Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > July 10, 2012

(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba

Date: Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 8:45 a.m.
Place: Place: In the Diet

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Cabinet decision on policy regarding “Regulation and System Reform”
    • (2) Attendance at ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings
  2. Questions concerning the TPP
  3. Questions concerning low-altitude Osprey training drills
  4. Questions concerning Senkaku Islands
  5. Questions concerning the right to collective self-defense
  6. Questions concerning PKO
  7. Additional questions concerning the TPP

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Cabinet decision on policy regarding “Regulation and System Reform”

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: At today’s Cabinet Meeting a decision was made on policy regarding “Regulation and System Reform”. The decision this time contains many initiatives meant to respond to the interests of the European Union (EU) as we approach an important phase aiming toward the beginning of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. Our initiatives on reform of non-tariff measures based on indicate that Japan is firmly determined toward the early start of negotiations on a Japan-EU EPA. I hope that the EU side will properly respond to our resolution.

(2) Attendance at ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings

Minister Gemba: From today to July 15 (Sun.), I will visit Cambodia and Viet Nam. From today to July 13 (Fri.) I will be in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where I will attend the Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting, Ministerial Conference and the Friends of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting, and I believe, a bilateral foreign ministers’ meeting will also be held. Today’s ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be attended by Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi.

The foreign ministers’ meetings this time are scheduled to discuss the way regional cooperation, centering round ASEAN, should be, as well as regional and international issues. I hope to actively send out messages on the stance of Japan while confirming cooperation with other participating countries.

After that, in Viet Nam, I will co-chair a Japan-Viet Nam Cooperation Committee meeting and hold a Japan-Viet Nam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Foreign Minister of Viet Nam, and I also plan to pay courtesy calls on relevant officials.

2. Questions concerning the TPP

Hanamura, TV Asahi: There have been some media reports that Japan will make an official decision to announce its participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by the end of August. With the participation of Canada and Mexico already approved, I think Japan is facing time constraints. What is your view on the current situation?

Minister Gemba: As for Mexico, I think that the notification will be given to their Congress either today or tomorrow. In the case of Japan, we are going to make a judgment when the deliberations have reached their final stage. I believe that an early entry into negotiations is desirable, but it is not the case that the timing has been decided upon or anything.

Hanamura, TV Asahi: What is the situation of deliberations within the government?

Minister Gemba: I believe our party is also currently discussing this matter. All the parties concerned are undertaking deliberations in the government respectively, but it is not the case that meetings among relevant ministers are held.

3. Questions concerning low-altitude Osprey training drills

Hanamura, TV Asahi: Low-altitude training will be conducted not only in Okinawa and Yamaguchi but across Japan, and there are considerable objections from the relevant local governments. There is an opinion that the Government of Japan has not given sufficient explanation to local governments with regard to this matter, but what do you think about this?

Minister Gemba: Regarding the Osprey, I think we first need to give an explanation to those in Iwakuni and Okinawa. Then, if training is going to be conducted, we will have to offer explanations to people across Japan in some way. However, this is not a situation in which the Japanese side will get full grasp of the concrete information on operations relating to, for example, the low-altitude training. I understand that at this moment only an environmental impact assessment has been conducted. We do not know whether they will actually be flying in those areas.

I continuously consider what we can do to relieve the concerns of local people. However, as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated in front of you the other day, the United States has mentioned that they will make steady efforts regarding safety in a way that will satisfy the Government of Japan. There have been some misunderstandings, and I think we need to clear these up. At the same time, we must need proper explanations on the CV-22, and the report on the accident in Florida in particular, which involved the CV-22, not the MV-22. I asked Secretary Clinton the other day that we would like to have a prompt and full sufficient report.

4. Questions concerning Senkaku Islands

Imai, Yomiuri Shimbun: A senior official of the U.S. Government revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Clinton requested an explanation regarding the Senkaku Islands during a meeting with the Japanese side held on July 8. Were the Senkaku Islands discussed in the meetings with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda or Minister?

Minister Gemba: Just to make sure, I confirmed the content of the meeting between Secretary Clinton and the Prime Minister, but I did not find this to be true at all. The topic was not raised during the meeting with me at all.

5. Questions concerning the right to collective self-defense

Higashioka, Asahi Shimbun: Yesterday, in the Diet, Prime Minister Noda stated that he was willing to start discussion in the Government regarding the right to collective self-defense. It is expected that if Japan moves to exercise the right to collective self-defense, there will be a backlash from other countries. What is your view on starting discussions on this issue?

Minister Gemba: I have always had strong awareness of the issue of the right to collective self-defense. I think this is not a matter of what other countries think. Rather, the most important point here is how Japan can undertake initiatives to maintain its defense capabilities and establish its defense system.

6. Questions concerning PKO

Sugimoto, Sankei Shimbun: Regarding the legislation to amend the International Peace Cooperation Law that would allow the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to be deployed in response to a call for protection, I understand that this issue has been discussed within the Government. Could you explain the current status of discussion?

Minister Gemba: We are still discussing this issue. Considering the way it should be in the first place, I think the deployment in response to a call for protection is an important issue. However, unfortunately final consensus has not been achieved the Government, including in the Cabinet Legislation Bureau.

7. Additional questions concerning the TPP

Ando, Hokkaido Shimbun: I have an additional question on the TPP. I think Canada and Mexico will officially join the negotiation of the TPP as early as December this year. I understand that the Government of Japan intends to participate in the process of establishing the rules of the TPP. From this point of view, until when do you think Japan should male an official announcement?

Minister Gemba: I think the sooner the better.

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