1. Announcements

Based on Prime Minister Hatoyama's speech on November 15, 2009 at the APEC Singapore meeting, the Ministry of Defense has decided after due consideration to participate in the Pacific Partnership 2010 hosted by the US Pacific Command from May 23 to July 15, though there may be some minor alterations going forward.

Please confirm the details in the information materials handed out prior to this press conference. The Ministry of Defense will dispatch one Osumi-class MSDF transport vessel and a combined medical assistance team of the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces to conduct medical assistance, cultural exchanges, and other activities in cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGO) and other private entities. The venues will be ultimately decided after consulting with the US forces in Japan, but the current plan includes Vietnam and Cambodia. We will be seeking private entities including NGOs to work with us.

2. Questions and Answers

Question:
With this embodiment of the "yu-ai boat" initiative as well as the dispatch of the SDF units to the PKO mission in Haiti, there is an impression that the Hatoyama administration is fulfilling its promise for international contribution step by step. How do you think of it?

Minister:
I agree with your comment. In particular, I think the "yu-ai boat" is epoch-making in the sense that it embodies the Prime Minister's ideal. The dispatch of SDF units to Haiti will also be approved tomorrow at the Cabinet Meeting.

Question:
Do you have any other plans regarding the yu-ai boat initiative for the future?

Minister:
The yu-ai boat will be dispatched this time as a part of training and defense exchanges, based on the Ministry of Defense Establishment Law. As a new eye-catching initiative of Japan, it may also be conducted on our own initiative. Although this time we will conduct it jointly with the US forces, I think that we should consider plans in the future, including legislation.

Question:
Changing the topic, today the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided not to prosecute Secretary General Ozawa of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) concerning the case of land transactions of Rikuzankai (Ozawa's fund management organization), for the reason of insufficient evidence. How do you take this decision?

Minister:
I didn't know about this until now. That sounds all right.

Question:
All right?

Minister:
He was not accused of any crime. There have been speculations about him being indicted. I mean that it is all right that it was not the case.

Question:
On the other hand, the opinion polls suggest that many people still think that Mr. Ozawa has not made sufficient explanations, or that he should resign from the post of Secretary General. What do you think of the way of taking responsibility and other matters?

Minister:
I am not familiar with the content of the case. I know that Mr. Ozawa was called for voluntary questioning, but since he was not accused of any crime as a result, I think he will continue his political activities in his own way.

Question:
Diet member Ishikawa was indicted. What do you think of the handling of his resignation?

Minister:
I think it should primarily be decided by Mr. Ishikawa himself.

(For the remainder of the press conference, please refer to the Japanese version.)