Press Conferences

Asahi Shimbun, Aibara: I would like to ask about Camp Hansen. Amidst the emergence of a large-scale cluster of novel coronavirus infections, a soldier who belongs to the Camp Hansen base has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. During the Chief Cabinet Secretary’s press conference this morning, he stated that Director-General Ichikawa of the North American Affairs Bureau conveyed that this was regrettable to the Commander of the U.S. Forces in Japan (USFJ) earlier today. Please tell us the details and the response by the Commander.

Mr. YOSHIDA Tomoyuki, Press Secretary: I am aware that Camp Hansen, where a large-scale cluster of novel coronavirus infections has been confirmed, has raised the level of its health protection measures to actively conduct testing to prevent the spread of infections, track people who have had close contact with infected people, and implement quarantine measures.

Additionally, the arrest case you just asked about occurred amidst the efforts to prevent the spread of infections. The Government of Japan finds it very regrettable that this has caused major concern to the local people. As you stated in your question, due to the arrest, firstly Deputy Director-General Kanai of the North American Affairs Bureau immediately conveyed that this was regrettable to Deputy Commander Wellons of the USFJ yesterday, December 21. Furthermore, as you pointed out, this morning, Director-General Ichikawa of the North American Affairs Bureau conveyed on behalf of the Government of Japan that this was regrettable to Commander Rupp of the USFJ, and lodged a strong protest so that measures be taken to enforce discipline and prevent a recurrence. I would like to refrain from going into details of their exchange here. We are urging the U.S. side to make more efforts to educate troops and enforce discipline. We will communicate more closely with the U.S. side and exert all efforts to prevent such situations so that everyone in the local community does not have to feel concerned.

Asahi Shimbun, Aibara: Okinawa Prefecture is demanding a temporary suspension of inbound travel by military personnel from the United States, as well as a lockdown preventing military personnel and civilians of Camp Hansen from leaving the base. Since there is an issue of rotations of military personnel, the suspension of inbound travel from the United States might be difficult. For example, during the protest made by Director-General Ichikawa of the North American Affairs Bureau today, did he mention something related to a lockdown preventing personnel from leaving the base?

Press Secretary Yoshida: Governor Denny Tamaki of Okinawa Prefecture made a request similar to what you stated in your question to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Odawara. As I stated before, we recognize the importance of further restrictions on movement inside and outside the base by relevant people who could be infected as well as stricter application of health protection measures to ease the concerns of the local people. We made such a request to the USFJ.

We received an explanation that due to the possibility that people who have tested positive are infected with the Omicron variant, the USFJ is raising the level of its health protection measures and making them stricter, including active testing of people, tracking of close contacts, quarantine of relevant people who could be infected, and thorough implementation of mask-wearing.

Asahi Shimbun, Aibara: Just to confirm from the previous question, would stricter restrictions on movements be different from what Governor Tamaki is requesting, which is a lockdown preventing military personnel and civilians of Camp Hansen from leaving the base? Are they not the same?

Press Secretary Yoshida: The explanation from the USFJ on their stricter measures and raising of the level of health protection measures, which I just stated, included tracking of close contacts and quarantine of relevant people who could be infected. I am not necessarily sure to what degree the explanation given by the U.S. side and the content of Governor Tamaki’s request is the same. It is my understanding that the Government of Japan is communicating closely with the USFJ based on the request made by Governor Tamaki and other factors, and we received the aforementioned explanation in our communication with the U.S. side.

TV Asahi, Sawai: I would like to ask about the diplomatic documents released today. Regarding the so-called Persian Gulf crisis in which Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, President Bush and Prime Minister Kaifu had a meeting in September the following month and their conversation was recorded in a diplomatic document. President Bush said something to the effect that it would be beneficial for Japan to have its forces participate in international efforts in the Middle East, and that the world would appreciate it. However, at the time, MOFA explained that it was not true that the United States requested the dispatch of the SDF. It is of course difficult to say whether it was a “request,” but please tell us whether you think this explanation at the time was appropriate.

Press Secretary Yoshida: Regarding the diplomatic documents released today that you pointed out, the facts are as written in the documents. I believe that telegrams have been released as it is. I believe that in it, President Bush made a statement similar to what you stated in your question. Generally speaking, the objective of declassifying diplomatic documents is to leave the documents in the hands of historical evaluation of the results of past diplomatic activities of the Government of Japan. Therefore, at the time, I believe there were various decisions made, media coverages made on such decisions, and response guidelines on how to respond to questions from reporters were drafted. However, we have not provided interpretation or assessment of individual items of the released documents to date, including the response guidelines on how to respond to questions from reporters that I just mentioned. Accordingly, regarding the case you pointed out just now, I would like to request you all to look at the document or request a study by a researcher.

Asahi Shimbun, Aibara: Following up on the previous question, it is difficult to understand why MOFA will leave the documents in the hands of historical evaluation when a released document contradicts the statement by MOFA at the time that there is no fact of a request made by the U.S. side. Will MOFA continue to have a similar stance even if released diplomatic documents contain facts that are different from its previous explanations?

Press Secretary Yoshida: What you pointed out was a response guideline on how to respond to questions from reporters. This document is prepared for external communication with the press as part of administrative activities. The government responded accordingly at the time. The document was drafted based on various circumstances at the time amidst whatever the situation was. The diplomatic records we have released to date include other documents like this one. However, we do not provide interpretation or assessment on individual documents as I explained earlier.