Press Conferences

Kurihara, NHK: China revealed that it directly invited Prime Minister Abe to the commemorative event for the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression on September 3. The heads of state of 20 or more countries, including Russia, are predicted to participate in this event; but what does the government think about the response to it ?

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: To begin with, Japan has not received a letter of invitation. In addition, nothing has been decided concerning a response to September 3.

Kurihara, NHK: There are a series of ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings scheduled next week. I imagine coordination is still ongoing; but if you would go, what sort of discussions are expected to take place, how will bilateral and other meetings be coordinated, and what sorts of bilateral meetings do you intend to carry out?

Minister Kishida: Regarding the meetings, this year is supposed to be the year the ASEAN Community will be realized. Japan intends to contribute to it from the standpoint of supporting the integration of ASEAN.

I would expect that discussions will take place on the regional community’s shared challenges, including the South China Sea. With regard to the bilateral meetings and other things, firstly, for one thing, we are in the midst of the Diet session, so the Government has not even decided who will officially attend next week’s ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ meetings yet. The schedule has not been decided either. Nothing specific has been decided either regarding the bilateral meetings and other things.

Kurihara, NHK: You mentioned the South China Sea just now. Where maritime expansion by China is concerned, it appears that ASEAN member countries, as well as the United States, will attend. I believe this is a matter of shared interest to these countries, but what kind of discussions do you think will take place at these meetings?

Minister Kishida: Discussions have been carried out, including that the “rule of law” and “freedom of navigation” in South China See must be respected. I imagine that those discussions will probably continue.

Mizutani, Jiji Press: The other day Russia’s Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East stated that senior government officials will visit the Northern Territories on a regular basis. I would like to ask once again of your view on such stance by the Russian side, including plans for Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Etorofu or the Northern Territories, and what you think about impact of those will have on the visit to Russia that you are considering.

Minister Kishida: Prime Minister Medvedev’s visit to the Northern Territories is being reported in news reports and elsewhere. However, such a visit is incompatible with Japan’s position regarding the Northern Territories. I think it would also have negative impact on public sentiment in Japan. It would be unacceptable to us, I believe.

At the same time, the leaders of both countries have shared the view that a visit to Japan by Russian President Vladimir Putin will be realized within this year. In the context of those preparations, a Minister for Foreign Affairs’ visit to Russia is under consideration, but I expect these will be decided by taking a variety of elements into account in a comprehensive manner.

Nothing has been decided at present, but it has not changed that we continue to make those kinds of efforts, I believe.

Nakagawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: Following a regular meeting of the Heisei Kenkyukai (Heisei Research Council) held yesterday, the press corps asked the chairman of the Council, Fukushiro Nukaga, “what kind of modality will be best for the presidential election of LDP?” Mr. Nukaga responded that he has never thought about it and is not thinking about it, but when he was subsequently asked “Is a reelection without voting desirable?” he appeared to suggest an affirmative response, “yes”. Minister Kishida, as head of the Kochikai faction, how do you think the presidential election should best be carried out?

Minister Kishida: The Kochikai has never discussed the presidential election, and I am not considering anything yet.

Nakagawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: The approval rates provided by each agency for the Abe Cabinet is gradually declining. Amid that, where the issue of a reelection without voting is concerned, it seems that some members within the party believe it would be better to have a rival candidate stand for enlivenment. In light of this point also, what are your views as a faction leader?

Minister Kishida: As a Cabinet member, I believe I should give my undivided attention to the discussions in the Diet, given that there are also important bills. In fact, I am concentrating on that. I have not thought about the future.