Press Conference by the Press Secretary 21 January 1997

Opening Statements
1. Second Clinton Administration
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Japan welcomes the launching of the Second Clinton Administration. Japan intends to work with the Second Clinton Administration to further enhance the good and cooperative relationship between Japan and the United States.
  
  his Inaugural Address on the afternoon of 20 January (Washington time), President Clinton stressed the consistency in both domestic and foreign policy of his new Administration under the slogan, "building a bridge to the 21st century." The President's confidence was clear, and Japan looks forward to the accomplishments of the new Administration.
  
  The President did take a firm stance in indicating that, when necessary, the United States would continue to display leadership. The President also indicated a firm stance against terrorism, his intent to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, chemical weapons and biological weapons, to expand democracy, and to promote peace and freedom. Japan welcomes this.
2. United States Secretary of Defense
  Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Secondly, sometime next week, the United States Senate may approve the nomination of the new Secretary of Defense. As such, this is a period of transition for the new Secretary of Defense. I believe that we will see concrete developments, including the establishment of the National Defense Panel, which will conduct a Quadrennial Defense Review. I understand that the review procedures have already begun at the working level in each of the branches of the Armed Forces. Some reports predict that there will be a change of the United States military posture in the Asia-Pacific, including a reduction in the number of Marines stationed in Okinawa. However, in the Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on Security of April 1996 and other statements, the Government of the United States has consistently pledged to maintain its commitment in the prevailing security environment and its basic policy to maintain the force structure at about 100,000 forwardly-deployed military personnel in the Asia-Pacific region, including roughly the current level in Japan. This position of the United States was once again clearly stated in the letter sent recently by Deputy Secretary of Defense John White to Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Sadayuki Hayashi.
3. Hostage Situation in Lima, Peru
  Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Thirdly, on the siege of the Japanese Ambassador's Residence in Peru by the Amaru Tupac Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), there has not been a substantial move since the MRTA replied on 18 January (Japan time) to the proposal of the Government of Peru on the establishment of the Commission of Guarantors. The Government of Japan strongly hopes that the situation surrounding this incident will make concrete progress with prompt establishment of the framework of the talks between the Government of Peru and the MRTA, and with establishment of a Commission of Guarantors with prompt commencement of substantive talks.
Anti-terrorist measures
Q: Prime Minister Hashimoto said yesterday in his speech in the Diet that Japan would take anti-terrorist measures inside Japan and outside. What kind of anti-terrorist measures will Japan take?

A: Japan is a member of the G-7/P-8, and actively participates in the Ministerial Meetings related to anti-terrorist activities -- the first of which was held in Ottawa, and the second in Paris, last year. We will continue to meet as such. The Government of Japan has already announced its intentions to hold a seminar on this subject with relevant countries, which is another attempt to strengthen international cooperation. At the same time, after we see the eventual peaceful resolution of this issue, we will provide an in-depth study of this experience to see what measures can be taken in the future to prevent similar incidents from happening. I believe this is what Prime Minister Hashimoto has in mind.
"Hashimoto Doctrine"
Q: Could you please explain the "Hashimoto Doctrine"? I keep seeing references in the media to the "Hashimoto Doctrine".

A: This may be related to the six reforms that the Hashimoto Government will tackle at this session of the Diet. Or, this may be related to his ideas on the strengthening of relations with the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Q: What I am talking about came out before ASEAN. Could you explain this further?

A: As far as the Prime Minister's visit to ASEAN is concerned, the Government of Japan has not used the slogan "Hashimoto Doctrine". It was probably mentioned in some Japanese newspapers. Already, for a long time, the Government of Japan has been developing close ties with ASEAN countries. On the basis of this, Prime Minister Hashimoto has this time stressed the importance of widening the relationship of Japan and ASEAN saying that the relationship should not be limited to economic and trade activity, but should also include other fields such as cultural exchange, etc. At the same time, he proposed to hold more frequent dialogue at the Summit level. This is probably what the "Hashimoto Doctrine" is referring to. However, Prime Minister Hashimoto has never called his ideas the "Hashimoto Doctrine".

Q: In his Singapore speech, he referred to the "Fukuda Doctrine"? Is there something new here that could be called a "Hashimoto Doctrine"?

A: When then-Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda visited the ASEAN countries, he did not name the principles the "Fukuda Doctrine". However, later on, those three principles became more and more popular, and eventually the slogan, "Fukuda Doctrine", started to be widely used. Probably, in two or three years time, if the gist of the Hashimoto Speech in Singapore becomes more and more popular, it may be called the "Hashimoto Doctrine".
Japan-Republic of Korea, Japan-People's Republic of China bilateral relations
Q: Does it have any wider relevance? For example, in the upcoming meeting with Kim Young Sam, were there any principles in that Singapore speech that would apply to the upcoming Summit with Korea, and even the future Summit with China?

A: As far as the relations with Japan and the Republic of Korea are concerned, what both governments are striving to do is have the two leaders meet more often than previously, not only formally, but informally, so that they can maintain an ongoing exchange of views on various subjects. The upcoming Beppu Meeting is in line with this. As for the relations between Japan and the People's Republic of China are concerned, Prime Minister Hashimoto stressed in his speech in Singapore the need to engage China in a positive way. I believe in this way the U.S. policy is the same as Japan's policy. I believe that Japan should continue to engage China in such ways as trying to get China into the WTO in the near future -- of course, we must agree on the negotiations on this. We are happy to have China in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and in the Asia-European Meetings (ASEM), etc., because we firmly believe that China's position in the Asia-Pacific region will increase in the next century. Therefore, we would like to have a correct and constructive relationship between the two countries. I do not know whether this could be the "Hashimoto Doctrine" or not, but Prime Minister Hashimoto wants to show his personal interest and make an effort to develop a more constructive and pragmatic relationship with the neighboring countries in the future.
Security in the Asia-Pacific region
Q: Will cooperation with the Asian countries include security?

A: As far as security is concerned, firstly, we consider the alliance between Japan and the United States as the utmost importance. Both Japan and the United States maintain the fundamental view that this is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Prime Minister Hashimoto -- if I talk about his diplomatic activities -- explained the importance of this to his colleagues in the ASEAN countries in which he visited just recently. However, at the same time, it is important to increase transparency in the military posture and defense policies among the nations concerned, and ARF is playing an important role. I am sure that Japan and other countries will show more positive attitudes toward the activities of the ASEAN Regional Forum in the future.
"Fukuda Doctrine"
Q: Do you recall the three points of the "Fukuda Doctrine" that you mentioned earlier?

A: Firstly, Japan will never become a military power. Secondly, Japan wants to develop a heart-to-heart relationship with ASEAN countries. The third one has already been accomplished, which is building a bridge between ASEAN countries and Indochina (Vietnam, etc.). At that time the Vietnam War was ongoing. After that time, those three principles were called the "Fukuda Doctrine".
Comfort women issue
Q: I would like to go back to Korea for just a moment. There was a request when Foreign Minister Ikeda went to Seoul that the payments for the comfort women from a private fund in Japan be halted. What is the Japanese Government's response to that request?

A: We greatly appreciate the various efforts carried out by the Fund itself. The Fund decided to extend donations to several ex-comfort women in Korea. Therefore, the Government of Japan respected the decision of the Fund. We understand that the Government of the Republic of Korea protested against this. Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda said that, as far as what the Fund has done, the Government of Japan will continue to respect this. However, if the Government of the Republic of Korea thinks it is necessary, Japan is ready to continue to talk about what should be done about the activities of the Fund vis-vis the ex-comfort women. That is, Japan is ready to exchange views with the Government of the Republic of Korea on future payments. But, as far as what the Fund has decided to do, the Government of Japan will continue to respect this.

Q: There were conflicting reports this week in the Japanese press. One said Japan agreed to temporarily halt future payments, and the other said exactly the opposite. Can you help sort out this confusion?

A: I am not sure whether there is a confusion or not. I have not heard that the Fund itself has changed its policy. At the same time, we understand that the Government of the Republic of Korea is strongly opposed to the idea of giving donations individually by the Fund. The Government of Japan is ready to exchange views on this with the Government of the Republic of Korea. So, let us see what will be the outcome on the exchange of views between the two governments on this issue.
Schedule for the Japan-Republic of Korea Summit in Beppu
Q: Just for planning purposes, is a tentative schedule available? I am interested in about what time President Kim will arrive and leave.

A: President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea will arrive on 25 January. He will leave Beppu on 26 January.

Q: Do you have an approximate time of arrival?

A: I think my division will contact you individually. I understand that there are several occasions for talks -- formally and informally -- between the two leaders. They will also hold a joint press conference during President Kim's visit to Beppu.
Japan-U.S. security arrangements
Q: I have one last question on the security arrangement. You mentioned that there are some predictions in the size of the marine contingent here. Has there been any assurances from Washington on this?

A: We consistently conduct consultations between the two countries. You may recall that in the Joint Security Declaration in April of 1996, and the 2+2 Meeting in December last year, the two countries agreed to fundamentally maintain close consultations on the international situation, defense policies, military posture, etc. So, after the nomination of the new Secretary of Defense, and after the Defense Review begins on the side of the United States, I am sure that we will have the occasion to sit down and exchange views on this subject. However, we have not received any concrete confirmation that the size of the marine deployment in Okinawa will be reduced. Thank you very much.

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