Press Conferences

Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida: At today’s Cabinet meeting it was decided that the Government of Japan will extend 855, 000 US dollars of aid, centering on psychological and social care, via international organizations for individuals who suffered harm as a result of the abduction of school girls by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram in Nigeria.

The Government of Japan once again strongly condemns actions that employ violence to terrorize school girls pursuing an education.

We intend to work in partnership with the international community.

Watanabe, NHK: My question is connected to what you have just said, but am I correct in understanding that when you refer to the girls who have suffered harm you mean the girls who have been abducted recently?

Minister Kishida: I am aware that the girls who have been abducted and those who escaped abduction have all suffered considerable psychological damage. The Cabinet decided to provide aid via four international organizations, including UNICEF, with the goal of providing psychosocial care, including to those individuals.

Watanabe, NHK: What is the biggest goal of the Government of Japan in making this decision?

Minister Kishida: The Government of Japan is aiming to realize a society in which women shine, and based on this policy it is implementing various measures domestically and contributing in various ways in the international community as well.

Given this policy the Government of Japan must also contribute and cooperate solidly with efforts such as this by the international community to deal firmly with violence against women, and it was with that intent that the decision to extend an aid was made.

Watanabe, NHK: I would like to ask about relations with North Korea. Next week it will be three weeks since the agreement in Stockholm. Also, at a press conference yesterday the Chief Cabinet Secretary stated that Japan is prepared to simultaneously lift three sanctions it is independently imposing, at the point when the special investigation committee is established and begins its investigation. Statements such as this seem to give the impression that a fair amount of coordination is underway, including considerable arrangements between the Governments of Japan and North Korea, but in what format are things actually moving forward?

Minister Kishida: At the recent Japan-North Korea government-level consultations, an agreement was reached that the North Korean side will set up a special investigation committee concerning all the Japanese people concerned, and that in response the Government of Japan will lift some of the sanctions it imposes on North Korea, but the responses, such as the lifting of sanctions and so on, are currently at the stage of undergoing coordination between the ministries and agencies concerned. And it has been agreed that by the time this investigation commences, the North Korean side will communicate with us to clarify matters such as the organization of the special investigation committee, its composition and who is in charge.

I believe the Government of Japan intends to consider responses such as lifting sanctions after securely confirming the situation regarding the special investigation committee, and the communication also.

Watanabe, NHK: That being the case, am I correct in understanding that the Government of Japan is making considerable progress with preparations, including between the relevant ministries and agencies, to prepare for when the North Korean side announces the special investigation committee’s members?

Minister Kishida: Coordination is taking place between the ministries and agencies concerned.

Yamazaki, Fuji TV: When Mr. Cheng Yonghua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Japan, came to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday and Mr. Akitaka Saiki, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, lodged a protest, Mr. Cheng Yonghua made an assertion that it was a Japanese fighter aircraft that approached the Chinese one. Later, the ChineseMinistry of National Defense posted a video of what they claim is proof of their assertion on its website. How do you think about it and how will the Government of Japan deal with this case?

Minister Kishida: First of all, concerning the video that the Chinese side posted, I have seen that several times through media reports. In terms of the video, the Minister of Defense stated that he was able to recognize that the plane shown was an F-15 of Japan, but it was not clear when the video was taken. Still, I understand that he considers that the video shows a stable scramble operation within the framework of international law and if the Chinese side claims that a Japanese aircraft approached or the aircraft was dangerous, that is totally incorrect. That is how the Government of Japan views the case.

Yamazaki, Fuji TV: How will the Government of Japan deal with this case going forward?

Minister Kishida: We recognize that this unusually close encounter by a Chinese military fighter aircraft was a very dangerous act that could result in an accidental event.

Therefore, we lodged a protest immediately on the day and we raised the level of our protest yesterday. I have already stated the Chinese side’s objection, but I think we need to convey our way of thinking and how we take the case to the Chinese side.

Watanabe, NHK: Judging from the immediate disclosure of the video, I am under the impression that the Chinese side might have made substantial preparation for this case. What do you think about this kind of information warfare?

Minister Kishida: I do not have any materials to mention the intention or preparation of the Chinese side and I also think I am not in a position to comment on that. Yet, it is true that this was a very dangerous act which could cause an accidental event. I believe we have to point that out assertively and lodge protests. I also think that it should be important for both sides to communicate through an already-agreed mechanism such as dialogues between the two countries and maritime communication mechanism in order to prevent any accidental event from happening. We have been reiterating this again and again. I strongly wish that the Chinese side will accept this mindset.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: You stated that it is not known when the video was taken. Do you mean that the video is not related to the case that Japan has lodged protests to China recently for the close encounter of the fighter aircraft?

Minister Kishida: I am not sure about that. Needless to say, I believe that the Minister of Defense made such remarks after thoroughly looking thorough the video at the Ministry of Defense. As the Minister of Defense states, I do not have any materials to state anything more than that.