At this meeting, we intend to finalize the Review of the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation. While we have not yet decided what to do after we make public the final Defense Guidelines, we will most likely send experts to those countries. In particular, in the case of China, Prime Minister Hashimoto explained to Premier Li Peng of the People's Republic of China and other leaders that Japan would like to send specialists to China to explain the contents of the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation in detail. Prime Minister Hashimoto did his best to explain the nature of the Review to the Chinese leaders. He reiterated that the Japan-U.S. security alliance is very important in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region.
Japan is determined to develop good relations with China.
But at the same time, Prime Minister Hashimoto noted openly that his explanation alone might not be sufficient as far as the Chinese side is concerned. What Japan would like to do is to send experts to China or invite military officials to Japan, including the Defense Minister from China, and ask them to see for themselves the operations of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, in order to understand the nature of defense cooperation between Japan and the United States. At the same time, after we announce the Review of the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation, Japan will most likely take necessary internal measures to implement the new Guidelines. In the Diet, politicians will discuss Japan-U.S. defense cooperation in more detail. Therefore, on the basis of those two efforts, we hope that neighboring countries, including China, will further understand the nature of defense cooperation, in order that they would not be disturbed over strengthened Japan-U.S. defense cooperation.