Press Conferences

Kamide, Freelance: Recently there have been reports on the results of opinion polls that have been carried out. There has been a series of them, including one in Asahi Shimbun yesterday, and they strongly suggest that public opinion is against or critical of the use of the right to collective self-defense: 63% in one case, and a Mainichi Shimbun report cited 64%. Where the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets is concerned also, statements opposing it have been issued by 180 local assemblies nationwide, and in this way, some people say that the tone regarding the proactive contribution to peace appears to be critical. To begin with, one thing I would like to ask is what your thoughts are on this matter.

The second point is that on April 11 you will personally deliver a nuclear abolition message in Hiroshima, while at the same time the Government of Japan recently concluded pacts with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on exporting nuclear power plant. Regarding these issues, the fact that Japan is a country where the nuclear accident occurred and that plutonium can be diverted to make nuclear weapons have existed as problems from before, so is it not contradictory to promote nuclear abolition? Excuse me for taking so long, but could you respond to these two points please?

Minister Kishida: To begin with your first point, opinion polls are being carried out regarding various arguments, including the right to collective self-defense, and I believe we will have to humbly listen to various opinions that exist. The Government is asking the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security to undertake debate on various challenges, not only the right to collective self-defense but also collective security, UN peacekeeping operations and rescuing Japanese citizens caught up in acts of terrorism overseas. The Government will wait on the final report from that expert panel, and the Government and ruling parties will undertake robust discussions to establish the Government’s policy. That is the course I envisage.

By all means, I believe that in this process of debate, the discussions must be moved forward as carefully as possible, and in that process I believe it will be important to present the most specific examples possible, and undertake discussions that are easy to understand and easy to grasp from citizens’ standpoint also. I hope to do my best to move the debate carefully forward while listening humbly to the opinions of a large number of citizens.

Regarding your second point, the 8th NPDI Ministerial Meeting will be held in Hiroshima this week on April 11 and 12. You asked if this event contradicts a recent move to approve nuclear power pacts.

I do not think this is contradictory. The Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) Ministerial Meeting is an opportunity to discuss the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons. With nuclear power pacts Japan will contribute to the peaceful use of nuclear power, and a major premise for that is that nuclear power must be used for peace, and that nuclear nonproliferation has to be rigorously confirmed. Nuclear power pacts legally confirm these things, I believe.

I do not think there should be a debate that confuses this peaceful use of nuclear power and the use of nuclear weapons. Currently two nuclear power pacts are being discussed in the Diet. The pacts have been approved in the House of Representatives, and where the content of the pacts is concerned, in both cases, the Government of Japan will not permit either country to carry out enrichment or reprocessing. As a result of the discussion on these nuclear power pacts also, I understand that the content of the pacts is not contrary to nuclear nonproliferation.

Fujimura, Chugoku Shimbun: On the topic of nuclear disarmament, Hiroshima puts out a report each year grading the efforts of countries worldwide. The latest report was issued yesterday, and Japan has fallen to fifth place in the ranking of non-nuclear states after being in first place last year. The reason for this was that Japan lost points due to the fact that it did not support the Joint Statement on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons in spring last year and the fact that it is dependent on the nuclear umbrella. What are your thoughts on this drop from first to fifth place?

Minister Kishida: I saw that report today, and I intend to thoroughly analyze its content. It does not make sense if Japan’s ranking fell only due to the reasons that you mentioned. Japan did not support the joint statement last spring, but supported it last fall, and Japan’s security measures are basically no different than they were last year or the year before that. Therefore I do not entirely understand the logic behind Japan’s ranking falling if it was only due to such reasons, and I intend to examine this matter thoroughly.

Fujimura, Chugoku Shimbun: Perhaps my explanation was not thorough enough. It is true that Japan supported the statement in the fall, but Japan’s stance was perceived as being somewhat passive when the idea of the inhumanity of nuclear weapons was receiving attention and had been newly introduced as an item for evaluation. This is apparently the reason that Japan’s score fell. What is your view on this?

Minister Kishida: Ultimately Japan took the said policy. As for the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, there are some states in the international community that possess nuclear weapons and some that do not. Some countries are taking various approaches with regard to realizing a world without nuclear weapons. I am aware that we play a major role in serving as a catalyst for unifying such nations, and I intend to engage in thorough discussions at the NPDI Ministerial Meeting.

On the matter of the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, we will spread this idea across national borders and generations, deepen our scientific perspectives, and hold thorough discussions on this topic. This is Japan’s policy. I intend to make efforts so that people thoroughly understand Japan’s way of thinking on the matter, and based on this, we would like to play a leading role in international discussions on disarmament and non-proliferation.

Watanabe, NHK: I would like to ask a question about the director-general level talks between Japan and the DPRK. I believe that it has been agreed upon that such talks will be continued going forward. At this point in time, is there anything that you can tell now about when the next meeting will be held, what types of topics will be added to the agendas of the meetings in the future, and the overall direction for the meetings?

Minister Kishida: Government-level consultations were held between Japan and the DPRK on March 30 and 31. This was the first such exchange in one year and four months. During the discussions, the two sides expressed their ideas regarding their respective matters of interest. I have received a report saying that this was the content of the discussions. The two sides also agreed to continue holding talks in the future.

I think the fact that the talks will be continued merits a certain amount of praise, but it seems that these talks have only just gotten underway. At this point in time, no definite schedule has been set for the next round of talks. In the next round of talks and beyond, Japan will patiently engage in negotiations and of course address the abductions issue, and we intend to carry out discussions based on Japan’s basic policies with a view to comprehensively resolving outstanding issues such as missile and nuclear development.

Suzuki, Mainichi Shimbun: I would like to ask a related question. While these official talks are proceeding steadily, there have been some reports that informal talks were also held on April 5 and 6. What is the fact of the situation in relation to this? It seems that there must be significance to holding non-official and official meetings respectively. What are your thoughts on this?

Minister Kishida: I saw several media reports saying that talks were held on April 4 and 5, but there is absolutely no truth to these reports.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: This is also related. I believe that there were reports that official talks in Beijing took place on April 5 and 6. Is it true that somewhere but Beijing, Mr. Junichi Ihara, Director-General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, spoke with the DPRK?

Minister Kishida: No. As far as I know, that is not true.

Watanabe, NHK: I would like to ask a question regarding the situation in Ukraine. In an area in eastern Ukraine where there are many residents of Russian descent, pro-Russian demonstrators have been accelerating their activities, including declaring the formation of a republic. How do you assess the current situation? Also, with Russia expected to respond to the situation, at what timing will you be making a decision regarding whether you will go ahead with your visit to Russia? Can you tell us, to the extent that you know now, how the situation in eastern Ukraine will affect your decision?

Minister Kishida: We are aware of the media reports regarding the various developments in eastern Ukraine, and we are closely following the situation. Japan urges all parties to behave carefully with self-restraint and responsibility. Above all, Japan strongly urges all parties to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

With regard to my visit to Russia, at the moment there are neither any changes in plans, nor has anything specific been decided. A decision should be made holistically, by examining the situation in Ukraine while closely following the actions of relevant countries.

Torinari, Kyoto Press: I would like to ask a question in relation to the DPRK’s human rights issue. I understand that today, following this press conference, you will be meeting with Mr. Marzuki Darusman. Recently, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution. The resolution recommended the Security Council to refer those responsible for human rights violations to the appropriate international criminal justice mechanism, and to consider sanctions. However, as a matter of reality, it seems very likely that some Security Council members will oppose these measures. Looking at the situation objectively, I think that as a matter of reality, it will be difficult for these measures to be implemented as stated in the recommendations. Under these circumstances, how will Japan follow up on and leverage the latest resolution? Could you inform me on how you think of these matters?

Minister Kishida: This resolution is based on the report that was released in advance and is strong in content. Japan considers that this resolution itself sent out a strong international message to North Korea.

With regard to how Japan will leverage this resolution, the specifics must be examined from a variety of perspectives. Japan will work to ensure that this resolution will encourage the DPRK to take concrete forward-looking measures, in partnership with the international community sharing this strong message. Japan will be examining which measures will be feasible or effective to this end.

Houga, TBS: The eldest son of Mr. Hu Yaobang of the People’s Republic of China is now on his visit to Japan and I have learned that your meeting with him is being arranged this week. Which side made the proposal for the meeting? In addition, could you let us know your idea about the significance that the meeting will have?

Minister Kishida: Mr. Hu Deping, former member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, is on his visit to Japan from April 6 to 13 upon invitation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During his stay in Japan, he is scheduled to exchange views with various persons including government officials. It would be very meaningful to exchange opinions with Mr. Hu Deping, who has worked for Japan-China relations over a long period of time, as part of various dialogues between Japan and China. We invited him from these perspectives. As for myself, I would like to meet him even for a short time. However, concerning a specific location or date of the meeting, since he wants to exchange opinions in a quiet environment, I will refrain from commenting on that.

Komatsu, Jiji Press: Regarding the Japan-DPRK talks, sorry to ask about an old story, but it was reported that concerned authorities of Japan and the DPRK had met in Hanoi in January this year. I would like to confirm if the government authorities of Japan and North Korea met in a third country at that time.

Minister Kishida: In the first place, I do not remember if such a report was made in January, and with regard to whether there was such a meeting in January, I have no knowledge of that.

Muramatsu, Asahi Shimbun: Mr. Yoshimi Watanabe of Your Party resigned as the leader of the party. What do you think about his resignation?

Minister Kishida: I will refrain from evaluating Mr. Watanabe’s specific words and actions from the standpoint of the government. However, I think that it is very important to ensure transparency and accountability for his/her own behavior, including political funds, to the public as a politician.

I think Mr. Watanabe made a judgment on his own behavior from that perspective.