Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The deployment of Osprey aircraft to Okinawa
• The Senkaku Islands (an application submitted by Diet members to land on the Islands and hold a memorial ceremony for the shipwreck incident in the past)

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the matter of the Osprey transport aircraft, I believe that a Japan-U.S. working-level meeting between foreign affairs and defense-related authorities has taken place today. Have you received any report concerning the content of the consultations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe that a press sheet has been issued and it is therefore a generally known fact that a director-level meeting was held today. As this is a process currently in progress, I have not yet received any particular report. In order to allay the various concerns of the local residents with regard to the Osprey transport aircraft, I believe that the current status is that both Japan and the United States are continuing the process of combining their knowledge with regard to matters relating to the operation of the aircraft, including low-altitude flight training exercises.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: A short while ago I believe that an application was submitted by an all-party group of Diet members, seeking permission to land on the Senkaku Islands and hold a memorial ceremony for the shipwreck incident that happened in the past. What is the current status of considerations concerning whether permission will be granted or not?

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: On the evening of August 3, Member of the House of Councilors Eriko Yamatani, who serves as Chair of the League of Diet Members on Action to Protect Japan's Sovereign Territory, together with member of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Akira Koiso, who serves as Chair of the League of Regional Assembly Members on Action to Protect Japan's Sovereign Territory, submitted an application to land on the Senkaku Islands for the purpose of holding a memorial ceremony. The Government has maintained a consistent policy that in principle, with the exception of government-related personnel, no person shall be permitted to land on the Senkaku Islands. It is based on this policy that the Government is currently considering the application that was submitted, in view of the purpose of the Government's lease of the Senkaku Islands for their peaceable and stable maintenance and management. Therefore, the current status is that the application is being considered.

REPORTER: The applicants have indicated their wish to hold a memorial ceremony on August 19. Given that the applied-for-date is close at hand, when do you expect that the Government will reach a conclusion on the application?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: A conclusion will be reached through due process and consideration. You mentioned the specific date that has been applied for and it would be pointless to come to a conclusion after that date. I believe that the application documents were all in order.