[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
[November 19, 1993]
[Pages 2020-2022]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister 
Morihiro Hosokawa of Japan in Seattle
November 19, 1993

China

    Q. Mr. President, having accused the Bush administration of ``coddle 
China,'' what is your response to those who are upset about the computer 
sale and other initiatives which you are making to the Chinese?
    The President. That we haven't changed our policy. Our policy is to 
try to engage China but to be very firm with the human rights issues, to 
be very firm on the weapons proliferation issues. But there are 1.2 
billion people in China, and we don't believe we can achieve our 
objectives within the context of complete isolation. And in this case, 
the computer sale for their weather service is something that they could 
get elsewhere if they didn't get it from the United States. I think it 
is an important indication that we are willing to work with them if they 
will reciprocate across a whole broad range of issues involving human 
rights, proliferation, and trade. And of course, in my next meeting I'll 
have a chance to talk about that.

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Japan

    Q. And sir, what do you expect from the Japanese now? It's been a 
few months since Tokyo----
    The President. Well, first of all, let me say it has been a few 
months, but it's been a remarkable few months for Japan. I want to 
applaud the Prime Minister on his successes in promoting political 
reform. We had a very good meeting already today, and we have many more 
things to discuss.
    I have invited him to the United States, and he has accepted to come 
in early February to continue our discussions on our bilateral economic 
relationships and what we can do to improve them, to deal with the trade 
deficit, and to do a number of other things that we're trying to do. And 
so we're going to have another meeting in early February, and we'll have 
more to say about that then.
    But I've been very impressed, I must say, with the changes that he's 
making in Japan and with so much on his plate with the political issue 
that they still--this government has opened its construction market more 
to us, something that I very much appreciate. And it's an indication 
that we'll be able to make more progress in the months ahead.

Asian-Pacific Security

    Q. Sir, when you spoke of APEC promoting security for Asia-Pacific 
nations, what did you have in mind? Anything along the lines of what 
NATO does for European security?
    The President. What I meant by that is I think that we all have to 
work together, as we are now, on the issues of concern to us. As you 
know, the United States is very concerned that North Korea not become a 
nuclear power and adhere to the missile technology control regime, I 
mean, the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons issue. And we have worked 
very hard to try to get our inspectors in there through IAEA. And the 
Japanese and the Chinese, I might add, have been very cooperative with 
us and tried very hard to give us good advice, and we consulted 
together. That's the kind of thing I think we have to do more of.

Japan

    Q. Can we ask the Prime Minister a question, please? Mr. Prime 
Minister, now that you've won your political reforms, do you think it 
will be possible to open up, including the rice market perhaps?
    Prime Minister Hosokawa. First of all, let me say that I haven't 
succeeded in completing my political reform. In the Japanese House of 
Counselors, the situation is more difficult. And let me give you an 
idea. It is something like the difficulty which was faced by the U.S. 
Congress recently with regard to the NAFTA issue. The same level of 
difficulty is facing me in trying to pass political reform in the 
Japanese House of Counselors.
    Now, with regard to the rice issue that you raised, let me point out 
that this is a very serious issue in Japan, and one has to be very 
careful in not getting this rice issue in the way of political reform.
    Now, let me also say that, of course, Japan is ready to make its 
utmost effort to bring about the successful conclusion of the Uruguay 
round. But having said all of this, I will have to continue to make and 
exert my best efforts in order to successfully complete Japanese 
political reform.

[At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group 
entered.]

APEC and Japan

    Q. Mr. President, do you agree with the Prime Minister on the 
concept of the Asian-Pacific community?
    The President. We have some more talks to hold, but I believe we are 
generally in agreement that we should attempt to use this forum to 
broaden trade and deepen understanding and perhaps to accelerate the 
pace at which we can increase trade and economic growth in the region.
    I must say, this is, I believe, my first opportunity to talk to the 
Japanese press since my United Nations speech. I have been very 
impressed with the work the Prime Minister and the new government have 
done in passing political reform--I know it's not over yet, but it's 
making good progress--and in reaching out to the United States on a 
number of issues. So I'm pleased with the way things are going now and 
very appreciative of the work the Prime Minister is doing.
    Q. Mr. President, is there any difference of the atmosphere of this 
meeting and the former meeting in September with Prime Minister 
Hosokawa?
    The President. With the meeting last Septem-


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ber?
    Q. Yes.
    The President. I don't know how to describe it. That was also, I 
thought, a very good meeting. But I have an intense interest in the 
changes that are going on in Japan now, and I am watching them with 
great admiration. As you know, I think, based on what I said when I was 
in Japan for the G-7 meeting, I strongly feel that both our nations have 
a lot of changes to make. And it's always difficult to make change. So I 
think this meeting--there's a lot of feeling that we share a certain 
destiny here--the Prime Minister working on his political reform 
measures, and I've been working on trying to open the trading systems 
through NAFTA. I really very much respect what is going on in Japan.

Note: The President spoke at 12:14 p.m. in the North Kirkland Cutter 
Room at the Rainier Club. A tape was not available for verification of 
the content of this exchange.