(* 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: Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 3:45 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) Foreign Minister Matsumoto’s Attendance at the Mercosur Summit Meeting and Visit to Brazil
- (2) Exchanges of Diplomatic Notes Concerning the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the Republic of India
- (3) Meeting of Officials in Charge of Reconstruction and Economic Diplomacy (Asia-Pacific)
Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (2+2 Meeting)
Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)
Ministers' Overseas Official Trips
Summit-level Diplomacy

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Foreign Minister Matsumoto’s Attendance at the Mercosur Summit Meeting and Visit to Brazil

Minister Matsumoto: I am going to leave Japan today to attend the Mercosur Summit Meeting and visit Brazil. I have been explaining this to the Diet members of ruling and opposition parties for a number of times. Due to the current situation, I was not able to obtain their full understanding. However, I decided to take this official trip in the belief that I was able to inform them of the significance of the official trip.
First, I will attend the Mercosur Summit Meeting, which will be held in Asuncion, Paraguay. Then I will visit Brazil. I will be the first Foreign Minister of Japan to visit South America in three years. I will deliver a speech at the Mercosur Summit Meeting. Mercosur is a customs union which consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The economic scale of Mercosur is greater than that of ASEAN. I would like to convey Japan's idea of strengthening the relationship between Japan and Mercosur in view of such an aspect. I In Brazil, I will hold meeting with H.E. Amb. Antônio de Aguiar Patriota, Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil. In addition, I would like to hold talks with representatives of the Japanese community in Brazil.

(2) Exchanges of Diplomatic Notes Concerning the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the Republic of India

Minister: Following today's Cabinet decision, diplomatic notes concerning the entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the Republic of India will be exchanged on June 30, and the Agreement will enter into force on August 1. We are hoping that the Agreement will further strengthen the strategic global partnership of both countries with the promotion of the economic relations between two countries.

(3) Meeting of Officials in Charge of Reconstruction and Economic Diplomacy (Asia-Pacific)

Minister: A meeting of officials in charge of reconstruction and economic diplomacy (Asia-Pacific) will be held on June 30 from the viewpoint of revitalizing exports from Japan and increasing the number of foreign visitors. Officials of Japanese diplomatic establishments in major countries and regions as well as those of domestic ministries and agencies concerned are expected to attend the meeting. Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuo Yamahana is expected to attend and make opening remarks at the meeting. We would like to take this opportunity to discuss the problems of import restrictions and the transmission of information on Japan Brand, aimed at conveying a message that Japan is open for business and travel. We hope that this meeting will be a fruitful one.

2. Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (2+2 Meeting)

Saito, Kyodo News: I would like to ask a question about the Common Strategic objectives of the 2+2 Meeting and future policies toward China. As you are aware, the word "China" appears in the part related to the common strategic goals in the paper. The words "South China Sea" are not used, but the reinforcement of Japan-U.S. cooperation is stipulated in the Common Strategic objectives from the viewpoints of sea-lanes and freedom of navigation. I wonder if there is potential logical inconsistency between the stance of Japan and the United States and the reinforcement of Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests between Japan and China. I also wonder how Japan will explain the basic 2+2 standpoint of Japan to China if there is an opportunity to do so. Please tell us your views on these two points.

Minister: The fundamental of the 2+2 Meetings is deepening of the relationship between Japan and the United States. As for security aspects, we have the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements; the foundation of which is the defense of Japan, but I think there is a common perception that Japan and the United States are in pursuit of regional stability, which will ultimately contribute to the peace and safety of the international community. It is true that China has come to possess a large presence in various aspects in the Asia-Pacific region, and it is the common recognition of both Japan and the United States to build constructive and positive relations with China. In my understanding, expressions of the 2+2 paper are based on this common recognition. You mentioned problems in freedom of navigation and safety at sea. I think such problems including piracy issues are problems of all areas and all countries.

Saito, Kyodo News: I would like to confirm two points. First, I wonder whether the expressions "freedom of navigation" and "sea-lanes" in the common strategic goals have been used without the South China Sea kept in mind concretely. Second, the expression "cross-strait relations" appears in the paper. China has been maintaining that the cross-strait relations and Taiwan issue are matters of China's sovereignty. Please tell us the standpoint of Japan in these points.

Minister: First, you may understand freedom of navigation and safety at sea is an issue of the entire ocean. In my understanding, the expression in the paper includes the point that Japan and the United States, as I said before, would take seriously the various issues that various countries may raise in various sea areas.
With regard to the cross-strait relations, as I mentioned, Japan and the United States are in pursuit of the stability of the region and peace and safety of the international community. Furthermore, the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty stipulates that both countries have a common concern in the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East. We have been explaining at the Diet in the past that the Far East includes Taiwan and its vicinity. On that basis, the statement has expressed that Japan and the United States welcome the progress of the recent dialogue between China and Taiwan in the hope of promoting the peaceful solution of the problems through their continuous dialogue in the future.

3. Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)

Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)

4. Ministers' Overseas Official Trips

Nishida, Mainichi Newspapers: You told us at the beginning about your official trip to South America. It has been the usual practice of Japanese Ministers to take official trips abroad with the consent of ruling and opposition parties. Your last official trip for the 2+2 Meeting was against the usual practice and so is your official trip this time. Yesterday's Cabinet reshuffling partly may have affected the absence of the consent. What reason do you think obstructed the consent of the Diet this time? The opposition parties will continue hardening their attitude. Are you going to continue taking official business trips under the Government's decision? On the other hand, there may be an idea of abolishing this practice. Please tell us your understanding to my question including the idea of abolishing the practice.

Minister: As I acted as Chairman of the House Steering Committee before, I am well aware that a great deal of time is required to discuss the relationship between Ministers' overseas official trips and the consent of party Diet affairs committees or the consent of the House Steering Committees, or whether it needs to be consented by, reported to or understood by the committees. Therefore, I need a little time to answer your questions and I would like to decline to comment on the matter today.

Inada, NHK: Could you give us a summary then?

Minister: I would like to have an opportunity for every one of you to get together and talk about this matter. It has a long history and background.

5. Summit-level Diplomacy

Nanao, Nico Nico Douga: I would like to ask you about the summit-level diplomatic schedule of the Japanese Government including Japanese and Chinese leaders' mutual visits, President Lee Myung-bak's visit to Japan, and the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to the United States early in September. There are concerns about a slowdown in summit-level diplomacy because the Prime Minister did not clearly mention when he would resign. Could you tell us your views on this point?

Minister: As a matter of course, diplomacy is humans' activities that involve all aspects of human factors. Basically, however, diplomacy is the job or activity of managing the relationships between countries. The United States, South Korea, and China, as you mentioned, are very important countries for Japan. It has been the usual practice of Japan and these countries to send their leaders mutually in a "perfectly periodic" manner or close to it if the expression "perfectly periodic" is not suitable. For example, it is Japan's turn to send its leaders to China this year. I think we should maintain this practice. This is not a promise between persons but countries, which is to be kept regardless of the domestic political situations, and we think it is our responsibility, as those who in charge of foreign relations, to keep the promise.
With consideration of this, it is true that we will be able to build human relationships when leaders communicate each other for a certain period of time. On the other hand, everything has its limit, and democracy does not expect a very long-term administration. This should be taken into consideration. In the period of transformation, in particular, heavy loads are imposed on the administration, or the Cabinet. When you looked back to history, you would realize that administrations in the periods of transformation had to shoulder heavy loads. As for diplomacy, I think it is our duty to make efforts not to cause diplomatic stagnation as you mentioned.

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