Press Conferences

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida: Today, a cabinet decision on the three principles on transfer of defense equipment has been made.

Paying due attention to the roles that the Three Principles on Arms Exports played in the past, the Government of Japan comprehensively organized the past principles and set clear principles concerning overseas transfer of defense equipment in order to meet the security environment on the basis of the past cases of making exceptions.

The Government of Japan will give careful explanation of the new principles to the international society. Moreover, in the implementation of the principles, the Government of Japan will cooperate in strict examination and proper management of the principles from viewpoints of diplomacy, security and international laws.

Kubota, TBS: Two-day Japan-North Korea consultations have finished. Will you share what you think about the results?

Minister Kishida: Concerning the Japan-North Korea Intergovernmental Consultations, I have received a report that exchange of earnest and candid opinions were made during the two days. In terms of the content, both Japanese and North Korean sides brought their issues of interests and discussed them. As a result of the discussion, both sides agreed to continue the consultations and I evaluate such results to a certain extent. The consultations were the first ones in a year and four months and both sides agreed on continuing the consultations in the future. Therefore, I think we need to continue the negotiations with persistence.

Kubota, TBS: It has been a while since the two sides held such consultations last time. Did you feel any changes from the North Korean side? Do you think they only showed a superficial friendly attitude?

Minister Kishida: Concerning the concrete contents of the discussion, I need to be briefed thoroughly. I evaluate to a certain extent the fact that consultations and dialogues have been resumed and that both sides will continue such consultations and dialogues. However, judging from recent North Korean actions, I cannot find any positive movement toward the solution of issues such as missile development or nuclear development. I think we need to work on North Korea to comprehensively resolve issues such as abductions, nuclear development, and missile development.

Kubota, TBS: A court decision has been made that Japan’s research whaling is illegal. What is your opinion on the decision?

Minister Kishida: A Judgment has been made on the case concerning the Whaling in the Antarctic between Japan and Australia at the International Court of Justice. The Court ruled that the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic does not fall within Article 8, Clause 1 of International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). Such a decision is very regrettable and I am deeply disappointed by the decision. However, Japan is a country which places great importance on the international legal order and the rule of law. Therefore, the Government of Japan will abide by the Judgment of the Court.

We will consider our concrete future course of actions carefully, upon studying what is stated in the Judgment.

Ono, Kyodo News: Consumption tax will increase from today, rising to 8%, from 5%, and there are some areas that citizens do not understand, including how the increased tax will be used. As a member of the Cabinet, I would like to ask if you have anything to say regarding how citizens’ understanding will be advanced from here forward.

Minister Kishida: Since citizens are being asked to shoulder a new burden, the Government has been working to explain how that tax will be used up to now, but I believe it is an issue that we will need to continue to strive to explain in a conscientious way.

I believe the Government must continue to endeavor to obtain citizens’ understanding from various perspectives, including Japan’s fiscal circumstances, its economic situation and so on.

Watanabe, NHK: My question concerns whaling. From a food culture perspective, I expect every country has its own food culture, and I would like to ask you how you view this international pressure on Japan’s whaling from a viewpoint of food culture.

Minister Kishida: There are various opinions about whaling based on various perspectives, and in that context, we have been carefully explaining the Government of Japan’s point of view up to now. A Judgment has now been made, and where that Judgment is concerned, from the standpoint of respecting the international legal order Japan will take it seriously. And after making a careful examination of the Judgment, the Government of Japan will carefully consider how to respond going forward.