Press Conference by the Press Secretary June 17, 1997

Press conference announcements
1. Establishment of the Japan-ASEAN Network for Counterterrorism
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nobuaki Tanaka: I believe that you have received the press release on the Establishment of the Japan-ASEAN Network for Counterterrorism. I would like to reiterate that this network is very important and is the opportune reaction to what we have experienced in the Peru hostage crisis. We established this network in order to prepare ourselves for better information and better exchange of views among the countries of ASEAN. This press release is available for you.
2. Ministerial Meeting on the environment
  Spokesman Tanaka: There was a Ministerial Meeting this morning concerning the environment. You may be aware of our efforts in the field of environment. Let me recapitulate what we have done in the field of environment. The Government of Japan has steadily reinforced its efforts to tackle environmental issues. Since the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCED) in Brazil in 1992, the Government of Japan has enacted the Basic Law on the Environment and formulated the Basic Plan on the Environment. The Government of Japan also extended Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing nations totaling 1.44 trillion yen for the past five years, which surpassed the commitment it made during UNCED, which is to say that Japan would provide in the range of 0.9 to 1 trillion yen over five years from FY1992 to FY1996. This year, we will have the United Nations General Assembly on the Environment, which Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto will attend. Also, toward the end of this year, we will have the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP III) regarding global warming. So, it is opportune that the Government of Japan would review the progress it has made, renew its efforts to steadily implement the Basic Plan for the Environment, and strengthen international cooperation, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region in the fields of reforestation, prevention of desertification and pollution. So, six decisions were made at the Ministerial Meeting: 1) To strengthen the international framework for the preservation of the global environment. As the Chair, the Government of Japan will attempt to forge a consensus through diplomatic negotiations to bring about the success of COP III, to propose a comprehensive review conference on environment and development of the United Nations in the year 2002, and to propose to hold this conference in a developing country of Asia. 2) To promote research for the preservation of the global environment and to strengthen observation and overview, particularly in the fields of atmosphere, ocean, water, biological species, etc. 3) To develop and diffuse new technologies, and to promote R&D and use of technologies relating to the energies with low CO2 emissions in order to prevent global warming. 4) To cooperate with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region, by strengthening our ODA in the field of environment and assisting these nations in their efforts to tackle new challenges in this field. 5) To give greater attention to environment aspects in executing ODA, particularly by strictly observing our guidelines. And 6) to make domestic efforts to realize an environmentally stable society in Japan.
3. Japan Insight
  Spokesman Tanaka: We have made Japan Insight available. This publication compiles information about modern Japan and where we stand in a cross-sectoral manner, which perhaps you have never seen in other publications because they have included basically sectoral information. However, this publication is cross-sectoral. This has also been made available over the Internet. Those who wish to have access to this information can do so by accessing the homepage.
Hong Kong reversion ceremony
Q: Japan announced that it will be sending a representative to the swearing-in of the new legislature in Hong Kong on 1 July. What is the thinking behind this? Britain and the United States have said that they will not attend. Japan and Australia said that they will attend. Why did Japan decide to send a representative to this ceremony?

Spokesman Tanaka: Let me set the record straight. Japan has not yet decided whether or not our representative should attend this swearing-in ceremony on 1 July.

Q: Prime Minister Hashimoto was quoted as saying that Japan would send a representative. Was he misquoted?

Spokesman Tanaka: He did not say definitively that Japan would send a representative to the swearing-in part of the ceremonies.

Q: Will Japan send a representative?

Spokesman Tanaka: First, the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong is a very big concern for us. We value the important role that Hong Kong has played and will play in the Asia-Pacific region. We would like to congratulate the new SAR Government in its new voyage. We are now examining which events or ceremonies our minister should attend. However, we have not decided on the exact modality of our attendance. You may wish to know that this decision will be made very soon.

Q: Which way is Japan leaning? Is it likely that Japan will not send anybody?

Spokesman Tanaka: We will send somebody to the ceremonies in Hong Kong.

Q: Regarding the signing-in of the new governing body, which way is Japan leaning? Are you more likely to send somebody, or are you actually considering not sending anybody?

Spokesman Tanaka: We cannot say anything before we make decisions, because Prime Minister Hashimoto is now in the process of making his decision. He will decide quite soon.

Q: Will he decide this week?

Spokesman Tanaka: He will decide today or tomorrow.
Counterterrorism
Q: Regarding counterterrorism, will this network of countries include only a network with ASEAN countries, or will it include other countries?

Spokesman Tanaka: For the moment, we have only established a network with the ASEAN countries.

Q: Is there any intention in the future of expanding this network?

Spokesman Tanaka: We will see how it works. In view of economic activities that Japan conducts in the ASEAN region, we believe that it is very appropriate to begin with ASEAN countries. When Prime Minister Hashimoto paid a visit to the ASEAN countries in January of this year, in his speech he launched the idea to strengthen our network with those countries in the field of counterterrorism. This is a follow-up to that.
Agenda for the G-7 Summit
Q: What is Japan's specific agenda for the G-7? How is Japan prepared to respond to pressure to reduce its trade surplus? Lastly, will there be any agreement on currency?

Spokesman Tanaka: There will be a background briefing on the Summit immediately following this press conference. However, on this particular issue, I must say at the outset that we very much value the role that the economic Summit Meeting among the major industrial nations has played in the past. Japan, as the sole nation from the Asia-Pacific region, has attended this economic Summit Meeting in order to represent the views and concerns of the countries in this region. It is important that global decision-making should reflect the considerations for this region. At this forthcoming Denver Summit, we understand that there are several issues before us: environment; development issues; aging and other welfare-related issues; and terrorism. These are the issues that we feel deserves our attention in particular. On the environment, as I said in my statement, we are going to be the Chair of COP III at the end of this year. Therefore, we greatly hope to see an encouraging note come out of the economic Summit on the environment in order to bring success to this COP III meeting. Regarding development issues, we have adopted, at Lyon and other past OECD meetings, a new approach toward development. It is our hope that in our new approach, we should muster resources and particularly do something for our friends on the African continent. Regarding aging and other issues, which developed nations have in common, Prime Minister Hashimoto launched the Initiative for a Caring World at the Lyon Summit Meeting last year. We hope that our contribution would help other countries at the Denver Summit Meeting to move toward the solution of these issues. Terrorism is something which we have suffered from in the recent past. We would like to see Prime Minister Hashimoto share our experiences with other participants and put forth a very strong message to the world that we should stand against terrorism. This is the basic agenda that Japan has for this economic Summit Meeting.

Q: Will you be making any specific proposals?

Spokesman Tanaka: Yes, there are some specific initiatives that Japan would wish to float. I would rather not go into detail on this issue, but rather I would like to defer to my colleague from the Economic Bureau or the Prime Minister, because it is our Prime Minister who should float first and foremost these initiatives. After all, the economic Summit should be dealt with by the leaders of our nations, not the bureaucrats; that has been the policy. Regarding trade, I do not believe that Japanese trade will become an issue in the forthcoming economic Summit Meeting. You may recall that at the preceding meeting of the OECD, we reached an agreement on how to make sustainable growth of the world economy without inflation. Therefore, the agreement reached at that time is still valid and we all subscribe to that agreement.
Surplus trade issue
Q: In terms of trade, I meant Japan's trade surplus with the world. What is the response of the Japanese Government to this?

Spokesman Tanaka: Japan is committed to the medium- and long-term economic reforms which would enable our economy to transform into a more open and modern one. Through that, many of the trade issues which we have encountered in the past will be resolved. I acknowledge that there have been some very recent, short-term increases in our trade surplus. However, occasionally we will have seasonal increases. Yet, it is our firm belief that our economy is supported by a very steadfast consumption, and a domestic-lead expansion of the economy should lead to a decrease in the trade friction. I do not believe that this short-term problem of a trade surplus should be a cause of serious concern among the other major industrial nations, nor do we believe that we should continue to see this kind of trend.
Senkaku Islands issue
Q: What is the reaction by the Government to the landing of three members of the rightist group on the Senkaku Islands?

Spokesman Tanaka: We have no doubt that the Senkaku Islands remain an integral part of the territory of Japan. There is no question about this historically or in terms of international law. We effectively control these islands. Therefore, we do not believe that any Japanese nationals would find it necessary to go and land on these islands. On top of that, the owners of these islands did not permit these three people to land on the islands. To those people who have actually landed, the authorities concerned already explained in advance concerning laws and regulations. Also, at Senkaku Island, we explained this through the Japan Maritime Safety Agency to these individuals. Yet, these individuals, who belong to political organizations, ignored these explanations and forced their way onto these islands. We find this regretful. We are examining this case in light of relevant laws and regulations. If there is any wrong-doing in terms of these laws and regulations, we will certainly deal with them in a strict manner. In any case, we believe that a series of these incidents should not damage our friendly relations with the neighboring countries and regions. We make an appeal to these individuals and others to deal with this issue in a calm and rational manner.

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