Press Conference by the Press Secretary 8 October 1996

Recent developments regarding the Senkaku Islands
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the regular Ministry of Foreign Affairs press briefing. Today, I have nothing to announce to you, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.

Q: Can you comment about yesterday -- the Taiwan and Hong Kong activists in the Senkaku Islands?

A: We understand that those vessels have already returned to their original place. We think it is very important that the situation will calm down, and I hope that will be the case.

Q: Some analysts are saying that Japan is really between a rock and a hard place in this case because of the other territorial issues with the Republic of Korea and Russia. Is that part of the consideration? Would the Foreign Ministry consider Japan to be in a situation where Japan is in a no-win situation?

A: Would you elaborate on your question? But before that, it is true that we have unresolved territorial issues; however, although it takes a rather long time, we continue to do our best to solve questions so that we can sign a peace treaty with the Russia Federation. But, apart from Russia, if you don't mind, would you please elaborate on what you want to ask?

Q: It seems that Japan is finding itself with an increasing number of situations to deal with -- with Russia, with the Republic of Korea, and also now with China -- over these territorial issues. At some point, Japan will have to make some sort of policy decision about how to deal with future incursions, if they --.

A: As far as Japan-Russian Federation relations are concerned -- we have never given up our hope to sign a peace treaty on the basis of solving the Northern Territories issue. As far as the Takeshima Island issue is concerned -- unfortunately, this is a pending issue. However, under the new regime of the exclusive economic zones, we have got to renew the fishing agreement with Republic of Korea, and with the People's Republic of China as well, and we hope that, under the new regime, we can find a mutually acceptable formula, so that we can continue to cooperate in the future. So, I think things are moving, and I don't think we just accept something. In any case, we would like to move forward with our good relations with those countries. I am not sure whether or not I have rightly responded to you or not. If you can elaborate further on what you have in your mind, I am ready to try to answer your question.

Q: The question was -- basically, there are some suggestions that Japan would need to reverse its policy on this particular issue -- the Senkaku issue.

A: On the Senkaku issue? What do you have in your mind when you say, "We should reverse our position."

Q: "Reversing the position" in terms of renegotiating to return the islands, possibly. Some analysts are saying that isn't even an option for Japan. Has there been any sort of progress since the fisheries discussions? Has there been any other discussion with China about this?

A: As far as fishery talks are concerned -- we are going to renew the fishing treaty with China, and as far as Taiwanese vessels in the sea near the Senkaku Islands are concerned, two private associations have conducted two rounds of exchanges of views on this. I think we can approach this matter without attaching the so-called territorial issue. As far as the Senkaku Islands are concerned, we have repeatedly made it known that the Senkaku Islands are an integral part of Japan, and we hope that this fundamental position will be rightly understood by those concerned. But in any case, both, for example, China and Japan share the same view that this matter shouldn't jeopardize the bilateral relationship between Japan and China.

Q: Regarding the talks between Japan and Taiwan on fishing around the Senkaku Islands, do you have any idea about what time the further round will be held?

A: Are you talking about the time table of the talks?

Q: Yes.

A: It is a bit difficult to tell the time table. During the second round of talks, both sides explained their new fishing regimes, and at the same time explained the reality of the fishing operations in the areas concerned. But, how to proceed with the talks in the future, as far as the Government of Japan is concerned, will yet have to be tackled by the two organizations.

Q: Can you confirm that it is only the Maritime Safety Agency that is patrolling the Senkaku Island area at this moment?

A: I am not sure how many Japanese Maritime Safety Agency patrol boats are in that area, but I am sure that a necessary number of vessels are there to take appropriate measures to guard our territorial waters.

Q: These necessary numbers of vessels do not include military warships?

A: No, I don't think so. No.

Q: I saw before on television that the Air Self-Defense Force has moved a detachment of early warning aircraft to Okinawa. Can you confirm that?

A: Japan's Air Self-Defense Force has been engaged in surveillance activities in and out of Japanese territories. They have been doing so, and I am sure that they will continue to do so, not necessarily in the particular area you mentioned.

Q: Deployment of these aircraft to Okinawa has been confirmed by the television news. But do you imply that this particular deployment to Okinawa is part of the routine mission?

A: I think this is a part of a routine mission. Yes.
Japan-Russian Federation relations
Q: Can I ask about the Russia-Japan talks in Tokyo? There are two questions. The first is -- have you talked with Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgenii Primakov and Vice- Minister Karasin regarding the Northern Territories dispute? Are there any developments in this issue? The other thing is -- could you please tell some more details about Japan's policy planning talks with Russia? Any more details, any topics that are already set?

A: I would like to remind you that last spring, when Director-General of the Defense Agency Hideo Usui and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda visited Moscow, the two Governments agreed to conduct a series of consultations. One is related to policy dialogue between Russia's Ministry of Defense and the Japanese Defense Agency; the other one is the working group on the peace treaty between the two countries. On the basis of that, both countries agreed to conduct ministerial-level talks. Last time, when Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigorii Borisovich Karasin of the Russian Federation visited Japan, both Governments conducted a working-level meeting on the peace treaty, and on the basis of that, in November, we expect that Minister for Foreign Affairs Evgenii Primakov of the Russian Federation will visit Japan, and this time, we will conduct ministerial-level talks on the peace treaty. As far as policy dialogue between Russia's Defense Ministry and Japan's Defense Agency -- I am terribly sorry that I have not obtained any specific information on that. I wonder if we have it; we can check. Primarily, this is handled by the Japanese Defense Agency. But, if we have any specific information, we will provide you with it later. Apart from those contacts, of course, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto met President Boris Yeltsin in April 1996, and those gentlemen shared the same view on the need to conduct a ministerial-level meeting on the peace treaty. We welcome Foreign Minister Primakov's visit to Japan. On top of that, I should not forget to tell you that the government meeting on economic cooperation between the two countries should take place sometime within this fiscal year. We are very glad that these contacts between the two countries continued after the presidential elections in Russia. We sincerely hope that this series of talks will produce something tangible for the future of our bilateral relationship.
Recent progress in the Japan-United States Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO)
Q: I heard there was a working group meeting this week of the Special Action Committee on Okinawa.

A: It was just over today.

Q: Can you tell us what was discussed?

A: The Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) met very briefly today -- this morning in fact -- from 11:00 to 11:45. The two sides agreed to set up a special working group for the relocation of Futenma Air Station, and they also agreed to hold a meeting sometime at the end of this month in Washington, D.C. among the people concerned, and talk about how to accelerate the technical study of the off- shore floating facility idea. The Japanese side explained to the United States side regarding recent progress of the talks between the Japanese Central Government and Okinawa Prefecture, and both sides talked about the three alternative plans for the relocation of Futenma -- namely, to consolidate the functions of Futenma at the Kadena Air Base, or to set up an alternative heliport at Camp Schwab, or to construct an off-shore floating facility -- those three options will be study equally in a comprehensive manner. The first two alternatives have been more or less studied in the past; however, we have not had sufficient time to study about the third option -- the floating facility. Therefore, we need to accelerate the study, so we decided to meet again in Washington, D.C. sometime at the end of this month. Thank you very much.

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