Press Conferences

Ukai, TV Tokyo: I have a question regarding the entry by Chinese military and Russian military vessels into Japan’s contiguous zone to its territorial sea near the Senkaku Islands yesterday. The Government held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting yesterday. What is the current analysis of the aims of the two countries? I think the analysis started yesterday. Please explain the current state if you can.

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: As you noted, the Government held an NSC meeting yesterday and shared and reviewed a variety of information regarding the matter. However, I do not think it is appropriate to say anything in a public venue about the intent of China or others. Japan plans to continue gathering and analyzing information, but we are very concerned about this matter since it is an action that unilaterally raises tensions. We intend to continue monitoring the situation.

Ukai, TV Tokyo: While Mr. Akitaka Saiki, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, directly protested to Mr. Cheng Yonghua, China’s Ambassador to Japan, regarding this incident yesterday, do you have any plan to speak directly to the Chinese side about the incident?

Minister Kishida: I am not scheduled to speak directly to them at this point. Japan continues to fully confirm situations and to take appropriate actions in response to the situations.

Chijiwa, TV Asahi: This is related. Previous encounters around the Senkaku Islands involved the exercise of policing rights by the Japan Coast Guard with the China Coast Guard. Do you think the involvement of a military vessel this time raises the danger level, or is this a one-off event?

Minister Kishida: As just mentioned, I am not in a position to discuss China’s intent. However, China has previously asserted its own unique claims related to the Senkaku Islands and intruded into Japan’s territorial waters with government-owned vessels. The fact that it sent a Navy vessel into the contiguous zone for the first time in this case is an action that unilaterally raises tensions. Japan is seriously concerned about this action, and we intend to continue monitoring the situation.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: This is related to Japan-China relations. You explained that Japan-China relations have been improving in a speech delivered at the end of April and then visited China in May. Do you still think Japan-China relations are improving in light of the occurrence of this type of incident yesterday? Please explain your current view.

Minister Kishida: Regarding this case, the Senkaku Islands are Japan’s sovereign territory historically and under international law, and the Government intends to respond in a calm but resolute manner in order to firmly protect our territorial land, waters, and air space. Japan must also strongly urge China, in collaboration with the United States and the international community as a whole, to refrain from and not engage in this type of action that unilaterally raises tensions. I recognize that overall Japan-China relations are headed in the direction of improvement, but I think Japan needs to respond firmly when this type of individual issue arises.

Jibiki, Nikkei: Has a Self-Defense Forces (SDF) vessel navigated through the continuous zone between Kuba Island and Taisho Island amid China’s territorial claims to the Senkaku Islands?

Minister Kishida: I do not have detailed information with me about whether the SDF has navigated the route you mentioned. Let me respond later after confirming.

Jibiki, Nikkei: I think Russia has sailed through the continuous zone by the Senkaku Islands in the past. Has a SDF ship ever trailed the vessels when this happened?

Minister Kishida: In general, international law does not prohibit the passage of foreign military vessels through the contiguous zone of a coastal country. What I just explained is the interpretation under international law. But regarding whether the SDF followed Russian military vessels, I need to confirm what type of response took place in the past since I currently do not have this information with me.

Li, Hong Kong Phoenix TV: China’s Ministry of National Defense reacted to yesterday’s incident with the military vessel with comments that it is legal for China’s military vessels to navigate in waters that it has jurisdiction over and other countries should not say anything. What is your view of this reaction?

Minister Kishida: The Senkaku Islands are Japan’s sovereign territory under international law and historically. We absolutely do not accept China’s unique claims. While China has previously asserted its unique claims related to the Senkaku Islands and intruded into Japan’s territorial waters with government-owned vessels, the fact that it sent a Navy vessel into the contiguous zone for the first time in this case is an action that unilaterally raises tensions, and Japan is seriously concerned about this action. Japan intends to respond in a calm but resolute manner in order to firmly protect our territorial land, waters, and air space. Japan also plans to urge China, in collaboration with the United States and the international community as a whole, not to engage in this type of action that unilaterally raises tensions.

Li, Hong Kong Phoenix TV: Has China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially responded to the protest from Japan? Please explain if there was a response.

Minister Kishida: Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki expressed serious concerns to Ambassador Cheng Yonghua and lodged a protest at 2:00 a.m. yesterday morning. I heard that Ambassador Cheng Yonghua responded with an explanation of China’s position.

Kurihara, NHK: While China previously approached the Senkaku Islands with fishing boats and government-owned vessels, this incident involved a military vessel. Does Japan intend to promptly engage in discussions for an early start of a maritime contact mechanism to avoid unexpected clashes? What are your thoughts about encouraging China to resume this type of framework?

Minister Kishida: This action unilaterally raises tensions, and Japan is very concerned. Regarding the maritime and air space contact mechanism between defense authorities, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. Li Keqiang, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China, agreed on both sides to make efforts for an early start of this mechanism in the Japan-China Summit Meeting held in November 2015. Japan thinks it is necessary to put efforts into an early start to the mechanism’s operations based on content agreed by the two leaders.

Kurihara, NHK: Do you plan to take specific actions to move this forward?

Minister Kishida: The point you mentioned was an agreement between the leaders. Administrative officials need to make efforts toward an early start of the operation of the mechanism.

Maeda, Mainichi Shimbun: Japan-Russia peace treaty negotiations are scheduled for the end of this month. Yesterday, a Russian military vessel passed through the contiguous zone, and the Northern Territories and the Kuril Islands are becoming increasingly militarized also. Under the circumstances, what sorts of outcomes are you expecting?

Minister Kishida: At the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting held last month, the two leaders shared the view that the Japan-Russia peace treaty negotiations will be pursued through a new approach not bound by a traditional way of thinking. We intend to proceed with the negotiations and discussions according to this objective, and at present I understand that coordination is being made toward holding the peace treaty negotiations in the latter half of June. I by all means hope that meaningful negotiations will be held, in line with this objective I just mentioned.