Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The Prime Minister Noda's address to the UN General Assembly

(Abridged)

REPORTER: In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Noda emphasized the necessity of protecting territorial land and sea. With regard the Senkaku Islands, what are the Government's intentions concerning utilizing the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Japan has always valued the rule of law in the international society and contributed to strengthening it. Japan fully supports the philosophy of the Charter of the United Nations to settle disputes in a peaceful manner based on international law and has emphasized peaceful solutions to disputes, including the role played by international judicial institutions. On the other hand, there is no doubt that the Senkaku Islands are clearly an inherent territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based upon international law. Indeed, the Senkaku Islands are under the valid control of Japan. This point is one that is beyond all doubt for Japan, and at the current point the situation concerning the Senkaku Islands is therefore one about which the Government feels absolutely no necessity to take to an international judicial institution.

REPORTER: On a related note, in his address the Prime Minister referred to the rule of law. How do you evaluate the significance of the address? On the other hand, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) do not recognize the jurisdiction of international law. Given this situation, what diplomatic efforts does the Government intend to make in order that China and the ROK recognize this jurisdiction?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The meaning and significance of the Prime Minister's address has been made clear by the Prime Minister himself in a press conference in New York. I do not believe that the Prime Minister touched specifically or in great detail on the issue of jurisdiction. However, looking at the rule of law from a larger perspective, if it is the case that issues of jurisdiction remain outstanding among United Nations member states, then this is something that should be resolved within the UN itself. This is what the Prime Minister was referring to I believe, and you would be advised to read the address and press conference transcript in their entirety.

REPORTER: Yes, the Prime Minister did touch upon the issue of jurisdiction.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: That is what I heard.

REPORTER: For countries such as China and the ROK that do not recognize the jurisdiction of international judicial institutions over contentious issues, what diplomatic efforts will the Government make in order that these countries accept international jurisdiction?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Rather than efforts on the part of the Government of Japan, this is an individual matter for each country. However, as the Prime Minister mentioned in his address to the General Assembly, Japan has always fully supported the philosophy of the Charter of the United Nations to settle disputes in a peaceful manner based on international law and has emphasized peaceful solutions to disputes, including the important role played by international judicial institutions. The Prime Minister was therefore emphasizing that peaceful dispute resolution should be conducted under the rule of law.

REPORTER: On a related note, in both his address and press conference the Prime Minister strongly emphasized Japan's position with regard to the issue of territorial sovereignty. Are there no concerns that this emphasis could result, conversely, in awareness and understanding spreading around the international community with regard to the existence of territorial sovereignty issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Some of the evening editions of the newspapers are referring to a "compromise," but I believe the use of this word is somewhat mistaken. What the Prime Minister said was this: The basic stance of the Government is that no issue of territorial sovereignty exists and he noted that there would be no withdrawal or compromise from this position. Using the word "compromise" on its own out of context mistakenly implies that there was an issue to begin with. However, the stance of the Government is that no such territorial sovereignty issue exists and there will be no withdrawal or compromise from this position. If you read his words correctly then the meaning comes across unmistakably.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the previous question, are there no concerns that a mistaken recognition about the issue will percolate through the international community?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: To the extent that I have read the comments of one of the world's leading press agencies on this issue, my feeling is that it has been relatively accurately understood.

(Abridged)