(* 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: Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 11:30 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main topics:
- Senkaku Islands
- Senkaku Islands and Syria
- IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings
- Reconstruction budget
- Japan-U.S.-South Korea Director-General-level meeting
- Senkaku Islands
1. Senkaku Islands
Nikaido, Asahi Shimbun: On the Senkaku Islands, as of tomorrow the 11th it will be one month since the nationalization of the islands. Do you believe the friction with China will come to an early settlement in some way or do you believe it will be a prolonged issue? Please also tell us the measures based on your view the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take.
Minister Gemba: With regard to the question from Mr. Nikaido, as I have consistently mentioned, the situation must not impede the stable development of Japan-China relations. I also believe it is important to peacefully settle the situation. However, what must not be compromised will not be compromised. In that context, I believe we must pursue possible options through communications between both countries. Whether that would be in the short or long term; I think that would depend on how we define short term but as I have mentioned before, we must address the situation with a firm determination that it is not easy to settle the situation. That said, I personally have a strong will to conduct effective communications.
Saito, Kyodo News: I would like to ask whether there is rationality in China’s claims on the Senkaku Islands. As you are well aware, China has repeatedly publicized to the international community that Japan stole the Diaoyu Islands from China. As the basis for their individual claim, China has repeatedly cited the letter dated October 21st, 1885, sent from then Minister for Foreign Affairs Kaoru Inoue to Home Minister Aritomo Yamagata as proof of Japan’s stealing of the islands.
According to China’s claims, in this letter, Kaoru Inoue states that if a Japanese marker is abruptly erected at this timing, it will no doubt cause the Qing Dynasty to develop suspicion, and he suggests that the erection of the marker be postponed to a later date. What China is claiming is that it is unmistakable that the then Japanese policymakers including Minster Inoue recognized the Senkaku Island, in their terms the Diaoyu Islands, as territory of the Qing Dynasty. They conclude that with the secret Cabinet decision of 1895, Japan intentionally stole the Diaoyu Islands from China.
Has the Japanese Government confirmed this letter and do you regard China’s assertion of Japan stealing the islands on the basis of this letter a logical claim?
Minister Gemba: The letter by the Minister for Foreign Affairs was referred, but I would like to first mention the letter from the Home Minister to the Foreign Minister written in 1885. It is clearly stated that evidence, trails to be precise, trails of the Senkaku Islands belonging to the Qing Dynasty does not in any shape of form exist. Based on this finding, I believe that it is a document asking for the Minister for Foreign Affair’s opinion, and I am aware that there is a document of that sort as one of the documents prepared during the procedure for incorporation. It is true that there are descriptions of China’s domestic developments. However, this letter was in fact written on the premise that the Senkaku Islands do not belong to the Qing Dynasty and it rather shows how thoroughly and prudently the procedure for the territorial incorporation was conducted.
Therefore, China’s claims pointed out by Mr. Saito, that the Meiji Government recognized China’s sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands, cannot in any way be interpreted from this document. I have actually read the document in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs writes that he ordered a field survey. Since it clearly indicates that he gave directions for a field survey, I believe that that too clearly shows that Japan did not regard the Senkaku Islands as the territory of the Qing Dynasty.
In any event, as I have consistently mentioned, field surveys as well as interviews with people who were actually there were repeatedly conducted from 1885 to 1895. It is my understanding that upon confirmation of no evidences of the Qing Dynasty’s control, the Cabinet made the decision on incorporation.
Further, as you well know, it was not until the 1970s that China started to make claims of sovereignty to begin with. The maps that China published, I don’t have it with me at the moment, but according to my recollection, I am aware that maps published in China in 1933 and 1960 I believe, specify the Senkaku Islands as Japanese territory. Also in 1920 I believe, as this was also questioned during the Diet session, in a letter of appreciation sent from the then Republic of China’s consul in Nagasaki there is a description of “the Senkaku Islands, Yaeyama district, Empire of Japan”. Together with what I mentioned earlier, it is my view that China’s claim is not valid.
2. Senkaku Islands and Syria
Murat Han, Turkish National Broadcasting Company: My first question is on the Senkaku Islands and the second with regard to the Turkey-Syria relations. I believe the impact due to the nationalization of the islands, particularly the economical impact will be felt by both countries. If the impact continues to grow, will you consider enhancing trade with other countries, i.e. will Japan disperse risks? The second question is on the cross-border attack from Syria where five people died in Turkey. What is your view on the Middle East region including Syria and were there any recent contacts with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoğlu?
Minister Gemba: As you well know, China has the second largest GDP in the world and so the outlook of the Chinese economy is naturally a global concern. With regard to Japan-China relations, for the Chinese market, Japan is the country with the largest number of companies that are operating in China. Japan has also made the biggest amount of investment in China. Those who are employed are Chinese nationals. In terms of trade amount, U.S. is the largest and I believe Japan is the second largest. Under these circumstances, I believe both countries should minimize the economical impact as much as possible and for that, I believe a calm response to the situation is important. How respective Japanese companies will consider the risks after the recent anti-Japan protests is naturally an issue which respective Japanese companies should take care of.
On the issue of Syria and Turkey; I have not communicated with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on this specific issue but I believe I released my statement at the time. At any event, the utmost importance is the immediate cessation of violence in Syria and along with that, there are respective efforts made by the international community, say, UN Special Representative Mr. Brahimi is on a mission to settle the conflict in Syria, and I believe there is a necessity to support those efforts. There are no facts of Minister Davutoğlu and me recently exchanging opinions on this issue.
3. IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings
Martin, Dow Jones Economic News: According to the IMF, People’s Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan will not attend the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings currently in session, but the number two person of the People’s Bank of China will attend on his behalf. The prevailing view will be that this is a countermeasure to the nationalization of the Senkaku Islands. What is your response to this?
Minister Gemba: Since this is a multilateral meeting, I do not believe the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings have a particular agenda but rather they are an assembly to discuss the various global economic issues following the European debt crisis. It is very unfortunate that China will be absent from such occasions and not only is it an issue affecting Japan-China relations, but it is also undesirable for the entire global economy. Moreover, if China will take into account how the international community will view their behavior, I do not believe it can be said to have a positive effect. I hope we should both be calm and keep our broad perspective in addressing the situation.
4. Reconstruction budget
Nishikawa, TBS: I would like to ask about the use of the reconstruction budget. The opposition parties including the Liberal Democratic Party have raised questions on the appropriateness of use, such as 7.2 billion yen on the Youth Exchange Project with Asia-Oceania and North America (Kizuna (bond) Project) which is administrated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please give us your response as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Minister Gemba: Whatever the case may be, I myself am from the disaster area, and the Basic Guidelines for Reconstruction has been finalized. I believe the necessary budgets will be requested in accordance with the Basic Guidelines.
I am planning to scrutinize the budget, but how to address for instance harmful rumors has become one of the important challenges. There have been various discussions, and there have been a string of cases where even industrial and other products which are believed as undoubtedly safe, are unsellable indeed because of the harmful rumors. Under these circumstances, providing these products for developing and other countries on the premise that they are definitely safe is, in my view, as one of the Parliament members from the disaster areas, is a very fortunate thing.
Also on the Kizuna (bond) Project, on the short- and long-term invitation and deployment, all in all, when we consider the countermeasures against harmful rumors and other challenges, it becomes necessary for people to actually visit the disaster areas. Although there are voices that these projects are inviting people to areas other than the disaster areas, and yes, these projects include other areas but reports by television networks around the world tend to be limited to the disaster areas. There are some who view our entire country as disaster areas. However, when you actually make a visit, you will see that the disaster areas are making their utmost efforts and are recovering. And also areas such as Kansai, together with its original vitality, have unchanged or rather increased spirit since the Great East Japan Earthquake. I believe there is a necessity to show that aspect of Japan.
Koyama, Freelance Journalist: The other day, Minister Gemba, you stated that there were no agreements between Japan and China with regard to the shelving of the Senkaku Islands. However, Mr. Takakazu Kuriyama, a former Japanese Ambassador to the United States mentioned in a TV program that there was an implicit agreement. How should this be interpreted?
Minister Gemba: I did not watch that TV program. I am aware that some Japanese researchers or former staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have made such sorts of arguments. However, as the Government of Japan, based on that third summit meeting which I referred to before, it is the position of the Japanese Government that it cannot be said that such agreement existed.
5. Japan-U.S.-South Korea Director-General-level meeting
Momoe, Nikkei Shimbun: The Japan-U.S.-South Korea Director-General-level meeting is said to be under coordination. Will you tell us the objective for holding the meeting at this timing and what achievements you are hoping for?
Minister Gemba: Firstly, the Japan-U.S.-South Korea Foreign Ministerial Meeting was held in New York. Needless to say, we agreed on the necessity for Japan, U.S. and South Korea to closely coordinate in various areas with a focus on security. With this, there is a necessity to make our coordination more concrete or practical at the Director-General level and so we have come to a point where we should make final adjustments for such meetings.
6. Senkaku Islands
Kaku, Xinhua: I would like to ask about the territorial issue. The Japanese media has reported that the Japanese Government is currently considering a compromise proposal to recognize the sovereignty claims of China. Is there such a compromise proposal or has such a compromise been considered?
Minister Gemba: As I mentioned at the outset and as I have consistently mentioned, what cannot be compromised will not be compromised, but we will pursue the possible options. I do not believe the specific contents should by anyway be discussed here.
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