Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question about the Chinese naval vessel that entered Japanese territorial waters off Kuchinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Did the Government not issue a protest on this occasion after having determined that the recent incident did not infringe the rules on the right of innocent passage as provided for in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea? In the event that the details of the incident are analyzed and it is determined that the incident was not innocent passage, what kind of response does the Government intend to make?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY HAGIUDA: Around 3:30 a.m. today, a Chinese naval vessel was observed sailing down Japanese territorial waters at the west of Kuchinoerabu Island southeastward. Subsequently, around 5:00 a.m., the intelligence collection vessel exited Japanese territorial waters at the south of Yakushima Island and sailed southeastward. Following this, the Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a demarche to the deputy at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, expressing concern about the recent escalation in Chinese military activities overall, given the entry into the Japanese contiguous zone close to the Senkaku Islands by a frigate of the Chinese Navy last week, followed by the entry into Japanese territorial waters by an intelligence collection vessel today. In any event the Government will continue to engage thoroughly in warning and surveillance activities in the waters or airspace in the vicinity of Japan. The purpose of this most recent entry is thought to be slightly different from the entry made last week and information is currently being analyzed. An inquiry has been issued to the Government of China and the Government will wait for a response from the Chinese side before considering our own response.

REPORTER: I have a related question. This incident today follows very shortly after the entry made by a Chinese naval vessel into the contiguous zone close to the Senkaku Islands. With regard to the connection between these two incidents and the intentions of the Chinese side, does the Government intend to engage in further analysis and how does the Government intend to protect Japan’s territories and territorial waters going forward?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY HAGIUDA: The rules on the right of innocent passage are recognized in international law and enable passage even through territorial waters. As I just mentioned, we have issued an inquiry to the Chinese embassy seeking to clarify the purpose and circumstances of the recent passage and I do not think that the two recent cases of entry into Japanese waters should be considered as being linked. In any event, there is no change in the Government’s resolve to resolutely protect Japan’s territories and territorial waters.

REPORTER: You have just stated that the purpose of the entry into Japanese waters could be slightly different from a similar entry made last week. With regard to the purpose of the entry, is there a possibility that it was made in response not to Japan or a Self-Defense Force vessel, but rather to a vessel of a third country, given that the Malabar joint exercise is taking place in a similar region?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY HAGIUDA: With regard to the passage of the Chinese naval vessel, I am aware that an Indian naval vessel continues to be in Japanese territorial waters, participating in the Malabar exercise. In any event, I would like to refrain from making any more specific comments at this time about the purpose of the recent passage of the Chinese vessel.

(Abridged)