Press Conference by the Press Secretary 6 September 1996

1. Visit to Japan of His Majesty Albert II, Félix-Humbert-Théodore Christian Eugène-Marie, The King of the Belgians, and Her Majesty Queen Paola, of the Kingdom of Belgium
2. Vessels navigating the territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands

1. Visit to Japan of His Majesty Albert II, Félix-Humbert-Théodore Christian Eugène-Marie, The King of the Belgians, and Her Majesty Queen Paola, of the Kingdom of Belgium

   Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: Good Afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this Ministry of Foreign Affairs regular press conference. Before I take your questions, I have a brief announcement regarding the visit to Japan of His Majesty Albert II, Félix-Humbert-Théodore Christian Eugène-Marie, The King of the Belgians, and Her Majesty Queen Paola, of the Kingdom of Belgium. His Majesty Albert II, The King of the Belgians, and Her Majesty Queen Paola, accompanied by a suite, will pay a State Visit to Japan from 21-25 October 1996. During their stay in Japan, their Majesties will host a State Dinner. Their Majesties, The King and Queen of the Belgians, will make a State Call on Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan. Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan will host a State Dinner in honor of Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Belgians. Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and Mrs. Hashimoto will also host a dinner in honor of Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Belgians. The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Belgians, which will further strengthen the friendly relations existing between the two countries.

   That is the announcement that I wanted to make, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.

2. Vessels navigating the territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands

   Q: Relating to the Senkaku Islands issue, what is the Japanese Government reaction to the current sentiment in China and Hong Kong? There's an increasing friction over these islands.

   A: Yes, we are aware of these media reports. I think you are well aware of the Japanese position regarding the Senkaku Islands; I will not repeat it here. I think it is important not to lose sight of the big picture. We have very important ties with the People's Republic of China -- ties which are important to the region and to the whole world. Japan values these ties with the People's Republic of China, and we are hopeful that this issue will not affect such friendly and cooperative ties. Regarding Taiwan, we would like to maintain stable non-governmental relations with Taiwan, in accordance with the Japan-China Joint Communique of 1972.

   Q: Next month, on 4 and 5 October, a group of Hong Kong legislators are planning to go to the Senkaku Islands. Their goal is to take down the lighthouse, and the shrine, and the flags that have been put up there. If they do that mission, how will the Japanese Government respond to them?

   A: I am not aware of that report, so I cannot comment on that, except to say that the Japanese position on the Senkakus is well known.

   Q: Could you just go ahead and restate that position on the Senkakus?

   A: We have said it over and over again, so do not think it needs repeating here.

   Q: So, the Islands are considered to be Japanese Territory? That's the Japanese Government position?

   A: Yes.

   Q: Actually, some media tried to go to Senkaku Island from Taiwan -- the Taiwanese media tried to. Also, a Chinese newspaper tried to. Can you confirm that the Maritime Safety Agency has a patrol ship there, as far as the media trying to go there? What's the impression of how to do so?

   A: I cannot confirm who was on board the ship, but there were two vessels. According to the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency, a Taiwanese high-speed vessel, the Yu Shin No. 16, was spotted navigating the territorial waters of Uotsuri Island. This vessel was spotted by a patrol boat of the Maritime Safety Agency. Another vessel proceeded immediately to that place. The high-speed vessel had already stopped when the patrol boat arrived. The patrol boat crew asked the crew of the high-speed vessel what the purpose of their voyage was. They were told that their purpose was to land on Uotsuri Island. The patrol boat crew advised the high-speed vessel's crew that they should leave the territorial waters of Uotsuri Island, and the high-speed vessel left the territorial waters after being given this notice. This morning, according to the Maritime Safety Agency, a Taiwanese boat, Yi Long No. 6, was spotted, by a Maritime Safety Agency patrol boat, navigating the territorial waters of the same island, Uotsuri Island. After the Taiwanese boat had stopped, the Maritime Safety Agency advised its crew that they should leave the territorial waters, and the boat left the territorial waters of Uotsuri Island. Those are the facts.

   Q: Regarding the so-called territorial waters, the Japanese Government thinks that's their territory. China, Taiwan and Japan all think they have control of the Island. You also mentioned that this needs to go through negotiations to peacefully solve the matter. So, don't you think that the Japanese Government is trying to accelerate this issue sentimentally, because you deny Taiwanese media's and the media of other countries' requests to just go there to cover a story. The Japanese Government always complains that China and the communist media is the issue. But, isn't the Japanese Government also doing that?

   A: My answer to that is the same as my answer to the first question. The position of the Government of Japan regarding the Senkakus is well known, so I need not repeat it here. But, at the same time, we would like to emphasize that we do attach importance to friendly and cooperative ties with the People's Republic of China, and we would like to maintain stable ties with Taiwan, in accordance with the Japan- People's Republic of China Joint Communique of 1972. We do not want this issue to affect these ties. That is our position.

   Q: They clearly are affecting the ties right now. What will the Japanese Government's continuing efforts be to smooth this over? For example, is there any chance that the issues of sovereignty and fishing rights, and things like that, could be worked out separately, so that Taiwan, China, and Japan would have some sort of shared interest or shared value in the islands?

   A: With regard to fishing rights, we have already started consultations with the People's Republic of China, in the context of the new United Nations Law of the Sea Convention. Also, with Taiwan, although we do not have government-level talks, talks have been conducted at the private-sector level. And, these talks, I believe, will continue.

   Q: Is there any possibility that the Japanese Government will dismantle the lighthouse? Is there any chance the Japanese Government will do so, since the lighthouse is not functioning anyway? I took an airplane there, and the lighthouse was not, because of the typhoon, actually functioning as a lighthouse. So, since it is not functioning as a lighthouse, will the Japanese Government take some action to destroy it or dismantle it, or any action like that?

   A: Let me tell you what I know. The lighthouse was partially destroyed by a typhoon or storm. We are told that the application for authorization for the lighthouse has been withdrawn. That is it.

   Q: Could you say that again?

   A: The application for authorization of the lighthouse, which was submitted by the group that built this lighthouse, was withdrawn after the storm.

   Q: But, the lighthouse was already there? Will the Japanese Government take it down? Or the shrine -- will you remove these things from the Island, or not?

   A: As I have said, our position on the Senkaku Islands is clear, and whatever we do will be in keeping with this position.

   Q: How about if they fix it?

   A: I do not respond to hypothetical questions.

   Q: It seems to me very unusual that somebody would build something and then ask permission to build it. Did they have permission to go and build this lighthouse, from the Japanese Government, or is it an illegal structure?

   A: It will take a government lawyer who is specifically responsible for this issue to respond to that question. I do not have any knowledge of the legal technicalities involved with this.

   Q: So, the basic Japanese Government line is that the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands is not up for negotiation?

   A: I think you are well aware of our position. You know it as well as I do, so I will not repeat it here.

   Q: Just one last question on the Senkaku Islands. If there is increasing tension, how far will the Japanese Government go to protect those islands? Will it use military force?

   A: That again is a highly hypothetical question. Our position is that we do not want tensions to rise on this issue, we want to maintain good cooperative ties with the People's Republic of China, and we want to maintain stable ties with Taiwan, in accordance with the Joint Communique.

   Q: In the Joint Communique there was talk about letting the next generation decide the fate of the Senkaku Islands. There was talk that they specifically did not want to make the discussion during that time. The next generation was supposedly going to deal with the issue.

   A: I am not aware of any such paragraph in the Joint Communique. I will have to check, but I am sure there is no such paragraph.

   Q: In the 1970s, they talked about the next generation solving the dispute. So, you don't have any knowledge about when the next generation might --?

   A: I did not bring the text of the Joint Communique with me, but I am pretty sure that there is no specific reference to that in the Communique.

   Q: You have repeatedly said that you will not repeat the Japanese position on the Senkaku Islands, but could you actually repeat it in front of the cameras, please?

   A: It is in the public domain. We have stated it over and over again, so I do not think that it is necessary to repeat it here.

   Q: We actually need it. We would like you to restate it, just for the record.

   A: I believe that it is in the record. It is in past transcripts, so I would like to refer you to past transcripts of this regular press conference. Thank you very much.