Press Conferences

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I will say a few words about the issue of the United Kingdom (U.K.) leaving the European Union (EU).

The Government of Japan is paying attention to the impact on Japan and the international community of the recent referendum result, and is responding to it appropriately from the perspective of Japan’s national interests.

Japan and the U.K. share fundamental values and have a robust cooperative relationship in various fields such as politics, economy and security. We will continue to make efforts to maintain and strengthen the Japan-U.K. relationship.

From that point of view, I dispatched Mr. Shinsuke Sugiyama, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to London and Brussels for exchanges of views on issues, including any potential impact on Japanese companies’ activities resulting from the U.K.’s leave from the EU. In addition, in advance of that, Vice-Minister Sugiyama also met with Mr. Antony Blinken, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, in the United States on June 27th, and they confirmed that Japan and the United States will cooperate in light of the U.K.’s leave from the EU.

Additionally, yesterday I received a courtesy call from Mr. Timothy Hitchens, Ambassador of the U.K. to Japan, and I received a message from the Right Honorable Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the U.K. As I also explained then, Japan intends to seek a response from the U.K. so that Japanese companies doing business there can continue to carry out their business activities as they have done thus far.

Furthermore, based on the belief that it is important to share information with companies before and after the referendum, on June 13th, in other words prior to the national referendum, we invited major Japanese companies that do business in the U.K. to the Japanese Embassy in London and held an information exchange session. In addition to that, we are again scheduled to hold a similar information exchange session in the U.K., on June 28th.

Moreover, I am currently coordinating to hold a telephone talk with Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on June 29th, tomorrow, regarding the issue of the U.K.’s leave from the EU. I also intend to hold a telephone talk with Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Hammond as soon as possible. A European Council meeting is scheduled to be held on June 28th and 29th, so I intend to exchange views about the latest circumstances during the telephone talks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to make efforts to gather information, and will continue to strive to strengthen the relationship with the U.K., with which Japan shares the same values. Furthermore, we will listen to the views of the business community through a variety of channels, and will take measures to enhance economic predictability.

Mie, Japan Times: You just mentioned seeking a response from the U.K. so that Japanese companies can continue their business activities, but could you explain specifically what sort of response there will be?

Minister Kishida: Regarding a specific response, this will change depending on what sorts of negotiations are held between the U.K. and the EU and what sorts of developments occur from here on. Firstly, we have to consider specific responses based on a solid grasp of the various circumstances, including how the negotiations between the U.K. and the EU proceed in the future. In any event, the circumstances are changing moment by moment. In this context, first of all, our fundamental stance is to seek a response from the U.K., in order for Japanese companies to carry out their business activities stably.

Kamide, Freelance: I have a question relating to this U.K.’s leave from the EU. The opposition parties and others are saying that under these circumstances, in this global economic crisis situation, it may be necessary to review the strategy of Abenomics itself, which in some respects has used high stock prices and depreciation of the yen as a means to boost economy. On the other hand, the Government and ruling parties are emphasizing in the Upper House election and elsewhere that this is the very time when a stable administration is required. It may be difficult to tell in reality, but can you say whether in the course of the Upper House election there is the feeling that this issue will negatively affect the Government and ruling parties? Or conversely, is there mounting expectation that the Government and ruling parties are being counted on to stay the course? To the extent that you can, could you please share your views with regard to this?

Minister Kishida: There have been various developments since then. For example, we can see activities based on short-term perspectives in the financial markets and elsewhere, and I believe we will have to monitor these developments closely while making sure to maintain stability. Where the real economy is concerned, it is possible that medium- to long-term effects may also emerge. Therefore, I believe it is important to continue to keep a close eye on developments and to mobilize all policies appropriately, while firmly grasping the situation.

In doing so, we will surely have to firmly emphasize that political stability is extremely important in various fora. I believe we should firmly explain that political stability is important.

Kamide, Freelance: I have a related question. It may be a little difficult to tell in reality, but the Upper House election is currently being fought. Do you sense any impact, positive or negative, amid that? Or do you not really sense that? Could you comment on this, please?

Minister Kishida: With regard to the impact and so forth on the Upper House election, the Upper House election process is still currently ongoing and I think it is quite difficult to make predictions. Nevertheless, in any event, as I just explained, the situation is unclear and there is international unrest, and in light of that it is important that Japan itself has the political stability to pursue solid economic policy responses. I believe we should strive to ensure this point is thoroughly understood.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: This question is related to the recent referendum in the U.K. In response to the referendum result, some of the leading EU countries assert that the U.K. should move ahead with procedures to withdraw from the EU as soon as possible, since the referendum result is clear. What are your thoughts regarding whether the U.K. should quickly withdraw and whether the relevant procedures should be swiftly carried out?

Minister Kishida: First of all, I believe that the relevant people of the U.K. and the EU will be holding thorough discussions, and a decision will be made through a mutual understanding. I understand that the European Council will meet on June 28th and 29th. I think that Japan must closely monitor the situation and take the necessary responses in an appropriate manner. I would like to refrain from commenting on the issue of U.K. and EU procedures.

Shimoe, Kyodo Press: This is in regard to the telephone talk with Ms. Mogherini on June 29th. You just mentioned that you would ask the U.K. to enable Japanese businesses to continue to carry out their business activities as they have done thus far. In your telephone talk with Ms. Mogherini regarding the EU, what will you request on behalf of the Government of Japan? The meeting of the European Council will end on June 29th. Just to confirm, is it correct to understand that you will speak with Ms. Mogherini and Rt. Hon. Hammond regarding the handling of the situation after this meeting?

Minister Kishida: The timing of the telephone talks is currently being arranged, and it has not yet been decided whether the talks will be after the end of the European Council meeting on June 28th or 29th. In any case, I imagine that the talks will take place after the start of the European Council meeting. As for the telephone talk with High Representative Mogherini, the main objective is to thoroughly understand the current situation, including the contents of the European Council discussions, and to exchange views. I believe that Japan’s requests will change depending on the situation, so the main purpose of this upcoming telephone talk is to learn about the situation and then to exchange opinions.

Tadokoro, Mainichi Shimbun: I would like to ask you to share your thoughts. Apparently a sense of regret is spreading among the people of the U.K. regarding the recent referendum result. What is your impression of this situation?

Minister Kishida: The U.K. referendum was decided by the people of the U.K., and I believe it must therefore be respected. I believe I am not in a position, as a representative of Japan, to make any comment on it.

Ishigaki, Jiji Press: On June 24th, when the result of the vote was released, you were not present in Tokyo, and the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary were also away at that time. Opposition parties have commented that this is due to a lack of a sense of crisis. What are the facts regarding this, and do you have any rebuttal?

Minister Kishida: As you pointed out, I was in my hometown, but from the very beginning, in anticipation of the announcement of the referendum result in the U.K., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had made all the necessary preparations. As for lines of communication, all possible measures were taken to contact me through a secretary, and I thus fully understood the situation. That is why I promptly decided to dispatch Vice-Minister Sugiyama to the U.K. and the EU and issued instructions for this. I do not believe that there was any problem with the handling of the situation.

Morifuji, Yomiuri Shimbun: It has been half a year since the Japan-ROK agreement was reached. It is expected that the ROK Government will establish a foundation next month. Could you tell us again how the Japanese Government intends to proceed towards the implementation, including the timing of the contribution of 1 billion yen?

Minister Kishida: First, with regard to the Japan-ROK agreement, we believe that it is very important that both Governments responsibly implement the content of the agreement. We will continue to cooperate closely with the ROK Government, but my understanding on the establishment of the foundation is that nothing has been decided at this point in time regarding the timing of the establishment. We will continue to cooperate closely with the ROK Government on a variety of levels.

Ukai, TV Tokyo: Regarding the matter of the series of intrusions of Chinese military vessels into the Japanese contiguous zone and territorial sea this month, including an intrusion into Japan’s territorial sea as well, I assume that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reviewing whether this falls under innocent passage. Have you come to a conclusion on this matter yet?

Minister Kishida: Regarding the matter that you raised, a number of incidents occurred in rapid succession. We have responded to each and every one respectively, and we have confirmed matters that should be confirmed where necessary. That is our response. We must also firmly analyze how we should evaluate the series of actions in their entirety. We intend to continue to firmly conduct such analysis and other measures. In any case, we would like you to understand that there are also limits to what we can reveal, including how we are conducting the analysis or what the Government’s view is, on public occasions such as this.

Ukai, TV Tokyo: If I share my personal thoughts, it was stated in your meeting with the U.K. Ambassador to Japan that Japan and the U.K. share common values in regard to the rule of law. However, if you value the rule of law, then I think that you should be open and firm in your interpretation of laws, including whether or not the intrusion of military vessels into our territorial sea falls under innocent passage. What is your view on this point?

Minister Kishida: We are currently confirming a decision as Japan on the matter, including the point that you raised. We will make public what should be made public in an appropriate manner.

Ukai, TV Tokyo: What do you consider to be matters that should not be made public?

Minister Kishida: This involves many complicated issues. On this issue, I believe that we should thoroughly consider the matters in question, and only make a public announcement upon making a firm determination on the entirety of the events, and we should also determine how best to make an announcement.

Takita, Sankei Shimbun: Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Fujino called defense spending “a budget for killing people” in an NHK program on the 26th. Although he retracted his remarks later, there have been repercussions. What is your view of the remarks?

Minister Kishida: First of all, it is my understanding that defense spending is a very important budget for protecting the lives and livelihood of the Japanese people. As for the remarks that you referred to, I will refrain from addressing it directly since the person who made the remark has retracted it, but I do believe that it is very important for the Government to explain firmly the importance and significance of defense spending and seek the understanding of the Japanese people.

Takenaka, Reuters: If I may I would like to return to the issue of the U.K. We are hearing that a sense of regret is spreading among the people after the event. In Japan, if there is to be a constitutional revision in the future, the final stage will involve a national referendum. If it comes to that, what preparations should we make in advance to ensure that there will be no such regret afterward? Is there anything that we can learn from the case of the U.K.?

Minister Kishida: Japan and the U.K. have different laws, so national referendums are also treated differently. Essentially, now, with regard to a national referendum, it is conceivable that if a constitutional revision were to be considered, a national referendum may be held. In that case, I believe that the important thing is to firmly grasp the meaning of a national referendum, and above all, politicians have an important responsibility to provide careful explanations to the Japanese people. I do believe that the national referendum itself is an important means for the people to express their own will. However, it is also important to ensure that any such means are implemented in an appropriate manner, in order to ensure that they result in the happiness and understanding of the people.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: What is the state of progress regarding measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents in Okinawa that are being discussed in the consultations between Japan and the United States? I assume that the consultations will revolve around the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. What kind of measures for improvement do you have in mind?

Minister Kishida: Japan and the United States are continuing consultations regarding the three points that were confirmed at the previous Defense Ministers’ Meeting. Specifically, consultations are being conducted on matters such as the review of the treatment of Americans who have the status specified under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement including the civilian component. I would like to refrain from touching on the specific content at this point in time since the consultations are ongoing. In any case, it is my belief that we must make a firm overall response that prevents recurrence. In Okinawa, we have already launched various efforts, such as the commencement of patrols in the region, and we expect a firm response from the U.S. side as well. We must develop an overall response that the people of Okinawa will also be satisfied with. That is my view.

Ukai, TV Tokyo: This weekend, there was yet another incident, in which a civilian personnel of the U.S. forces was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. There are people stating that they will vote in the House of Councillors election by taking into account what kind of attitude with which the Japanese Government approaches these and other matters and what kind of prevention measures that will be formulated by Japan and the U.S. Do you intend to finalize the measures for preventing recurrence of the incident such as the one that occurred in Uruma City, before the day of the House of Councillors election?

Minister Kishida: Regarding the measures for preventing recurrence, it is my view that we must make firm efforts based on the view that I just outlined. As for the timing, the consultations are still ongoing, but it is my belief that we must respond as rapidly as possible, with a sense of urgency. Regardless of whether or not there is a House of Councillors election, I believe that this is a matter on which we must carefully take into account the sentiments of the people of Okinawa and act with a sense of urgency.