Press Conference 9 May 2003

1. Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team to the People's Republic of China to cope with spreading of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
2. Reopening of the Embassy of Japan in Baghdad, Iraq
3. Third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Summit Meeting (PALM 2003)
4. Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Timor-Leste Accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
5. Question concerning upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President George W. Bush of the United States of America
6. Question concerning possible assistance to Taiwan to cope with SARS
7. Question concerning Japanese policy toward North Korea
8. Question concerning police raid on Japanese trading company exporting nuclear material to North Korea

1. Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team to the People's Republic of China to cope with spreading of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have four announcements to make.

   The first announcement is that Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi today sent a message to Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing of the People's Republic of China informing him of the decision of the Government of Japan to dispatch a four-person Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team to China to cope with the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

   This team will be in China from 11 to 16 May and will consist of two doctors and two officials (one each from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)). The purpose of this dispatch is to give advice and instruction on the symptomatic treatment and infection control of SARS to the Chinese medical team, and is based upon a request from the Chinese Government.

   Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Chikara Sakaguchi today announced that the Government of Japan would give additional assistance to China to cope with the situation. The estimated amount of that assistance will be approximately US$ 13 million, or 1.5 billion Japanese yen.

   Related Information (Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team to China to Cope with Spreading of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS))
   
2. Reopening of the Embassy of Japan in Baghdad, Iraq

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the reopening of the Embassy of Japan in Baghdad, Iraq.

   The Government of Japan yesterday reopened its Embassy in Iraq in the light of the development of the situation there. Following this decision and also the reopening, the Japanese Government decided to dispatch Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi to Baghdad to make a first survey and risk study of the current situation in Baghdad by having a direct meeting with the officials of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) of the United States Department of Defense, and also meeting with the United Nations officials stationed in Baghdad. Senior Vice-Minister Motegi will be departing from Tokyo tomorrow, and will be staying in Baghdad from 11 to 14 May.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
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3. Third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Summit Meeting (PALM 2003)

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the Third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Summit Meeting (PALM 2003).

   The Government of Japan will host the Third Japan-PIF Summit Meeting on 16 and 17 May in Nago City, Okinawa. The Summit Meeting will be co-chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase of the Republic of Fiji Islands.

   This Summit Meeting is aimed at a frank exchange of views among the participating leaders. We expect leaders of 16 members of the PIF to attend, plus an observer from New Caledonia. The issues on the agenda at this Summit Meeting will include security, environment, education, human resources development, health, and trade and investment.

   Related Information (The Third Japan-PIF Summit Meeting (PALM 2003))
   Related Information (Welcome to the Official Website The Third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting)
   
4. Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Timor-Leste Accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth announcement is about my statement on the accession by Timor-Leste to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).

   Japan welcomes that on 5 May, East Timor deposited the instrument of accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons with the United States of America, one of the Depositary Governments of the NPT and BWC, thereby becoming the 189th Party to the NPT, and on the same day acceded to the Biological Weapons Convention, becoming the 150th Party to the BWC.

   These two international agreements, the NPT and the BWC, contribute to international peace and security as cornerstones of the international non-proliferation regime of nuclear and biological weapons. East Timor's accession at this time will lead to further strengthening of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

   The Government of Japan intends to continue urging early accession to the NPT upon the remaining key non-State Parties (the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the State of Israel), and to make continuous efforts for the strengthening of the BWC.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Timor-Leste Accession to the NPT and the BWC)
   
5. Question concerning upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President George W. Bush of the United States of America

   Q: With regard to the visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to have a meeting with President George W. Bush of the United States, what kind of topics will be discussed?

   Mr. Takashima: The details of the meeting are still being discussed between the Japanese and the American Governments and nothing has been finalized. However, I certainly expect the main focus of the meeting to be the following topics: (1) the Group of Eight (G8) Evian Summit, (2) Japan-United States bilateral relations, (3) North Korea, and (4) Iraq.

   Q: At that meeting on the topic of North Korea, there was some news about possible consideration of economic sanctions on North Korea. What is the view of the Japanese Government?

   Mr. Takashima: As I have said, nothing has been decided yet for the topics on the agenda of the Summit Meeting. Therefore, I cannot give you any information whether the topic of economic sanctions will be picked up as a formal agenda item during the meeting.

   Q: But is the Japanese Government considering imposing economic sanctions on North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: We have not made any sort of decision to take this action as the official policy of Japan. The matter of sanctions is considered in very broad terms as possible options vis-à-vis the North Korean situation. However, as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda reiterated yesterday, the decision would be taken in accordance with the development of the situation.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
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6. Question concerning possible assistance to Taiwan to cope with SARS

   Q: Japan has been sending a lot of assistance to deal with the spread of SARS such as the Japanese assistance to China that you mentioned. If requested by Taiwan, would Japan similarly send assistance to Taiwan in conjunction with the epidemic of SARS?

   Mr. Takashima: There has been no request from the Taiwanese side on this issue, and the Japanese Government has not decided on whether to provide such assistance. However, the fact is that although there are no diplomatic relations between Japan and Taiwan, there is unofficial, informal contact including between civilians which has been going on extensively. Therefore, there might be the possibility of using that sort of channel, or other considerations would be taken. So far nothing has been discussed or considered.

   Related Information (WHO | World Health Organization)
   
7. Question concerning Japanese policy toward North Korea

   Q: Coming back to North Korea, last week at the trilateral meeting in Beijing, North Korea told US officials that they already have nuclear weapons and reprocessed spent fuel. Given the situation, will Japan discuss with the US about policy coordination toward North Korea? Does Japan assume that North Korea already has nuclear weapons and is breaking its commitments?

   Mr. Takashima: I can confirm that Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly of the United States informed the Government of Japan of what he learnt through the North Korean representatives at the trilateral meeting in Beijing, namely that they said to him that North Korea had nuclear weapons. Beyond that, I have no further information to add.

   Q: What about Japan itself, what kind of policy is it considering to take toward North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: We are analyzing what we have learnt from the American side as well as the series of North Korean official statements and other information we gather to find out what exactly the North Koreans are doing or are intending to do. Furthermore, at the same time we are closely consulting with the United States and the Republic of Korea to have a better coordination of our policies. In fact, following a meeting between President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea and President Bush of the United States, Prime Minister Koizumi will be visiting President Bush in Texas on 22 and 23 May. Through those meetings, I am sure that closer consultation will be held and the coordination of the policies toward North Korea will be further strengthened and deepened.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
8. Question concerning police raid on Japanese trading company exporting nuclear material to North Korea

   Q: Tokyo Police raided a trading company in Tokyo on the suspicion of trying to export a nuclear-related device to North Korea. What is your comment on this?

   Mr. Takashima: This issue had to be referred to the police department, but I can confirm that the house search of that trading firm was conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Since this case is still under investigation and charges are being filed, I will refrain from making any comment at this moment.

   Q: From the perspective of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), this is a very unusual success story, for them to intercept these goods that are possibly related to materials used for weapons of mass destruction from reaching North Korea. It seems that METI could say that it was a big success, is it not?

   Mr. Takashima: In general terms, the Japanese Government is making utmost efforts to prevent Japanese companies from breaking the law which controls and prohibits the exportation of any equipment or materials related to the development of weapons of mass destruction. Certainly, we have been trying our best and we will do so continuously.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)