On June 28, DPJ Secretary-General Goshi Hosono issued the following statement:

On June 25, it is reported that former Prime Minister Hatoyama responded to an interview by Hong Kong media, regarding the Senkaku Islands, which are an integral part of the national territory of Japan, “It is unavoidable that the Chinese should think that ‘Japan has stolen [the Senkakus].’” Furthermore, it was reported that he had continued to make similar statements within China itself.

Although Mr. Hatoyama is a private citizen who has retired from politics and left the Democratic Party of Japan at the end of May, we as a party cannot ignore remarks that fail to acknowledge his position as a former prime minister of Japan.

As I already announced previously, these remarks made by Mr. Hatoyama are totally at odds with the DPJ’s position that the Senkakus are an integral part of Japanese territory, as well as differing from the position taken by the various DPJ administrations, including that led by Mr. Hatoyama. This is totally regrettable.

In addition, the fact that former Prime Minister Hatoyama has been making similar statements inside China itself leaves us with no choice but to conclude that his comments are totally irresponsible and detrimental to the national interest.

We would like to repeat our protest again the successive comments made by Mr. Hatoyama regarding the Senkakus, as well as strongly urging him to refrain from making any such comment detrimental to the national interest in future.