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Press Conference by the Press Secretary 15 May, 1998

1. Comment by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka on the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India
2. Situation in the Republic of Indonesia
3. Communication between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan regarding the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India
4. Measures applied by the Government of Japan in light of the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India
5. Situation of Japanese nationals in the Republic of Indonesia
6. Status of President Suharto of the Republic of Indonesia
7. Response of other nations to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation

1. Comment by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka on the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India

   Concerning the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India recently, since Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations Sadaaki Numata made an announcement about the test conducted on 11 May, I would like to focus on the second round of tests conducted on 13 May. Let me go over the things that the Government of Japan has done since the second round of tests were conducted. First of all, let me read out to you the text of the comments issued by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka on the evening of 13 May. "On 13 May, India conducted two more underground nuclear tests. It is extremely regrettable that India has repeated its nuclear testing in defiance of the strong protests and messages against the tests made on 11 May by Japan and the international community. Japan takes this situation very seriously and strongly protests against India. Japan reiterates its strong demand that India stop its nuclear development and testing and, at the same time, appeals to the international community to unite in facing the threat to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. Japan is deeply concerned about the potential harm to the stability of the region caused by the Indian nuclear testing and once again calls upon the countries concerned in the region to exercise maximum self-restraint. Facing this situation, on the evening of 13 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi again called in Ambassador Siddharth Singh of the Republic of India, explained our stand, and conveyed the above message to the Government of India. Today, the Government of Japan announced in comments by Chief Cabinet Secretary Muraoka its measures in response to India's nuclear testing. The Government of Japan will have to consider additional steps as the situation develops." The steps announced on 13 May, before we heard about the second round of nuclear detonations, were as follows. Japan will freeze all grant assistance to India with the exception of those of an emergency or humanitarian nature and grassroots grant assistance. We will decide on specific measures for yen-loan programs towards India, examining the actions to be taken by India. We will inform the World Bank of our intention to withdraw our offer to host the India Development Forum (IDF) which was scheduled to be held in Tokyo on 30 June to 1 July under World Bank chairmanship. On 14 May we announced the additional measures referred to in Cabinet Secretary Muraoka's comment which was made on 13 May. The details are as follows. Yen loans for new projects will be frozen. We will examine cautiously loans extended to India by international financial institutions. Additionally, in view of these new developments, we have asked Ambassador Hiroshi Hirabayashi of Japan in New Delhi to return to Japan temporarily for consultations. With regard to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, we are concerned that India's nuclear tests might trigger an escalation of an arms race between India and Pakistan. We conveyed this position of ours to charge d'affaires Shahwar Kureshi of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Tokyo on 12 May and once again on 14 May after India conducted its second round of tests. We hope that Pakistan will take our views into consideration and act with restraint.

2. Situation in the Republic of Indonesia

   In the past few days riots of considerable magnitude have occurred in a number of places in Jakarta. There has been frequent looting around the city and there have been several cases of fires caused by arson. Traffic on the expressways has been partially blocked, hampering access to the airport. We are deeply concerned by the current situation and hope that calm is restored quickly in Indonesia. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the situation on a round the clock basis.

3. Communication between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan regarding the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India

   Q: The Government of Japan is going to take tough measures on India for the nuclear tests. If Pakistan follows the same track, will the Government of Japan apply the same tough measures to Islamabad?

   A: We have been seeing media reports about a possible response by the Government of Pakistan to the nuclear tests conducted by India. As I mentioned in my initial statement, we are concerned about a possible arms race in South Asia. That is why we have conveyed our concerns to the Government of Pakistan through charge d'affaires Kureshi, in Tokyo. In this meeting, which took place between Director General Nobuyasu Abe, Arms Control and Scientific Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and charge d'affaires Kureshi, we also explained in detail the measures that Japan was taking in response to the nuclear tests conducted by India.

   Q: Is there inherent in that explanation that they would be the same sorts of measures to be applied in the event that Pakistan goes ahead with its own tests?

   A: It is our hope that Pakistan exercises maximum restraint.

   Q How will the Government of Japan convey its concerns to Pakistan?

   A: We have plans to convey a message to Pakistan at a very high level. Since the message has not been delivered, I think it is a little premature to go into the details of this.

4. Measures applied by the Government of Japan in light of the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India

   Q: Concerning the measures, what do you expect to achieve except destruction of the Indian economy?

   A: I think I have explained in considerable detail the reasons we have had to resort to these measures. It is our hope that India discontinues its nuclear testing and also the development of nuclear weapons. We are also hopeful that India accedes to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Those are the things that we would like to see happen.

   Q: Can these sanctions achieve what you hope to achieve?

   A: Given the seriousness of the situation -- India conducted two rounds of tests in three days. In response to the first test we made our views on the tests abundantly clear. Despite this, India went ahead with its second round of tests.

   Q: Under what circumstances would you consider lifting the sanctions?

   A: Your question is about the conditions for lifting these measures. What I can say at this moment is that a decision will be made from an overall perspective, taking into account such factors as our bilateral ties with India, among other things. In so doing, we will be watching very closely such things as whether India will take a restrained approach in its nuclear policies and what sort of approach India will pursue to the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

   Q: In the event that India does not fulfill the demands of the international community concerning its nuclear program, does Japan intend to cooperate with some other countries, for example the G-8 countries, to implement harsher measures to India?

   A: Let me just say that it is our hope that India takes into consideration the messages that we have conveyed to India. Concerning the question about the possibility of further steps, all I can say is that we might have to consider taking further steps if the actions of the Government of India or other circumstances so require.

5. Situation of Japanese nationals in the Republic of Indonesia

   Q: What plans are being made by the Government of Japan to evacuate Japanese nationals from Indonesia?

   A: Yesterday we upgraded our travel advisory from level one to level two. Level two means that the Government of Japan recommends to Japanese nationals that they postpone non-essential travel to Indonesia. That would be things like sightseeing tours. We have encouraged Japanese nationals residing in Jakarta to register with the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta and in the case of Medan and other cities, with the Consulates-General we have there. We have also advised Japanese nationals that they take good care of themselves when they go out, that they do not go near the university campuses and other places where large crowds gather. We have also advised them not to be misguided by unfounded rumors. That is what up to now we have been doing. Of course we are monitoring the situation very closely on a round the clock basis and we are constantly reviewing what needs to be done.

   Q: Is the Foreign Ministry coordinating with the Defense Agency to work out evacuation plans that would involve Self-Defense Forces?

   A: I think you are referring to the Air Self-Defense Force planes. As I said, the situation in Indonesia is fluid and we need to monitor the situation with great care. As of this morning, commercial flights out of Jakarta's airport are in service. Should the situation take a turn for the worse and commercial flights become unavailable or become difficult to access, then in that case we will first examine very closely the nature of the situation and also look at such things as the type of planes available to us and the lead time needed to prepare the planes. If it is considered that the Japanese Self-Defense Force planes are the best option for the operation, Foreign Minister Obuchi will make a request to Director General Fumio Kyuuma of the Defense Agency to dispatch aircraft, but to my knowledge Foreign Minister Obuchi has not made that request to Director General Kyuuma.

   Q: Is it the Cabinet that makes the decision or is only the request by Foreign Minister Obuchi necessary?

   A: I will have to check the legislation, but I think the law says that the Director General of the Defense Agency will act in response to a request by the Foreign Minister.

   Q: Has an evacuation plan already been discussed and is that now under discussion at the Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Residence?

   A: Did you hear that somewhere?

   Q: We've heard reports that the use of the Self-Defense Forces in an evacuation is under discussion.

   A: I think you are better informed than I am.

   Q: So are you saying it is not?

   A: To my knowledge.

   Q: It is not under discussion then?

   A: Perhaps it would be better for me to say that I am unaware of the contents of those discussions.

   Q: Have you asked your people in Jakarta to leave the place?

   A: Let me explain to you our travel advisory system. We issued a level two yesterday which discourages non-essential travel which is sightseeing and things like that. A level three is a recommendation that all travel be postponed. Level four recommends the evacuation of family members. Level five recommends that all Japanese nationals evacuate.

   Q: So you are at level two?

   A: We are at level two right now but this is under constant review.

6. Status of President Suharto of the Republic of Indonesia

   Q: Do you think the transfer of power from Suharto to somebody else is imminent?

   A: We have seen news reports, I am sure you have, about President Suharto of the Republic of Indonesia having hinted at the possibility of resigning from the presidency, but we do not have the facts on this and the intentions of President Suharto are unclear. What I can say at this moment is that we hope that calm is restored in Indonesia as soon as possible and that Japan will continue to extend to Indonesia whatever support is necessary to this end.

7. Response of other nations to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation

   Q: The comments by the Chief Cabinet Secretary says that Japan reiterates its strong demand that India stop its nuclear development and testing and, at the same time, appeals to the international society to unite in facing the threat to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. Are we to take from this that you have information that the current big five nuclear powers are carrying out the process of nuclear disarmament?

   A: We think that there is a trend towards nuclear disarmament. Of course, this is proceeding step by step in a realistic way. As you may recall, I think it was in 1995, the indefinite extension of the NPT was adopted. I think it was in 1996 that the CTBT was adopted. We hope to work on the Nuclear Cut-off treaty. We think that the international community, including the nuclear powers, are working towards that goal of disarmament.

   Q: Are we to assume that the Government of Japan accepts the right of the great five nuclear powers not to carry out nuclear disarmament or do you have information that they are carrying out nuclear disarmament?

   A: We have seen that on a bilateral basis. There have been nuclear arms discussions, nuclear arms reductions agreed upon between the United States of America and the Russian Federation. Also, the international arrangements that we hope will be discussed in the near future are designed to achieve the ultimate goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons. So we think there is a trend in the international community in that direction.

   Q: The CTBT does not restrict the five great nuclear powers.

   A: Recently, the French Republic and the United Kingdom deposited their instruments of ratification and we hope all the other 44 countries necessary for the entry into effect of the CTBT will do the same as soon as possible. We will be working to achieve that.