(* 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 Takeaki Matsumoto

Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2011, 9:47 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) Inaugural Greeting
Basic Principles of Diplomacy
Domestic Politics (omitted)
Economic Diplomacy
Territorial Issues

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Inaugural Greeting

Minister Matsumoto: I am Takeaki Matsumoto and I was appointed today to serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Today, I received instructions from the Prime Minister, and from this point forward, I would like to put all my efforts into serving my role to carry out diplomacy.
   While it is needless to refer to the current situation in the Middle East and North Africa or the situation in North Korea as an example, diplomatic issues abound in the rapidly changing international community. In order to achieve our national interests, I intend to thoroughly tackle these issues as foreign minister.
   The upcoming diplomatic schedule includes my visit to the UK and the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in France next week. In addition, we will host the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Minister’s Meeting on March 19 in Kyoto. As I have been appointed as Foreign Minister amid this situation, I would like to seek the understanding of the Diet, so that first, I can visit the UK and attend the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. I intend to make thorough efforts and explain the diplomatic posture of our country.
   With regard to my position on foreign policy, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came into power two years ago, and the party launched its foreign policy. In other words, Minister Okada took the lead to launch something new while making painstaking efforts, and Minister Maehara, who took over that, made efforts to put DPJ diplomacy into orbit, so to speak, and as for myself, I had the opportunity to work as a part of the team in my capacity as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
   While working together in this team, it was apparent that we were reaching a point where progress was being made in placing DPJ diplomacy into orbit, as a matter of fact. I have nothing to say personally about Minister's Maehara's decision as a politician. However, as a member of the team that was conducting diplomacy under Minister Maehara, I feel that it was truly regrettable, but at the same time, considering that it is my responsibility as a successor to firmly place into orbit DPJ diplomacy, which was about to be placed into orbit, I would like to thoroughly carry on that task.
   Having received instructions from the Prime Minister, my policy is to further promote the deepening of the Japan-US alliance, as well as economic diplomacy. It is the government's most important responsibility to assure security and prosperity of our country and its people; I intend to make efforts toward the deepening of the Japan-US alliance in a way that is appropriate in the 21st century. In view of the Prime Minister's visit to the United States scheduled for the first half of this year, we would like to make preparations for that in close cooperation with the United States.
   In addition, with the solid Japan-US alliance as a foundation, I would like to make efforts to promote cooperative relations with China, South Korea, Russia, and other neighboring countries, as well as firmly tackle various issues. With regard to issues related to North Korea, I intend to make utmost efforts toward a comprehensive resolution of various issues such as the abduction, nuclear, and missile issues.
   At the same time, I would like to promote cooperation with ASEAN member countries, Australia, India, and other countries in the region, as well as develop an open, multi-layered network by utilizing APEC, EAS, ARF, and other frameworks for regional cooperation.
   With regard to economic diplomacy, we would like to make efforts so that we can produce as many concrete results as possible concerning FTAs, EPAs and multilateral free trade system that are appropriate for the inaugural year of the “21st century opening of Japan”, and at the same time, promote efforts by the entire nation toward securing infrastructure exports, and resource and food security. Of course, we would also like to proactively commit ourselves to climate change, nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, and other issues confronting the international community, as well as actively provide assistance to Afghanistan and other countries.

2. Basic Principles of Diplomacy

Oshima, Asahi Shimbun: I would like to ask you a question concerning the basic principles of diplomacy. On January 1, 2007, you posted an essay titled "The Course of Japan," saying, "At present, politics is facing the wrong direction. Politics led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has kept pursuing a policy that places priority on economic development, but the time has already come to start moving on a new path. The mistake was that the LDP chose to "follow the United States" in foreign affairs as well as in domestic affairs. I would like to ask you what difference there is between the diplomatic policy of the LDP and the diplomatic policy of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). What is DPJ diplomacy, which you just mentioned?

Minister: Having served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for six months, I feel that we, as well as well as everyone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are changing. During the 50 years of rule under the LDP, Japan achieved high growth, and I believe that that in itself should be appreciated as one of its achievements. By maintaining the Japan-US relations as it was at the outset, or in other words, keeping it intact forever, Japan actually achieved substantial growth in terms of national strength, including economic strength.
Therefore, I believe that it is very important to create bilateral relations by firmly re-examining the standpoints of 50 years ago that have changed from the viewpoints of both Japan and the United States, which is an ally, and conducting diplomacy by placing the relations in a new position.

Deguchi, Kyodo News: With regard to a matter related to the Japan-US alliance, you stated at the beginning that you intend to place priority on deepening the alliance. However, Mr. Maher, director of the Office of Japan Affairs, has recently created a problem by making various remarks. As I believe that Assistant Secretary of State Campbell will come to see you tomorrow, what do you intend to request the US side? Additionally, do you intend to lodge a complaint or the like?

Minister: If the reported remarks by Director of the Office of Japan Affairs Maher are true, they are extremely inappropriate as remarks by an official in charge of Japan Affairs, as well as unacceptable, as they hurt the feelings of not only the people of Okinawa but also all Japanese. I intend to say that they are extremely regrettable.
With regard to this, my understanding is that Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano, who is my predecessor, shall I say, as the acting Foreign Minister, has already conveyed such understanding of the Government of Japan regarding this matter and requested the US Government to respond by taking the feelings of the people of Okinawa and of Japan into consideration. When I meet Assistant Secretary of State Campbell tomorrow, I intend to firmly convey such Japanese sentiments once again.

Nishigaki, Jiji Press: The latest remarks by Mr.Maher, the director of the Office of Japan Affairs of the US State Department have triggered a strong backlash in Okinawa. There are views that the resolution of the Futenma Air Station relocation issue has receded as a result of this. Please tell us how you intend to deal with the Futenma Air Station relocation issue.

Minister: There is no change in our position to speak sincerely to the people of Okinawa. I believe that we must give serious consideration to the feelings of the people of Okinawa, as well as various remarks expressing such feelings, and firmly accepting them would lead to making sincere efforts to gain the understanding of the people of Okinawa. As we are actually in a position to make such sincere efforts, I believe that due to the current situation, I am not in a position to comment on the prospects.

Iwakami, Freelance: In a lecture for university students, Director Maher made remarks not only concerning Okinawa but also concerning the stationing of US forces in Japan. There are lines such as that "the United States can use land in Japan for its own interests, but that would not be possible if the Constitution should be revised"; or that "Japan offers very generous host nation support and this is a very good deal for the United States"; or that "this host nation support is a very good deal for the United States for which Japan pays a lot of money." Please tell us how you feel about these passages.

Minister: At this point, I have not confirmed yet whether what you just said were the contents of Director Maher's remarks, so I would like to refrain from directly commenting on that. As I said earlier, the section regarding Okinawa significantly hurt the feelings of not only the people of Okinawa but also the Japanese people and I stated that this cannot be tolerated and is regrettable. As for the host nation support, which you mentioned, for example, my understanding is that this is being implemented in this form as a result of thorough debates within Japan, as well as discussions between Japan and the United States. As for future plans, as you are aware, the agreement (on the host nation support) has been referred to deliberations at the Diet. Therefore, while we have to wait for deliberations at the Diet, I believe that the existing host nation support has been established under the mutual understanding of Japan and the United States as the results of discussions within Japan, between Japan and the United States, and of course, within the United States.

Kamide, Freelance: When I asked former Minister Maehara "what difference there is between the diplomatic policies of the LDP and DPJ," he said in a single phrase that "it was economic diplomacy." Although another reporter just asked you a question, I do not know whether there is such a difference compared to the LDP's foreign policies except for that. In particular, I feel that there was a problem with the Japan-US relations, over which former Foreign Minister Maehara struggled hard to regain lost ground resulting from various problems brought about by former Prime Minister Hatoyama. I cannot see what has changed to make it beneficial to Japan. Although I have the impression that there is hardly any difference compared to the LDP, please go a step further and cite the good points of the DPJ's policy toward the United States.

Minister: Of course, foreign policy has to have continuity, so in a certain sense, I am prepared to listen to various proposals broadly presented by opposition parties, as well as from circles outside the political arena, concerning how foreign policy ought to be. At the moment, however, as one in charge of the foreign policy of the Government of Japan, I believe that I have said that we will do what we can upon taking over what the government has agreed on as a pledge between countries, including agreements made during the time that the LDP was in power. However, as I said earlier, I feel that in a broad sense, there has been good communication between Japan and the United States over the past several months, at least over the past six months that I have been serving. Of course, this is diplomacy. With each country, in a certain sense, serving its national interests, there may be some cases in which both countries may be in agreement and other cases in which their interests may not necessarily coincide. I believe that there is good communication in the sense that in conducting good communication and discussions, the two countries are able to firmly work out arrangements. In that sense, Japan-US relations are serving as a great foundation for the national security of Japan as they were 10 years ago, and precisely because of that, the DPJ is also talking about positioning the Japan-US alliance as a cornerstone. However, even if we are talking about the same Japan-US relations, it does not mean that all problems must always have the same solutions amid changes that take place in the situation, the society, and the economy of each country. Therefore, I believe that quickly coordinating them is the foreign policy under the political leadership, advocated by the DPJ.

3. Domestic Politics (omitted)

Domestic Politics (omitted)

4. Economic Diplomacy

Noguchi, Nippon Television: I would like to ask a question concerning your foreign policy. During the press conference on the occasion of his resignation, former Foreign Minister Maehara cited deepening of the Japan-US alliance and economic diplomacy as what he wanted to entrust to his successor. With regard to economic diplomacy, Minister Maehara was a strong advocate of the TPP. However, there still remains strong opposition to that within the DPJ. What position do you intend to take with regard to TPP?

Minister: I believe that former Minister Maehara's position on the TPP was to actively participate in the negotiations on the TPP, put it up on the table for discussion, and make a decision on participating in the negotiations if necessary, upon gathering sufficient information. As it is indeed highly likely that the TPP will become a very big framework of economic partnership in the Asia-Pacific region, we should place it on the table for discussion and make a decision, while fully examining it to determine whether it would be beneficial to Japan. However, if we look back at past developments, by creating an economic situation where trade barriers are low in various international aspects, Japan has, in a large sense, eventually brought about great advantages to itself through technologies and economic power based on its traditional diligence, etc. In that sense, if the TPP promotes such economic partnerships, I think that we need to get involved in it proactively.
On this occasion where I have received this question, I would like to say that since we are yet to participate in the negotiations on the TPP, it would have to be within the scope of our information collection. I replied to interpellations at the Diet yesterday and today, and various discussions are being conducted on very broad themes, so I think that it is very important to firmly and specifically examine them. As I believe that it is important for us to provide an explanation as much as possible on the TPP itself, if the TPP is not understood very well in some quarters and appears very much as something that is really awful, I would like to provide further explanation and quickly create a situation in which we can have it examined accurately and have judgments made.

Yamaguchi, Asahi Shimbun: Aside from the TPP just mentioned, former Foreign Minister Maehara had established various pillars such as infrastructure export and had just established the fifth pillar the other day, please tell us whether as a member of the Maehara team, you have carried on the economic diplomacy of former Foreign Minister Maehara; whether you intend to go as far as to add something that characterizes yourself; and if so, what aspect you plan to further emphasize. I have one more question. As former Minister Maehara stated at the year-end or beginning of the year that he wanted to make efforts to hold direct talks with North Korea, do you intend to follow former Minister Maehara's policy line? Along with that, as I feel that it would be quite challenging, please also tell us what kind of scenario you have in mind as a way to make a breakthrough.

Minister: Of course, since Minister Maehara was the person in charge, I give full approval to using the title “Maehara diplomacy”. However, I had been working, considering this as the diplomacy of the Maehara Team. As a member of that team, I was involved in establishing the five pillars as was just mentioned, so I would like to work on this as a continuation of what I myself had been doing. Since I was also involved in establishing the fifth pillar, I think about firmly shaping the five pillar. In the process of conducting various activities, if there are other things that need to be turned into pillars -- and the fourth and fifth pillars were indeed such pillars -- I would like to add what is necessary in such a manner, as I have been telling the current parliamentary vice-ministers and officials in charge such as the vice-minister to "give me their straightforward opinions." So, for now, with regard to economic diplomacy, I would like to firmly carry on the five pillars.
In addition, there was mention of Japan-North Korea dialogue. I believe that you all are the ones who are the most familiar with the comments that former Minister Maehara has made since the end of last year. Japan does not intend to reject dialogue with North Korea. If North Korea shows a positive and sincere attitude toward resolving various issues such as the abduction, nuclear, and missile issues, we are prepared to respond in the same way. At the same time, we intend to firmly maintain collaboration among Japan, the United States, and South Korea.

5. Territorial Issues

Inada, NHK: Diet member Doi of the DPJ visited Takeshima Island in connection with the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union. On the occasion, as a Japanese Diet member, he signed a document prepared by the South Korean side that indicated that there is distortion with regard to Japan-Korea history. Please tell us how you feel about the fact that at a place where there is a territorial issue, he signed a document indicating that there is distortion in Japan-Korea history, especially amid extreme differences in view on historical issues between Japan and South Korea. In addition, please tell us how this incident could affect diplomacy in the future.

Minister: With regard to Takeshima, Japan has consistently taken the position that it is our inherent territory, and it will not change at all. I am aware that this has been reported by the media. Mr. Doi himself is not a part of the cabinet, although he is a Diet member belonging to the ruling party. As the government maintains a consistent position, this will not affect Japan-South Korea relations or the position of our country, and I will carry out diplomacy in a way that it will not have any impact.

Inada, NHK: Do you have any plans to take specific action against Diet member Doi, such as seeking an explanation from him?

Minister: If what has been reported is true, it would run contrary to the government's position. In that sense, if he is in opposition to the government's position as a member of the government and ruling party, I believe that the ruling party will have its own decision with regard to a Diet member of the ruling party,

Nanao, Nico Nico Douga: The people are extremely concerned about the issue of threats posed by Russia, China, and other countries with regard to Japanese territories. I would like to ask you once again what kind of posture you intend to take in handling diplomacy concerning such territories.

Minister: I believe that as the one in charge of the nation's foreign affairs, it is an extremely important responsibility to protect our sovereign territory. In that sense, I believe that with regard to our territories that have unfortunately been placed under control without legal grounds, it is our responsibility to assert that they are our inherent territories and make efforts toward achieving a status that is appropriate as our territories.

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