Press Conference by the Press Secretary 16 July, 1999

1. Visit to Japan of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Jenny Shipley of New Zealand
2. Provision of additional assistance for Kosovar refugees
3. Japan's position concerning the fighting in Kashmir
4. Japan's position concerning developments between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China
5. Security issues concerning reports of the development of a neutron bomb by China and infiltration of Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by Chinese warships

1. Visit to Japan of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Jenny Shipley of New Zealand

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon. Today I would like to make two announcements. The first announcement concerns the visit to Japan of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Jenny Shipley of New Zealand. Prime Minister Shipley, together with Mr. Shipley and a suite, will visit Japan next week from 22 July to 23 July 1999. During her stay in Japan, Prime Minister Shipley, as the APEC Chair this year, will hold talks with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura and other Cabinet members to exchange opinions, among others, on the APEC Ministerial and Leaders' Meetings to be held in Auckland in the coming September. Prime Minister Shipley will give a keynote speech for the APEC Symposium on the Asian Economy to be held 22 July and 23 July in Tokyo, in which the Asian economy will be comprehensively discussed. The Government of Japan will sincerely welcome the visit of Prime Minister Shipley, and we do believe that her visit will provide a valuable occasion to exchange views toward the success of the APEC Ministerial and Leaders' Meetings in Auckland and also to further strengthen the friendly relationship between Japan and New Zealand.

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2. Provision of additional assistance for Kosovar refugees

   My second announcement is on additional assistance for Kosovar refugees. On 16 July, today, the Government of Japan decided to extend to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) a total of US$20 million as additional humanitarian assistance to the Kosovar refugees in response to a UN emergency appeal. The assistance comprises a financial contribution of US$18 million to UNHCR and 240 million yen, equivalent to US$2 million, to the WFP. Of the contribution to the UNHCR, US$2 million will be allocated for the procurement, transportation, construction and maintenance of temporary shelters (500 prefabricated houses) that were used after the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake. Construction of these prefabricated houses and related activities will be carried out by Japanese NGOs, based on a contract with UNHCR. The remaining US$16 million will be allocated for UNHCR's activities in sectors such as shelter, logistics and health and sanitation.

   The contribution of 240 million yen to the WFP will be allocated for the provision of canned tuna from Japan. In the wake of the acceptance of the Peace Plan by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia side last month, close to 700,000 refugees in neighboring countries have returned to this date. They are put in an extremely difficult situation due to shortage in food and proper shelter in Kosovo. It has been reported that the majority of houses in Kosovo are either partly or totally ruined. It is now an urgent task of the international community to tackle the issues, such as the provision of shelter before winter arrives. On 27 April, Japan announced a contribution totaling US$200 million, including US$40 million contribution to UNHCR and other international organizations. In view of the large-scale return of refugees, as well as the proposal by the Kosovar refugees assistance mission of the ruling parties, Japan has decided to extend additional assistance as a result of intensive study on further contribution.

3. Japan's position concerning the fighting in Kashmir

   Q: Do you have any comment on the Pakistan army's direct involvement in the current fighting in Kashmir?

   Mr. Harada: I understand you have asked the same sort of question several times in the past, so I have to repeat the same answer again. Before that, I would like to repeat the comments made by Press Spokesman Sadaaki Numata on Tuesday concerning the withdrawal of armed elements from Kashmir. According to the most recent announcements by both the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Indian and Pakistani forces have consulted on the modality for withdrawal of the armed elements for the area, and India has agreed to cease its aerial bombing while this withdrawal takes place. From 10 July, the armed elements seemed to have begun to withdraw from the Indian part of Kashmir, and we welcome these developments. We do continue to hope that the withdrawal of the armed elements will go forward and that the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan will respect the line of control and thereby bring a halt to this fighting at an early date. It is with that in mind that we would like to continue to monitor the situation with interest.

   In response to your question, I have to repeat our basic position, which is fully reflected in the G8 Summit statement on regional issues. I am sure you are very familiar with them, but just in case, I will repeat the relevant part for you. The G8 leaders expressed their deep concern about the continuing military confrontation in Kashmir following the infiltration of armed intruders which violated the line of control. The leaders went on to say that they regard any military action to change the status quo as irresponsible, and also called for the immediate end of these actions and the restoration of the Line of Control, and for the parties to work for an immediate cessation of the fighting, full respect in the future for the Line of Control and the resumption of the dialogue between India and Pakistan in the spirit of the Lahore Declaration. With this statement we fully associated ourselves.

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4. Japan's position concerning developments between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China

   Q: What is Japan's position on the remarks made by President Li Teng-Hui of Taiwan to China?

   Mr. Harada: Our position on this was made clear by Mr. Numata at the last press conference, which I will repeat here. I can only speak for the Government of Japan, and as was made clear on Prime Minister Obuchi's visit to the People's Republic of China, there is no change in Japan's position with respect to Taiwan. Japan's position with respect to Taiwan is as follows. First, Japan firmly maintains the position expressed in the Japan-China Joint Communique of 1972, that Japan fully understands and respects the stand of the Government of the People's Republic of China that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. Secondly, the Government of Japan strongly hopes that the issue relating to Taiwan will be settled peacefully through direct dialogue between the parties concerned on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

   Q: What was the content of the meeting between Mr. Song Jian, Chairman of the China-Japan Friendship Association, and Foreign Minister Koumura? What did Mr. Koumura mention about the Taiwan issue?

   Mr. Harada: I have not read the whole report of the meeting so I cannot give the whole picture, but on the Taiwan issue, Mr. Koumura made it clear to Mr. Song Jian that Japan's position on Taiwan has not changed.

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5. Security issues concerning reports of the development of a neutron bomb by China and infiltration of Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone by Chinese warships

   Q: Does China's neutron bomb cause any new security concerns for Japan?

   Mr. Harada: We are now inquiring into the facts. I have no comment to make at this stage, except that it is Japan's consistent policy to call on all nuclear weapons' states to further strengthen their efforts for nuclear disarmament.

   Q: Are you protesting against the presence of 10 Chinese ships within the Senkaku waters?

   Mr. Harada: We are aware that the ten Chinese warships were navigating in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but they have already left. They have already navigated into the other side of the middle line of the EEZ between China and Japan. At this moment, my only comment is that we continue to monitor such activities closely.

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