Press Conference 22 February 2005

1. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura on announcement by Prime Minister John Howard of Australia to send new troops to Iraq
2. Exemption from fees for Temporary Visitor's Visas for Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan
3. Follow-up questions concerning sending of Australian troops
4. Questions concerning statement following the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee meeting regarding Taiwan
5. Question concerning Takeshima Island

1. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura on announcement by Prime Minister John Howard of Australia to send new troops to 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 I take questions.

   First, in conjunction with the announcement by Prime Minister John Howard of Australia that the Australian Government decided to send approximately 450-strong troops to the Governorate of Al-Muthanna in Iraq, Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura issued a statement today in which he said as follows:

   Australia has been contributing very actively to the Iraqi reconstruction.

   The Government of Japan welcomes and values highly the decision made by the Australian Government to send its troops to Al-Muthanna in addition to its contribution in Iraq to date, as it encourages the international community to make efforts in the Iraqi reconstruction.

   The Government of Japan has been consulting closely with the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Australia about the possibility of the sending of troops by Australia. We continue to closely coordinate with the two governments on how our three countries can cooperate with each other.

   Related Information (Statement by Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the Decision by Australia to Send its Troops to Al-Muthanna Province in Iraq)
   
2. Exemption from fees for Temporary Visitor's Visas for Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan

   Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about the exemption from visa fees for foreigners visiting the 2005 World Exposition Aichi, Japan.

   The Government of Japan decided to exempt the commission fee for Temporary Visitor's Visas issued between 25 February, about one month prior to the start of the Exposition, and 25 September, the last day of the Exposition, for those who will be coming to Japan on a short-term stay with the purpose that includes a visit to the Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan.

   This measure will be implemented in light of similar cases in the past to invite overseas visitors to the 2005 World Exposition and is expected to promote visits from overseas, especially from neighboring Asian countries.

   Related Information (Exemption of Visa Fee for Foreigners Visiting the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan)
   
3. Follow-up questions concerning sending of Australian troops

   Q: I would like to start with your comment on the Australian troops. Are they going to be working closely in Samawah with the Japanese? It is the same province, is it not? And, will they be, like the Dutch, providing security for the Japanese troops or have you not yet got to that point?

   Mr. Takashima: Actually, this dispatch of Australian troops is being arranged in coordination with other troops in the coalition, especially British troops, to maintain the general security in the Al-Muthanna area where the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) is currently doing humanitarian work. Certainly, the JSDF will be coordinating with the Australian as well as British troops on its activities.

   Q: According to news reports from Sydney, Australian Prime Minister Howard told press that the Japanese Prime Minister asked Australia to dispatch troops last week. Can you confirm that report?

   Mr. Takashima: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Howard on 18 February, in which he conveyed the message from Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom that the UK hopes to see Australian troops join the coalition forces in Al-Muthanna. In addition, Prime Minister Koizumi said that Japan would be pleased and highly appreciative if the Australian Government decided to take such measures.

   That is a reason why Foreign Minister Machimura issued a welcoming statement on the announcement by the Australian Government.

   In essence, it was a request from the UK Government and Japan was pleased to see that request being met.

   Q: By the time that the Dutch leave, will there now be more security forces in the region than before?

   Mr. Takashima: There are approximately 1,300-strong Dutch troops currently stationed in Al-Muthanna, and the Government of the Netherlands decided to withdraw its troops sometime next month. The UK Government decided to send approximately 600-strong troops to fill the vacuum possibly left by the withdrawal of the Dutch troops. Now that the Australian Government has decided to send approximately 450-strong troops, it means that, when the Australian troops arrive at Al-Muthanna, approximately 150-strong British troops will stay there to work together with the Australians to maintain the general security in the region. The reason is that according to the British Government and military command, about 600-strong troops would be sufficient to maintain the security there because the level of the Iraqi security forces has increased and improved much under the auspice of Dutch training. Therefore, the British found that it was not necessary to have the same number of troops to maintain the security in that region, but that it could be maintained by approximately 600-strong troops.

   Q: Does the Australian Government plan to send all of their 450-strong troops to Samawah or also to other places?

   Mr. Takashima: My understanding is that they will deploy their troops in the Governorate of Al-Muthanna, which includes the city of Samawah.

   Q: Does the Government of Japan expect most or many of them to be deployed in Samawah?

   Mr. Takashima: They will be using the Dutch troops' facilities as their base and camps, so there will not be much of a difference in the position they will be taking.

   Related Information (Statement by Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the Decision by Australia to Send its Troops to Al-Muthanna Province in Iraq)
   
4. Questions concerning statement following the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee regarding Taiwan

   Q: I would like to change the topic and to talk about the US-Japan security alliance and the common strategic objective concerning Taiwan. Can you clarify what has been detailed in the agreement on what Japan can and will do if Taiwan is actually attacked?

   Mr. Takashima: The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America (Japan-U.S. Security Treaty) has what we call the "Far East" clause. The Far East is understood to cover the area in the vicinity of Japan, which would include the Korean Peninsula, the area around Taiwan and north of the Philippine archipelago.

   Therefore, Taiwan has been a main security objective or issue for Japan and the United States since the signing of the Security Treaty between our two countries. Thus, there is nothing new so far as the common strategy objective is in the joint statement issued after the Security Consultative Committee or so-called "2+2" Meeting.

   What will happen to that statement in a situation such as you mentioned in your hypothetical question, I would rather like to refrain from making any comment, other than to say that there are arrangements between Japan and the United States to support US activities in order to maintain the peace and stability in this area when the United States takes any necessary actions to keep peace and stability. So there will not be any change in that arrangement one way or the other. It is a kind of statement to confirm the existing arrangement.

   Q: Bloomberg quoted you as saying that "Japan would provide logistical support to the United States if the People's Republic of China attacked Taiwan." Is that true? Is it only limited to logistical support?

   Mr. Takashima: This is a very hypothetical question, and I would like to refrain from responding, but what I can say is that the Japan Self-Defense Force is allowed to carry out any military activities for the protection of Japan itself. Outside of Japanese territorial jurisdiction, it is expected that the JSDF provide, following the arrangement already made between Japan and the United States, the supportive measures for the US activities.

   Q: To follow up on the question, the arrangements that you mentioned between Japan and the United States, could you cite some examples about what concrete arrangements are included?

   Mr. Takashima: The Governments of Japan and the United States have already issued the Guidelines for Japan-US Defense Cooperation several years ago, so I would like to refer you to that as it has been made public.

   Q: A related question is, at the 2+2 talks, the China issue was included for the first time within this statement. The Taiwanese government officially mentioned that they want to form some kind of security alliance with Japan since right now there is such a common security objective between Japan and the United States, and between Taiwan and the United States, there is a Taiwan maritime law governing US action toward the security in the Taiwan Strait. Is there any possibility that Taiwan will form some kind of security alliance with Japan?

   Mr. Takashima: Japan has no official relations with Taiwan except for business relations and unofficial relations. There is no possibility that Japan would form any sort of security arrangement with Taiwan.

   Q: Reports from Dubai quoted a Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman saying that "Taiwan is now considered a common security issue, allowing the Japanese military to fight alongside US forces." Can you comment on that?

   Mr. Takashima: As I said, there is no possibility that the JSDF would implement any sort of combat action outside of Japan.

   Q: After the 2+2 talks, the Chinese Government actually expressed their unhappiness saying that this is an interference with their internal affairs of the Taiwan Strait security issues. What is the Japanese reaction toward the Chinese Government's statement?

   Mr. Takashima: It is unfortunate that the Chinese spokesperson misinterpreted the statement that we issued. The statement called for the peaceful solution of the Taiwan Strait issue and also for the constructive and responsible role for China as a member of the international community whose contribution is highly welcomed and appreciated. Therefore, there is nothing which would cause any sort of problem in our relations with China.

   Related Information (Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements)
   
5. Question concerning Takeshima Island

   Q: I would like to change the subject. Today is the 100th anniversary of Takeshima Island being part of Shimane Prefecture. There has been some talk about it in the Korean press, but I just wanted to know, what is the current situation on the resolution of the territorial issue between Japan and the Republic of Korea as far as this island is concerned? I believe that a lighthouse is still there and the ROK is still proclaiming it as part of its territory.

   Mr. Takashima: The position of the Government of Japan on Takeshima is that it is a legitimate and lawful Japanese territory. The reason we believe so is that historically and according to international law, there is no other interpretation than that it is a Japanese island.

   At the same time, there is unfortunately a territorial dispute raised by the ROK side about this island and we would like to see this settled by peaceful and diplomatic means. Therefore, we do not have any sort of intention to use any other means than diplomatic measures.

   We refrain from having any sort of activities or measures that might worsen the situation and expect that the ROK side will do the same so that this issue will be dealt not in a hostile but a calm manner and through dialogue.

   Related Information (The Issue of Takeshima)