Press Conference by the Press Secretary 14 November 1995

1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting and Economic Leaders Meeting in Osaka
2. State Visit to Japan by President William Clinton of the United States of America
3. Bilateral talks between Japan and the Republic of Korea
4. Present situation in the Embassy of Japan to Indonesia in Jakarta
5. Overall state of the Japan-U.S. bilateral relationship in 1995
6. The Japan-U.S. security relationship
7. Possible topics of discussion on the occasion of the Summit Talks between Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and President William Clinton of the United States of America
8. Recent remarks of a Japanese Cabinet member and the current state of the bilateral relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea
9. Importance of the Japan-U.S. security alliance in the post-Cold War era
10. Reported stance regarding APEC of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir bin-Mohamad of Malaysia
11. Issues for discussion at the Osaka APEC Meetings

1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting and Economic Leaders Meeting in Osaka

   Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This week, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) APEC Ministerial Meeting and Economic Leaders Meeting in Osaka will be held, and early next week the Summit Talks between Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and President William Clinton of the United States of America will be held in Tokyo. These two are the most important diplomatic occasions for the Government of Japan for the rest of this year. The Government of Japan has been endeavoring to make them a success. As for APEC, the press in Japan and abroad seemingly focuses too much on the principles on which the APEC members have not yet reached an agreement. However, the following important points should also get appropriate attention. First, at Osaka, APEC will move on, from a stage of visions and concepts of liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, to actual implementation of measures. Second, the Action Agenda encompasses not only the attainment of the long-term goals of liberalization and facilitation, but also the near- and medium-term measures which will be prepared and implemented in the Action Plans. Third, economic and technical cooperation is equally as important as liberalization and facilitation. A new scheme of Partners for Progress (PFP) will be used to strengthen this cooperation. Fourth, the Action Agenda includes several measures for business facilitation. Fifth, the Initial Actions, which consist of concrete and tangible measures, reflect the strong political will of the APEC members for liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.

2. State Visit to Japan by President William Clinton of the United States of America

   Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: As for President Clinton's visit, the Government of Japan understands why President Clinton has to shorten his stay in Japan. It is highly appreciated that President Clinton has decided to come to Japan in spite of mounting difficulties surrounding domestic issues. The Japanese side understands that his decision reflects the importance President Clinton attaches to the Japan-U.S. bilateral relationship and APEC.

3. Bilateral talks between Japan and the Republic of Korea

   Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: As for the bilateral talks between Japan and the Republic of Korea, I would like to announce the following. Tomorrow, on 15 November, from 14:45 to 15:30, there will be a foreign ministerial meeting between Japan and the Republic of Korea in Osaka. On 17 November, in the afternoon, there will be a tripartite foreign ministerial meeting between Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States. The time for the meeting has not yet been decided. On 18 November, from 11:15 to 12:00, there will be Summit Talks between Japan and the Republic of Korea.

4. Present situation in the Embassy of Japan to Indonesia in Jakarta

   Q: Regarding the situation in Jakarta at your Embassy, what do you plan to do? How will you deal with it?

   A: According to the report from the Embassy of Japan to Indonesia, 21 young Indonesians came to the Japanese Embassy at 07:30 on 14 November, and are still staying at the Embassy. The Embassy officials have been asking what they want the Japanese side to do. The group of 21 said that they came from East Timor, and the reason why they came to the Embassy is to appeal to the world regarding the East Timor issue. Presumably, they are seeking political asylum, but seemingly there has not been a consensus among the members of the group on where they would like to go. The Japanese side wants to do its best to solve this issue as quickly as possible.

5. Overall state of the Japan-U.S. bilateral relationship in 1995

   Q: There has been a lot of attention this year to various problems in the U.S.-Japan relationship -- the Okinawa rape case, the question of the military bases in Okinawa, the trade friction, the Daiwa Bank case. Do these problems mean that the relationship itself is deeply troubled, and if not, why not?

   A: First of all, both the Murayama Government and the Clinton Administration consider the bilateral relationship to be normally developing. Basically, the bilateral relationship is good. But, at the same time, it is true that the incident regarding the three United States servicemen has given a negative influence on the bilateral relationship. As you know very well, both Governments have been doing their best to solve this issue. When Secretary of Defense Dr. William Perry of the United States of America visited Japan, both sides decided to take some concrete measures, and when President Clinton comes to Tokyo to hold Summit Talks with Prime Minister Murayama, they will cover the whole range of the bilateral relationship and endeavor to appeal to the general public in Japan and the United States, that in spite of the sad incident, the importance of the bilateral relationship doesn't change, and both sides will further endeavor to develop this very important bilateral relationship.

   Q: Could you just summarize -- what is the importance of the bilateral relationship?

   A: First of all, in general, both sides repeatedly say that the Japan-U.S. bilateral relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, and there are three pillars in this relationship: one is the political and security relationship; the second is the trade and economic relationship; and the third is the bilateral cooperation on the global agenda. Both sides want to develop the bilateral relationship in a balanced way on the basis of the three pillars.

6. The Japan-U.S. security relationship

   Q: What will be the nature of the reaffirmation of the security relationship, and to what degree will that include specifics like theater missile defense (TMD)?

   A: The trade and economic relationship between the two countries was probably focused on too much, and for the past several months, both Governments have been endeavoring to appeal to the general public in the two countries regarding the importance of the alliance between the two countries; because the bilateral relationship between Japan and the United States is based upon the security alliance. Some people have doubts about the alliance, after the end of the Cold War; therefore, both Governments would like to explain to the general public about the importance of the alliance even after the end of the Cold War era. The two Governments have been doing their best to prepare a joint paper related to security issues, to be issued when President Clinton visits Japan, and I hope that you will be patient until the joint paper is announced on 20 November, when President Clinton visits Prime Minister Murayama. It will cover the importance of the alliance, but at the same time, there is a possibility that the two sides will cover some standing issues between the two countries in relation to security issues.

7. Possible topics of discussion on the occasion of the Summit Talks between Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and President William Clinton of the United States of America

   Q: Can you tell us what economic issues may be discussed between President Clinton and Prime Minister Murayama? For example, will there be any discussion of the Kodak-Fuji problem, or anything related to banking issues, supervision of overseas banking?

   A: The two leaders can freely talk on any subjects that they would like to raise, but because of the shortness of time, we don't expect that the two leaders this time will talk in detail on trade and economic issues, although we can't exclude the possibility that they will say something about the trade and economic relationship -- but probably not in detail about Kodak, banking, etc.

   Q: What about spying in the trade issues?

   A: I don't think it will be discussed in the Summit between the two countries.

   Q: Is one reason that there will be less emphasis on economic issues because of the sensitivity of the security alliance?

   A: No. I don't think so.

   Q: Would you rule that out completely as having any bearing whatsoever on the bilateral?

   A: No. As I told you, the economic and trade relationship is one of the three important pillars of the bilateral relationship, and since the beginning of the Framework Talks, both sides have been conducting a series of consultations on the trade and economic issues. Since we reached an agreement on the autos and auto parts issue, so far, there is not an imminent issue to be tackled by the two Governments immediately. But, that doesn't mean that we have solved all the issues; because, between the two big economic powers, we can't avoid the trade issues to come. For the time being, the trade issue is not pressing. Therefore, the two leaders will not discuss this in a lengthy manner this time. But this doesn't mean that it is because the security matter is sensitive, that they will not talk about trade and economic issues.

   Q: Has President Clinton's decision to shorten his visit had any effect on the agenda?

   A: I don't think so, as far as the Summit Talks are concerned.

8. Recent remarks of a Japanese Cabinet member and the current state of the bilateral relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea

   Q: Regarding the situation surrounding former Director-General of the Management and Coordination Agency Takami Eto and the Republic of Korea, how do you asses the relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea?

   A: As Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono repeatedly told the public, we are very much concerned about the undesirable atmosphere of the bilateral relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea. This is a very important bilateral relationship, and Foreign Minister Kono has long been wishing to hold talks directly with his counterpart in the Republic of Korea and to exchange views with his counterpart in a frank manner. Tomorrow, those two ministers will meet in Osaka, and they will touch on the history of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, and they will talk about the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and they will touch on the APEC issues. Probably, those two gentlemen will touch upon the past history of Mr. Eto. The most important thing is that they will cover those three subjects, and at the same time, Foreign Minister Kono would like to do his best to restore the normal and healthy relationship between the two countries, on the basis of Prime Minister Murayama's statement of 15 August 1995; Foreign Minister Kono would like to make the bilateral relations future-oriented. Foreign Minister Kono would like to restore the basic friendly relationship, ameliorating this undesirable atmosphere, and we would like to establish and develop a future-oriented relationship between the two countries.

   Q: How would Foreign Minister Kono restore the relationship between Japan and Korea? It seems to me that it is getting worse. About the Eto incident, do you think that Foreign Minister Kono will explain that Mr. Eto's remark was just an accident, so that the basis of the Japan-Republic of Korea relationship has not changed at all? Is that how he will approach it?

   A: As I told you, Foreign Minister Kono has been very much concerned about the bilateral relationship, and very much worried about the undesirable atmosphere, and he wants to do his best to restore the relationship. I cannot tell you how Foreign Minister Kono will explain to his counterpart the recent event, but in any case, the most important thing is, although we have difficult issues in the relationship, to restore the friendship, and to establish and develop a future-oriented relationship.

   Q: Would there be something from Foreign Minister Kono in the nature of an apology for what was said, or something along the lines of "we understand the situation is not as Mr. Eto described it"?

   A: I cannot tell you exactly what Foreign Minister Kono will say, but his stance is based on the statement which Prime Minister Murayama made on 15 August 1995. He will reiterate that this is the official stance of the Government of Japan. Probably, Foreign Minister Kono will explain to him how the Government of Japan responded to the incident involving Mr. Eto. On the basis of this, I think Foreign Minister Kono will do his best to restore the friendship, but I cannot tell you exactly how and what Foreign Minister Kono is going to say.

   Q: I think Mr. Eto's comments may have wider repercussions, because the President of the People's Republic of China, meeting with the President if the Republic of Korea today, voiced concerns about the possible resurgence of Japanese militarism. The topic could, therefore, very well come up between Prime Minister Murayama and President Kim of the Republic of Korea during the APEC sessions. Will Prime Minister Murayama then again explain the Japanese position about this, or give a rerun of its historical view, and so forth?

   A: I am personally not familiar with the content of the talks between the leaders of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea. But officially, the Government of Japan doesn't want to make any comment about third parties' talks. In any case, on the basis of the foreign ministerial meeting tomorrow, Prime Minister Murayama will meet President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea. We are sure that Prime Minister Murayama will explain to President Kim Young Sam the nature and the real content of the statement which he publicized on 15 August, and this statement remains valid, and Prime Minister Murayama firmly believes this statement.

9. Importance of the Japan-U.S. security alliance in the post-Cold War era

   Q: You mentioned earlier that the Clinton-Murayama Summit would reaffirm the importance of the security alliance. Why, in the post Cold War world, is this alliance still important? Why can't the American troops just go home?

   A: In spite of the end of the Cold War, still, there are uncertain situations in the Asia-Pacific region. If you look at the situation on the Korean Peninsula, for example, you will understand this. Practically, the Government of Japan thinks that there is no alternative to the present fundamental security policy. This alliance remains valid. It means that the full armament of Japan is not practical; neither is unarmed neutrality practical. So, if you discuss this matter, the only practical policy is the present formula.

10. Reported stance regarding APEC of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir bin-Mohamad of Malaysia

    Q: Regarding the statement about APEC of Mr. Mahathir -- his latest statement -- how do you view his statement regarding the future of APEC?

    A: Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir of Malaysia has decided to participate in the Osaka Economic Leaders Meeting. We welcome this. We are sure that Prime Minister Mahathir also welcomes the development of APEC. If you are talking about East Asia Economic Cooperation (EAEC), our position is as we have explained to you repeatedly, that we are still considering the matter.

    Q: I was mentioning his refusal of liberalization.

    A: We are not aware that Prime Minister Mahathir has refused the idea of liberalization.

11. Issues for discussion at the Osaka APEC Meetings

    Q: You had mentioned earlier about the Partners for Progress (PFP) -- that it will be announced at APEC -- any other issues that you know of that will be discussed at APEC before the Summit?

    A: Before they conclude the meeting, they are going to tackle the remaining issues of general principles: comprehensiveness, comparability, and non-discrimination. As our negotiators repeatedly tell you, we are cautiously optimistic, and probably already more than 90% or 95% of the issues have been solved. There are some issues which we will have to ask the ministers to solve.

    Q: Which ones?

    A: Those three general principles, and so on. But as far as PFP is concerned, it has been basically already agreed at the Senior Officials Meeting. So, the ministers will formally adopt this idea.