Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:With regard to the scheduled visit to Japan of Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom, we have received a message from the United Kingdom that due to Prime Minister Cameron's attendance at the European Council meetings Summit on Wednesday, October 26, he has unfortunately been obliged to postpone his visit to Japan. As this visit has been postponed at short notice, a schedule for his visit to Japan will be coordinated in the future.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER:I have a question concerning the earthquake that has occurred in Turkey. Has the Government contacted the Government of Turkey following the earthquake, and as Japan received various support from Turkey at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, does the Government intend to provide assistance to Turkey on this occasion, including the dispatch of emergency relief and rescue teams or the provision of supplies and materials?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:I would like to express my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the people affected by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Van Province in Turkey on October 23. It is the sincere wish of the Japanese Government that the people affected by the earthquake will be able to realize a swift recovery and that reconstruction will be promptly realized in the disaster-affected regions. Japan has indicated through diplomatic channels that it is prepared to send emergency relief and rescue assistance, and at the current point a response has been received to the effect that assistance from overseas is not required. The Government will continue to monitor the situation carefully.

(Abridged)

REPORTER:There are reports that the cyber terrorism incident targeting Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., resulted in the loss of information concerning defense-related components and information relating to nuclear power generation. What information does the Government have at the current point about this incident?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:I am aware of the press reports that you mention, however I would like to refrain from commenting at this time as the police are currently investigating the incident. Whatever the outcome, the Government duly recognizes that a response to cyber attacks is a challenge for national security and crisis management and the Government therefore intends to take every possible measure, including strengthening liaison and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

(Abridged)

REPORTER:Returning to the point about the earthquake in Turkey, could you tell us about the content of assistance you offered to provide through diplomatic channels? Did it include the utilization of the Self-Defense Forces?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:The Government of Turkey has indicated that at the current point it does not require emergency relief assistance from overseas. The Government has only indicated that it stands ready to provide such assistance, if required, and nothing has been said concerning the content of possible assistance.

REPORTER:There have been press reports stating that the aim of concluding the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations by the end of the year has to all intents and purposes been abandoned. What is the Government's view of this situation, and do you think it will have an impact on Japan's future participation in the negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:The Doha Round of WTO negotiations is a multilateral, global process and I hear that the WTO Director-General has indicated that negotiations are unlikely to be finalized by the end of the year. While this is a regrettable outcome, our Government should consider regional agreements separately, including bilateral economic partnership agreements (EPA), free trade agreements (FTA) and also the TPP.

(Abridged)