Home > News > Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary > February 2012 > Monday, February 13, 2012 (AM)
Monday, February 13, 2012 (AM)
Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)
[Provisional Translation]
Q&As
(Abridged)
REPORTER: The mayoral election for Ginowan City (in Okinawa Prefecture) was held yesterday. What is the Government's view of the election result?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The election you mention is an individual local election and therefore is not something about which the Government makes any comment. However, I am duly aware of the various critical opinions that have been raised in Okinawa. From the perspective of maintaining a deterrent capability, while achieving a reduction in the great burden placed on Okinawa Prefecture in the near term, the Japanese Government will continue to listen earnestly to the opinions of the people of Okinawa, provide sincere explanations and seek their understanding.
REPORTER: Mr. Sakima won the election on the basis of campaign that called for the relocation of the Futenma Air Station outside the prefecture. How does the Japanese Government intend to cooperate and engage in dialogue with Mr. Sakima towards the resolution of the issue of the Futenma Air Station?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As I have just mentioned, the Government will continue to listen earnestly to the opinions of the people of Okinawa, provide sincere explanations and seek their understanding. Governor Nakaima of Okinawa Prefecture has already made a similar statement and in response to this the Government will provide further explanations.
(Abridged)
REPORTER: I have a question concerning the issue of the gas fields and relations with China. Nippon Television Network Corporation has taken aerial footage of the site of the gas field in the East China Sea from which it has been newly confirmed that China is developing two gas fields in the vicinity of the central demarcation line. What response does the Japanese Government intend to make to this situation?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As I have said before, with regard to the handling of the East China Sea, excluding the maritime areas agreed in June 2008, the Japanese and Chinese governments have yet to converge their positions. The Agreement reached in June 2008 stipulated that consultations to determine the outstanding demarcations should continue. The Japanese Government stance is therefore one that does recognize unilateral development and other measures being implemented by China, and the Japanese Government has continued to call for inter-governmental consultations concerning the issue at an early juncture.
