Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > June 10, 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 Takeaki Matsumoto

Date: Friday, June 10, 2011, 4:24 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Visit to Japan by H.E. Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and Mrs. Yudhoyono
  2. Movements of Chinese Navy Fleet
  3. Japan-ROK Agreement on Korean Archives
  4. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan
  5. Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)
  6. Osprey Deployment in Okinawa

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Visit to Japan by H.E. Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and Mrs. Yudhoyono

Minister Matsumoto: H.E. Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia and Mrs. Yudhoyono will visit Japan at the invitation of the Government of Japan from Thursday, June 16 to Saturday, June 18. During their stay in Japan, President and Mrs. Yudhoyono will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and President Yudohoyono will hold talks with Prime Minister Kan. President and Mrs. Yudhoyono are scheduled to visit Kesennuma, a disaster-affected area in Miyagi Prefecture. We are hoping that their visit will further deepen the friendly relationship and strategic partnership between Japan and Indonesia..

2. Movements of Chinese Navy Fleet

Nagai, Nihon Keizai Shimbun: A Chinese naval fleet passed on the high seas near Okinawa two days in a row during the last few days. It does not seem to be a matter that MOFA must lodge a protest about  because the movements occurred on the high seas. However, I do not think MOFA can ignore the matter from a security viewpoint. As Foreign Minister, please tell us what steps you will take to ensure safety at sea.

Minister: We have been reiterating that it is desirable to increase the transparency of China's defense policy and military power. From this viewpoint, I think we must pay very careful attention to the movements of the Chinese fleet now.

3. Japan-ROK Agreement on Korean Archives

Tajima, Nihon Keizai Shimbun: I would like to ask you about the Japan-ROK Agreement on Korean Archives, which came into effect today. According to the Agreement, the archives in question are to be delivered within six months. Please tell us your thoughts on the timing and logistics of the handover.

Minister: The Agreement was approved by the Diet, and we have entered the stage of finalizing what practical preparations are required and communicating with the Korean side as necessary. . We must send more than 1,200 valuable royal protocols properly. I think that the record keeping of the archives and other preparations are making progress. The preparations for sending them will themselves require a certain amount of time. We are closely checking the practical steps, and we would like to observe the schedule while communicating with the Korean side within the prescribed range of the Agreement.

Tajima, Nihon Keizai Shimbun: Although you used the word "send," it has been reported that the government could handover  the archives to President Lee Myung-bak, who is expected to visit Japan late this year. Are you thinking of the date of the President's visit as a target ?

Minister: Frankly, it was no surprise when I read articles about the assumed schedule in the newspaper. I think the President's visit to Japan is worthwhile because it will deepen the relationship between Japan and Korea, and I would like to welcome his visit. However, I understand that the President's visit to Japan has not been finalized yet. Furthermore, I do not think that anything in detail has been decided.

4. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan

Nishida, Mainichi Newspapers: CIA Director Panetta, who has been appointed as the next U.S. Secretary of Defense, stated at a public hearing that he looks forward to consulting with Congress in order to decide on the best cost-effective way to relocate the U.S. Forces to other places, such as the coastal area of Camp Schwab. There are people who take his remarks as indicative of a willingness in Congress to compromise and adopt a flexible attitude toward the reviewing of the plan. On the other hand, some people agree with Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services Levin, who said that Panetta’s remarks did not signal a commitment for the Kadena merger plan. Please tell us what the Japanese government think of the remarks and if the government is interpreting the remarks as indicative of a flexible attitude on the part of  the United States.

Minister: I think he mentioned his stance at a Congressional hearing. I understand that CIA Director Panetta was formerly a member of Congress. Frankly speaking, as a Diet member, I would answer similarly if I were asked in the Diet. Therefore, I do not think what he said itself is something new. In a sense, as I have been reiterating, influential members of Congress besides the CIA Director have made various suggestions on financial issues and progress. It is my frank opinion that the U.S. government's attitude to the issue has not changed.

Matsudo, Ryukyu Shimpo: I heard that CIA Director Panetta said that he would like to consider the best and most cost-effective measure. In my understanding, Japan and the United States have been moving forward with  the current plan, which seems to be a little at odds with what he said. Could you tell us your view?

Minister: I think research on what is best or most cost effective is an approach that should be made when deciding on policies. Therefore, I think it is common-sense  for CIA Director Panetta, who has been newly appointed, to use that kind of expression when talking about policy.
　On top of that, we have been reiterating that it is the position of the Japanese government to promote and pursue the realization of the agreement made in May of last year as one of our policies over the relocation of the Futenma Air Station and return of the occupied area, though there may be open discussion of that policy in Japan and the United States. What I mean is that I do not think the stance  of the U.S. government has changed.

Matsudo, Ryukyu Shimpo: Would you tell us how the Japanese government confirmed the intension of the U.S. government and CIA Director Panetta's remarks?

Minister: His remarks were made in  public, and we were given to understand that he made the remarks.

Matsudo, Ryukyu Shimpo: Did you not confirm what he said through a diplomatic channel?

Minister: We heard that he made the remarks. We are now checking the contents of the remarks, and I have not yet received a report on the contents. The remarks, however, were made in public during his Congressional confirmation. Therefore, I do not think that we need to confirm what he said.

5. Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)

- (Omitted)

6. Osprey Deployment in Okinawa

Tsuruoka, Asahi Shimbun: With reference to the realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan, I would like to ask about the deployment of the Osprey. I am aware that no formal notice to Japan as a recipient country has been received. However, the Defense Minister says that this is not a matter subject to prior consultation with the United States in accordance with the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, and I understand that the government does not interpret this as falling under the category of major changes in equipment.
　On the other hand, when the Democratic Party was an opposition party, it called for the clarification of the prior consultation system. I wonder why you are going to accept this deployment with no prior consultation with the United States this time in spite of Okinawa's opposition. Now that your Democratic Party is in power, would you please tell us the reason for this decision in your capacity as the Foreign Minister of Japan?

Minister: As you are aware, the matter is not subject to prior consultation, and I do not think you need further explanation about it.
　Of course, there are matters that are and are not subject to consultation under the current system. Apart from that, from the viewpoint of discussing various matters with the United States, we are able to develop various types of cooperation under the relationship between Japan and the United States and seek information as well.
　As for the Osprey, we have informed the United States that we would like to collect information about the deployment. We think that the most important thing is to collect accurate information and explain it to Okinawan people precisely.

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