Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 10 November 2011

Participation in the 23rd APEC Ministerial Meeting by Foreign Minister Gemba
Visit to Japan by Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, President of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Visit to Japan by Mr. António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Waiver of Visa Fees for Foreign Nationals Who Visit Three Prefectures in the Disaster-Afflicted Areas
Question concerning Japan's Participation in the Negotiations toward the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Questions concerning Prime Minister Noda's Participation in the ASEAN Summit
Question concerning the Move of Heavy Tanks from Hokkaido to Kyushu for Training
Question concerning the Arrest of a Skipper of a Chinese Fishing Boat Found off the Coast of Nagasaki Prefecture
Question concerning Foreign Minister Gemba's Approach to the Okinawa Issue with the United States
Question concerning the Consumption Tax Hike Proposed by Prime Minister Noda

Participation in the 23rd APEC Ministerial Meeting by Foreign Minister Gemba

Deputy Press Secretary Naoko Saiki: Good afternoon. I would like to start the press conference. Before taking questions from you, I have several topics to introduce.

Ms. Saiki: Foreign Minister Gemba is going to visit Honolulu, Hawaii, to participate in the 23rd APEC Ministerial Meeting on November 10-12, if circumstances permit. The United States, as we know, is hosting the APEC 2011 meetings, and the United States has emphasized the need for APEC members to work to create jobs and growth by tackling a wide range of economic issues critical to long-term prosperity. These issues include promoting green growth, advancing regulatory convergence and cooperation, strengthening economic and technical cooperation, enhancing open governance, strengthening regional economic integration and expanding trade, supporting the multilateral free-trading system, and so on.

On the sidelines of the APEC Ministerial Meeting, Foreign Minister Gemba will hold some bilateral talks respectively with the United States, the Philippines, Mexico, and Thailand. Perhaps several other bilateral meetings will be held between Foreign Minister Gemba and his counterparts. But today I am not in a position to brief you on detailed venues and timings for other possible bilateral meetings.

Visit to Japan by Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, President of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Ms. Naoko Saiki: Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser will visit Japan from November 12-16 at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his stay in Japan, Mr. Nassir is scheduled to hold meetings with various high level political figures, including Foreign Minister Gemba, and to discuss a variety of global issues, including disaster prevention, sustainable development, regional issues, and Security Council reform.

Visit to Japan by Mr. António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Ms. Naoko Saiki: Mr. António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will visit Japan from November 16-18 with the intent of holding talks related to refugee policies and strengthening cooperation between Japan and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. During his stay in Japan, High Commissioner Guterres will meet with government officials, hold talks with members of the Diet, and engage in events, including a symposium, "Japan's 30 Years Engagement on Behalf of Refugees-Achievement and a Path towards the Future" organized by the UNHCR together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Waiver of Visa Fees for Foreign Nationals Who Visit Three Prefectures in the Disaster-Afflicted Areas

Ms. Naoko Saiki: In the light of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March of this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to take measures to waive visa fees for foreigners who would be visiting Iwate, Fukushima, and Miyagi (the three prefectures among the disaster-afflicted areas that have been suffering from particularly serious damage), to support reconstruction in these three prefectures.You will find more detailed information on our website.

This measure will be applied to the visa applications submitted from November 15th, and the implementation period of this measure shall be for five years.

I would now like to take questions.

Question concerning Japan's Participation in the Negotiations toward the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

Q: I would like to ask if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Foreign Minister Gemba, himself, have tried to evaluate how the other participants in these negotiations are regarding Japan's approach to take part in the negotiations. Has any research been done before deciding, probably today, if Japan will take part?

Ms. Naoko Saiki: Thank you for your question. First of all, let me clearly state that the decision as to whether Japan is going to participate in the TPP Negotiation is not made yet. I understand that the final decision will be made by Prime Minister Noda sometime today. Having said that, yes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese government have been gathering all the pertinent information, including a possible reaction from various countries which have already joined in the negotiations toward the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, but I do not think I am in a position to disclose any detailed information on that particular matter today.

Thank you.

Questions concerning Prime Minister Noda's Participation in the ASEAN Summit

Q: Next week, Prime Minister Noda, I think, is scheduled to go to the ASEAN Summit. What kind of message does Japan want to convey during the ASEAN meetings, especially with regard to the South China Sea?

Ms. Naoko Saiki: Thank you for your question. Prime Minister Noda is planning to visit Bali, Indonesia, next week, if, again, circumstances permit, as Diet will still be in session next week. We have to get the Diet approval for the overseas trips of the prime minister and the foreign minister. That is why I have repeated the phrases, "if situations permit" or "if circumstances allow".

That being stated, I will discuss the key messages to be conveyed by Japan to the ASEAN and other EAS leaders. On the economic side, Prime Minister Noda and Finance Minister Azumi participated in the G20 Summit meeting in Cannes, France, last week. Very intense discussion took place concerning more vigorous actions to prevent the euro-area debt crisis from spreading to the international community. In Bali, Indonesia, I think one of the most important and urgent issues to be tackled by the leaders will be the emergency measures to be taken in response to the debt crisis in Europe.

On the South China Sea, as Prime Minister Noda and Foreign Minister Gemba have stated, on various occasions, the sea or ocean is so-called "public goods" where free navigation must be secured, maximum exploitation of natural resources in accordance with international law will be permitted, and for those purposes, the countries concerned must cooperate with each other on the basis of the facts and the rules agreed upon so far by the international society. In that respect, Japan would like to see more collaboration and cooperation in the South China Sea, but I hasten to add that Japan does not have any particular country in mind in this context. I think all the countries concerned in the Asia-Pacific region must cooperate with each other since the ocean, again, is a sort of "public goods" to be utilized by the members of the international community in accordance with the international law.

Q: Just a follow-up question. Within the South China Sea, China has become increasingly assertive with regard to claims in the South China Sea. In that context, what is the role that Japan can play in resolving disputes? Is Japan planning to take the role of a mediator or trying to be more active in convincing China, or maybe not particularly any country, in upholding the freedom of navigation?

Ms. Saiki: Thank you for your question. Japan is a maritime country and we have very many things in common with those countries operating in the South China Sea. What Japan attaches great importance to is, first of all, the rule of law, the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, and the strengthening of cooperation amongst the nations. In that regard, Japan has been very actively engaging in discussions and consultations on South China Sea issues. We will continue to do so.

Question concerning the Move of Heavy Tanks from Hokkaido to Kyushu for Training

Q: I would like to stick with China, if I may. There were reports that the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) transported some heavy tanks from Hokkaido to Kyushu for training reasons. Did you inform the People's Republic of China beforehand about this move, and was there any reaction by China?

Ms. Saiki: I have to check with my colleagues in the Ministry of Defense and get back to you on that matter.

My feeling at this juncture is that the case you refer to is a routine practice on the part of the SDF. So there is nothing unusual happening. That in mind, again, I will check with my colleagues and get back to you.

Question concerning the Arrest of a Skipper of a Chinese Fishing Boat Found off the Coast of Nagasaki Prefecture

Q: I will switch the topic, but stay with China. There was the recent fishery incident and I was wondering if this case did not bring up diplomatic strains in some ways. It was solved quietly – I remember the last case was much more politically difficult, it was much more typical. Why was it that in this case so easily solved? Why was, for example, China, not going and demanding more? Do we have any reason and explanation for why this went so smoothly?

Ms. Saiki: Are you asking a question related to the arrest of a skipper of a Chinese fishing boat off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture? The area is Japanese territorial waters, so I do not feel that this is a diplomatic issue at all. The public prosecutor's office, police, and some other related agencies have been conducting on the basis of facts and law, and yesterday, summary prosecution followed by a summary order of JPY 300,000 was made, and the skipper of the Chinese fishing boat was released. This is a simple case of the arrest following the violation of Japanese domestic law.

Q: As far as I know, that is the reason why I asked. The Senkaku Islands are also, in your opinion, Japanese territory, so it should have been also a tiny incident the last time when you brought up a fishery vessel from China in this area, too, but it wasn't – it was a big act. Why is there a difference?

Ms. Saiki: I am not an official of the Chinese government, so I am afraid I am not prepared to make any comments on or replies to your questions. I would like to encourage you to raise questions to the Chinese.

Question concerning Foreign Minister Gemba's Approach to the Okinawa Issue with the United States

Q: Foreign Minister Gemba is planning to have a meeting with Secretary Clinton tomorrow, I guess, Japan time, and I was wondering about the topic of Okinawa and the realignment of the American borders within Okinawa. How will that issue be covered in this meeting and also in the Summit meeting between Prime Minister Noda and President Obama?

Ms. Saiki: The position of the Japanese government on that matter is quite firm and consistent to the effect that the Japanese government is going to proceed on the basis of the agreements reached between the two governments. For instance, when Foreign Minister Gemba met with Secretary of Defense Panetta last month, he stated that toward the end of this year, the Environmental Impact Statement will be submitted to the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture. This is one of the many steps to be taken in accordance with the agreements between the two governments. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Gemba, is going to touch on the issue of the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan, and I suppose he is going to explain what the Japanese government has been doing and will be doing.

Q: Also, there are reports that he will be visiting Okinawa sometime in November after his meeting with Senator Clinton. Will he be going to Okinawa related to these meetings, to the Government of Okinawa?

Ms. Saiki: To my knowledge, at this stage, there are no plans for Foreign Minister Gemba to visit Okinawa.

Question concerning the Consumption Tax Hike Proposed by Prime Minister Noda

Q: If I may, Prime Minister Noda raised, during the G20 Summit in Cannes, the issue of raising the consumption tax in Japan and, as far as I know, he promised to do so. I was wondering why he did that on the international stage before it was even discussed in depth in Japan. Can you explain that?

Ms. Saiki: Thank you for your question.

In fact, the Definite Plan for the Comprehensive Reform of Social Security and Tax has been already agreed upon and made public. What Prime Minister Noda explained in the Summit meeting in Cannes, France, last week, was from the decision contained in the Definite Plan for the Comprehensive Reform of Social Security and Tax. Namely, towards securing stable financial resources, sufficient for the scale of total social security benefits, the Government is going to raise the consumption tax in stages to 10% by the middle of 2010s, so perhaps around 2015. The discussion regarding the increase in consumption tax has taken place in Japan first. And according to the recommendation made by the commission in charge of drafting of the definite plan I have just referred to, Prime Minister Noda explained the content to the leaders gathered in Cannes, France. So I would like to emphasize that necessary discussions did take place in Japan before Prime Minister Noda made public his idea and determination to raise the consumption tax.

Are there any other questions? I see none.

Thank you very much for coming. I am afraid next week, the press conference of this kind will not be held because of schedule conflicts. I will have to make a mission trip and will be out of town. My deputy and other possible candidates to hold press conferences will make overseas trips as well next week. So, I am sorry for this inconvenience, but I will be seeing you the following week, not next week.

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