Press Conferences

Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida: Today the meetings of Security Sub-Committee (SSC) and Subcommittee for Defense Cooperation (SDC) were held between Japan and the U.S. at the director-general level. At the SSC meeting, views were exchanged on the regional situation and the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan, including impact mitigation on Okinawa. Additionally, at the SDC meeting, an interim report on the revision of the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation was drawn up, and it was concurred on the public release of the report.

The interim report sets out the basic premise and understanding that the revised Guidelines and the activities carried out under them will follow the fundamental principles of the constitutional laws and national security policies of Japan and the U.S. Based on that, it confirms that the key points of the revision process are that: 1. Japan and the U.S. will take measures to prevent the deterioration of Japan’s security, in a seamless manner; 2. cooperation to generate a more peaceful and stable international security environment will be enhanced; and 3. cooperation in space and cyberspace will be advanced.

For the Government of Japan, this revision of the Guidelines is in line with the policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation. By undertaking careful explanations of the interim report domestically and overseas, greater understanding of this initiative will be promoted. In addition, in line with the framework and objectives laid out in the interim report for the revised Guidelines, further works will be continued between Japan and the U.S. forward. That is all from me.

Muramatsu, Asahi Shimbun: I imagine that seamless responses will be one of the key points. The interim report states that swift and robust responses of Japan and the United States are required even when an armed attack against Japan is not involved. Is my understanding correct that this assumes Japan-U.S. responses to scenarios involving “gray-zone” situations, or the defense of the Senkaku Islands and other such remote islands?

Minister Kishida: As the interim report is a report as of the intermediate stage, the exact content of the Guidelines is not yet decided. Japan and the United States will continue to work on the specific responses in accordance with the framework and objectives of the revised Guidelines that were laid out in the interim report. The two sides will continue to work on the specific points as you noted towards the compilation of the final report.

Nakagawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: Regarding the interim report, in order to ensure the effectiveness of the Japan-U.S. Guidelines, as you mentioned, careful explanations need to be provided to countries that are likely to oppose the revisions, namely, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK). Were prior explanations of the interim report provided to countries such as the ROK?

Minister Kishida: Regarding explanations to relevant countries, I would like to refrain from naming specific countries or the contents, but in any case, careful explanations must be carried out. We intend to steadily make such efforts.