Press Conference, 11 May 2007

The 6th Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) Politico-Military Talks
The 5th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism
Questions concerning the issuance of a visa to former President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan
Questions concerning Taiwan's status at the World Health Organization (WHO)
Follow-up questions concerning the issuance of a visa to former President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan
Question concerning the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste
Question concerning the Japanese Government's knowledge about the action taken by Taiwan when it sent delegates to the United States (US)
Follow-up questions concerning Taiwan's status at the World Health Organization

I. The 6th Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) Politico-Military Talks

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: My opening statement for today is two-fold. The first announcement is about the so-called 6th Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) Politico-Military Talks. The second one concerns the 5th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism, which is going to be held on the 15 and 16 May in Tokyo.

About the 6th Japan-ROK Politico-Military Talks: they were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, Thursday, 10 May. The Talks were attended on the Japanese side by Mr. Kenichiro Sasae, Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affiars Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Hironori Kanazawa, Deputy Director-General, Bureau of Defense Policy, Ministry of Defense, and others; and from the ROK side by Mr. Kim Jae Shin, Director-General, Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Brigadier General Kim Byoung Gi, Vice-Director, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of National Defense, and other officials of the two ministries.

At the Talks the diplomatic and defense authorities of the two countries exchanged frank views on the security environment surrounding them, the security policy of each country and other matters, and shared common recognition and further deepened mutual understanding. Japan and the ROK also reaffirmed the importance of this kind of dialogue and agreed to further promote defense exchange at various levels in the fields that have been taken so far.

That is about the 6th Japan-ROK Politico-Military Talks.

II. The 5th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism

Mr. Taniguchi: The next one, as I said, is about the 5th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism. That is going to take place next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 and 16 May, in Tokyo. There are going to be representatives from a whole bunch of different organizations such as the UNCTED, ILEA and others. That is the second point.

That is it from me. I will open the floor and take your questions, please.

Related Information (Press Release)

III. Questions concerning the issuance of a visa to former President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan

Q: Lee Teng-hui, former President of Taiwan is said to be coming to Japan from 30 May for a sightseeing tour. Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs been made aware of the schedule?

Mr. Taniguchi: The answer is no.

Q: If Mr. Lee actually is coming to Japan, is the Japanese Government going to issue a visa?

Mr. Taniguchi: That will depend on the situation.

Q: The Japanese Government has already decided to grant non-visa status to Taiwan, so ordinary visitors can enter Japanese territory without being issued any visa by the Japanese Government. If Mr. Lee is going to come to Japan not only to do the sightseeing tour but also to do some sort of lectures in Japan, would those sorts of activities require a visa from the Japanese Government?

Mr. Taniguchi: I cannot give you an answer based on any sort of speculation.

IV. Questions concerning Taiwan's status at the World Health Organization (WHO)

Q: Taiwan has recently applied for regular membership of the World Health Organization (WHO). May I have your comment on this? Do the Japanese support Taiwan's new attempt?

Mr. Taniguchi: I understand that people from Taiwan have been able to join some of the meetings of the WHO, not necessarily as full members but still as observers. The Charter of the WHO -- the sort of constitution or basic law or bylaw -- dictates that members of the WHO are to be limited to state members. The Japanese Government's position is that they view the People's Republic of China in the mainland as the government that represents China. If that is what the Charter of the WHO says, that also is the view that the Japanese Government has been holding and will continue to hold.

Q: Does Japan continue to support Taiwan's attempt to become an observer in the World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting?

Mr. Taniguchi: Given the proximity between Taiwan and Japan, and given the increased importance of infectious diseases spreading just like this on the globe, it is important for Taiwan to be a member of some sort at an organization such as the WHO, so the Japanese Government sees the situation where Taiwan can join an organization like the WHO as an observer as a preferable situation. At the same time, I have to note that in the year 2004 there was a motion proposed to the WHO. The motion was to encourage the participation of Taiwan as a member of the WHO, and the motion was rejected. It was also decided at the time no additional meeting would address that very issue. I think the Japanese Government has stuck to that position as well. But also, as I said before, it is important for Taiwan to continue to be able to join the WHO as an observer.

V. Follow-up questions concerning the issuance of a visa to former President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan

Q: Suppose Lee Tang-hui is coming to Japan, and suppose the Japanese Government is going to reject his entrance, would it be that the immigration office -- the passport control -- would say "no" to him, or would it be that the Japanese Government would issue some kind of order or document prior to his entrance into this country?

Mr. Taniguchi: Once again it all depends on the situation. It is not just about people like Lee Teng-hui; when it comes to passport control and immigration regulations, no blanket, unifying principle applies. It all varies from a situation to another: case by case, in other words. So, once again, I cannot answer your question.

Q: Lee Teng-hui is a private citizen, and as a private citizen is he able to come to Japan to look around the nation, just like an ordinary tourist?

Mr. Taniguchi: In principle, yes, but that is, once again, only in principle and depending on the situation an appropriate decision will be made.

Q: For security concerns would it be necessary for Taiwan to give advance notice to the Japanese Government?

Mr. Taniguchi: I should refrain from making any comment based on "if," "supposing," sort of speculation.

VI. Question concerning the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste

Q: Could I have some comments or the Government's reaction on the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste presidential election?

Mr. Taniguchi: The Japanese Government has been in support of the democratic process in Timor Leste. We actually have put in enormous resources in terms of dispatching election observers, not just once but multiple times. I think the step taken in Timor Leste has been a hugely encouraging one. One can only hope that democracy will take root. At the same time we also recognize that any democratic process, especially for a young nation like Timor Leste, is a hugely time-consuming job and will take not just years, but even sometimes decades. The Japanese Government is going to firmly continue to be aside the people in Timor Leste in their continued efforts to democratize the nation.

Q: So basically the Government will consent to the results of the election.

Mr. Taniguchi: Yes.

VII. Question concerning the Japanese Government's knowledge about the action taken by Taiwan when it sent delegates to the United States (US)

Q: Was the Japanese Government aware of the action taken by Taiwan when it sent its delegates to the US and if there was some kind of coordination between the US and Taiwan about this issue?

Mr. Taniguchi: If that question is about whether or not the Japanese Government was in contact with the US, I simply do not know. Honestly speaking I have got no knowledge about it.

VIII. Follow-up questions concerning Taiwan's status at the World Health Organization

Q: The Government of Taiwan wants membership under the name "Taiwan" at the WHO. What sort of reaction does the Japanese Government hold on this?

Mr. Taniguchi: As I said before, the Japanese Government's position is that it prefers to have Taiwan as an observer at the WHO because it is an entity to tackle very much global issues. Beyond that the Japanese Government has held no opinion or position.

Q: Does the Japanese Government have a similar view towards Taiwan's proposal to join the WHO as "Taiwan" with the opinion expressed by the Chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Mr. Shoichi Nakagawa, who said that it would trouble both the US and Japan if indeed Taiwan proposes to become a member as "Taiwan" at the WHO?

Mr. Taniguchi: When dealing with issues such as this, as has been mentioned repeatedly by members of the Japanese Government before, the principle is that the Japanese Government recognizes the position of the People's Republic of China about their One-China Policy and we have reaffirmed many times that the principle would remain the same and that the Japanese Government would continue to take into consideration and appreciate some of the official documents that both the People's Republic of China and Japan have signed so far. That principle will remain the same.

Q: Would it be possible for the Japanese Government to say if it is supportive or not towards the actions and proposals being made by Taiwan about the WHO membership right?

Mr. Taniguchi: I can only repeat that it would be preferable not only for Japan but also for other members to have Taiwan as an observer. That is what I can say to you. This is basically what I said before, but if I may repeat, given the salience of the issue I think it is important for Taiwan to remain able to take part in the WHO as an observer.

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