finalized depending on the decision on the schedule of the Meeting. We have been reiterating that we will work on the security issues from standpoints of defense of Japan, safety of the region, and  challenges of the international community. We think that the maintenance of maritime security is a common concern of the international community. Whether we should issue a particular message on the subject will be subject to discussions at the Meeting. We would like to report as a result of our final deliberations.

3. Libyan Situation

Nishida, Mainichi Newspapers: I would like to ask a question about Libya, where civil war with regime dissidents is continuing. There is a media report that the Government of Japan started deliberations to recognize the anti government group as Libya's sole legitimate representative. Presently, the United States and France recognize only the Libyan National Council as the legitimate representative. What is the policy of the Government of Japan over it? There will be an international conference in Turkey in July. Is Japan going to decide on its attitude or take any procedure for approval by then?

Minister:  At the present stage, I understand that there are a very limited number of countries that recognize the National Council, on the anti-Qaddafi regime, as formal representative of Libya. We have been strongly stating that both sides should stop resorting to violence, from viewpoints including humanitarian one. From a desirable viewpoint of establishing a democratic nation, we have been working on Libya in cooperation with the international community and in accordance with decisions made by the United Nations. We would like to assess the situation while advancing our cooperation with each country and take necessary actions, including the recognition of the nation. At this stage, I understand that Japan has not reached a conclusion to recognize the National Council as the legitimate representative of Libya.

4. Maritime Security Policy

Saito, Kyodo News: I would like to ask a question about the  Summit Meeting and Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Indonesia. The situation in the South China Sea is a big issue of ASEAN. I understand that Japan is seeking for a multi-lateral solution. Do you think that safety at sea, freedom of navigation, and the establishment of peace in the South China Sea and surrounding waters will be a discussion theme with Indonesia as hosting country, and could you tell us Japan's basic stance to it?

Minister: I think that freedom of navigation and maintenance of safety in the South China Sea are important issues not only for Japan but also for  the entire international community. In that sense, it will possibly be discussed at ASEAN or ASEAN-related meetings where many countries concerned will attend. In that sense, the role of Indonesia as hosting country is very big, and I am sure that leaders of Indonesia including the Ministers and officials have been already well aware of it.

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