Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 10 January 2013

Press Conference by the Assistant Press Secretary, 10 January 2013

  1. Telephone conversations held by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister
  2. Foreign Minister Kishida’s visit to the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, and Australia
  3. Prime Minister Abe’s scheduled visit to Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia
  4. Question concerning the defense budget
  5. Questions concerning Japan-China bilateral relations

1. Telephone conversations held by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister

Assistant Press Secretary Mr. Masaru Sato: Thank you very much for coming, and lets now begin today’s press conference for international press media. First, at the top, I have a few things to announce.

First, since December 26 last year when the Abe cabinet was inaugurated, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have had telephone conversations with their counterparts in the world. Let me just briefly introduce them. Prime Minister Abe had telephone conversations with leaders of the following countries’: the United States, Indonesia, Russia, the UK, Australia, Vietnam, India, and the United Nations, and also yesterday he received as his first foreign guest a Korean group: the President of the Parliamentary Association of Japan and the Republic of Korea, Mr. Hwang Woo Yea and other politicians from the Republic of Korea. As for Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, he had telephone conversations with the following principals: the Republic of Korea, Australia, Indonesia, India, Germany, the UK, and the United States. On the occasion of the telephone conversation with the U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on January 8, she extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Kishida to visit the U.S. and to hold the first foreign ministerial meeting on January 18, and the Foreign Minister accepted the invitation with pleasure.

2. Foreign Minister Kishida’s visit to the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, and Australia

Secondly, the Foreign Minister’s visit to the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, and Australia: he left Japan on Jan. 9 to visit these four countries through January 14 and the purpose and background of this round of visits is that given that the strategic environment of the Asia-Pacific region changing, Japan, as a responsible democracy, will play a pivotal and active role in ensuring the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. Foreign Minister Kishida believes that it is important to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, and also deepen collaboration with neighboring countries which are developing under freedom, democracy, and market economy. During this round of visits, issues related to politics, security, economy, as well as regional and global issues, will be discussed to strengthen the partnership with these ASEAN member states and Australia.

For your reference, in the Philippines, the first leg of his tour, this morning an op-ed contributed by Foreign Minister Kishida to the following three Philippine newspapers was published: Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, and Philippine Daily Inquirer.

3. Prime Minister Abe’s scheduled visit to Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia

Just today, as you may be aware, it was announced that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia from January 16-19 to hold summit talks with these leaders. Similarly, given the strategic environment drastically changing in the Asia-Pacific region, in order to ensure peace and prosperity in the region, it is very important to strengthen collaboration with the ASEAN nations. Through these visits, Prime Minister Abe intends to further strengthen collaborations with these three countries, with which we have a strategic, cooperative relationship. Also, these three countries are part of the growth center for the 21st century, leading the world economic growth. Prime Minister Abe intends to strengthen economic cooperation with these countries in order to take in the growth of the entire region and also to help the Japanese economy recover in a timely manner. In addition, this year, 2013, marks the 40th anniversary of the foundation of Japan-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation as well as the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam. Through frank discussions with these leaders, it is expected that this round of trips will serve as a good opportunity, not only for strengthening bilateral relations, but also for strengthening the partnership between Japan and the ASEAN countries.

That is all. I am ready to take your questions.

4. Question concerning the defense budget

Q: There were some reports about military expansion yesterday. Japan will expand their military budget. They found some disturbing news. Some budget has been allocated for patriots and plane modernization. Can you comment on that?

Mr. Sato: If I understand correctly, you are referring to the report about the supplementary budget to be prepared by the Ministry of Defense. My quick answer is that I would like to send you to the Ministry of Defense because I do not have any comment as a Foreign Ministry official.

5. Questions concerning Japan-China bilateral relations

Q: When the Chinese Ambassador came here and you protested, China rejected your reaction regarding the Senkaku Islands. Do you have any comment on that?

Mr. Sato: Let me explain the protest we made on Tuesday, January 8. Deputy Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki called in the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Cheng Yonghua, to the Foreign Ministry and made a strong protest to the Chinese side over the illegal intrusion into Japanese territory for a long period of time – 13 hours. He not only lodged a strong protest over the territorial intrusion but also strongly requested that the Chinese side refrain from creating such a situation ever again. The Chinese Ambassador stated China’s own claim regarding the Senkaku Islands and that he would duly report our protest to Beijing. In reply, Deputy Foreign Minister Saiki reiterated the basic Japanese position on the Senkaku Islands and stated that the Chinese claim cannot be accepted. He also strongly urged the Chinese side to restrain itself.

Q: China rejected your protest. Do you have any comment on that?

Mr. Sato: We cannot accept any of China’s own claims over the Senkaku Islands. The Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of Japanese territory under international law and based on historical facts. Actually we have them under valid control. Also, the Chinese side, especially after last September, escalated the situation by sending government vessels or even government aircrafts to the Japanese territories around the Senkaku Islands. We have been urging China to take a calm response so that they will not lose sight of the broad perspective of the bilateral relations.

The Japan-China relationship is a most important bilateral relationship for Japan. Japan values the ties. Japan and China are closely connected economically. China is the top trading partner for Japan. More than 20,000 Japanese companies operate in China. Japanese companies are the greatest in number among international ones in China. That represents very close economic ties between the two countries. Also, the people exchange is such that almost 5 million people come and go between the two countries a year. It is clear that maintaining and developing good ties between China and Japan is in both sides’ interests.

But at the same time, it is the case that the two countries have some different issues, partly because of the difference in political systems and society. It is very important to recognize that differences exist, and it is important to proactively expand cooperation and strategically develop Japan-China ties. This is the long version of my comment.

Do you have any other questions? No? Thank you very much for coming.

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