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Press Conference 26 November 2004

  1. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura to Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic to attend the Japan-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting
  2. Question concerning information on Chinese nuclear submarine
  3. Question concerning possible visa waiver for Taiwanese people
  4. Follow-up question concerning ASEAN+3 (Japan, China and ROK) Summit Meeting
  1. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura to Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic to attend the Japan-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting

    Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Today, I would like to make one announcement before I take questions.

    Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura will attend the Japan-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic on 27 and 28 November. At this meeting, Foreign Minister Machimura will discuss the ways and means to strengthen the cooperative relations between Japan and ASEAN following the very successful Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit held in Tokyo in December of last year.

    While staying in Vientiane, Foreign Minister Machimura will also attend the Trilateral Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Japan, the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of Laos, the Republic of India, Malaysia, and the Kingdom of Thailand.

    Related Information (Japan-ASEAN Relations)
  2. Question concerning information on Chinese nuclear submarine

    Q: According to reports, information on the Chinese nuclear submarine was first provided by Taiwan. Is this true? If not, does the Japanese side intend to protest to the Taiwanese side?

    Mr. Takashima: I am not aware that we received any information from Taiwan. We have no plans to protest.

    Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
  3. Question concerning possible visa waiver for Taiwanese people

    Q: If visas are not required for Taiwanese to enter Japan, then former President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan can freely enter and leave Japan. Is Japan thinking of any measures to address this issue?

    Mr. Takashima: It is true that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi discussed this issue with the representative of Taiwan when he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Santiago, Republic of Chile the other day. At this meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi mentioned that in order to have many tourists from Taiwan for the 2005 World Exposition to be held in Aichi to start in late March of next year, the Government of Japan is considering the feasibility of visa waiver for Taiwanese tourists, but nothing has been decided yet. Therefore, I would like to refrain from making further comments.

    Related Information (Taiwan)
  4. Follow-up question concerning ASEAN+3 (Japan, China and ROK) Summit Meeting

    Q: On the ASEAN+3 (Japan, China and ROK) Summit Meeting, could you go into more detail about what kind of progress Japan wants to make? There is a series of meetings related to ASEAN which is confusing because there are so many kinds of sessions which Foreign Minister Machimura or Prime Minister Koizumi is going to join. So could you please explain?

    Mr. Takashima: The most important part of Japan's relations with ASEAN was formulated in what we call the Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring Japan-ASEAN Partnership in the New Millennium adopted last year at the Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in which approximately 140 items were listed as possible actual programs to be exercised between Japan and ASEAN. This was in order to further strengthen their relations in terms of the economy as well as security, people's exchange and cultural exchange.

    This year's Foreign Ministers' Meeting will examine the progress report of this action program. This Foreign Ministers' Meeting between Foreign Minister Machimura and ASEAN foreign ministers will submit a report to the Summit Meeting to be held in Vientiane after the Foreign Ministers' Meeting for the additional measures to be implemented in order to promote relations between Japan and ASEAN.

    Also, Japan is very much interested in discussing the issues of United Nations reform, anti-piracy measures, non-proliferation and also North Korean issues along with other common concerns of Japan and ASEAN countries. We are very much grateful of ASEAN's support of our candidacy to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. We would like to solidify the support and also discuss the strategy to realize this United Nations reform during next year's 60th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations. Those are the major points.

    Related Information (ASEAN+3 Meeting)
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