Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The deployment of the Osprey aircraft to Okinawa
• Japan-China relations
• Japan-ROK relations

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in relation to the Osprey aircraft. Last week, an Osprey made an emergency landing in an urban area of North Carolina, United States (U.S.). Based on this situation, the Japanese Government needs to declare the aircraft safe, if Ospreys are deployed to Okinawa. What is the administration's view regarding how this will affect the schedule of the deployment?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Let me first lay out the facts. On September 6, local time, an MV-22 Osprey of the U.S. Marine Corps belonging to Air Station New River in North Carolina, U.S. made a precautionary landing in an urban area of Jacksonville, North Carolina. According to the U.S., this landing was a usual, precautionary procedure to prevent problems from occurring. I understand that such landings are conducted not only with the Osprey but with aircrafts in general, and are not of a nature which is considered an accident. However, Japan obviously is concerned and will gather further details through the Ministry of Defense.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding the Senkaku Islands, I believe views were exchanged between the Prime Minister and President Hu Jintao at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit yesterday, including on the topic of Senkaku. Could you please brief us on the exchanges?

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Prime Minister Noda had a conversation in passing with President Hu Jintao of China on the sidelines of the APEC Summit on September 9. Prime Minister Noda expressed his condolences over the damages caused by the earthquakes in Yunnan Province on September 7. On current bilateral relations, the two sides held a brief exchange of views as time was short. You mentioned the Senkaku issue. Although it is true that diplomatic exchanges took place on a number of items even within this short amount of time, Japan would like to refrain from discussing the details of the exchanges.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Concerning APEC, I believe there was also a conversation in passing with President Lee Myung-bak. I understand that in this conversation, the Prime Minister urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) to mutually foster bilateral relations from a broad perspective. Do you perceive that this conversation will help to mend the bilateral relations which have worsened with the recent series of events, including President Lee's landing on Takeshima?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I understand that this conversation in passing happened quite naturally. Regarding the contents of the conversation, Japan, as with the Japan-China conversation, will not explain the details. It is true, however, that the Japanese Government has been lodging a protest to the ROK Government at a variety of levels with regard to President Lee's landing on Takeshima and comment related to His Majesty the Emperor.

(Abridged)