(* 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, August 7, 2012, 9:30 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main topics:
- Deployment of Ospreys in Japan
- The Senkaku Islands
- Follow-up questions concerning the deployment of Ospreys in Japan
1. Deployment of Ospreys in Japan
Iwata, NHK: Minister of Defense Morimoto visited Washington last weekend and held a meeting with Secretary of Defense Panetta of the United States. Minister Morimoto requested Secretary Panetta to swiftly provide accident investigation reports, but Secretary Panetta, while showing his understanding about Japanese concerns, did not seem to have changed the plan to operate the aircraft from October in a full-fledged manner. What is your opinion on this issue?
Minister Gemba: I do not prioritize the schedule over everything else. The Government of Japan will independently confirm the safety and clearly explain to Japanese people, especially to the people of Okinawa and Iwakuni. Until the safety is confirmed, flight operation will not be carried out. In addition, operational rules will be discussed thoroughly between the governments of Japan and the United States. I think such actions are important.
At the same time, it is not that we are taking these actions because we are asked by the United States to do so. Recognizing that this is necessary for the security of Japan and of East Asia, we will make the security-related needs and very important safety confirmation compatible. However, I do not prioritize the schedule over everything else.
2. The Senkaku Islands
Li, Hong Kong Phoenix TV: I would like to ask a question concerning the Senkaku Islands. At the end of the last week Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, the President of Taiwan, made a proposal concerning the Senkaku Islands. He proposed that China, Taiwan, and Japan jointly develop the East China Sea. What is the opinion of the Government of Japan concerning his proposal?
Minister Gemba: I have read the summary of President Ma Ying-jeou’s initiative, or a released statement. I think that includes Taiwan’s own assertion.
The Senkaku Islands are, needless to say, the inherent territory of Japan and, based upon international law and in light of historical facts, there is no doubt that this is the case. There is no issue of territorial sovereignty. Therefore, we cannot accept Taiwan’s own assertion.
I do not want the circumstances related to the Senkaku Islands to have an impact on the current good Japan-Taiwan relations. I do not hope that it will happen at all.
Let me add that I think that it is important to advance specific cooperation for peace and stability in the East China Sea.
Li, Hong Kong, Phoenix TV: The “specific cooperation”, is there a possibility of the Government of Japan considering cooperation with Taiwan?
Minister Gemba: Based on the premise that we cannot accept any Taiwan’s own assertion concerning the Senkaku Islands, various ways of cooperation concerning the East China Sea are conceivable, although nothing has been crystallized yet.
3. Follow-up questions concerning the deployment of Ospreys in Japan
Hiyane, Okinawa Times: Is the next Japan-U.S. Joint Committee meeting scheduled?
Minister Gemba: We frequently hold the meetings. No, I would rather say we will frequently hold the meetings. You can consider that we hold the meeting once a week or once every two weeks. It is because it is important. Perhaps the publicly disclosed schedule shows that meetings are held in a slightly wider interval. Yet, we quite frequently hold such meetings.
Hiyane, Okinawa Times: What is the publicly disclosed schedule?
Minister Gemba: I’m afraid but I do not have one here.
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