Press Conference by the Press Secretary 24 September 1996

Covert infiltration by North Korean agents into the Republic of Korea
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the regular Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference. Before I take your questions, I have a brief announcement regarding the North Korean submarine which went ground near Kangnung, Republic of Korea. I will be giving you the gist of a statement made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama on 20 September. With regard to the issue of the North Korean submarine, some of the North Korean personnel are still at large, and we understand that the Government of the Republic of Korea is now making efforts to track them down. We are told that with regard to the facts, the Government of the Republic of Korea is still conducting investigations. Japan will be following very closely the developments in this regard. Japan has a strong interest in the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. Japan considers it truly deplorable that such an incident was caused by the North Korean side. Such behavior is not acceptable to the international community, and Japan emphatically calls on North Korea to stop such acts immediately.

That is the announcement that I wanted to make, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
The fundamental position of the Government of Japan on the Senkaku Islands
Ms. Juliet Hindell (BBC): I would like you to clarify the Japanese Government's position on the Senkaku Islands and the current dispute that seems to be going on down there. Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: The position of the Government of Japan regarding the Senkaku Islands, I believe, is well known. Japan has repeatedly made it clear that the Senkaku Islands are an integral part of Japanese territory. The Government of Japan is not involved in the activities of the private group which has been reported on by the media in recent weeks. The Government of Japan does not give support to such activities by the private group. Japan attaches great importance to its friendly ties with the People's Republic of China and other neighbors. We believe that it is necessary for all the parties to approach this matter calmly, so as not to adversely affect the ties. That is the position of the Government of Japan.
The position of the Government of Japan on private-sector activities
Q: In connection with this private group, the fact that they erected the lighthouse and that it provoked such an angry outcry among the Chinese, why doesn't the Government order them to take it down?

A: As I have said, the Government of Japan is not involved in these activities, nor do we support these activities. You may have heard that on 10 September, the group applied for authorization to make this structure a lighthouse in the legal sense. The Government of Japan is now considering how to approach this matter carefully on the basis of the Government of Japan's basic position on the Senkaku Islands which I have just described to you. Your question was, "Why doesn't the Government of Japan tear this lighthouse down?"

Q: -- order them to tear it down.

A: Japan is a country governed by law. We have what we call the rule of law here. There is a limit to what the Government can do under the existing laws and regulations of Japan.
Maritime Safety Agency enforcement of basic immigration laws
Q: Could you clarify the role of the Maritime Safety Agency? Part of the dispute seems to center on the fact that some boats, including the ones members of this group were on, have been allowed in, whereas many other boats have not been allowed anywhere near the Island. That's lead to the charge of bias by the Government. Could you clarify why, in the first place, that this group's boat was allowed near the Island where other boats haven't been allowed to approach?

A: When you say "other boats," which boats do you have in mind? Do you mean the Taiwanese vessels?

Q: There were twenty different approaches that were made. I am not sure if they were all Taiwanese or some from Hong Kong -- some carrying journalists. But, I understand that the only boat of these 20 boats which has been allowed to come close has been the boat carrying this frightening group -- and that that has been the source of all the allegations of bias.

A: There is no bias by the Maritime Safety Agency. In the case of foreign vessels, one has to go through formalities under the immigration laws. It is the same as in any country. Vessels attempting to land on any of the Senkaku Islands without going through such procedures would be in violation of Japan's immigration laws.

Q: So, any Japanese vessel would be permitted to land?

A: We have been informed by the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency that residents of Japan will not be stopped from going to the Islands without legal grounds for that. For example, in the case of a person traveling by boat to the Senkaku Islands, or any other island, his vessel has to meet certain safety standards. Of course, there are such limitations or restrictions in the law; otherwise, a person wishing to travel from mainland Japan to the Senkaku Islands will not be stopped.
Fishery talks between Japanese private-sector interests and Taiwan
Q: I understand that the Japanese Government will be holding discussions with the Taiwanese Government very shortly on this issue. Can you tell us roughly what kind of line you will be taking?

A: I do not know what discussions you are referring to, because we do not have any government- to-government ties with Taiwan; we have non-governmental ties. I believe you are referring to the fishery talks which were held at the private-sector level in early August. At that time, it was agreed that full consultations at the private-sector level would be necessary. The two sides are now discussing this at the private-sector level, with regard to the specifics of the second round of talks -- such as the timing and venue -- things like that.
Fishery talks between Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China
Q: Is there any suggestion that you might be trying to hold talks with the Government of China?

A: We are now also holding fishery talks with the Government of the People's Republic of China, in the context of the new United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The most recent round was held in late August, and I anticipate that the timing of the next round will be discussed through diplomatic channels. I am not aware of any decision on the next round.
Patrol of the territorial waters of Japan by the Maritime Safety Agency
Q: I have heard different reports. I am wondering how many ships -- Maritime Safety Agency and police vessels -- are guarding the Islands, or if guarding is the correct term, how many are stationed in the waters around the Islands?

A: Without going into specifics, the Maritime Safety Agency makes appropriate arrangements to patrol the waters of the Senkaku Islands, taking into consideration the situation at the time.

Q: So, it can vary from day to day?

A: My understanding is that they take into consideration the situation. They then consider the arrangements.
Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda and Minister of Foreign Affairs Qian Qichen of the People's Republic of China
Q: Am I to understand that in the Meeting that is now going on in New York between the foreign ministers, that the Senkaku Islands issue is not going to be discussed -- only fisheries?

A: I have repeatedly said in this conference that I cannot comment specifically on the agenda of a meeting of the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister before it takes place, because we never know what will be discussed until the Meeting is over. I can say this from experience. But, in the Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda and Minister of Foreign Affairs Qian Qichen of the People's Republic of China, we suspect that the two will discuss the bilateral relationship in general. I have read reports emanating from Beijing -- reports attributed to the Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China -- that China will be raising this issue in the Meeting. So, my guess is that this issue will probably be touched upon in the Meeting.

Q: But, you're not at liberty to say what the position will be?

A: All I can say is that the basic position of the Government of Japan regarding the Senkaku Islands is as I said to you in response to the very first question asked in today's conference.
Patrol of waters around the Senkaku Islands by Maritime Safety Agency vessels
Q: Would you deny that any Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces vessels are around the waters of the Senkakus?

A: The waters are being patrolled by Maritime Safety Agency vessels.

Q: So, you deny any involvement by the JSDF?

A: Where have you heard this? I have not heard that.

Q: I am just curious.
Possible discussion between Japan and the People's Republic of China regarding the Economic Zone and the continental shelf
Q: Officially, all companies have been discouraged from exploring the area which is considered to be rich in oil and gas resources and deposits. Why have they been discouraged? And, in 1978, Deng Xiaoping suggested that the chain be developed cooperatively between China and Japan. Why not do that?

A: In view of the situation, the position of the Government of Japan is that this question should be approached carefully.

Q: So, is there any possibility of starting talks with China about setting up cooperative development of the Island chain?

A: In the fishery talks that we are holding with China, we may be discussing other subjects. The agenda is not just limited to fishery-related matters in the narrow sense. The two sides may discuss other Law-of-the-Sea-related issues, such as the Economic Zone and also the continental shelf.
Reiteration of the position of the Government of Japan on the Senkaku Islands
Q: Some of the people on one of the Taiwanese ships which recently tried to approach the Islands said they are going to try again. If they keep trying, what is the Japanese Government going to do?

A: I will have to repeat what we have been saying in recent weeks. We are of course concerned about recent developments in some neighboring areas -- in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. We are concerned about the manifestations of strong sentiments made in these places. As we have repeatedly said, we value our good ties, our friendships, with our neighbors. We think it is extremely important that all of us deal with this matter calmly, so as not to in any way affect these friendly ties.

Q: I heard that a Hong Kong vessel will approach the Senkaku Islands today or tomorrow. What is your principle to approach that?

A: The answer to that question is the same as the answer to the previous question. We believe that it is very important for all of us -- all of us in Japan, everybody in Taiwan and Hong Kong -- to approach this matter calmly, so as not to affect the very good ties that exist between Japan and these areas.
The territorial waters of Japan
Q: I wonder which line prohibits one from being allowed in? For example, is it 12 miles, or 24 miles? Which line does not allow one in?

A: The 12-mile line is the outer limit of Japan's territorial waters. In the past, when vessels have entered the waters inside the 12-mile line, these vessels have been asked to leave.
Naha City's request for release of information
Q: Today, the courts ruled on Naha City Government's request for the release of all the data concerning the Maritime Defense Agency's anti-submarine warfare operations center located in Naha. The courts say, essentially, that this is an executive branch decision -- that it should be solved within the executive branch. So, I am curious what the Government's next course of action will be? And secondly, will this decision impact the security relations between Japan and the U.S.?

A: I have not seen the court decision, so I cannot comment on this court decision at this point in time. I will come back to you with an answer next time.
Custody of alleged Red Army member in relation to 1986 attack on the United States Embassy in Jakarta
Q: Has the U.S. Government been in touch in any way over the taking into custody of an alleged member of the Red Army concerned with the 1986 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta? And, if so, what contact has there been, or does the Japanese Government have any interest in this?

A: I will be brutally frank with you. I have not been briefed on this issue. We will let you know. Let me check and get back to you. Thank you very much.

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