 View that you were crawling out of it. I have to say that Looked at objectively I would stress that Japan is the third economic power in the world The third strongest economy in the world In my time in Japan Which is at misity some years ago The good old days There weren't such good old days because the same kind of thing was being said and In particular in the Western media the question was always the Slough of despondence that the Japanese economy was in the stagnation that you talked about my own view always during the Almost four years I spent in Japan is that I I wished we had the problems of Japan The emergence of China of course is the perhaps biggest Historical developments of the last 30 years in the Asia Pacific region and you have a very well sketched out the Problems that this throws up Not least the possibility that the Economic Growth might stall which would bring social problems within China itself and perhaps Aggravate the kind of problems like Those that you have mentioned the Senkaku Islands and the South China Sea It's something that I think we are all very conscious of North Korean belligerence Is something that as I mentioned at the beginning? We have been very well aware of in recent months China has leveraged there as you say, but No doubt the situation is very difficult as for the US I Think that the description you gave of a 180 degree turn in US policy towards Japan is no doubt good news I think there are many other Aspects of the new American administration where a 180 degree turn is not yet evident Very interesting what you say about the trans-Pacific partnership. We'll have to see what happens there and finally on Russia the Northern Territories is of course a very long-standing sore point between Japan and Russia and if I understand you correctly to say that Patients will be called for I think it's the least one can say so. Thank you very much for this oversize of The situation in the Asia-Pacific region We would I'm sure you would ambassador welcome any questions or comments Patty Smith on the from the Irish Times We've seen in in recent weeks a remarkable change in in Trump's attitude to towards China and apparently it's manifest in Military terms and that he is less willing in the last few days to see American ships in the South China Sea and that there's been a visible Pulling back by the Americans of their their attitude to to China And we've also seen because of the collapse of of of TPP an attitude taken by some of the regional powers regional countries that Is beginning to look to China as the leader in the in the region and I just wondered if you would comment on on that Reality if you like that China is is actually again Beginning to be seen as an alternative center of power in the post TPP environment and the the changing security environment No, United States partly because Japan many of Asian countries have not thought Japan was qualified because of Recent history like a South China or a South Korea or North Korea or China many countries do not share their Belief or institution one party system human rights Democracy, I don't think China is seen as the leader. They don't of Other Asian countries in that sense So that is why many countries looked towards United States and wanted us to be engaging in Asia and I think that has not fundamentally changed Of course, I said some of the countries have difficulty with us but many of the other countries us in countries or Other Indian India or whoever doesn't have this but it's true that some countries still have that kind of feeling and China and I think many of the countries although don't say have some Distance towards China, although they economically are closely tied and I think As long as that has is not changing I think many of the Asian countries would like United States to stay and I think it's US is Realizing its role. It's I said they have changed 180 degrees towards Japan, but they have 180 degrees changed. It's that same towards NATO when During campaign he was saying that NATO is obsolete, but now on January the 27th he said to visiting and Mrs. May that NATO is what the importance import most important ally and On Iran deal During the election campaign. Mr. Trump was saying this is the silliest Accord, but Mr. Tillerson said to NATO that United States will honor it And on China and Mr. Trump said during the election that China is making trade Difficult on United States Manipulating currencies, so he may have to rethink about one China policy, but now on February the 9th. He called Mr. Xi Jinping and said US is committed to one China policy So 180 degrees is not only towards Japan, but for most of the Foreign policies, he may not admit it, but he has returned to I think classical American politics, although it is true that his attitudes or his Expression changed a lot, but fundamental US I think National interest doesn't change that much and so I think US is still needed and looked up on as a leader in this region Thank you very much and thank you for Catherine meaner from the Member of the Institute and thank you very much for your talk. It was most interesting Could I ask two questions with the chair if the chairman will allow one of which is the increase in Chinese naval projection Firstly What is your understanding of what threat the Chinese see and secondly? What's the Japanese response to that? increase in naval power and Secondly about North Korea. I mean clearly. It's impossible to understand or predict what is happening But I'm just wondering how much intelligence is available about what happens in North Korea Thank you As for the first Chinese Naval expansion, this is a very rapid and I think They are trying to create what they call blue water Navy Going out Into Asia Pacific region and I think the Japan Has its limits because we have decided that our military will be only on defensive defense and we would not go into offensive Defense that means in short we don't try to have long-range bombers long-range missile We don't have Aircraft carriers. We don't have nuclear weapons. That is what we have sort of try to make our Navy or milk the defense agency now under that condition we are putting a lot of effort on first example submarine detection and those things and depend Heavily you know on the United States deterrence for our defense and I think that kind of divisional Role will fundamentally mean we will be continued however when Mr. Abbey went to see mr. Trump they issued a joint Prescott communicate on February the 10th and in that They agreed that they will look at mission and role of To defense, but I think the fundamental There may be a little more Japan can do but the Fundamental rule that Japan will limit itself to defensive defense will I think be maintained second So I think we have to depend much on United States, but we will be increasing our defense spending as well second on intelligence of North Korea as for The military move for Missile testing or nuclear testing a lot can I can be detected I think from satellite but the real internal relations How much control mr. Kim Jong-un has or are there some rest between the military and the party or whatever it's totally I think predictable and we United States, no, no Japan really has any good information on that. It's a very Sort of secluded society in 94 when Kim John Kim Il-sung the grandfather died Many of the North Korean watches thought that now North Korea itself is on deathbed In few years it has to go Mr. Kim Jong-il with hair style and high heel and Sort of he looked didn't look so dignified and people thought that hey, this is the end of the dynasty That time I discussed with our North Korean watches in the Japanese Foreign Ministry and they said would you suck son? No It doesn't happen many of the American Analysts say that it's going to go but it doesn't happen The reason he said to me is that it's such a well-controlled society that even a person would like to Whisper to some others. This is so heard and he's going to be Found out and whatever so everyone's so scared and so Nothing will happen for 10 years 20 years and he was downright so That means that we really don't know Thank you very much Mr. Kiyosaki for your presentation Maeve Collins from the Department of Foreign Affairs and My question is actually about Japan's economic diplomacy vis-a-vis the US because when President Trump and Mr. Abe met and there was an announcement and some reports in the Japanese papers About an economic package that was being offered by Japan to the US including I think some Increase I'm not quite clear on it in FDI And I think we would be interested in hearing a little more about that and what what the strategy is and Also, there is some forum for dialogue that has been set up, which I think is a vice president Pence and Deputy PM Aso are going to co-chair discussions on economic matters including I presume currency issues, which was what Trump was most critical of of Japan about up until up until recently So I'd like to hear your thoughts on that and where that might go As you're visiting Ireland, you'll find that we in Ireland are very preoccupied by President Trump's proposed tax Reforms, so if you have if you have any Japanese perspective on the proposed tax reform Yeah, Irish level yet 2.5% difference isn't that quite yes, but we'd be very interested to know your view. Yes when Mr. Abe went to see Mr. Trump they agreed to set up Dialogue between two dialogues between Abe and I'm sorry also the Deputy Prime Minister and Mr. Pence vice president and I think it was very good to be close. Mr. Pence has a very Sort of honorable place in the administration second because he was a governor of Indiana where Indiana has the 600 foreign direct investment in 260 of that is from Japan and It's the only state that Toyota Honda Has the factory together in that area, so I think it's a very important that they set up and April the 17-18 they had a Mr. Pence came to Japan and had a dialogue with Mr Also and Mr. Abe and they agreed that they'll set up a officials dialogue and they'll meet again at the high level as well it so this is the Dialogue and in that dialogue Mr. Mr. Pence I just said that One possibility is that they would establish some framework between Japan and United States bilaterally But that's something they have to discuss and we cannot say that that's already FDA or whatever But we'll be starting to discuss some bilateral as well But Japan has also indicated that will pursue TPP So It's not everything, but there are different views We will be discussing battle issues. We'll be pursuing TPP and will continue to honor WCOS for a foreign direct investment. It's not what government can do. It's a Business society can do but Japan is interested in promoting for example High-speed railway and others and Japanese Banks They have government official Government can put some loans to those as well and we'll be looking at those issues But just dialogue has started it But so we cannot say what will happen here, but yes I think it's important that Japan and the United States will try to Develop some relations in economic field, but that doesn't mean that will abandon our view on Multilateral trade or WTO Thank you very much. Who's your accent and it's going to do your pioneer investments just on the TPP issue Does would it not make sense to include China going forward in TPP? I Think first It's when If it's China would like to do that or not China has been promoting what they call what we call our set That is awesome plus six China career Japan India And not the United States Canada or those countries no Australia New Zealand as well so That is what China has been more interested in she Mr. Xi Jinping has expressed and that has been the idea has been there as well if for China to be in TPP. It's China has to say they want to be in TPP It's not that others would invite them in and because It's a high hurdle. They have to jump over For example when they joined WTO, they had to negotiate a lot to get into WTO and But that was good for China and that's the reason that China has developed so much first China has to make its decision and if they express I think the 11 countries that is still in TPP would Consider the candidacy and ask for some conditions if they could meet those it's not only trade but its investment Government procurement and all those and some of the areas are not that easy like government procurement where many of the government corporations are there in China so But of course, it's a possibility and I do not deny that Ten Fuji Shiki Sensei so our Vietnamese students stay in law and politics in Ireland and as you know That's my country's having this deal with China in South China Sea and My question is a few years ago Japan passed a new security law to allow Japan to exercise collective self-defense In the case that Japan allies such as the US under attack and but to South China Sea issue Japan say that Japan doesn't have any claim in South China Sea, but Japan has special interests in South China Sea and Vietnam and Japan is strategy partner So whether Japan can be able to send its self-defense efforts to defend it Special it was in South China Sea and Vietnam I will say two things one is that when we changed This law that you referred to Yes, it is collective self-defense But the condition is that when Japan itself Security is endangered So it's collective, but if it's us Operating somewhere in Atlantic and which doesn't have any relations with Japan. We would not defend it if the situation is Directly related to Japan's security we will do that that is the question point one point two as for South China Sea issue we have Supported The decision of the arbitrary court saying and Said that the trainer and in international community has to honor what International arbitrary court has decided I think it was a little Sad to see China saying that's a crap. We don't regard it at all because sometimes we get a very negative Decision at ICJ But we don't if the decision is done by ICJ. We accept it as such so and as for relations with Philippines we've been Trying to Extend Help on Coast guard in Philippines where Ships is extended to Philippines. This is the new Situation which was not there a few years ago Thank you very much Yes Nile Walsh a member of the Institute. I'm just wondering ambassador if it's in the long-term interests of Japan to be so closely aligned with the United States and perhaps Because you're so surprised that Trump sort of thanked Japan for accepting US forces Maybe that's an aberration That the traditional view of the United States towards Japan is that it's an occupied country and that it's a colony and The reason for your defensive defense policy is because it was imposed upon you by the United States after the Second World War And when there are any military decisions going to be taken in your area Those decisions will not be taken in Tokyo. They would be taken in Washington Perhaps without any collaboration or even informing Tokyo So just we've discussed a lot of problem areas at the moment a lot of problem issues But in the long term It cannot be in Japan's interests to be so closely aligned with the United States. I Think this is a very important point and As for the Japanese people I think about half of the people it depends on the poor but half the people think that we should maintain the present constitution and present defense posture about the rest of the half thinks In view of the situation happening around country. We have to rethink about it, but As long as United States seems credible I think people think that In view of our relations with other countries around the region we better keep the present Posture, I don't know how long this can go on but seems that as What I've said about mr. Trump or mr. Mattis or mr. Toulsen or mr. Pence Everyone is saying that there will continue to keep the military commitment and Today it is true that The only country China and North Korea are watching is United States. So If we could use that relations as our deterrence, I think that's a The best solution You're saying that in the long run it may be Changing I don't know how long but we have to think With us how the situation develops, but as for the moment, I think Japanese people are mostly well some some divided but many of them think that we can Still continue the dependence on United States. That's how I look at it. Maybe I could put a point to you. I think that one of the questions does underlies a number of questions that are pushing points that are made here and here is the Position of the new more powerful China in the international system and there It seems to me that There are two possibilities as far as the international alignment of China in trade and economic matters is concerned that there is the regional economic cooperation proposal which is To some extent seen as a Chinese initiative which many other countries in the region are interested in and then there is the other one which is TPP which Donald Trump has renounced, but what you say Japan Continues to be committed to If there is one striking thing about TPP it is that it excludes China, which is a very notable absence And How do you see the evolution of affairs against this Background where there seem to be two competing paradigms in play You see TPP was concluded by New Zealand Brunei Singapore and Chile it was Four countries and then US showed interest and joined and then After that it really changed so Japan thought will want to Come in into that TPP and we realized that in 2013 that was almost Two or three years into already very heated negotiations that US was leading so Japan Was asked to clear many hurdles before joining the even negotiations and then Three years it took to conclude it. So you see I think there's some maybe misunderstanding that China you said China was excluded. No, it's not excluded It's that each country has to say that I want to be in it And then we it was not easy for Japan to make that decision our Democratic Party of Japan could not make decision because of We had to defend our agriculture, but I'll be Decided to jump into TPP opinionization. It was a very hard negotiations So as I said before to the question was made by the lady it's Not that China is excluded. It's China has to Make a decision if they want to be in it And I don't know What is the thinking on the part of China, but Japan does not exclude our set as well We are negotiating now free trade free trade area Negotiations with China Korea South Korea and Japan as well. We are now Negotiating with Europe. We're negotiating with many countries the history. Maybe some of you know TP FTA Do you know how it started? It when Gat was written in 1947 they made two exclusions in Article 24 that was customs union and free trade area free Customs union was asked by Benelux and free trade area by Lebanon and Syria and They didn't use it for almost 50 50 years and then when 94 NAFTA was made between US Canada and it changed the whole situation Everyone rushed to FTA we we didn't because Japan is Wanted WTO to be the main pillar, but because everyone is running and Europe was expanded to 28 and all that We had to go and in 2000 we started FTA with Singapore And then I was a negotiator chief negotiator of Japan when I was a deputy foreign minister for Malaysia Korea Thailand and Philippines and Was a hard negotiations, but as except for Korea we concluded all that and We made many FTAs now, so It's not that What countries excluded to which it's that when you are making FTA you are you do Show the interest and you join and you have to negotiate and come come to that We I think we will join any of those are set or FTAB. That's a whole A big area a free trade area We are trying to negotiate with others as well It really was quite important because the integration and the large in EU had a good sense That it was not a power Complex within the European It is the biggest trader and the largest the most successful trader but not predicated on the arms mine to offer liver and That question was raised with Japan and Japanese interests and it's quite interesting that you will be very familiar with what is now called the economic partnership agreement the EU Japan This has really I have been actively involved from one part of that and it's very interesting that Japan had not been interested in the start But in more recent times There is a deep concern in Japan to find a mechanism that will be effectively economically Palliative to Europe and would be effective in terms of the trade relationships Now I won't Speak too long, but it has progressed for the interest is now being expressed by the Japanese side by the Japanese representative groups and within the last six months at the last EU Japan summit and agreement was evident that the Constraints that inhibit this integration or this do agreement Should be eliminated by the end of this year What's it happened up to now? But in the European arena, there's of course a whole lot of differing agendas now arriving up But nevertheless this relationship with the Japanese side is had a very hard guard in business Europe large because of the move on the Japan side of Wanting to develop this mechanism the EPA mechanism. It will be interesting to hear your comment on this Japan would like to develop as you say sir EPA with Europe and I thought that we can come to agreement a Lot easier a lot quicker, but it's taking time But in view of what's happening with the United States I think we should conclude it very quickly as well and try to show that we are committed to these EPAs Yes, I agree that that's very important sir Thank you. Thank you very much ambassador Fujisaki. I think you have given us a tour de raison of the whole Asia Pacific region and the position of Japan which is a Crucian position in the whole Asia Pacific region I know that this is Golden Week in Japan Golden Week is a very particular time in Japan I think it's a week in which there are three or four public holidays and during which many Japanese decide to Goof off. Let's say to do something else today is Constitution Day in Japan Which is I think the central holiday of Golden Week So we appreciate very much that you took the time during such a holiday period to come and talk to us Thank you very much