Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > March 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: Friday, March 23, 2012, 9:30 a.m.
Place: In front of Minister’s Reception Room

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Visit to Okinawa
    • (2) Relaxation of Import Restriction by the Hong Kong Government on Food and Agricultural Products from Japan
    • (3) Japan-China-ROK Investment Agreement
    • (4) Measures of the EU concerning the Insurance/Re-insurance on Transport of Oil from Iran
  2. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan
  3. Situation in Iran
  4. Japan-China-ROK Investment Agreement
  5. Japan-China Relationship

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Visit to Okinawa

 Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: I will visit Okinawa today and tomorrow and hold talks with Governor Nakaima of Okinawa Prefecture. I will report the current situation of the ongoing Japan-U.S. consultation on the realignment of the U.S. Forces in Japan. Also, I would like to listen to Governor’s requests for the reference of the future consultations I will also exchange views with Lieutenant General Kenneth J. Gluek, Okinawa Area Coordinator　and will visit Camp Foster.

(2) Relaxation of Import Restriction by the Hong Kong Government on Food and Agricultural Products from Japan

 Minister Gemba: Hong Kong is the largest importer of Japanese food and agricultural products. The Japanese government has requested Hong Kong government on various occasions to relax their import restrictions on food and agricultural products from Japan. I have also sent letters to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The government of Hong Kong notified Japan by its letter dated March 21 that they concurred on the format of the radioactive substance inspection certificate which is required for exporting meat and poultry from Fukushima, Tochigi, Gunma, Ibaraki and Chiba Prefectures. This means that Hong Kong has lifted all its restrictions on food imports from Japan, except for specified food items such as fruits, dairy products and powdered milk from the five prefectures mentioned above. We highly evaluate the measure taken by the Hong Kong government this time and we will continue to request the lift of all the import restriction on Japanese products.

(3) Japan-China-ROK Investment Agreement

 Minister Gemba: Since we shared the view on starting the negotiation in the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting in January 2007, we have held a total of 13 negotiation talks over the last 5 years until March this year. In the latest meeting, we were able to conclude the negotiation after the final coordination was made. In view of the fact that there are already three bilateral investment agreements among the three countries respectively, we have concurred on new provisions through the negotiations aimed at building a framework for better investment. This agreement, especially in relation to China, has raised the level of protection in general.  This treaty contains provisions on national treatment and most favored nation treatment as in the existing Japan-China Investment Agreement, and it also provides for provisions on intellectual property rights, fair and equitable treatment and transparency. The Agreement includes articles on ISDS procedures which are often talked about in relation to the dispute settlement between investors and signatory countries, prohibition of specified technology transfer and freedom of remittance. We will keep working to have the treaty signed as early as possible.

(4) Measures of the EU concerning the Insurance/Re-insurance on Transport of Oil from Iran

 Minister Gemba: This is an issue on which I have received a question earlier. Depending on the content of the measure, it could affect the international oil market and our oil imports from Iran. I made a phone call to Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU. I also worked on German Foreign Minister Westerwelle on this matter over the phone last night. I would like to continue this effort.

2. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan

 Shimada, NHK: With regard to your visit to Okinawa from today, you mentioned earlier that you will explain about the result of the Japan-U.S. consultation during the visit. I understand that the discussion is being conducted mainly on the troop deployment from the aspect of deterrence. What exactly will you tell Governor Nakaima, and what are the things that you would like to hear from him? Since it has already been concurred on between Japan and the U.S. that the issue of Camp Zukeran should be treated with priority, can I understand that you are inspecting the camp site in anticipation of its return?

Minister Gemba: I would like to explain to the Governor about the progress of the Japan-U.S. consultation in detail. As the consultation is still under way, there are things that we can publicize and things that we can talk only on a confidential basis. An informal meeting is scheduled and I will brief him on the progress of the consultation there.　
During my last visit to Okinawa, there was a talk on delinking the package. As Prime Minister visited Makiminato Service Area the other day, I would like to visit Camp Zukeran (Camp Foster)　for close inspection. The area also has Industrial Corridor and I would also like to inspect it for the reference of the Japan-U.S. consultation.

3. Situation in Iran

Kamide, Freelance: Let me ask you a fundamental question about the Iranian oil. The U.S. has National Defense Authorization Act and it is a domestic law. As such, some media are criticizing the structure that other countries obey the domestic law of the U.S. You may be in a difficult position to comment on it as Japan is, as many people put it, bound by its loyalty to the U.S., but how do you intend to deal with this issue in the whole framework? Are you going to leave it just as a problem of the U.S.? There will be a lot of problems like this from now. For instance, in the Osama bin Laden case, only the U.S. special envoy was keeping a high profile. There will always be such a problem in the diplomacy. How does the government of Japan plan to cope with it?

Minister Gemba: EU, for its part, is implementing its own sanction measures. The point is that Iran’s nuclear development is a concern shared by the international community as a whole. I share the grave concern. Therefore, the question is how we should put pressure on Iran by means of international cooperation. It is possible that sanction measures implemented by one country can seriously affect a third country to a degree that cannot be overlooked, in terms of the effective implementation of sanctions. In such a case, we have to discuss the way such measures are implemented so that it will not give negative effect to other countries and at the same time not benefit Iran.
My view is that we are now at the stage of implementing sanctions against Iran by means of international cooperation, and what is important now is that we work in cooperation with the international community. At the same time, however, the demand for fossil fuel in Japan has been increasing after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Based on this fact, I have been working on and will continue the effort.

Kamide, Freelance: So can I understand that you will not take up this issue of U.S. domestic law?

Minister Gemba: Rather than not touching upon the issue, it was already discussed at the Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held last year. I have been saying that Japan will act in cooperation with the international community, that we are at the stage of exercising sanctions and that we should be careful in implementation for making the sanctions effective. As these talks were held on confidential basis, I have not announced them publicly until now. At some stage, I think, we will have to directly work on Iran. I think we are beginning to see some effects of the sanctions.

4. Japan-China-ROK Investment Agreement

Yokota, Mainichi Shimbun: The long negotiation for an investment agreement among Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been concluded, how do you foresee the possibility of Japan starting the Japan- China- ROK FTA negotiation at this moment, in relation to the Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting to be held in May?

Minister Gemba: I am not sure at the moment, but what I can tell you is that the Japan-China-ROK Investment Agreement will serve as a precursor to FTA of the three countries. In this regard, I think that the Japan-China-ROK Investment Agreement will provide a momentum to Japan-China-Korea FTA in the future. I believe that the conclusion in substance of this investment agreement has a major significance.

 

5. Japan-China Relationship

 Yoshioka, NHK: Today, DPJ Secretary General Koshiishi and former Prime Minister Hatoyama will be separately meeting with Mr. Xi Jinping. It may have an aspect of party-to-party exchange. What is the view of Ministry of Foreign Affairs on these meetings?

Minister Gemba: MOFA has been informed of these meetings all along. For these meetings, there have been arrangements that were made by us as well as those made at the party-to-party level. Since we have been communicating with each other on this issue, I think it is a good thing to have active party-to-party exchange. This visit does not represent dual diplomacy in any way nor does it involve any negotiation. I think it is a very good thing that senior members of DPJ are visiting China this way in the year marking the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China.

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