Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > March 7, 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, March 7, 2012, 5:25 p.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks - Cultural Exchange Mission to Myanmar
  2. Questions concerning Situation of Iran
  3. Questions concerning Realignment of the US Forces in Japan
  4. Questions concerning Japan-Korea Relations
  5. Questions concerning Japan-China Relations

1. Opening Remarks - Cultural Exchange Mission to Myanmar

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: As was reported in some of the news sources today, the Government of Japan will send a cultural exchange mission to Myanmar from April 4t to 6, headed by National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies President Takashi Shiraishi and comprised of experts of various fields.
The mission, after returning to Japan, will put together policy recommendations on how to expand cultural exchange between the two countries, which will then be reported to the Government. Please refer to the details in the press release.

2. Questions concerning Situation of Iran

Iwata, Dow Jones: The other day, according to the report of Reuters, you said that Japan and the United States  are about to reach an agreement concerning the import of crude oil from Iran. And Japan may not make an announcement on volume, but the volume of import is expected to be agreed in principle. If it is true, can you explain what is taking place?

Minister Gemba: We are at the final stage of reaching an agreement. However, with regards to the detail such as the volume of reduction, we are refraining ourselves from being specific about the volume considering the impact on the market, as I have explained to you up to now. However, as has been mentioned, I think that we are now at a final stage of reaching an agreement. Reducing the volume of crude oil import from Iran is critical for international cooperation. In order to stop to Iran’s nuclear development, we need international cooperation for effective sanctions to be imposed. Both pressure and dialogue are necessary. And in order to carry out effective sanction on Iran, Japan needs to play the role that is expected to be played by Japan. Of course, eventually, working on Iran would be required.
In the current EU3+3 consultation, according to news reports, dialogue with Iran is expected to take place to a certain extent. That is something to be welcomed. Having said so, at any rate, we would like to request Iran to stop its nuclear development, follow IAEA’s recommendation, and do away totally of the concerns of the international community. The Government of Japan would like to strongly request Iran to accept the measures recommended by IAEA. We have to pay close attention to the military facilities in Parchin.

Iwata, Dow Jones: I would like to confirm the schedule. At the end of March, the long-term contract will be expired. So I think that the end of March for the importers…

Minister Gemba: I understand what you are trying to say.

Iwata, Dow Jones: So, could you tell us if it can be achieved within the time limit or not? 

Minister Gemba: I understand your point, but there are various things that we need to consider, including what you have just mentioned. We want to create a situation where the parties concerned not be surprised or troubled, and therefore, as I said, we are approaching the last stretch.

3. Questions concerning Realignment of the US Forces in Japan

Shimada, NHK: In the Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems, you mentioned that, in relation to the realignment of the US Forces in Japan, the Marines in Okinawa should be operated in an integrated unit of the HQMCommand, the Army, the Marine Aircraft Wing, and the Force Service Support Group., it is important that their mobility and readiness be enhanced. And you said that U.S. and Japan concur on this viewpoint. I think that the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is such a unit. Can I understand that Japan and the US shared the view that it is important that the unit is in Okinawa?

Minister Gemba: This is something that we are still consulting, and therefore I cannot give the details at this point in time. But having said that, there are MEF, MEB and MEU. As I earlier stated, the ground forces, the Aircraft Wing and the FSSG comprise the Marine Corps altogether. I(Minister) think that the Marine Corps should be deployed considering integrated operation ,in terms of the readiness and mobility. If not, it will not be easy to maintain the deterrence.

Yokota, Mainichi Shimbun: The deployment of Osprey to Futenma Air Station - some report stated that once it is deployed in the base in Honshu in July, it would be brought to Futenma in October. Is this true? And the deployment of Osprey is strongly opposed by the people of Okinawa, because of its risk. Now you have been talking about the need to share the impact of the bases in Okinawa throughout the nation, so what do you think would be the possibility of consideration on Okinawa with regard to the deployment of Osprey in Japan?

Minister Gemba: Well, as I have stated in the Diet earlier, I am aware that MV-22 Osprey will be deployed in Okinawa in the latter half of this year. This is not finalized because we have not received an official notice to host nation. But if this becomes a final decision, I think that we need to sincerely explain to the people in Okinawa.
You also asked about sharing the impact by whole country. What I can tell you at this point in time is this is a matter of the U.S. Forces operation concerning the Osprey deployment, and this is part of the normal renewal of military equipment. Therefore, concerning these matters, to what extent Japan can make assertions is something that I believe we can consider. But generally speaking, we need to consider this matter, for example, in the Diet, the Minister of Defense has been suggested to ride Osprey before the deployment. So I believe it is necessary to continue considering this matter.

4. Questions concerning Japan-Korea Relations

Azumi, freelance: In 2010, in New Jersey, a public library has set up a statue of comfort women, and since then, they have set up a plan to build 20 of such statues in the US, according to news reports. On February 24, the State of New York announced a plan to name a road after a comfort woman. Then on March 1, in The New York Times, a full-page ad on Takeshima was put. Minister, are you aware of these facts?

Minister Gemba: Regarding whether or not I know about those facts, I do not have a detailed list of those facts now, but from time to time, I am coming into contact with such information. That is the answer that I can give you.
You talked about the State of New Jersey. Rather than say that I directly received this information, I have read documents about this.

5. Questions concerning Japan-China Relations

Matsumura, Asahi Shimbun: Matsumura from Asahi Newspaper. The Shirakaba Gas Field, which Japan and the Chinese Governments had shared the view to jointly develop - we reported that Sirakaba is “outside the scope of joint development”, according to the high-ranking official of the Chinese Military. Since July 2010, there is little progress in the negotiation for the bilateral agreement on the joint development. What do you think of the remarks in this situation? And do you intend to confirm the truth to high-ranking official of the Chinese Military?

Minister Gemba: The two agreements that were reached in May 2008 were agreements under the premise of not harming the legal positions of both countries, in the transitional period until the borderline of the sea would be determined. And there might be some misunderstanding - in the northern part of the East China Sea there is going to be joint development to take place. So this is joint development.
The Shirakaba Gas Field is a place where there would be a participation by Japanese corporations. So the joint development to take place in the northern part of the East China Sea is a different issue from what we are talking about the joint development of Shirakaba Gas Field. So this needs to be fully recognized.
I have gone through the news report. So, if China has asserted that this is a sea area to which China has jurisdiction, this is not something that we can accept. But what is important is that - whether or not the Japanese government is to convey its position to China, these two agreements were concluded as a result of tough negotiation. The position of implementing these agreements in May 2008 is unchanged is something that we have confirmed with the Chinese Government, including at the summit-level. Therefore, we continue to work on the Chinese Government to resume the negotiation to conclude an international agreement.

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