Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Next, concerning the Guidelines for Overseas Transfer of Defense Equipment etc. At the Cabinet meeting, it was reported that following a series of careful considerations at Senior Vice Ministers' meetings and other forums and deliberations at today's National Security Council meeting, the criteria were established as found in the Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary that has been distributed to you. As a result of considering measures in response to changes in the international environment regarding defense equipment in recent years, with regard to the transfer of defense equipment etc. to overseas countries, the guidelines establish that, bearing in mind the ideas  which were behind the individual exception measures that Japan has taken previously, comprehensive exemption  measures will be taken under  the following cases - when they contribute to peace and promote cooperation in the international community, and when Japan takes part in the joint development and production of defense equipment etc. with other countries that contribute to Japan's security. Needless to say, the Three Principles on Arms Exports are based on Japan's basic philosophy as a peace-loving nation, which seeks to  avoid the aggravation of international conflicts. Aside from the aforementioned exports, the Government of Japan will continue to deal cautiously with this matter.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, a meeting of the National Security Council was convened. At the meeting, deliberations took place on: 1) The situation and other matters following the death of Chairman Kim Jong-Il of the National Defense Commission; and 2) Guidelines for Overseas Transfer of Defense Equipment etc. With regard to the first item - the situation and other matters following the death of Chairman Kim Jong-Il of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, the meeting heard from ministries and agencies. Relevant ministers were also asked to continue to work to collect and share information and be fully prepared for contingencies. As to the specifics, I would like to refrain from responding due to the nature of this matter. Concerning the Guidelines for Overseas Transfer of Defense Equipment etc., this is as I explained a moment ago. For details, please raise your questions at the briefing which will follow this press conference.

Next, I would like to speak about the sixth meeting of the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, which was held before today's Cabinet meeting. Following the death of Chairman Kim Jong-Il of the National Defense Commission on December 19 [17], an exchange of views took place on: 1) The situation in North Korea; 2) Guidelines on the way forward; and 3) Reinforcing the organization of the Headquarters. The Prime Minister spoke about how he would like ministers and the ministries and agencies concerned to pool their efforts toward the resolution of the abduction issue. For details, please direct your questions to the Secretariat of the Headquarters for  the Abduction Issue of the Cabinet Secretariat.

Next, I would like to discuss the meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention Council. The meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention Council was held after the Cabinet meeting, at which revisions of the Basic Disaster Management Plan and other matters were decided. Based on the latest revisions of the Basic Disaster Management Plan, the Government will continue to steadily promote disaster management led by the Minister of State for Disaster Management, with the ministries and agencies working together. In addition, the Council on Disaster Countermeasures Promotion that started in October, which I chair, will carry out lively discussions with a view to further enhancing and strengthening disaster management. Regarding the overview of the meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention Council, I understand that Minister of State for Disaster Management Tatsuo Hirano gave an explanation at his press conference following the Cabinet meeting. For details, please direct your questions to the disaster management section of the Cabinet Office.

I have one other announcement. It is about the meeting of the Ministerial Meeting on Decontamination and Special Waste Treatment. Following the Cabinet meeting, the third meeting of the Ministerial Meeting on Decontamination and Special Waste Treatment was convened. The meeting affirmed that in order to make steady progress on decontamination after the entry into force on January 1 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Handling of Radioactive Pollution, it is necessary first and foremost to fully listen to the opinions of the community members and to work closely with them. For this purpose, the Government will arrange a specific setup for decontamination, including the creation of several teams at the Fukushima Office for Environmental Restoration, where each team will be responsible for several municipalities and will provide consultations, advice, and the like. In addition, based on our intent to create a roadmap for decontamination which spells out the process of decontamination, the ministers concerned were able to reach a shared understanding on the outline and direction of the initiatives in this connection. A report was also made on the outcomes of the decontamination operations carried out with the Self-Defense Forces' cooperation by the town or village office of Naraha Town, Tomioka Town, Namie Town, and Iitate Village, and on strengthening the framework regarding the education of personnel involved in decontamination operations. In addition, it was indicated that while preparations are underway for conducting verification tests related to the incineration and the process for reducing the bulk of the waste contaminated by radioactive materials, in some cases storage is becoming very limited. Therefore, procedures will be followed while obtaining the understanding of the local communities. The meeting was able to confirm that there will be cooperation with the relevant and ministries in order to ensure a safe and secure livelihood for the people as quickly as possible through the implementation of decontamination operations and processing of contaminated waste from early next year.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The Interim Report, which was submitted yesterday by the Investigation and Verification Committee on the Accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations of Tokyo Electric Power Company points out problems with the Government's response. First, what are your thoughts on this? Secondly, with regard to the problems of the Government that the report has elucidated, does the current administration intend to draw on their lessons?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The entire report is quite extensive. It includes a variety of points and recommendations. Prime Minister Noda has asked that this interim report, the report at this present time, is examined and carefully reviewed, that the relevant ministries and agencies review and analyze the contents of the report as quickly as possible, and then based on that, instructed that the Government take steps to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents. I believe I have just answered both of your questions.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in connection with the Three Principles on Arms Exports. The latest Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary implies that exceptions will be permitted in a comprehensive manner. Can you briefly explain who will take the lead in determining what constitutes "uses for peace-building and humanitarian assistance"?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The straightaway answer to your question is that this is the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. However, let me explain a little more thoroughly. You will find in the Statement the sentence, "comprehensive exemption measures will be taken." This assumes that based on Japan's basic philosophy as a peace-loving nation, which seeks  to avoid the aggravation of international conflicts, the Government's judgment as to whether or not the overseas transfer of defense  equipment etc. sincerely contributes to peace or promotes cooperation in the international community, as well as whether or not the overseas transfer concerns the joint development and production of defense and related equipment that contribute to Japan's security, will be subject to rigorous assessment. Also, frameworks agreed upon between the Government of Japan and the recipient government will be designed to ensure that the defense  equipment etc. are  not used for purposes other than the agreed purposes  or transferred to a third country without the prior consent by the Government of Japan. In the end, when an application for an export license is submitted, for each export, a rigorous review and confirmation will be conducted to examine whether the aforementioned requirements are actually met. The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry will approve the exports, individually, based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to return again to the subject of defense equipment. There is a sentence (in the Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary), which states, "[The overseas transfer of defense equipment etc.] will be allowed on the premise that strict control is in place, including ensuring that they are not transferred to a third country." How will you ensure that equipment is not transferred to a third country?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As I briefly mentioned a moment ago, in order to ensure that equipment is not used for purposes other than the agreed  purposes or transferred to a third country without the prior consent by  the Japanese Government, a framework will be decided - if it's between two countries, then the framework is decided between two countries. I believe clearly setting out these matters in such frameworks will ensure that this does not happen.

(Abridged)