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(* 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, June 12, 2012, 8:40 a.m.
Place: In the Diet

Main topics:

  1. Questions concerning the issue of the Purchase of Senkaku Islands
  2. Questions concerning the statement of Mr. Uichiro Niwa, Japanese Ambassador to China
  3. Questions concerning the issue of the Purchase of Senkaku Islands
  4. Questions concerning the Deployment of Ospreys in Okinawa

1. Questions concerning the issue of the Purchase of Senkaku Islands

Akiyama, TV TOKYO: Yesterday, Governor Shintaro Ishihara of Tokyo Metropolitan Government once again stated that basically Senkaku Islands should be owned by the Government of Japan. Could you tell us how you are going to deal with this issue?

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: We are currently finding out the details of the purchase or utilization plan of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The statement, which he made yesterday, may offer us a kind of suggestion to the issue. However, as Chief Cabinet Secretary explained before, half of Senkaku Islands, which means four of the islets, are already owned by the Government of Japan. The rest of the islets are on lease to the government, and this fact is now under serious discussion.

The current issue lies in the domestic private ownership of the leased four islands. I think it is important that the Government of Japan maintains the islands peacefully with solid security, regardless of ownership. We are currently studying various measures to be taken from this point of view.

2. Questions concerning the statement of Mr. Uichiro Niwa, Japanese Ambassador to China

Akiyama, TV TOKYO: Governor Ishihara of Tokyo Metropolitan Government yesterday expressed his harsh opinion that Mr. Niwa, the Japanese ambassador to China, should be replaced. Do you have any plan to take disciplinary action against the ambassador?

Minister Gemba: I reprimanded him under my competence, and he has responded by expressing deep remorse. I think I need to take this fact into consideration.

3. Questions concerning the issue of the Purchase of Senkaku Islands

Hiyane, Okinawa Times: Like Governor Ishihara, the Mayor of Ishigaki City also criticized that the current maintenance and management system of the Government of Japan is not adequate. The Mayor urged the necessity of collecting tax, investigating the natural environment, visiting the islands for memorial services, and so on. What is your view on this matter?

Minister Gemba: I still do not have a full understanding of the statement that was made by the Mayor yesterday. However I think he referred to the history and all the actions taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the ones taken by the Liberal Democratic Party administrations. As I mentioned earlier, I think that we have to provide sufficient defense in the Nansei Shoto region first. It does not mean that we do not provide any defense there for now. Nevertheless, I think that is something we have to consider first. I have already mentioned about the ownership issue.

4. Questions concerning the Deployment of Ospreys in Okinawa

Hanamura, TV Asahi: I think this is a matter primarily handled by the Ministry of Defense, but I would like to ask about the issue of the temporary stationing of the Ospreys at the Iwakuni base. It seems like the issue that was raised once around March has come back again. The Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense went to Iwakuni to explain the situation yesterday and the city is reserving its reply for now.There seems to be a little confusion amog the people of Iwakuni. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, how do you understand the stationing of the Ospreys in Yamaguchi, though it is on a temporary basis?

Minister Gemba: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been coordinating with the US side for quite a long time, taking into consideration the situation and conditions of Okinawa, and various technical elements. If we want to deploy the Ospreys safely and smoothly in Okinawa, we can consider that Iwakuni is an air station with port facilities. So, in that sense, I think we need to gain the understanding of the people of Iwakuni somehow – I think we need to explain carefully so that we can handle the matters such as the transportation, unloading, maintenance of the aircraft, test flights, and so on.

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