Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 15 December 2011

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 15 December 2011

  1. Visit by Foreign Minister Gemba to the United States
  2. Visit by Foreign Minister Gemba to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Kingdom of Cambodia
  3. Visit to Japan by His Excellency Mr. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea
  4. Comment by Prime Minister Noda on the Outcome of COP17
  5. Question concerning the Summit Meeting between Prime Minister Noda and President Lee
  6. Question concerning the Eurofighter Typhoon and the New Fighter Aircraft to be Chosen by Japan
  7. Questions concerning the Proposal by Foreign Minister Gemba for a Trilateral Meeting between Japan, China, and the United States
  8. Question concerning the Trilateral Meeting amongst Japan, India, and the United States
  9. Question concerning Japan’s Efforts in the Fight against Terrorism

  1. Visit by Foreign Minister Gemba to the United States

    2. Deputy Press Secretary Ms. Naoko Saiki: Good afternoon, everyone. I would like to start with several announcements.

    Ms. Saiki: First, on Foreign Minister Gemba’s visit to the United States. Foreign Minister Gemba is going to Washington DC, United States, from December 18 to December 21. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Clinton and exchange views with other senior officials of the U.S. administration, including United States Trade Representative Kirk, and with a number of specialists respectively. In the meeting with Secretary of State Clinton, Foreign Minister Gemba hopes to have frank discussions on Japan-U.S. security, economy, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. In addition to these bilateral issues, they will be discussing the situation in the Asia-Pacific Region and global challenges facing us.

  2. Visit by Foreign Minister Gemba to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Kingdom of Cambodia

    3. Ms. Saiki: Second, on Foreign Minister Gemba’s visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Foreign Minister is visiting these three countries from December 25 to 29. In Myanmar, he will pay a courtesy call on President Thein Sein and will meet with Aung San Suu Kyi. Japan will continue to support the Government of Myanmar for solidifying the trend of democratization and national reconciliation.

    In Thailand, which has suffered the recent disastrous floods, the Foreign Minister of Japan will hold meetings with key government officials to discuss Japan-Thai cooperation.

    In Cambodia, which will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2012, Foreign Minister Gemba will pay courtesy calls on King Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as hold bilateral talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

  3. Visit to Japan by His Excellency Mr. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea

    4. Ms. Saiki: Third, on the visit to Japan by His Excellency Mr. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea. The President of the Republic of Korea will visit Kyoto, Japan, on December 17 and 18. During his stay, President Lee of the Republic of Korea is going to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Noda on Sunday. It is hoped that the relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea will be further deepened and strengthened by this visit.

  4. Comment by Prime Minister Noda on the Outcome of COP17

    5. Ms. Saiki: Fourth on COP17. For reference I have distributed a text of the comment by Prime Minister Noda on the outcome of the Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17).

    Prime Minister Noda welcomes the series of decisions adopted at COP17. This meeting has brought the significant outcome, in line with Japan’s stance, such as clarifying the pathway to the establishment of a new legal framework in which all economies participate. During the negotiations, Japan made it clear that it remains committed to tackle climate change, despite immense challenges caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Japan also actively contributed to the discussions through efforts such as proposing for the new ad hoc working group to establish a new framework and presenting its specific initiatives such as “Vision and Actions toward Low-Carbon Growth and a Climate Resilient World.” We remain committed to make utmost efforts to arrest the global warming.

    That concludes my introductory remarks. I would be happy to take any questions you may have.

  5. Question concerning the Summit Meeting between Prime Minister Noda and President Lee

    6. Q: First, I have a question about the visit by President Lee Myung-bak. Current reports say that the president will take up the issue of “comfort women” during his talks with Prime Minister Noda. How will Japan react to this proposal by the president and would the situation change because the president takes up this issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Noda?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you very much for the question. With respect to the concrete topics to be taken up in the summit meeting between Prime Minister Noda and President Lee Myung-bak, we are still in the process of coordinating through diplomatic channels. And, of course, at the end of the day, it is up to the President and the Prime Minister to decide on which topics they wish to discuss with each other. That being stated, I would like to reiterate that Japan and the Republic of Korea have been pursuing the path to enhancing the future-oriented cooperative relationship. From time to time, there may arise difficult challenges and questions between the two countries, but in the spirit of the future-oriented cooperative relations between the two countries, I hope the visit by the president of the Republic of Korea to Kyoto, Japan, this time, will further strengthen that relationship.

    Any other questions?

  6. Question concerning the Eurofighter Typhoon and the New Fighter Aircraft to be Chosen by Japan

    7. Q: This is about the telephone between Prime Minister Noda and Prime Minister Cameron. This was about the Eurofighter Typhoon. Which kind of fighter is this?

    Ms. Saiki: Are you referring to the telephone talks between the Prime Minister of Japan and the Prime Minister of the UK?

    Q: Yes. This is about the Eurofighter Typhoon. Which kind of airplane is it?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question. First of all, I am afraid I am not an expert on weapons or fighters, but, what I can tell you is that by the end of this year, the Japanese government is supposed to decide a next-generation fighter aircraft. It will be selected by the three proposed fighter aircraft through an open, fair competition. And, now, the Ministry of Defense is studying quite hard toward the end of the process, the process meaning a fair, competitive, and transparent process in accordance with the rules and regulations established before inviting those enterprises interested in joining the competition. The Eurofighter Typhoon is one of those proposed models for Japan’s next fighter aircraft.

    Any other questions?

  7. Questions concerning the Proposal by Foreign Minister Gemba for a Trilateral Meeting between Japan, China, and the United States

    8. Q: Yesterday, in his first policy speech, Foreign Minister Gemba proposed having a dialogue between Japan, the U.S., and China. The question is how much of this proposal was discussed within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before his policy speech yesterday. And what do you think is the meaning of Japan being in that trilateral dialogue because the U.S. and China already have strategic dialogue going on, so why should Japan be in that dialogue?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question. Yes, indeed, yesterday, in his first policy speech, Foreign Minister Gemba proposed to hold a trilateral meeting between Japan, China, and the United States.

    On your first question, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the guidance and instruction of the Foreign Minister, has been discussing this very important issue for a while, and we have reached a tentative conclusion that it is appropriate and desirable for the three countries to hold a trilateral meeting at an early date. But, as Foreign Minister Gemba clearly stated yesterday, we should proceed with caution, and a step-by-step approach is adequate in a sense that first, senior officials will meet, and then a foreign minister-level trilateral meeting will be able to take place, and at a later stage, the summit meeting amongst the three countries’ leaders will be able to realize to discuss important issues of mutual concern.

    This relates to your second question. The reason and the meaning for Japan to initiate a plan to hold the trilateral meeting amongst Japan, China, and the United States is that, first of all, as in his speech, Foreign Minister Gemba emphasized, it is essential for the Asia-Pacific Region to strengthen the open, multilayered network. This open, multilayered network means that it has to be open to any country in the region, perhaps outside the region as well, and furthermore, we are to utilize any platforms, organizations, architecture or fora for discussions and cooperation. We do have existing institutions such as APEC and ARF, or trilateral ones such as Japan-US-ROK and Japan-US-Australia. We are going to start the trilateral one amongst Japan, India, and the United States. And, of course, bilateral relations, such as the alliance between Japan and the United States, which is of critical importance, remain essential. But on top of those, as a country responsible for the peace and prosperity in the region and the world as well, Japan wishes to have a forum together with the other key players in the region and in the world, namely China and the United States, to deepen the relations amongst themselves and to seek solutions of various challenges facing us, such as climate change, or maritime security, or disaster relief; many things are waiting for solution. So that is the reason behind Foreign Minister Gemba’s proposal.

  8. Question concerning the Trilateral Meeting amongst Japan, India, and the United States

    9. Q: Going back to the point you touched on in that answer, next week, Japan will hold a trilateral meeting - the first trilateral meeting - with the United States and India. What are the points that will be covered in this trilateral dialogue and what does Japan expect from this trilateral meeting?

    Ms. Saiki: India is the largest democratic country in the world and it is developing very rapidly in terms of economy, as well as in political and security fields. So, again, in order to maintain and enhance the stability and prosperity in the region, it is only natural for Japan, the United States, and India to wish to have more consultation and more frequent contacts to have an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interests. To be more specific, I would say the trilateral meeting would cover regional issues and global challenges, and perhaps something relating to socioeconomic and demographic changes in the region might be touched upon.

  9. Question concerning Japan’s Efforts in the Fight against Terrorism

    10. Q: Advanced countries, including the United States are facing economic problems. Will the fight against terrorism retain the priority which it used to have?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you for your comment. The fight against terrorism will continue to be one of the most urgent and important issues to be tackled by the international community as a whole, including Japan, the United States and other advanced countries, as well as developing countries. The underlying cause of terrorism, such as poverty or inequalities between individuals or areas, should be thoroughly addressed with a view to finding a good solution. I would like to remind you that, for instance, in the United Nations, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been established, which all the countries, including Japan, have been striving to achieve. And one of the most important issues covered by the MDGs is poverty reduction. So, Japan will continue to make utmost efforts in this field against poverty and against terrorism. 

    Q: Thank you.

    Ms. Saiki: Any other questions? Thank you for coming. This concludes today’s conference.

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