Press Conferences

Watanabe, NHK: My question concerns the recent diplomatic schedule. A Trilateral Summit Meeting between Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) is to be held for the first time in more than three years, and I would like to ask firstly, what sort of meeting does Japan hope to achieve, and what sorts of outcomes does it hope to obtain? Could you comment on that, including your hopes in that regard?

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: First, at the end of this week a Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting is scheduled to be held for the first time in around three and a half years. Additionally, in conjunction with that, Summit Meetings with Ms. Park Geun-hye, President of the ROK, and Mr. Li Keqiang, Premier of China, are scheduled to be held. At these Summit Meetings, we will hold general discussions on a broad range of cooperation, including cooperation in relation to the economy, culture and the environment, and will by all means firmly discuss the current and future direction. Those are the sorts of meetings we intend to hold, I believe, and in conjunction with that we are also scheduled to exchange views on regional affairs. I by all means hope these will be meaningful meetings at which frank views are exchanged, without reserve.

Watanabe, NHK: I understand that coordination is taking place on holding Foreign Ministers’ Meetings with the respective countries alongside the Japan-China and Japan-ROK Summit Meetings. Could you comment on the Foreign Ministers’ Meetings also, including what kind of placement the meetings will take, what appeals Japan will make, and what sorts of outcomes Japan hopes to obtain?

Minister Kishida: Alongside the Summit Meetings I just mentioned, we are also coordinating to hold a Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and a Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. These meetings will serve as preparation for the several Summit Meetings that are to be held, and as such I very much intend to hold firm discussions. By laying firm groundwork at the Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, I intend to pave the way for success in the Summit Meetings that will follow them.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: My question concerns President Park. In response to a joint interview with Asahi Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun, President Park once again called for the resolution of the comfort women issue by the end of the year. The ROK side does not have a concrete proposal, and appears to be seeking a resolution from the Japanese side. How will the Japanese side respond in that regard?

Minister Kishida: Where the comfort women issue that you mentioned is concerned, the Government of Japan’s fundamental position has not changed, as has been explained from before. We intend to continue to hold persistent discussions.

Odanaka, Mainichi Shimbun: I have a related question. President Park is apparently taking this meeting as an opportunity to seek a proposal solution from the Japanese side with the meeting on November 2 in mind. However, is the Japanese side scheduled to make a new proposal at this meeting?

Minister Kishida: The Japanese side’s fundamental position does not change. We will hold persistent discussions.

Watanabe, NHK: Chinese authorities have officially acknowledged that four Japanese citizens are being detained. Will this issue be taken up at the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting or Summit Meeting, or what are your views on this official confirmation?

Minister Kishida: Regarding the point that you raised, we have been notified by the Chinese side that two Japanese men were detained by Chinese authorities in Liaoning Province and Zhejiang Province in May this year. I would like to refrain from commenting in any more detail than that. Regarding the topics for the Summit Meeting, I imagine that various matters of interest will be discussed, but at the present stage I would like to refrain from making predictions about what topics will be addressed and what topics we intend not to address.

Chijiiwa, TV Asahi: Will the Summit Meetings and the Foreign Ministers’ Meetings address issues such as those in the South China Sea, including land reclamation and the recent passage of the U.S. Navy Aegis ship? Please clarify the position of Japan.

Minister Kishida: As I just stated, I imagine that the respective concerns of each country in various fields will be addressed, and in conjunction with this, I think that there will be an exchange of views on regional and international affairs. However, I must refrain from commenting at the current stage on what specific issues will be discussed.

Ishigaki Jiji Press: Concerning the territorial issue in the South China Sea, the Philippines requested arbitration by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. The Court ruled that it had jurisdiction over the matter and that it would continue to hold the arbitration deliberations. What is the Government of Japan’s view on this?

Minister Kishida: I would like to confirm for myself the details of the matter you referred to, but I think freedom of international waters, freedom of navigation, and respect for the rule of law at sea are matters of great interest to the international community and challenges that require cooperation. So I will be paying close attention to the matter you referred to from this perspective.