(* This is a provisional translation by "WIP ジャパン" for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)
Press Conference by Foreign Minister Taro Aso
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 4:20 p.m.
Place: Prime Minister's office
Minister:
It has been decided that I will remain in office as Foreign Minister. I'm sure we will have many opportunities to meet in the future, and I look forward to those encounters as well. During the past 331 days of my tenure as Foreign Minister, I believe this government has achieved a great many things, including a higher profile for Japan on the diplomatic front.
In pursuit of the national interest, I have made many diplomatic and other external connections. I believe those connections were valuable in obtaining a prompt international response when North Korea launched its missiles recently. At the least, diplomacy is basically a means of minimizing dangers to the nation as much as possible, and I believe that in this sense the Foreign Ministry must go forward bearing this in mind. In particular, since the collapse of the cold-war framework, the Soviet Union has broken up into 15 countries. The number of African countries has also risen to 53. Yugoslavia has similarly broken up into Bosnia, et cetera. Just the number of countries represented in the United Nations has risen to 192. This is a significant change from the cold-war era. As for Japan, out of the at least 15 nations of the former Soviet Union, we have embassies in only four. There are 53 countries in Africa, but Japan has embassies in only 24 African capitals - fewer than half, whereas many African countries have an embassy in Tokyo. Thus in many senses, the Foreign Ministry needs to strengthen its base. Moreover, as communications technologies grow more sophisticated, Japan's techniques for dealing with information from other countries, including those for gathering intelligence, in the various senses of the word, are still somewhat behind. The Northeast Asian region, of which Japan is a part, still contains various points of instability, such as the Korean peninsula and the Taiwan Straits. We must remain clearly aware that the question of how to deal appropriately with these issues is a problem of great importance for Japan, and recognize at all times that the status quo is changing. However further events unfold, with my reappointment as Minister, I will maintain my present level of effort on the same basic policy course as before.
Question:
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasizes the need for "assertive diplomacy." How do you plan to put that approach into practice?
Minister:
At the least, assertive diplomacy means continuing our approach during the Koizumi cabinet. I have given 11 speeches in various places during these 11 months, including the Press Club, to explain the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official diplomatic policy. I believe you've read those speeches. Yet to cover in a speech all the points possible and still cover each one 'assertively' would make that 'assertiveness' meaningless. Rather, when we speak as the voice of Japan, it is important to say only what we have to say when we have to say it.
Question:
In terms of the Japan-US alliance, how is Prime Minister Abe's vision of "a Japan-US alliance for Japan and for Asia" different from that followed by the Koizumi administration?
Minister:
The alliance between Japan and the United States is the most fundamental aspect of the Japan-US relationship. The United States is the biggest country with which Japan shares various basic values, such as democracy, the market economy and the rule of law. The question being about Asia, in this vein, India is Asia's, and the worlds, largest democracy. Japan must focus its attention on Asia, including countries like India. I'm sure your question is a prelude to asking me about China, so I'll anticipate you by saying that I met with Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo yesterday on the occasion of his visit to Japan. In economic terms, relations between China and Japan are the best they have ever been. More cultural exchange and movement of people is occurring between our two countries than any time since the end of the War. Clearly these are good things. There had been no foreign ministers' meeting since May last year, which was before I assumed the office of Foreign Minister, meaning about a year had passed until the resumption of talks. However, since I met with Li Zhaoxing, the Foreign Minister, in May 2006, we have spoken often, and have had many conversations by telephone. As a result China added its voice to the unanimous decision to impose United Nations sanctions on North Korea. I think in many ways it was the two heads of state, Prime Minister Koizumi and President Hu Jintao of China, who were unable to communicate on the same wavelength. But as the new Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is inaugurated, we at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will make every effort at our level to arrange a summit between Mr. Abe and Mr. Hu.
Question:
Is a Japan-China summit a possibility before the APEC meeting in November?
Minister:
I wouldn't want to speculate on the likelihood of such a meeting at this point.
Question:
What do you think would be the minimum conditions for such a meeting? What conditions would Japan be unable to accept? And what environment do you believe is necessary for diplomacy between Japan and China?
Minister:
You're no doubt familiar with the course of events up to now. We have consistently said we are ready to meet at any time. It's the Chinese side that has laid preconditions. Japan is not demanding any preconditions for talks.
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