Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > November 4, 2011

(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba

Date: Friday, November 4, 2011, 11:08 a.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Visit to Japan by His Excellency Mr. Hamadi Ould Baba Ould HAMADI, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
    • (2) Visa Fee Exemption for Foreigners Visiting Three Disaster-stricken Prefectures
    • (3) Revision of Basic Policy on Minister's Press Conferences
  2. Noda Cabinet's Nuclear Policy
  3. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan
  4. Visit to North Korea by Seishiro Eto, Vice Speaker of Japan's House of Representatives
  5. Domestic Political Situation
  6. TPP

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Visit to Japan by His Excellency Mr. Hamadi Ould Baba Ould HAMADI, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Minister Gemba: His Excellency Mr. Hamadi Ould Baba Ould HAMADI, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania will visit Japan from Monday, November 7 to Wednesday, November 9 as a guest of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Minister Hamadi will have a meeting with me on Tuesday, November 8 and exchange views with parties concerned with JICA and private enterprises during his stay.
Japan and Mauritania have a good relationship in all areas including the fisheries sector that involves octopus and other marine product imports. Japan-Mauritania bilateral relations have been making steady progress since December 2009, in particular, when Japan opened its Embassy in Mauritania.
Taking the opportunity of his visit this time, we would like to further strengthen the bilateral relations.

(2) Visa Fee Exemption for Foreigners Visiting Three Disaster-stricken Prefectures

Minister: As a reconstruction assistance measure for three disaster-stricken prefectures, namely, Iwate, Fukushima, and Miyagi Prefectures, we have decided a policy to waive visa fees for foreigners visiting these three prefectures. We are now doing our best so that we can start accepting applications middle in November.
We would like to maintain this arrangement for the next five years. In addition, we would like to consider an extension of this period by the date of expiration with consideration of the progress of reconstruction in the three prefectures.
We hope that the implementation of the measure will lead to an increase in the number of foreigners visiting the disaster-stricken prefectures and help the reconstruction of the affected areas.

(3) Revision of Basic Policy on Minister's Press Conferences

Minister: I would like to inform you of a revision of our basic policy on the Minister's press conferences. In short, we are thinking of some changes while retaining the best of the part. Specifically, press conferences have been held on Tuesday and Friday afternoons or evenings, but there has been a debate in MOFA if the arrangement is appropriate from the viewpoint of the prompt and agile information release, about which I also had a question. Therefore, we are thinking of holding a press conference here every Wednesday afternoon in addition to the conventional press conferences on Tuesdays and Fridays after the cabinet meetings. As a result, the conventional opportunity of information release twice a week will increase to three times a week. Meanwhile we received opinions about the maintenance of an open environment and understood that media people do not have time to attend press conferences if they are held right after Diet sessions. Therefore, we cannot help holding conferences in the Diet in some cases like those that we held the other day in relation to the (Diet) committee meetings. However, I would like to hold press conferences at MOFA after finishing the cabinet meetings as much as possible, and I hope you will understand this. Consequently, two press conferences a week will increase to three press conferences a week, which we think better from a total point of view. We have been considering this for this, and we would like to put this into practice.

2. Noda Cabinet's Nuclear Policy

Yoshioka, NHK: At the G-20 Summit Meeting in France, Japan said it would increase nuclear safety standards to the highest level in light of the lessons learned from the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Similar statements on enhancing nuclear safety came out of the Japan-Vietnam Summit Meeting and the Japan-India Foreign Ministerial Meeting. Meanwhile, the Noda Cabinet has expressed the intention of reducing Japan's dependency on nuclear power on a medium- to long-term basis. My question concerns how Japan is going to use its nuclear technology domestically after raising safety standards to the highest level. Will Japan continue to operate a smaller number of nuclear power plants, or will it eliminate all of them in the future? I would like to hear your opinion as a member of the Noda Cabinet rather than as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Minister: I am not sure to what extent I can comment on the matter in my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs. As you know, the government will finalize Japan's future energy policy by the fall of next year. The bottom line is that the main focus of that policy will be how much progress can be expected in terms of innovation in the field of so-called environmentally friendly technology. That means we should consider to what extent improvements in existing technology will permit an increase in reliance on renewable energy. Furthermore, we should look at how far we can improve energy-saving technology. In addition, if our target date is, for example, the year 2030, we must consider that there are fields in so-called basic research in which the government will have to invest since it is difficult for private enterprises to do so aggressively without a short-term payoff. A simple example is solar cells. The development of ion solar cells to replace lithium-ion solar cells is an improvement of existing technology. The development of lithium-air cells will be the next-generation technology. I think that Japan's dependency on nuclear power will in fact be determined by the progress of such technology.
The issue of dependency on nuclear power tends to dominate the energy debate, but power consumption is another key issue. For example, our previous basic energy policy was to increase Japan's dependency on nuclear power to 52% or 53% by 2030 from 23% or 27% in 2007, though I don't remember the exact figures. The debate has been in terms of these dependency rates. But the key premise is that Japan's energy consumption in 2030 will be the same as it was in 2007. If there is progress in the development of innovative energy-saving technologies like those that I mentioned, Japan's consumption of electricity will decrease largely. This means that it is not possible to discuss the issue only in terms of the rate of dependency on nuclear power. Therefore, I think that the extent of progress of innovation in energy technology will be a major focal point. I do not think that we should make any hasty conclusions on the future of nuclear power at this moment. We need to take our time until September next year to think over the matter and come to a conclusion.

3. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan

Ida, Shukan Kinyobi: I would like to ask a question about the reorganization of the U.S. Marines in Japan. The III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa recently deactivated ''Marine Corps Bases Japan'' and established ''Marine Corps Installations Pacific'' as its replacement. The new headquarters is in command of Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe in Hawaii and Camp Mujuk in the Republic of Korea in addition to the Marine Corps bases in Japan, and it is under the direct command of the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington.
Article 6 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty allows the U.S. military to use bases in Japan ''for the purpose of contributing to the security of Japan and the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East.'' I suspect that this new regional command is in breach of that article, since the U,S. mainland and Hawaii can in no way be construed as part of the ''Far East.'' What do you think in this regard?

Minister: As you are well aware, we are seeking information on the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan. As a matter of course, the Minister of Defense has asked the U.S. Secretary of Defense to provide firm answers as part of the process of putting together the [realignment] package. I do not think that we are at a stage where I can definitely state the final arrangements for the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.

Ida, Shukan Kinyobi: Marine Corps Installations Pacific was activated on September 30. What do you think of the possibility that this represents a breach of the Far East clause?

Minister: Would you please allow me to look into this? I think I should answer the question after ascertaining all the facts. I am well aware that Article 6, as you mentioned, contains the provisions about the Far East. I have answered questions about these provisions in the past, and I fully understand the contents. However, I would like to answer after I get confirmation of the information that was the premise of your question.

4. Visit to North Korea by Seishiro Eto, Vice Speaker of Japan's House of Representatives

Ishida, Yomiuri Shimbun: On November 2, House of Representatives Vice-Speaker Seishiro Eto revealed that he is planning to visit North Korea with a group of legislators promoting the normalization of relations with North Korea. The National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea immediately issued a statement expressing fears that their visit would send the wrong message to North Korea. Concerns have been raised that such a visit would amount to dual diplomacy. What do you think of this matter?

Minister: Mr. Eto previously announced plans to visit North Korea as a member of the parliamentary group promoting soccer diplomacy. At that time, I asked him to consider his plans carefully. Regarding the current plan, I am aware of the matter, but I would like say that the Japanese government has nothing to do with this nor will it be involved. As this is an initiative by a group of legislators, naturally questions will be raised about the position that the Japanese government should take. In the first place, our policy has been that Japanese citizens should refrain from traveling to North Korea. We asked Mr. Eto and the other parliamentarians to refrain from traveling this time as well, though I suppose that they want to visit North Korea in their capacity as legislators.
Should they do so, it is extremely important that they are mindful of the basic stance of the Japanese government on North Korea. I believe that they will in fact act in accordance with that stance.. Needless to say, the Japanese government's basic stance is that Japan wants to normalize diplomatic relations with North Korea after settling our unfortunate past, and on the condition that the issues of abduction, nuclear arms, and missiles are solved comprehensively. We do not refuse to have dialogue with North Korea. However, we must get good results when we hold talks. In accordance with Japan's basic stance, we demand that North Korea take appropriate and concrete steps toward resolving outstanding issues including their uranium-enrichment project. Japan's commitment to this basic stance is unwavering. I think that the legislators will act accordingly with consideration of all these matters.

5. Domestic Political Situation

Tosa, Asahi Shimbun: Prime Minister Noda made a de facto international commitment at the G-20 in Cannes, France, saying that the Cabinet will submit a bill revising the Income Tax Act that will pass the Diet before the end of the current fiscal year. Then he alluded to the possibility of calling a snap election for the House of Representatives immediately after the passage of the legislation raising the consumption tax. He told reporters that he would test the confidence of voters after the legislation passes but before the tax hike is actually implemented. What do you think of this?

Minister: That's not necessarily what he meant. I was frequently asked questions on this issue when I served as policy chief for the Democratic Party of Japan. The consumption tax will not be raised immediately after the bill passes the Diet. There will be a period between the enactment and implementation. In any case, we must hold an election before raising the consumption tax rate, because it is so stipulated in the party manifesto. In other words, it was one of the DPJ's election promises, and I think the Prime Minister was saying that promise must be kept. But it is not necessarily our position that the Diet should be dissolved immediately after the bill passes the Diet.

6. TPP

Noguchi, Nippon Television: I would like to ask you about the TPP. The objections of opponents of the TPP include a claim that it would jeopardize food safety. They say that the TPP will obstruct Japan's application of its own regulations and endanger food safety by, for example, preventing it from requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods or foods with residual pesticides.
Do you think that Japan can ensure food safety if it participates in the TPP?

Minister: Let me comment in general terms only, to avoid any question about there being a lack of unity among Cabinet members. I would like to provide you with some general background information on the understanding that I am speaking on that premise. You raised the issue of food safety. In connection with food safety, there is a measure called the WTO-SPS Agreement. The WTO-SPS Agreement enables us to set a food safety level higher than international standards. That is one fact.
You mentioned genetically modified foods as well. This is a labeling issue. There are countries with strict labeling requirements. Among countries participating in the TPP talks, Australia and New Zealand are two examples. On the other hand, the United States does not have such requirements. I think it is important for all participating countries to discuss the matter thoroughly in order to make proper rules on the matter.
With regard to the issue of labeling, a large number of New Zealanders support that country's strict labeling rules. I think the situation is the same in Australia. Therefore, even if, for example, the United States were to demand that all such regulations be scrapped, that would not mean that the U.S. standard would necessarily prevail. It's not that simple. As a matter of course, we consider genetically modified foods to be an important issue. That is why, as I said, the WTO/SPS Agreement allows food safety levels to be set higher than international standards. Furthermore, this issue is being discussed by all countries participating in the TPP talks. It's not going to be decided bilaterally. For these reasons I would like to say that it's not simply a question of the United States imposing its standards unilaterally.
Please understand that what I mentioned is general background information.

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