Press Conference by the Press Secretary 27 February 1996

Shooting down of an American civil aircraft by the Republic of Cuba
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: The facts on the incident are not all clear for Japan. The Government of Japan is therefore unable at present to announce its formal position on this incident. In general, however, we are of the view that it is not permissible, by international law, to shoot down civil aircraft flying over the open sea. In any case, it is too excessive and not permissible to shoot down a civil aircraft for whatever the reasons might be.
Upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Bangkok
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: At first I would like to very briefly talk to you on the purpose of the Meeting. There have not been sufficient efforts to foster relations between Asia and Europe, as compared to the relations between Asia and the United States, or Europe and the United States, in terms of dialogue and cooperative relations. The upcoming Meeting between the 26 leaders of Asia and Europe in a single forum is truly an epochal event. Currently, the world is groping toward the creation of a new, post-Cold War order. One of the ways in which this is taking place is through the mutually complementary and cooperative efforts between systems which address political, economic and social issues on a global level, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations, and field-specific regional cooperation organizations that are developing in Asia, North and South America, and Europe. Developments in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) are manifestations of these trends. The current promotion of exchange and strengthening of cooperation between Asia and Europe are important in this respect. Such enhancement of inter-regional cooperation will also contribute to peace and stability on a global scale. As I told you before, the participants of the ASEM will exchange views broadly on the following subjects. One is the promotion of political dialogue. In the formation of a new framework in the post- Cold War era, a perspective toward cooperation between Asia and Europe (two regions which hold an important place in the international community) is important. I am sure that the participants in the ASEM are expected to talk on how to strengthen political dialogue between the two regions, citing specific subjects. The second topic of discussion is how to strengthen economic relations. As well as confirming the direction of strengthening economic relations, there is a need to study and discuss various measures geared toward carrying this out. In such discussions, there is a need to refer to areas and policies that expand exchanges which utilize the knowledge of the private sector (which directly carries out economic activities), as well as the means by which government can facilitate these measures. The European Union and other regional systems should be open to other regions, and should be consistent with the WTO system, as well as serving the greater interest of the whole of the international community. The affirmation of these concepts by Asia and Europe is of major importance. The third topic of discussion is related to cooperation in various fields. Promoting cooperation between Asia and Europe in a wide variety of fields outside of the aforementioned (including global issues such as the environment, development, and cultural exchanges) will be useful. The promotion of intellectual exchanges to lessen the perception gap between Asia and Europe is also important. Lastly, the participants in the ASEM will most probably talk on the follow-up of the ASEM Meeting in Bangkok. To further develop and enhance the Asia-Europe relationship, follow-up is vital. Agreement can be expected in this respect as well.
Possibility of expanded ASEM membership
Q: Does Japan have a position on the greater membership of the forum? You know that India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand want to be participant countries. It's being blocked at the moment.

A: I am sure that the Prime Minister of Japan will touch on the subject. As a civil servant of the Japanese Government, I rather hesitate to say anything specific on the subject before the Prime Minister of Japan does; but, in the past, you will remember that Japan supported enlarging membership on the Asian side. We understand that some members of the European side are also talking about the possibility of enlarging the membership of the ASEM. We are not sure whether a consensus on the new membership will emerge from the Bangkok Meeting. Therefore, without specifically mentioning which countries should be involved, I would just like to mention that this is a topic which the ASEM participants will talk about.

Q: Is it possible for you to tell us whether the subject came up in talks last night between Prime Minister Hashimoto and Prime Minister Mahathir?

A: As far as we understand, they did not specifically talk about the new membership. They talked about the ASEM, and both leaders shared the same opinion that the first meeting of the ASEM in Bangkok should be successful, so that the member countries can continuously cooperate toward a possible second meeting of the ASEM. Especially, Prime Minister Dato' Seri Mahathir bin-Mohamad of Malaysia was very much pleased that the ASEAN leaders will have the possibility of directly talking to the leaders of Europe, while expressing the gratitude to the Japanese Government that, in the past, Japan played the role of relaying the request of the ASEAN countries to European leaders on such occasions as the G-7 Summit and so on. At the same time, the two leaders last night shared the same opinion that at the upcoming ASEM they should try to have a constructive dialogue on many issues, rather than talk on the specific issues. I do not think they have talked about the new membership.
Possible discussion of human rights and labor issues at the upcoming ASEM in Bangkok
Q: How will Japan react if the EU raises the human rights issues and questions concerning labor conditions in China?

A: Generally, the Japanese Government wants to see the upcoming Meeting be a good start for the further development of cooperation between the two regions. In this sense, we do not want to see the upcoming Meeting deal with the specific issues which you mentioned. At the same time, all the members of the ASEM are the members of the United Nations. Therefore, you should not exclude the possibility that they will talk about the human rights issue in a general sense. Again, I have to say that it is up to participants as to whether they would like to touch on human rights or labor conditions specifically or not.

Q: Isn't it a bit difficult to have a real political dialogue without raising those issues?

A: I think all the participants will think, more or less, about the need for a follow-up meeting. Already one country is seemingly going to propose to host the second meeting sometime in the future in Europe. Therefore, we cannot expect that the detailed discussions on specific issues will be done in the upcoming Meeting. But, at the same time, you cannot exclude the possibility of discussing some issues -- how they will deal with those issues is up to the summiteers.
Possibility of bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Hashimoto and other leaders at the upcoming ASEM in Bangkok
Q: Is Prime Minister Hashimoto going to meet President Kim of the Republic of Korea in Bangkok, and what other top leaders is he going to meet on a bilateral basis?

A: Unfortunately, the Japanese Diet has not yet given approval for the Prime Minister to go to this meeting officially. We sincerely hope that Prime Minister Hashimoto can participate in the ASEM Meeting fully -- from the evening sessions (which means before the dinner party on 29 February), up until the very end of the Meeting on 2 March. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been communicating with its counterparts in Asia and Europe, whether our Prime Minister can hold bilateral talks -- still, unfortunately, we are not in a position to say when and with whom Prime Minister Hashimoto is going to meet.

Q: You mean it has not been established, or if he is going to Bangkok, and if he does, who he is going to meet? Correct?

A: I probably cannot tell you very frankly here, in order not to upset or prejudge the decisions of the Diet. The Diet is now concentrating on the debate of the jusen issue. I am sure that when Prime Minister Hashimoto goes to the ASEM he will see at least some of the summiteers on a bilateral basis. But, if possible, would you please permit me not to tell you what arrangements are now underway.

Q: Just to clarify -- he is definitely going?

A: What I can say is, he is definitely going, as far as the Diet approves him to do so. I personally expect that the Diet will approve this. I do not know whether the Prime Minister will be able to leave Tokyo, for example, in the early morning of 29 February. Whether we can set up bilateral meetings on 29 February or not is still unknown.
Possible discussions at the ASEM regarding economic trade ministers meeting
Q: This morning the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported the proposed measures to activate trade and investment between Japan, Asia and Europe. Also, Prime Minister Hashimoto announced a plan to host an economic ministers meeting in Japan next year. I would like to have your comment on this and also, the European Union will announce its commitment to give aid to KEDO. What will the Japanese stance be on this?

A: First of all, on the economic subject, I think not only Prime Minister Hashimoto, but also many participants in the ASEM will talk about further development of economic ties between the two countries. The Asian participants are members of the APEC, and the European participants in the ASEM are members in the European Union. So, I am sure they will talk about the so-called open regionalism. The Asian side will talk about the character of the open regionalism of APEC. At the same time, I think that many of them will tell their colleagues that the European Union should continue to be open to the outside world. Especially when we think of the economic links between Asia, the United States and Europe, the economic links between Asia and Europe are not very developed yet. So, they would like to further promote investment, trade and so on. I do not know to what extent and how concretely they can talk about this, but I am sure that they will exchange views, especially taking into consideration the roles of the private sector. I am sure that they will talk about how the governments can facilitate the further activities of the private sector.
European Union contributions to the Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO)
A: As far as the Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO) is concerned, yesterday, on 26 February, the European Union Foreign Ministers Meeting took place in Brussels. They decided to contribute ECU 5 million, which is equal roughly to US$6.5 million to the KEDO. The Japanese Government highly appreciates the decision, because in the past, together with the United States and the Republic of Korea, we have been asking the European Union to actively participate in the KEDO, and they have eventually announced these contributions to the KEDO.
Proposed hosting of Asia-Europe economic ministers meeting by Japan
Q: Do you know who will be attending from MITI?

A: Several days ago, the trade ministers of ten countries met in the Northern part of the Kingdom of Thailand. Minister of International Trade and Industry Shunpei Tsukahara proposed to host the second trade ministers meeting in Japan. Mr. Tsukahara and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda will accompany the Prime Minister. Whether this proposal can be formally accepted by the ASEM or not, we have to wait. But, I confirm that Minister of International Trade and Industry Tsukahara has already proposed to have the meeting and it has been registered.

Q: Between trade ministers of Asian countries?

A: When the trade ministers of Asian countries met together, he proposed to have the trade minister-level ASEM. I am sorry, my colleague will check on what he proposed on the trade ministers meeting of the ASEM.

A: As you rightly pointed out, what Minister of International Trade and Industry Tsukahara proposed was the first meeting of the trade ministers for the ASEM.
Situations involving North Korea
Q: Has Japan changed its view on North Korea at all? How does Japan read the situation in regard to it becoming more critical?

A: We understand that there are many analyses and opinions about the situations involving North Korea. Basically, the Japanese Government thinks it necessary to cautiously approach this subject. We understand that North Korea suffers from a shortage of energy and food and faces a lot of other economic difficulties. Therefore, we are following the situation very carefully. But, it is not true that the Japanese Government has formally started a contingency plan for what to do in the case of crisis over there. In general, to study the situations related to security is very important for any country, and we have to, in this sense, take into consideration whether any event in the Asia- Pacific region may affect the security of Japan. In this sense, the Japanese Government is carefully studying the situations in North Korea.

Q: You mentioned that the Japanese Government has not started formally the study of coming up with emergency money for North Korea. Does that mean there is an informal study going on?

A: What I wanted to tell you was that the relevant ministry is individually studying very carefully what is happening over there.
Informal meeting of Asian participants of the ASEM
Q: There has been a report that the Asian leaders were going to meet in the evening of Thursday before the Asia- Europe dinner. Would you confirm that?

A: Yes, it will take place just before the informal dinner party hosted by Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa of the Kingdom of Thailand. There will be an informal meeting of the Asian participants. The purpose of this informal meeting is to exchange views on how to manage the upcoming ASEM -- that is all.
Exchange of notes between Japan and the United States of America concerning ballistic missile defense
Q: Last Friday, I understand, the Governments of the United States and Japan signed an agreement concerning the anti-ballistic missile advanced technology. Do you have any comment, and what importance does the Japanese Government attach to this particular agreement?

A: Last Friday, I expected you would raise this question. You did not, and I left for Los Angeles. I do not have the document in front of me. I cannot explain this to you now. We have a position, of course, but if you do not mind, please give me some time and next time I shall be prepared to answer this question.
Possible discussion of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) issues at the upcoming ASEM in Bangkok
Q: In the past, Japan rarely lost an occasion to protest against French nuclear tests. Are you planning to raise this issue regarding China on their nuclear tests during the ASEM Summit?

A: In the past, when the Government of the People's Republic of China carried out its nuclear tests, we were formally opposed. Not only were we formally opposed last year, we decided to freeze Japan's grant aid to China, in principle. We hope that the Chinese Government will not continue nuclear testing in the future; however, I do not know how the ASEM itself will deal with this. But, I am sure that many participants in the ASEM, including Japan, are interested in the nuclear issues. Especially, Japan reiterates the importance of building steadily toward a realistic reduction of nuclear weapons aimed at the goal of achieving their ultimate elimination. This year, therefore, there should be cooperation between Asia and Europe on an early agreement with respect to a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). How this subject is going to be picked up by the participants of the ASEM, and how it will be reflected in the Chairman's Statement, unfortunately I cannot tell you now. Thank you very much.

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