Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > October 23, 2012

(* 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: Tuesday, October 23, 2012, 10:56 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Domestic political issues
  2. Sexual assault by U.S. servicemen
  3. Japan-Russia relations
  4. Security measures
  5. Election for the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council
  6. Visit to Europe
  7. Revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement
  8. Senkaku Islands

1. Domestic political issues

Yamaguchi, TV TOKYO: Minister of Justice Keishu Tanaka has resigned. Firstly, please offer us your view on this matter, and on the responsibility of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for appointing him as Minister of Justice.

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: I do not have any particular comment on the resignation of Minister Tanaka. I do not believe I am in a position to comment on this matter, either.

Yamaguchi, TV TOKYO: On the resignation of Minister Tanaka, he was the seventh Minister for the Abduction Issue since the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came into power. What is you view on the impact of his resignation on the abduction issue, and how do you regard the situation?

Minister Gemba: In any event, all relevant information on the abduction issue is reported respectively from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue or the Minister for the Abduction Issue to the Prime Minister’s Office. Since the prime minister’s office makes judgment based on the collected information, I believe the impact must be minimized and we must work to eliminate any impacts.  

2. Sexual assault by U.S. servicemen

Yamaguchi, TV TOKYO: With regard to the gang rape incident by U.S. servicemen, the U.S. forces has announced their recurrence prevention measure. Please give us your response. And at dawn today, Japan time, Governor Hirokazu Nakaima of Okinawa Prefecture met with high-level U.S. government officials in Washington and directly lodged a protest. How will the Government of Japan plan to face the rising voices of opposition in Okinawa?

Minister Gemba: This is a heinous and impermissible incident. I was visiting Europe at the time, but as soon as I received information on this from Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shuji Kira, I instructed him to take stringent measures on the spot. Specifically, I mentioned that a curfew should be imposed on U.S. military personnel including those here temporarily. I appreciate the actions by the U.S. side to the extent that they responded immediately. However, I think it is necessary for the Government of Japan to continue requesting for further concrete measures. We need to promote substantial efforts so that these kinds of incidents never occur. Merely repeating words such as “enforcement of official discipline” or “recurrence prevention” is not enough. The liberty card program is currently under review. This is a review of regulations on off-duty activities, and since we are working with the U.S. side on how to regulate free time out of working hours, I hope to express our requirements and concrete ideas to the U.S. side.

Toiyama, Ryuku Shimpo: Could you show us some of the specific measures you have in mind?

Minister Gemba: After returning to Japan last weekend, I have wasted no time and have called relevant personnel and held discussion since yesterday. We are not yet at the stage of discussing what specific requests we will convey to the U.S. side but I stand firm on the belief that we must actively listen to the voices of the people of Okinawa and continue addressing the matter.

Toiyama, Ryuku Shimpo: Do you have any specific schedule regarding when the additional measures, including the reviewed liberty card program, will be announced?

Minister Gemba: We are not yet at the point of discussing that.

Mekaru, Okinawa Times: I believe you met with Minister for Postal Service Privatization and Minister of State for Disaster Management Mikio Shimoji yesterday. I understand that in that meeting, Minister Shimoji mentioned perpetuation of the curfew and also measures to stimulate Okinawa’s local economy. How do you regard his opinion on these issues?

Minister Gemba: I think we must discuss various proposals and thoroughly investigate the resulting effect, and then, we the Japanese side should express our view to the U.S. forces or the Government of the United States.

3. Japan-Russia relations

Ando, Hokkaido Shimbun: I understand that you will be having a meeting with Mr. Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, today. I believe it is the first time for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hold a meeting with the Security Council of the Russian Federation. How do you regard the meeting with Mr. Patrushev who is known to be a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin? I understand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense have been involved in the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee until now; however, in terms of cooperation between the Russian Security Council and the Government of Japan, what do you think can be achieved?

Minister Gemba: The chair of the Security Council is President Putin. Security Council Secretary Patrushev, who will be arriving in Japan today, is said to be very close to him. I think it has a significant meaning for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish channels for dialogue with the Security Council. I believe it will be beneficial for a long time. From a short-term point of view, it will obviously be an important step in the area of national security prior to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s visit to Russia. Although I am not sure how all of you here present today view it, but I believe the current cooperation between Japan and Russia is working well. I believe the significance of starting focused discussion this way in the field of security, establishing channels for dialogue with the Security Council chaired by President Putin and having in-depth exchange of opinions on various areas including international affairs as the two countries’ cooperation steadily develops, are substantial.

4. Security measures

Nikaido, Asahi Shimbun: Regarding security, what is the significance or aim of enhancing security cooperation with countries surrounding China, including Russia and India with which enhancement of security cooperation was announced yesterday, and also Australia?

Minister Gemba: It is not that a specific country is taken into account but rather, that in the Asian-Pacific region as a whole, or the world over, the strategic environment is changing on a global scale, and the recognition of that change is what I believe must be shared. This recognition should be shared with Russia, India, and even with China. Substantiating Japan-Russia’s form of cooperation in areas such as security and defense based on that recognition is something I regard as extremely meaningful.

5. Election for the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council

Sugimoto, Sankei Shimbun: I have two questions regarding the election for the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. First, which country did Japan vote for? Second, there have been reports that Japan voted for the Republic of Korea and I understand that since the election has always been conducted by a secret ballot, it is the official position of the Government of Japan to not disclose its voting choice. I understand that basic position. However, there have been various issues between Japan and the Republic of Korea since August, and public interest is increasing on this issue. Do you believe it is still appropriate not to disclose voting behavior based on conventional policy even in the context of developing democratically supported diplomacy?

Minister Gemba: As you just mentioned, the election is conducted by a secret ballot, and the candidates include various countries. Respecting relationships with such countries, I believe in basis that we will not publicize our voting choice. The voting decision is made based on a comprehensive judgment.

6. Visit to Europe

Kaku, Xinhua: I would like to ask about your visit to Europe. Have you obtained any remarks of understanding or support for Japan’s position regarding the current friction between Japan and China from your counterparts at the meeting in the three countries you visited?

Minister Gemba: I’m sure you are already aware, but we shared the view of addressing the situation based on international law and in a peaceful manner with all three countries. This is our policy, and on Japan’s position, we carried out various in-depth closed discussions. As a result of the intensive exchange of opinions, there were varying remarks, some of which were made on a public occasion, but what I can disclose here is that we shared the view that we would handle the matter in accordance with international law and in a peaceful manner, as I just mentioned. In that sense, I believe that it is not different from Japan’s position.

7. Revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement

Yoshida, Nishinippon Shimbun: Voices calling for the revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement are once again rising in Okinawa. I believe that the DPJ referred to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement in their manifest. Please tell us your current opinion on this.

Minister Gemba: Is this a question with regard to the incident of U.S. military personnel?

Yoshida, Nishinippon Shimbun: My question is of course with regard to the incident, but I am asking with the knowledge that the recent incident is not directly related to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.

Minister Gemba: As you just mentioned, it is obviously not directly related to the Agreement. Therefore, I think we need to fully consider the meaning, its significance and the effect as well as the results that can be achieved, and determine the timing based on that deliberation.

Yoshida, Nishinippon Shimbun: When you say you need to determine the timing, do you mean that the revision (will take place?)
 
Minister Gemba: I believe I have mentioned this before, but what I have consistently said is that as we have been moving forward with the so-called realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, we hope to consider the issue of the revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement by taking into consideration the status of such progress and other matters. In that sense, basically there will be no change, but I would like to consider the matter carefully from the perspective that I just mentioned.

8. Senkaku Islands

Sakamoto, NHK: I would like to ask about the Senkaku Islands. Foreign ministerial talks were held with Panama yesterday. Were there any talks on the Senkaku Islands during the meeting?

Minister Gemba: There were certain exchanges.

Sakamoto, NHK: As ASEM and ASEAN meetings are coming up, do you intend to seek understanding from the attending countries on the issue of the Senkaku Islands?

Minister Gemba: That is yet to be determined.

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