Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > April 20, 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: Friday, April 20, 2012, 10:19 a.m.
Place: In front of Minister's Reception Room

Main topics:

  1. Questions concerning the realignment of U.S. Forces located in Japan
  2. Questions concerning the statement made by Governor Ishihara of Tokyo about the Senkaku Islands
  3. Questions concerning the realignment of U.S. Forces located in Japan
  4. Questions concerning the TPP
  5. Questions concerning the statement made by Governor Ishihara of Tokyo about the Senkaku Islands
  6. Japan-ROK Relationship
  7. Questions concerning the Submission of a No-Confidence Resolution against Two Cabinet

1. Questions concerning the realignment of U.S. Forces located in Japan

 Hanamura, TV Asahi: Yesterday, a Deputy Director General level meeting was held on the realignment of U.S. Forces located in Japan. So far several meetings have been held and the discussions have finally reached the conclusion that the Prime Minister is going to make an official visit to the U.S. Could you explain how you evaluate the meeting held yesterday and how the five facilities located to the south of Kadena would be returned to Japan as a focal point required by the people in Okinawa? Will the joint statement to be published next week include a specific plan to return those facilities in a way that the people of Okinawa can accept? 

Minister Gemba: We have so far discussed fairly specific issues with Secretary of Defense Panetta. We have gone through a series of discussions so that we can get some results before the Prime Minister visits the U.S. and I am fairly confident that good results can be achieved based on these discussions. I believe that we can basically achieve what we have intended to achieve on this issue.

We have conveyed to Secretary Panetta the other day that we need to be specific about conditions for returning the land located to the south of Kadena. I engaged in a discussion of several issues with him on that occasion. It may be hard to say what conditions are really satisfactory to Japan, but I believe that we can definitely get more positive results this time. 

Hanamura, TV Asahi: Some reports suggesting that the land south of Kadena is going to be divided into 13 portions. How many portions will we see in the end?

Minister Gemba: It is still too early to comment on that issue. As I have been telling you, the return of the land south of Kadena requires the transfer of the Marine Corps first of all. The transfer of the Marine Corps will in turn lead to the integration of related areas where the facilities are located, and then the return of the related land will follow in turn.

I have been explaining this situation in a careful and discreet manner. We have faced an issue that the transfer of the Marine Corps takes a little bit more time than we expect. So I had a fairly specific discussion with the U.S. the other day about the possibility of returning some land before the Marine Corps are transferred. I hope that we can get some positive results on this matter.

Hanamura, TV Asahi: Will you not include a specific amount of the budget to be shouldered by Japan?

Minister Gemba: I think we have almost finalized this issue, although some final confirmations need to be made. As I have been telling you, we have had specific discussions on this point and I  think we can achieve an outcome that we can explain to the Japanese people as a reasonable one.

2. Questions concerning the statement made by Governor Ishihara of Tokyo about the Senkaku Islands

 Lee, Phoenix TV of Hong Kong: I have a question on the issue of the Senkaku Islands. Governor Ishihara of Tokyo Prefecture stated that he will purchase the Senkaku Islands by the end of April next year. How do you take a position on this issue as Minister of Foreign Affairs? What impact do you think it has on the diplomatic relations between China and Japan?

Minister Gemba: The policy of the Japanese government will not be influenced by this. We have done what we need to do on the issue, such as implementing enhanced security measures in the area. Nothing changes in our policy as Japan explores every possible measure to ensure peaceful and stable maintenance and management of the area. In any case, I believe that both China and Japan need to deal with this issue in a calm manner and from a broader perspective.

3. Questions concerning the realignment of U.S. Forces located in Japan

 Shimada, NHK: You just mentioned that some land south of Kadena could be returned before the Marine Corps are transferred.  In your current prospect, what is the earliest possible timing for the return?

Minister Gemba: We have not yet reached any discussion on the actual timeframe issue. As the Marine Corps will be transferred to Guam, related facilities need to be established in Guam so that the Marine Corps can move there. The process requires a lot of time. That is why I discussed implementing what we can do before the Marine Corps move to Guam. We will come across the timeframe issue in time, but we have not discussed any specific date on this issue.

4. Questions concerning the TPP

 Ikegawa, NHK: Concerning the trans-pacific partnership (TPP), Prime Minister Noda indicated during his interviews with U.S. newspaper media, etc., that he won't insist on announcing the participation in the negotiations at the time of his visit to the United States. Please tell us your current thoughts on the recent national debates on TPP as well as the timing of deciding whether or not Japan will join the negotiations.

Minister Gemba: As TPP is an important and crucial theme, I believe it is necessary to allow a certain amount of time in advancing consultations between the Japanese and the U.S. governments and in reaching a national consensus on the matter.

There was once talk that the TPP negotiations would reach an agreement as early as this autumn, but I don't think this will happen considering the current situation.

Ikegawa, NHK: Do you mean that Japan can afford to wait a little longer, as making a decision at this stage would not very much affect the rule making in case Japan joins the TPP negotiations?

Minister Gemba: I believe the rule making is still important. So in light of these factors as well, I think we need to decide whether Japan will join TPP or not at a certain point. However, looking at the current negotiation status, I don't think the situation is such that a consensus can be reached by this autumn.

5. Questions concerning the statement made by Governor Ishihara of Tokyo about the Senkaku Islands

Mao, Yazhou Zhoukan, Hong Kong: Could you give us any comment on the statement made by Governor Ishihara of Tokyo about purchasing the Senkaku Islands?

Minister Gemba: As I said earlier, the Government will follow its current policy. 

6. Japan-ROK Relationship

Takahashi, Hokkaido Shimbun: The Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting will take place next month. Concerning the relationship with the Republic of Korea (ROK), how do you plan to resolve the issue of comfort women? Also, there has been a news report saying that the ROK government refused to accept Japan's proposal to address the issue of comfort women in a package with the EPA and defense and security issues. Could you confirm the facts?

Minister Gemba: I cannot mention the detail of diplomatic exchanges here. My belief is that the ROK is an important country sharing the same basic values with Japan as its neighbor. Nevertheless, as you say, difficult issues arise every now and then. While considering these points as well, I believe both Japan and the ROK should be making comprehensive judgments from a mid- to long-term perspective.

Concerning the issue of “comfort women”, there is no change in Japan’s stance that I have mentioned.

Japan is strongly aware of the importance of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). There is no change in this perception, also given the incident of North Korea's recent launching of a missile which it calls a “satellite.” 

7. Questions concerning the Submission of a No-Confidence Resolution against Two Cabinet

- (Omitted)

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