Press Conference 30 March 2004

1. Ceremony for the exchange of instruments of ratification of the Japan-US Tax Convention
2. Request by Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow participation at press conferences by Foreign Press Registration Card holders
3. Questions concerning results of recent elections in Taiwan
4. Questions concerning measures regarding recent Senkaku Islands incident
5. Question concerning Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's upcoming visit to China

1. Ceremony for the exchange of instruments of ratification of the Japan-US Tax Convention

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Today, I would like to make two announcements.

   The first announcement is about the ratification of the Japan-US Tax Convention.

   The Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America have exchanged today in Tokyo the instruments of the new Tax Treaty. The ceremony was held at the Iikura House Annex of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was attended on the Japanese side by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa and on the US side by US Ambassador to Japan Howard H. Baker.

   The new Tax Treaty has entered into force today, the day of the exchange, and with respect to taxes withheld at source, it will be applicable from 1 July onward.

   The conclusion of this new Tax Treaty is expected to further promote investment and cultural exchange between Japan and the United States as well as mutual visits by both nationals, and thus lead to revitalization of the Japanese economy through increased business opportunities and job creation.

   Related Information (Ceremony for the Exchange of Instruments of Ratification of the Japan-US Tax Convention (New Tax Treaty))
   
2. Request by Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow participation at press conferences by Foreign Press Registration Card holders

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Foreign Press Registration Card.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday issued a letter requesting official bodies in Japan to allow participation of the holders of the Foreign Press Registration Card at on-the-record press conferences held at those bodies.

   This measure was taken in response to a European Union Priority Proposal for Regulatory Reform on journalism raised at the Japan-EU Regulatory Reform Dialogue in 2002 and 2003 in which the EU proposed to Japan that the latter accept the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Card issued to foreign correspondents of foreign media organizations as accreditation for all media events held by Japan's official bodies to enable access on an equal footing with all domestic journalists.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the letter as a result of its consultation with the Nippon Shimbun Kyokai (Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association) and others concerned. The Foreign Ministry expects that this measure will help promote the further dissemination of accurate information on Japan to the world.

   Related Information (Request concerning participation of the holders of the Foreign Press Registration Cards to on-the-record press conferences held by official bodies)
   
3. Questions concerning results of recent elections in Taiwan

   Q: With regard to the Taiwan elections, the dispute about the results seems to have quieted down right now, and I know that on 20 March you said that you were still watching the situation although you hoped that the issue could be resolved peacefully. The US Government now officially has sent something over the past weekend to congratulate President Chen Shui-bian on his reelection. What is Japan's comment on its current stance on the related issue?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan is closely watching the outcome of the presidential election in Taiwan. We have noted that the legal case is still pending in Taiwan and although President Chen was declared the winner, our understanding is that the opponent Mr. Lien Chan's side is still opposing that decision and there might be a recount of the ballots forthcoming.

   We would like to see this issue be resolved without any disturbances of the situation and not cause any sort of harm on the relations between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. We would like for the issue of Taiwan to be resolved through dialogue between the two sides and also make it very clear that we do not take a policy of two Chinas or one China and one Taiwan.

   Q: As a follow-up then, once the results of the recount have been obtained and they are clear, will the Government of Japan send some official statement at that time?

   Mr. Takashima: I cannot say one way or the other at this point because the result is still unknown, but my understanding is that since we do not have any governmental relations with Taiwan, there would be no possibility of the Japanese Government sending any official word in regard to the results of the Taiwanese elections.

   Related Information (Taiwan)
   
4. Questions concerning measures regarding recent Senkaku Islands incident

   Q: On the Senkaku Islands, it seems that the latest problem was solved last week. However, Chinese groups are saying that they will probably send other groups to do similar things again in the near future? What are the current measures for the whole situation and to prevent this kind of thing from happening again?

   Mr. Takashima: We do not want to see a recurrence of this incident in the future. On our side, we are taking necessary measures to prevent Chinese or any other illegal ships from entering into Japanese territorial waters or making illegal landings on the Senkaku Islands.

   At the same time, we have asked for the cooperation of the Chinese Government to prevent the recurrence of this kind of incident. This issue will be raised again at the meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Li Zhaoxing of China scheduled to be held this coming weekend in Beijing.

   Q: What sort of considerations was taken with respect to the way in which the seven people who landed illegally on Uotsuri Island of the Senkaku Islands were treated? Was it done with political considerations?

   Mr. Takashima: From the outset of this incident when the seven landed illegally on the island, all authorities concerned agreed that this issue should be handled in line with Japanese domestic law. In accordance with those laws, the police of Okinawa Prefecture arrested those seven individuals on site as they violated Japanese immigration law. The police decided to hand them over to the Immigration Bureau which then decided to deport them to China. All those procedures were taken in accordance with Japanese law and I understand that there was no political consideration involved.

   Related Information (Basic View on Senkaku 1972)
   
5. Question concerning Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's upcoming visit to China

   Q: Have the counterpart people in China that Foreign Minister Kawaguchi is going to meet with been decided already?

   Mr. Takashima: Her itinerary is still under discussion but it has become almost official that she will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Li.

   Q: How about the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party or other people?

   Mr. Takashima: I still do not have any information on whether there will be that sort of a meeting, but one thing which was made very clear to the Japanese side is that the Chinese Foreign Minister will see the Japanese Foreign Minister. The rest of the meetings is still under discussion.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)