Press Conference by the Press Secretary 15 October 1996
- Introduction to the Press Conference and announcements to the Press
- Senkaku Islands
- Takeshima Island
- Introduction to the Press Conference and announcements to the Press
- Informal visit to Japan by Chancellor Helmut Kohl of the Federal Republic of Germany
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I have two announcements today. Firstly, Chancellor Helmut Kohl of the Federal Republic of Germany will visit Japan between 31 October-2 November. He will visit Japan informally this time after he visits the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of the Philippines. In November of last year, Minister of Foreign Affairs Klaus Kinkel of the Federal Republic of Germany visited Japan. At that time, the two Governments agreed to revitalize the bilateral relationship. Since that time, Minister of Economic Affairs Gunter Rexrodt of the Federal Republic of Germany visited Japan in February of this year. Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda visited the Federal Republic of Germany in May of this year. When Foreign Minister Ikeda visited Germany, the two Governments announced the Action Agenda for a partnership between Japan and Germany. We are certain that Chancellor Kohl will contribute further to the agreed Action Agenda this time. We know that Chancellor Kohl is especially interested in the exchange of young people and is also interested in developing a possible cooperation of the two countries in the field of Official Development Assistance (ODA). He is also interested in the Asian situation -- I am sure that Chancellor Kohl and Prime Minister Hashimoto will exchange views on the situation in Asia, especially in the People's Republic of China and the Korean Peninsula.
- State Visit to Japan by President Jacques Chirac and Mrs. Chirac of the Republic of France
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Secondly, President Jacques Chirac of the Republic of France and Mrs. Chirac will visit Japan between 17-22 November as our State Guests. According to President Chirac, he has been to Japan 42 times. I am sure he will further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. President Chirac is one of the politicians in Europe who really knows about Japan. Now, the Governments of France and Japan are in the process of preparing an announcement, at the time of President Chirac's visit to Japan, of the 20 Measures of Japan-France Cooperation Towards the 21st Century. President Chirac will exchange views with Prime Minister Hashimoto on the bilateral relationship and international relations. However, I believe his visit will be centered on the 20 Measures of Japan-France Cooperation Towards the 21st Century.
Those are the announcements that I wanted to make, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
- Informal visit to Japan by Chancellor Helmut Kohl of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Senkaku Islands
Q: I have a series of questions on something which you are well prepared on -- the Senkakus. First, this statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kajiyama, that he is planning to send Mr. Gotoda or Mr. Takeshita to Beijing. Should this be construed by us as a party position or has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs taken moves towards furthering the visit?
A: As you know, the general election campaign is now gong on, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Kajiyama touched on this subject in his capacity as a politician. Therefore, the Government is not in a position to make a comment on what he really has in mind. In any case, the Government wants to strengthen the bilateral relations with China and the dispatch of a special envoy to China has not been decided by the Government. However, we would like to further endeavor to strengthen the dialogue between the two countries in various ways.
Q: My other question is that Mr. Tang Chia Shuen, in his remark to a certain Japanese journalist, approached this idea of the mutual development and exploitation of resources on the Senkakus. We know your position on this -- the Senkaku issue -- but do you have a position on the joint sharing or exploitation of resources?
A: We are not sure in concrete terms what Minister of Foreign Affairs Qian Qichen of the People's Republic of China wanted to say to the Japanese journalist. But, if he thinks in general terms of the desirablitiy to jointly exploit the continental shelf between Japan and China, the two Governments have already conducted informal talks on fisheries and other law of the sea related matters twice. We can talk on this subject through these talks, but, I would like to tell you in principle that, before we talk about a possibility of joint exploitation of the continental shelf, first of all, we have to settle the issue of the delimitation of the continental shelf between Japan and China. The Japanese side maintains the so-called "medium line principle" while China maintains the so-called "natural prolongation principle." The position of the two Governments is different, so we have to find a mutually acceptable formula in order to delimitate the continental shelf.
Q: One final question regarding this. As I said, your position on the Senkakus' is well known, but I find it difficult to reconcile with myself between what I see as a certain contradiction in your Government taking before the Supreme Court the question of ownership or eminent domain in Okinawa in the name of national interest -- in which case the Supreme Court said the Government can acquire this land. In the Senkakus, the Spokesman and Deputy Spokesman have said you have a law in Japan and cannot go beyond that. Now, here, why was the Government of Japan been reluctant to take this matter to the Supreme Court in the national interest that no, this man cannot construct a tower on this area because we are acquiring this area -- this particular piece of land?
A: Are you talking about the activities of the political group Nihon Seinensha? Nihon Seinensha set up a building on Kita-Kojima, one of the islands in the Senkakus. Kita-Kojima is owned privately. According to the present law and regulation, any Japanese political party can engage in political activities using private land if the owner is not opposed to this. The Government of Japan respects the private ownership over there. We have not heard of that owner complain about the construction of the building on Kita-Kojima.
Q: Precisely my point, why didn't the Government of Japan see fit to take the same action in acquiring this land in the name of national interest as was in done in Okinawa -- in the name of national interest or was the Government overtaken too fast by it that they didn't realize the fallout by the Senkaku issue?
A: It is very difficult to compare the situations over Okinawa and the Senkaku Islands. As far as the Senkaku Islands are concerned, they are privately owned lands -- most of them. Some of them are national lands. Unless the owner wants to sell the property to the Government, the Government cannot force the owner to do so. While in the case of Okinawa, there are American bases over there, and substantial areas are privately owned so we have special legislation to let the American forces use the land. Therefore, the Japanese Diet passed a special law for the use of private lands for this particular purpose. But basically, the Government of Japan cannot force any private person to give up their land to the Government.
- Takeshima Island
Q: I have some questions concerning Takeshima Island. We feel that the issue of which country the island belongs to has been settled for quite some while. So clearly, Korea has stated that the island of Takeshima is the territory of Korea. So, why is the claim of Takeshima making headlines again? What are some of your major issues for that?
A: I am not aware whether the Takeshima Island issue has made the headlines of the Japanese Press. However, on the contrary, every now and then, it has been the case in your country. This has a long history and the position of the Government of Japan is clearly different from the position of the Republic of Korea. The position of the Government of Japan has been made public for a long time, and the position has been consistent. However, we feel and are confident that we should not let this issue develop into an emotional conflict and jeopardize the friendly relations between the two countries. Unfortunately, the two countries have a sad history. However, we have been trying to overcome the difficulties, and we would like to establish and develop good relations in that case even if we have difficulties in front of us -- we have to endeavor to maintain self constraint and try to solve the issue in a quiet atmosphere. In this sense, I do not think the Japanese Press has been handling this matter as you have described.
Q: Can I follow up on that. I was reading about this item in the Korean press two or three days ago, that South Korea is planning to erect an observation post on Takeshima. I suppose there are certain other islands also in that area. In view of what you said, would you consider this action contrary to what you have agreed to with the South Koreans on that we should solve this quietly without precipitating the matter? Do you think that the LDP election campaign platform related to Takeshima has inflamed the Koreans on that particular issue?
A: As far as your first question is concerned, we are aware of the report itself. But, whether the report reflects reality or not has not been confirmed. As far as the LDP election manifesto is concerned, the Government of Japan is not in a position to make a comment. In any case, as I explained to you today, self-restraint is desired on both sides. On both sides I mean Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Q: I wonder if you have a response to the refusal of the Chinese Government to give a visa to the correspondent of Sankei Shimbun and therefore keep the entire delegation from over there in China?
A: This is a talk between two private associations and I am not sure whether the Government should make a comment on this. In any case, we think it is useful to strengthen ties between the two countries in many fields, including the media people. If the visit were cancelled because of the reported reason, we would consider it a pity that the contract cannot be developed -- especially, we know that the contract between the two associations started in 1982, if I remember rightly -- and every year there has been an exchange of media between the two countries. Thank you very much.
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