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

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 15 September 2011

  1. Telephone talks
  2. APEC Women and the Economy Summit
  3. Emergency Grant Aid for Libya
  4. Emergency assistance to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
  5. Drought assistance for "Horn of Africa"
  6. Question concerning the new Foreign Minister Gemba
  7. Question concerning an "East Asian Community"
  8. Question concerning the Hatoyama and Noda administrations
  9. Question concerning Japan's relationship with South Korea and China
  10. Questions concerning Prime Minister Noda's meeting next week with President Obama
  11. Question concerning the APEC Women and the Economy Summit
  12. Question concerning South Korean comfort women compensation
  13. Questions concerning the North Korean defectors
  14. Questions concerning Korean Air

  1. Telephone talks

    2. Deputy Press Secretary Naoko Saiki: My name is Naoko Saiki. I was appointed on the first of September as the Deputy Press Secretary. What I would like to do is to maintain, possibly further enhance, the openness to the media community and remain accountable. I am here to help you, and through you, people all over the world understand as to what Japan is doing and thinking, and in what direction it is going. I hope I can be of some assistance to you, and, in this regard, please do not hesitate to make contact with me whenever you need it. Today, I have several announcements to make before taking questions.

    Ms. Saiki: First, we have distributed for your reference a set of press releases about a number of telephone talks between Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his counterparts, including the Honorable Barak Obama, President of the United States of America, and Mr. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, and also about a number of telephone conversations with the Foreign Minister, Koichiro Gemba and his counterparts including the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America, and Dr. Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

    In addition to these telephone conversations, Prime Minister Noda hosted his first summit meeting with his Excellency Mr. Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, President of the Republic of Columbia on the 12 September. They have extensively discussed various issues, and in particular, have agreed to launch joint-study of an EPA (economic partnership agreement).

  2. APEC Women and the Economy Summit

    3. Ms. Saiki: The next topic I would like to introduce is the attendance of Mr. Joe Nakako, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the APEC Women and the Economy Summit. The last sheet, I understand, of the press releases we have distributed to you is of this matter. From Thursday, 15 September, today, to Saturday, 17 September, Mr. Joe Nakako, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, will visit San Francisco, United States of America, to attend the APEC Women and the Economy Summit, which will be held on Friday, 16 September.

    The Summit will be chaired by the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America. Discussion will take place on concrete policy measures to be taken by APEC for enhanced female participation in economic activities, and these policies will be consolidated in the form of recommendations and released as the San Francisco Declaration.

  3. Emergency Grant Aid for Libya

    4. Ms. Saiki: Third, on emergency grant aid for people injured by the armed clashes in Libya. On 13 September, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency grant aid of 2 million US dollars for people injured by the armed clashes between the Qadathafi group and anti-Qadthafi groups in Libya, on requests of the National Transitional Council (NTC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) budget extension appeal.

  4. Emergency assistance to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

    5. Ms. Saiki: Fourth, on emergency assistance to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in response to the flood disaster. On 9 September, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency relief worth 35 million yen, around 450,000 US dollars, to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan through the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) following the disastrous floods caused by the unprecedented heavy rain.

  5. Drought assistance for "Horn of Africa"

    6. Ms. Saiki: Fifth, on assistance in response to the droughts in the "Horn of Africa" (emergency relief goods provided to refugee camps in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia). On 7 September, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency relief goods that were stockpiled in the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)'s warehouse in Frankfurt, worth 40 million yen, around 500,000 US dollars, to assist refugee camps located in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, through JICA in response to the request by the Ethiopian Government. In fact, Japan has already committed to itself to provide assistance in response to droughts in the "Horn of Africa" to the amount of almost 100 million US dollars to this date.

    So this is what I had to say at the outset of my press conference. The floor is open for comments and questions.

  6. Question concerning the new Foreign Minister Gemba

    7. Q: Could you elaborate on the differences of the different major points of the new Foreign Minister Gemba will set in regards to his predecessor Mr. Matsumoto. What will probably change or will it still go on like before?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question.

    I understand that the fundamental foreign policy to be pursued by Minister Gemba is not something drastically changed by his predecessor, Foreign Minister Matsumoto. As Prime Minister Noda emphasized in his first policy speech in the Diet session, given the challenges facing us, us meaning Japan and the international community, first and foremost, I think the alliance between Japan and the United States is a cornerstone of Japan's security as well as the stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Like his predecessor, Foreign Minister Gemba is of the view that maintaining and strengthening the alliance between the two countries will be of critical importance.

    Furthermore, in relation to the neighboring countries, such as China, the ROK, and other Asian countries, we would like to strengthen the multi-layered good networks of cooperation and collaboration in the region with a view to further deepening the understanding and trust amongst the nations in the region.

    In particular given the March 11 disaster and the economic crisis in the world, Japan needs to reconstruct and reinvigorate its economy. In this respect, I think Foreign Minister Gemba is of the view that we have to strengthen Japan's economy, and we have to further dispatch our thinking and our ideas to the world.

    So in that respect, as I told you, Foreign Minister Gemba, with some of his own emphasis on foreign policies, is going to mention the main thrust of diplomacy.

  7. Question concerning an "East Asian Community"

    8. Q: So far Japan's foreign policy is guided by the idea of an East Asian community as said by Mr. Hatoyama. Mr. Kan avoided the subject and Japan's neighbors knew that as long as Mr. Maehara was foreign minister that had to sit that out. Now we have learned that in an October issue of a monthly magazine Mr. Noda will abolish this. Mr. Hatoyama talked about this idea with his counterparts in China and in Korea. Now these counterparts read in that monthly magazine that this idea will be abolished. Because this is a major foreign policy change, can you please comment on that? Thanks.

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you for your question.

    I personally have read an article Mr. Noda had written before he assumed his current post. However, I have a slightly different view of what you have stated with respect to the status of the concept, or the proposal, of an East Asian community. I do not believe that Mr. Noda has abolished the path to pursue toward an East Asian community. I think what he is trying to say in his article is that this is not an opportune time for Japan to make a big demonstration towards the creation of an East Asian community.

    First of all, this idea is such a large and broad concept. Second, as I responded to the previous question at the outset, we understand that Japan and other Asian nations, or the nations in the Asia-Pacific region, have been accumulating good practices of collaboration and cooperation. Some people may call it a community, or some people may call it a functional cooperation, some may call it an attempt toward a community, etc., but I think the important thing is to continue and strengthen collaboration and cooperation amongst the nations in the region.

    Given the two background explanations, I do not think that Prime Minister Noda has given up the idea of creating a community.

  8. Question concerning the Hatoyama and Noda administrations

    9. Q: Does that mean you would say there is no difference between Mr. Hatoyama's and Mr. Noda's idea about Japan's position in East Asia. If I read those statements of these two gentlemen I see a big difference, do you not see that?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the additional question and the comment.

    I see there are differences in nuance. However, as far as the basic thrust of Japan's diplomacy is concerned, I do not believe there are big differences between the Hatoyama administration and the Noda administration.

  9. Question concerning Japan's relationship with South Korea and China

    10. Q: May I speak a little bit about this topic, South Korea and the Republic of China, are very important neighbors to Japan. On the other hand, relationships are sometimes a little bit sour and not so easy-going there were some approaches, especially from the administration from Hatoyama to come closer, and to South Korea Kan tried too, but was not so successful. Now I have the feeling that it is shifting more towards the United States to secure this as a cornerstone, and wait and see how it will go on with South Korea. Let's speak a little bit about South Korea, and is there a change in the approach? When do you expect there will be the first summit between President Lee and Prime Minister Noda?

    Ms. Saiki: As for your last point, a possible summit meeting between President Lee and Prime Minister Noda, the two leaders have agreed upon meeting with each other. In particular, Prime Minister Noda has extended his invitation to President Lee to come to Tokyo as a state guest as soon as possible. Nothing has been decided in terms of concrete dates. So that is one thing.

    With respect to the relationships between various countries in the region, stating with China, Korea, Japan, and the United States, etc., my interpretation and understanding is that the United States-Japan security alliance is of critical importance in terms of maintaining our national security and the stability and peace in the region. At the same time, Japan is a nation in the Asia-Pacific region, and we need to have better relations with China, Korea, and other neighboring countries. In that respect, I think that Japan's diplomacy is to pursue in parallel to strengthen the ties with the United States and the ties with Asian neighboring countries. Furthermore, let me remind you of the fact that, for instance, last spring there was the trilateral summit meeting amongst Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the People's Republic of China, hosted by Mr. Kan, Prime Minister at that time. The three leaders reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the cooperation amongst the three countries. I think, again, Prime Minister Noda, in my view, is going to take necessary steps toward a further enhancement of the cooperation amongst the important partners and allies.

  10. Questions concerning Prime Minister Noda's meeting next week with President Obama

    11. Q: As Prime Minister Noda is heading for New York next week and is scheduled to meet with President Obama, besides saying hello and maybe affirming alliance, what kind of topics do you expect these two gentlemen to speak of?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question.

    I am going to see the Prime Minister next week before his departure for the United States, but today unfortunately I do not have concrete ideas to share with you as to what Prime Minister Noda is going take up in his first summit meeting with the President of the United States.

    Q: Is the date set yet?

    Ms. Saiki: Not yet. I think we are at the final stage to fix the date.

  11. Question concerning the APEC Women and the Economy Summit

    12. Q: For something completely different, do you think it is appropriate for Japan that the Women's summit is represented by a man? We have Prime Minister Kan telling us that he wants to enhance the importance of women and he had one woman, and then at the end no women in his cabinet. Now you send a man to a women's summit. Where is the limit?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you very much for the question.

    There are some women participants; for instance, Ms. Fumiko Hayashi, who is the major of Yokohama City, and Ms. Yukako Uchinaga, President and CEO of Berlitz International, and Ms. Akiko Ryu, Senior Operating Officer at Otsuka Pharmaceutical. I think amongst the five participants from Japan, at least, three are women. The majority of the team is women, so that is working. Personally, I think we have to have more female representation both in government and in private sectors, generally Speaking.

  12. Question concerning South Korean comfort women compensation

    13. Q: Today there will be a proposal for talks about compensation for the sex slaves from South Korea. Can you elaborate about that? What will be the response by Japanese government?

    Ms. Saiki: I have to tell you that I have not been informed of that. Can I come back to you at a later stage?

  13. Questions concerning the North Korean defectors

    14. Q: About the defectors from North Korea, has the Japanese government officially contacted the Korea government on the deportation to Korea?

    Ms. Saiki: We have been taking measures necessary to gather details of the case and will continue to do so with the view to taking appropriate measures to deal with the case. We are thinking of dispatching our officials. But I shall refrain from making any further detailed comments, because in light of the security and the safety of the persons, and, of course, national security, I do not think that I can disclose further information today.

    Q: About the dispatching of the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Nagasaki, when will that be?

    Ms. Saiki: Because the government officials have been gathering information necessary to decide as to what action we should take.

    Q: Yes, but when? When will you be dispatching them?

    Ms. Saiki: Sometime today.

    Q: There are also further reports about officials from the Korean government meeting with these defectors in Nagasaki, can you confirm that?

    Ms. Saiki: I do not have information on that.

  14. Questions concerning Korean Air

    15. Q: Are you as an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allowed to fly Korean Air again? In July you were not allowed to fly Korean Air? What was the response—what was the logic about this boycott? Can you explain that please?

    Ms. Saiki: I was appointed as Deputy Press Secretary on the first of September. Before that, I was not within the government—I worked outside the government—so I am afraid I have to update myself on various issues, including this one you just raised. Can I come back to you? Thank you.

    So I think there are no further comments or questions. Thank you very much for coming to today's conference.

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