Press Conferences

Reporter: A Chinese vessel intruded into Japan’s contiguous zone again on June 16th last week and on June 20th, in which navigated around the vicinity of Japan, although not in the contiguous zone. Could you once again explain how the Government of Japan perceives these series of circumstances regarding Chinese vessels?

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: According to the Ministry of Defense, the Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that from around 5:00 p.m. on June 19th to around 2:00 p.m. on June 20th, a Chinese Navy information-gathering vessel made east-west passages several times outside of the contiguous zone south of the Senkaku Islands.

In response to this, in the afternoon of June 20th the Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed our concern to a minister of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo regarding the overall conduct of the Chinese Navy, which continues to take unilateral actions that heighten tensions in the seas surrounding Japan, such as the recent intrusion of a Chinese Navy military vessel into the contiguous zone near the Senkaku Islands, followed by the passage of the information-gathering vessel through Japan’s territorial waters and contiguous zone, and now this peculiar passage by the same information-gathering vessel in the sea south of the Senkaku Islands, even though this occurred outside the contiguous zone.

The Government of Japan intends to continue to watch movements of the Chinese Navy, including movements of Chinese vessels in the seas surrounding Japan.

Reporter: In Europe, the United Kingdom is scheduled to hold a national referendum on June 23rd on whether or not to leave the EU, and media reports suggest that this is too close to call. In any event, what sort of impact do you think it will have on Japan?

Minister Kishida: First, this is something to be entirely decided by the citizens of the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, the Government of Japan believes the matter also concerns Japan’s national interests and believes it would be desirable that the United Kingdom stay in the EU. The Government of Japan hopes that the United Kingdom, and even further, Europe, will continue to firmly contribute to the peace and stability of the international community as actors that have influence on the international stage.

Reporter: The circumstances surrounding this issue have heated up, to the point where a British Member of Parliament was shot to death. How does Japan, as one nation among the sworn allies of the G7, which share common values, view the fact that the division in public opinion in the United Kingdom has reached this point?

Minister Kishida: This is in every respect the United Kingdom’s national referendum, so it is up to the citizens of the United Kingdom to decide and respond. I believe I have to refrain from making any comment about that from the standpoint of Japan.

Reporter: There are some reports that China is considering withdrawing from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Could you explain the situation that the Government of Japan currently grasps?

Minister Kishida: I myself do not have definite information with regard to this matter, so I intend to confirm it once again.

Reporter: Following the incident in Okinawa, I understand that negotiations are being carried out between Japan and the United States on measures to prevent recurrences. What is the current state of the consultations?

Minister Kishida: Japan and the United States are holding discussions on the point that was agreed upon at the recent Defense Ministers’ Meeting, in other words, on reviewing the handling of US citizens who have status specified under the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement, including civilian personnel. Those discussions are continuing. Nevertheless, we intend to respond with a sense of urgency. Additionally, as part of the Government’s own response, it has already established the Okinawa Regional Safety Patrol Unit and the patrols have already commenced. I believe we must respond firmly to ensure that this kind of incident does not happen again, by solidly implementing these initiatives.

Reporter: In relation to these discussions, you mentioned that discussions are being held with urgency, but at the present point in time, do you have any idea of when they might be concluded, in particular in the context of the House of Councillors election?

Minister Kishida: There is another party involved, and furthermore the discussions are currently continuing. I do not think I can make a prediction about when a conclusion will be reached, although we cannot spend an indefinite amount of time on the discussions and must respond with a sense of urgency. I believe it is a matter which we should strive to reach a conclusion on as quickly as possible.