Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > May 29, 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: Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 9:41 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Ivan Gašparovič, President of the Slovak Republic
  2. Questions concerning the fire accident in Qatar
  3. Questions concerning suspected unlawful commercial activities by the First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Ivan Gašparovič, President of the Slovak Republic

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: From Tuesday, June 26 to Saturday, June 30, H.E. Mr. Ivan Gašparovič, President of the Slovak Republic, will pay an official working visit to Japan.
During his stay in Japan, President Gašparovič will be received in audience by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, and His Majesty the Emperor will host a Court Luncheon in honor of the President. Prime Minister Noda is scheduled to hold a meeting with President Gašparovič.
It is expected that President Gašparovič’s visit will further deepen the already close relations between Japan and the Slovak Republic.

2. Questions concerning the fire accident in Qatar

Yoshioka, NHK: Regarding the fire accident that occurred in a shopping center in Qatar, some information suggests that there may be Japanese nationals among the victims. Could you tell us the latest situation?

Minister Gemba: We are currently collecting information. As you said, some information, or media reports, suggest that Japanese children may be among the victims. I feel great concern on this matter. However, in the information we have collected so far, I have not seen any report which confirms that Japanese children were among the victims.

3. Questions concerning suspected unlawful commercial activities by the First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo

Yoshioka, NHK: Some are accusing the First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo of having conducted alien registration illegally and being involved in intelligence gathering in Japan. To what extent does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs know about the facts?

Minister Gemba: I only heard about this from the divisions in charge in this morning. I read the media reports thoroughly. However, the Metropolitan Police Department has requested us to refrain from commenting on this matter, since it is currently under investigation. I certainly understand their point of view, and therefore, I would like to refrain from commenting on information related to the investigation.

Yoshioka, NHK: At least the Japanese police suspect the official of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, and the Japanese side had requested the Chinese Embassy to send in the First Secretary to the Metropolitan Police Department. However they have refused this request and the First Secretary himself has returned to China. How has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked in this process? And what is your current view on the fact that the request to appear for police investigation has been refused?

Minister Gemba: I have not heard the full details yet, including the points you have just mentioned. To be frank, I only read about this in the newspapers this morning, and I am still collecting information what exactly happened. Basically, I recognize that the officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dealt with the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo at a working level, following the request from the Metropolitan Police Department. However, as I said earlier, I still do not have a full picture of the facts and its background, so I would like to refrain from commenting on this issue indiscreetly.

Imai, Yomiuri Shimbun: Do you think there is the possibility that this issue could develop into a diplomatic dispute?

Minister Gemba: I think I cannot say anything until I have full details on what has happened. I will answer your question when I fully understand the situation.

Unidentified journalist: I assume that the division in charge obviously knew of this matter; however, you only heard about it in this morning. Do you not think such issues should be reported to you more quickly?

Minister Gemba: I think it depends on how serious the issues are. At the moment, I do not have sufficient information from investigation concerning the exact situation. I think it really depends on the circumstances.

Hanamura, TV Asahi: Some media outlets are reporting that the First Secretary in question was once a student of the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management. Are you requesting information on this point too?

Minister Gemba: I only know what I read in newspapers, and I heard about who he is just today. I have spent some time with the current Minister of the Chinese Embassy, Minister Han Zhiqiang, at the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, though. To be honest, I cannot even recall what the First Secretary in question looks like or his name. Perhaps, when a group of maybe ten or so junior fellows visited me, he may have been one of them, as he seems to be a dozen years younger than me, but frankly I cannot even remember if such a thing happened.

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