Press Conference 26 March 2004

1. Japanese assistance for reconstruction of Iraq
2. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America
3. Questions concerning incident on Senkaku Islands
4. Question concerning reelection of President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan
5. Question concerning upcoming visit by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi to China
6. Question concerning six-party talks on North Korean issue

1. Japanese assistance for reconstruction of Iraq

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Today, I would like to make two announcements before taking questions.

   First, with regard to the US$1.5 billion grant for the immediate needs for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq, which was pledged by the Government of Japan last October at the Madrid International Donors' Conference on the Reconstruction of Iraq, the Government of Japan today decided the following projects worth a total of US$198 million. These include the provision of 27 mobile substations of electricity throughout Iraq, the rehabilitation and the provision of equipment to four hospitals which were originally constructed by Japanese companies, the provision of 30 compact water treatment units to the city of Baghdad as well as the provision of 70 fire trucks to Baghdad, Al Basra and Al Muthanna.

   The Government of Japan will carry out the following projects after further consultation with Iraqi ministries: In terms of electricity, projects for the rehabilitation of the Taji Gas Turbine Power Station and also the Mosul Gas Turbine Power Station and Mosul Hydroelectric Power Station; in terms of health care, for the rehabilitation to nine hospitals originally constructed by Japan; and also, in terms of sanitation, for the provision of such equipment as garbage trucks, septic cars, bulldozers, etc.

   In addition to those projects, the Government of Japan today decided to commit US$15.4 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in order to hire local Iraqi people for such programs as restoration of water sewage systems, garbage collection and cleanup activities.

   Of the US$1.5 billion grant, the Government of Japan has already disbursed or earmarked US$630 million. Today's decision adds a further US$200 million to give US$830 million that have already been committed, disbursed or earmarked. The remainder will be decided in due course.

   Related Information (Japanese Assistance for Reconstruction of Iraq)
   
2. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement I would like to make is that Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi yesterday held a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America.

   The call lasted about 15 minutes. In this conversation, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and State Secretary Powell discussed such issues as the Middle East and North Korea. On the Middle East, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi conveyed Japan's position on the killing of the Hamas spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, saying that it could not be justified because it greatly impairs the realization of peace in the Middle East and that the Government of Japan strongly urged the Government of Israel to exercise maximum self-restraint in order to prevent further worsening of the situation.

   In addition to that, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi urged the US Government to continue its involvement for the Middle East process and said that it was of utmost importance to keep the Middle East peace process going.

   On North Korea, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi emphasized the importance of continued close collaboration among Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea toward the next round of six-party talks. She also expressed her gratitude for the American support of the Japanese position in regard to the abduction issues.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   Related Information (Japan's Measures Toward the Middle East Peace Process)
   Related Information (Japan-Palestinian Authorities Relations)
   
3. Questions concerning incident on Senkaku Islands

   Q: Regarding the Senkaku Islands dispute, what is happening now with the Chinese detainees? When are they going to be released? Also, there have been some reports about how deeply Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was involved in the decision to arrest these people. Can you elaborate on how deeply the Government was involved?

   Mr. Takashima: This was a government decision. Firstly, those seven individuals are still being questioned by the police at four different police stations in the city of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. The local police will decide by this evening whether they will be sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office. There are two possibilities: They may be sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office or the Immigration Bureau. The decision will be taken by the police of Okinawa Prefecture.

   We do not know when or whether they will be released, deported or indicted. That remains to be seen, but the Government of Japan takes the firm stand that those seven people should be treated in accordance with Japanese law.

   Q: What about the involvement in the initial stages before the arrest? How close was the contact between the police and the Cabinet?

   Mr. Takashima: The dispatch of the police to the Senkaku Islands yesterday was decided because these seven suspected Chinese people landed on the island. That island is historically and legally Japanese territory and the seven were considered to have illegally entered Japanese territory. Therefore, it was necessary to take appropriate measures. That decision was taken by Japanese authorities.

   I am not in a position to discuss what the role of any individual officials of the Government of Japan was or what they did.

   Q: What is the position of the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Senkaku Islands issue, especially with regard to this recent incident?

   Mr. Takashima: The Japanese Government prior to this incident asked the Chinese Government for cooperation to prevent this kind of thing from happening. At the same time, we believe that the Chinese Government, in the same way as the Japanese Government, wishes this issue to be resolved in a cool and reasonable manner so that this incident will not damage in any way the friendly and cordial relations between our two countries.

   Q: I believe that all the Japanese officials who have spoken about this matter have said that it will be handled on the basis of Japanese law. Can you walk us through a little bit more? I realize that 48 hours after the seven were arrested, the Okinawa Prefectural Police have to decide between either turning them over to immigration authorities or sending papers to prosecutors. Is that correct?

   Mr. Takashima: It is not sending of papers, but physically transferring them into the custody of prosecutors.

   Q: In that latter case, how long do prosecutors then have under the law to decide whether to prosecute or deport or what have you? What happens in that case? Can you just walk us through the legal process?

   Mr. Takashima: I have to consult with the criminal prosecution law, but my understanding is that if they are sent to the Prosecutor's Office, it has to then decide whether to indict them or send them to the Immigration Bureau within a certain time limit.

   Q: I heard something about 21 days or so?

   Mr. Takashima: That is the interrogation duration for the Prosecutor's Office, but in order to start off the 21 days the Prosecutor's Office has to obtain a permission of detention from the court within 24 hours.

   Q: The handling of this issue looks to be taking a lot of time. Do you not think that such a prolonging of the handling of the incident could encourage activist groups, both in Japan and China, to play up this incident and become more active and visible on the public scene?

   Mr. Takashima: We are not taking any procedures that would prolong the solution of this incident. Rather, we are following the necessary legal procedures as stated in the law and we do not want any sort of unnecessary flaring up of the situation. We would prefer to handle this issue in a very cool manner, so that uncontrollable outbreak will not occur. Our wish is that the Chinese side is taking the same kind of attitude.

   Q: Can you expand just a little bit on the Japanese side what you mean by when you mentioned that Japan has asked China to do everything it can to prevent this sort of situation from happening again? What is Japan doing specifically to prevent this from happening again, for example, increasing the number of Coast Guard vessels patrolling these islands?

   Mr. Takashima: In the light of this situation, the Government is reviewing what had happened in this particular case and if there are any lessons that can be learned from it, we will learn them.

   Q: At this point, have Japanese authorities intervened in any way to prevent counter-demonstrations by Japanese activists? Have any warnings been given out or has there been physical blocking of counter-demonstrations to your knowledge?

   Mr. Takashima: As I have said, the Japanese Government does not wish to have this incident or the Senkaku Islands issue become big and uncontrollable so that it could harm Japan-China relations. Furthermore, because this is a privately owned island leased by the Government of Japan, we do not want any outsiders entering it. Therefore, my understanding is that the Japan Coast Guard is now taking necessary measures to prevent any ships that have not been authorized by the Government from entering the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands.

   Q: Can you clarify what you mean by privately owned and leased? Who is it owned and leased by?

   Mr. Takashima: This island is owned by a man who lives in Saitama Prefecture and is currently on lease to the Government of Japan.

   Q: So this is a Japanese national?

   Mr. Takashima: Yes, he is a Japanese national. As I have said, this island is historically and under international law a Japanese territory.

   Related Information (Basic View on Senkaku 1972)
   
4. Question concerning reelection of President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan

   Q: On the reelection of President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan, there has been talk about which foreign leaders have sent him messages of congratulation. Could you please confirm whether any officials or leaders of the Government of Japan sent a congratulatory message or telegram to President Chen Shui-bian on his reelection?

   Mr. Takashima: I am not aware of any such information that someone from the Japanese Government sent a message. No such message has been sent from the Japanese Government.

   Q: What is the position of the Japanese Government on the national referendum conducted in Taiwan?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan wishes the Taiwan issue to be resolved peacefully, and no action should be taken which might heighten the tension between China and Taiwan. That is our basic position, which is why we were not in favor of seeing the Taiwan national referendum being conducted.

   The basic policy of the Government of Japan is that we do not recognize any policy which involves two Chinas or one China and one Taiwan, nor do we support the independence of Taiwan nor support or accept the use of force by the Chinese side. We hope that this Taiwan issue will be resolved through dialogue between China and Taiwan.

   Q: I would like to clarify, as of the moment, there has been no congratulatory message sent to President Chen Shui-bian from the Government of Japan, in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Is that right? Alternatively, are there any plans to send one?

   Mr. Takashima: Since there are no governmental relations between Japan and Taiwan, there was no such message sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Taiwan.

   Q: Can we presume then that when President Chen was first elected in 2000, there was also no message?

   Mr. Takashima: There was no message then, as well.

   Related Information (Taiwan)
   
5. Question concerning upcoming visit by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi to China

   Q: I believe that Foreign Minister Kawaguchi is scheduled to visit China on 3 and 4 April. Will there be any change to this plan in connection with this Senkaku Islands incident?

   Mr. Takashima: There will be no change. The visit will go on as scheduled.

   Q: Will this issue be raised by the Japanese side during her visit?

   Mr. Takashima: The Japanese Government will take up this issue and convey our strong message to the Chinese side saying that, firstly, we regret that such an incident has occurred and we will urge for China's cooperation to prevent this kind of incident from happening again.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
6. Question concerning six-party talks on North Korean issue

   Q: I have a question with respect to the working group decided at the recent six-party talks. I believe that the date for a meeting of the working group had been set for April, but there have been reports about it being possibly delayed. Was any date actually set for the working group? If so, has it been postponed from April to May?

   Mr. Takashima: The Japanese Government strongly supports the early opening of this working group and we expect that the Chinese side, as chair of this meeting, will make the necessary arrangements, especially in view of the fact that Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing recently visited North Korea and discussed this issue with the North Korean side.

   Q: On dialogue between Japan and North Korea, has there been any progress made in contacting the North Koreans about this?

   Mr. Takashima: On the direct talks between Japan and North Korea on the issue of abduction and other bilateral issues, we are urging North Korea to resume these talks as soon as possible. Our wish for early resumption of the talks has been communicated through diplomatic channels. Unfortunately, we have not received a response from North Korea yet, but we hope that they will respond positively.

   In addition to that, since Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will be visiting Beijing, China and meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Li, the Japanese side will take this opportunity to urge the Chinese side to take its effort further in order to realize an early opening of the working group as well as ask for support on the Japan-North Korea dialogue.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)