Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > October 31, 2012

(* 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 31, 2012, 10:50 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. U.S. military bases in Okinawa
  2. Senkaku Islands
  3. Revision of Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA)
  4. Addressing territorial issues
  5. Japan-China relations

1. U.S. military bases in Okinawa

Matsuda, Yomiuri Shimbun: Regarding the Naha City Mayoral Election which will be announced on the 4th, the incumbent Mayor Takeshi Onaga and all conservative candidates are calling for the complete removal of the bases. It seems to be a critical situation which may even rock the Japan-U.S. Alliance. As urgent measures to address the issues regarding U.S. bases in Okinawa including the issues of the Osprey must be taken, what is the Government of Japan’s plan?
Minister Gemba: Firstly, I believe I should refrain from commenting on the mayoral election. However, I am aware that the people of Okinawa are concerned about the safety of the Osprey. As you well know, Japan has made a solid assessment on its safety. Based on our assessment, since it is necessary for the Government of Japan to make the utmost efforts, there are some measures which I have proposed.
Further, as there was the inexcusable and heinous assault incident by U.S. servicemen, on this issue, the Government of Japan has recently made a specific proposal after the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee in order to ensure that truly effective measures are taken; a completely different level from requiring merely the enforcement of strict official discipline and the prevention of recurrence. I have given strong instructions to the persons in charge that the liberty card program should be reviewed so that these matters will never occur. The government of Japan is currently making its utmost efforts, and along with these efforts, I believe we must work step by step and one by one to earn confidence of the people of Okinawa. 


Toyama, Ryukyu Shimbun: This is a related question. Already as of yesterday, the Osprey conducted night flights, and although it has been agreed upon in the noise prevention agreement that flights from 10p.m. to 6a.m. be banned, there are some people in Okinawa who point out that Ospreys flew back to the Futenma Air Staion after 10p.m. yesterday, which is a breach of the agreement. Together with this, there are numerous voices pointing out that the operation of the Osprey is violating agreed upon provisions. Do you recognize that there is a breach of the agreement? During your earlier press conference, you mentioned that you hope to collect the evidence for each and every case and raise the issue at the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee. Are such surveys being conducted at this point?

Minister Gemba: Yes, currently, we are obviously in the process of collecting them one by one. If those evidence will work to minimize the problems to the extent possible as I previously mentioned, and by examining them in light of the actual conditions, we will obviously say what we must.

2. Senkaku Islands

Nikaido, Asahi Shimbun: I believe the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) will be an opportunity to disseminate to the international community Japan’s position on the Senkaku Islands. What ways of appeal do you believe will be effective?

Minister Gemba: This was also the case with my visit to Europe. Although the primary feature was the Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, my visit to Europe itself was in ways not understood as so. That happens again; this is to say that I hope you will put your heads together as to what kind of forum ASEM originally is. Media attention tends to concentrate on the Senkaku Islands, but ASEM is the only forum for dialogue connecting Asia and Europe.
The major objective of this forum is the economic and financial issues. Especially on issues concerning Asia and Europe, including this economic crisis in Europe, I believe the utmost objective is to achieve a shared recognition on the measures Japan has taken thus far and also the measures which Asia and Europe must jointly take. Under these circumstances, it is a fact that Japan has made an active contribution. This must be the priority. I truly believe so.
At the same time, there are global issues. There are issues of the post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), nuclear energy, etc. Therefore, yes, there are obviously issues of regional affairs too, I believe it is most essential to particularly make clear statements on these issues. I would also like to add that as Japan paved its way for a peaceful nation and as we establish a comprehensive order of the international community including both Asia and Europe, we must clearly state the active contribution we have made to peace and stability. I am sure these contributions are well-understood, but it is my greatest goal to deepen those recognitions.  Needless to say, in the context of regional affairs, I believe the so-called order formation or rule making which are topics I address all times, will be referred to. Having said that, I believe the objective of ASEM itself must always be taken into consideration during the sessions.

Li, Hong Kong Phoenix TV: The other day the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun made a comment to the press regarding the Senkaku Islands. His comment is that all the responsibility lies with the Japanese side and that China is prepared to take hard-line countermeasures depending on Japan’s measures. What is your response to his remarks?
Also on Diaoyu, the so-called Senkaku Islands in Japan, up to this time, are there any points which Japan must regret and although Japan has maintained the position that the territorial sovereignty issue does not exist, will this position be modified or are there any plans to consider some modifications?

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: As I have consistently mentioned, both Japan and China must consider, and the Japanese side will obviously consider what would be the best measure for both countries to peacefully calm the situation, stabilize economic, cultural and human exchanges, and respond calmly while at the same time maintaining Japan’s basic position and avoiding contingency. For that matter, I would like to take this opportunity to say that although it is true that we will enhance publicity activities, but on the reports concerning foreign visits and other activities by Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Keiro Kitagami in today’s newspaper, there are absolutely no such plans.

3. Revision of Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA)

Saito, Kyodo News: In your reply to a previous question, you mentioned that you hope to work to come up with an alternative recurrence prevention measure. In that context, there is no other way but to consider the Japan-U.S. SOFA itself, but in your last press conference, you mentioned that a revision of the SOFA itself will take an extremely long time and since the U.S. side will make their own assertions, it is my understanding that you expressed a rather careful position on this. Nonetheless, you just referred to an alternative, a recurrence prevention measure different from any former ones, and in working for an actual alternative, I feel that there is little choice but to address the issues concerning the SOFA. What are your views on this point?

Minister Gemba: As Mr. Saito is a long-time member of the Kasumi Club, I am sure that you fully understand my words, but my intention is different from what you just mentioned.
Especially, in taking a step toward a revision of the liberty card program, as I directly speak with the people of Okinawa, I find that they are very well aware of the situation. For instance the night flight training you just mentioned, and on the liberty card program for U.S. servicemen, many are well-informed of how the system works and how it is not observed in reality. Effective measures and effective assurances are what must be firstly addressed. Further, as you know, the SOFA is not directly related to this incident. However, I am aware that there are discussions that it may have potential relations. On SOFA, I am not saying that its revision is out of the question, that is not what I have been mentioning but what I am saying is that we hope to consider the matters by observing progress in various areas. Frankly speaking, it is not a complete denial.
However, if we do properly address an incident like this time, it is not a matter of the SOFA, if we are to directly handle it. So, we must, as I mentioned the other day, properly solve each and every specific matter and as we do that, we must establish a clear outlook for the realignment of the U.S. Forces Japan, the return of land south of Kadena Air Base and also the transfer to Guam, and since the Futenma Air Station shall not become a permanent base, and since we fully recognize the difficulty of this, we are determined to make steady progress on these as we consider the issues simultaneously.

4. Addressing territorial issues

Fujita, Asahi Shimbun: Regarding your remarks on how you will appeal to the international community at ASEM, I would like to ask a question from a bit different perspective. Concerning the territorial issues with neighboring countries, Prime Minister Noda did not mention any particular names of islands in his speech at the UN General Assembly, and that was also the case with his policy speech. In a word, from now on, when Japan makes an assertion at multilateral meetings, aside from  how to make a counterargument to the other side’s claims, the basic message from Japan will be that it will peacefully solve the problem in accordance with international law, not mentioning any specific names of islands?

Minister Gemba: When it comes to regional affairs, there are issues of North Korea as well as Syria, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. Also as you mentioned, in general, naturally the perspectives of the rule of law and the so-called peaceful approach are significant. I am not in the position to directly answer Mr. Fujita’s question, but put simply, what issues will be specifically addressed at ASEM is not yet determined. However, I believe Japan must value those universal perspectives.

Fujita, Asahi Shimbun: So you will not address any specific issues?

Minister Gemba: That is yet to be determined.

5. Japan-China relations

Ito, Yomiuri Shimbun: Regarding the dialogue with China, you have consistently emphasized the importance of continuing dialogues. As was mentioned earlier, if Prime Minister Noda attends ASEM, there will be an occasion for such dialogue and next month, there will be ASEM and ASEAN, both occasions of an international meeting. What are the possibilities for dialogue at such sessions and from a political-level standpoint, how do you currently view Prime Ministers’ and Foreign Ministers’ dialogues with China?

Minister Gemba: I do not believe the time is ripe yet. For your reference, with regard to ASEM and the following multilateral meetings, I have no plans of attending them at this moment.

 

Ito, Yomiuri Shimbun: On a related note, you mentioned that the time is not yet ripe, but yesterday Chinese vessels entered into the Japanese territorial waters again, and it seems that the entry by Chinese vessels seems to have prolonged. How do you view the timing, and when would be the best time?

Minister Gemba: Since we cannot disclose the contents of our communication, it is my recognition that at least the time is not yet ripe.

Back to Index