Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Suspected spying incident by the Chinese diplomat (protection of confidentiality in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the (suspected) Chinese spy incident. On December 25, during his trip to China, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda visited the exhibition hall of the Promotion Association (of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries & Foods Exporting to China) in question. While I understand that the Prime Minister's visit was brief, may I ask whether this visit was scheduled after fully considering, in advance, what the exhibition hall or exhibition was about?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I learned about this afterwards, after the Prime Minister returned to Japan, and so, for the most accurate information, it is probably better that you ask the mission from that time. Based on what I heard secondhand, I believe Senior Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Nobutaka Tsutsui was accompanying the Prime Minister. And my information may not be accurate. For accurate information, it is better that you ask the members of the mission. From what I understand, there was some time after leaving the airport. And Mr. Tsutsui told the Prime Minister that there is a venue doing this sort of thing, and as it is on their way, suggested to him that they make a brief visit, just to this place, to take a look. As this is what I heard secondhand after their return, I believe the surest thing to do for accurate information is to ask the mission from that time. I believe the Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister and members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also went there. Whether the Prime Minister received some sort of information prior to going there, I believe there was nothing at all like that.

(Abridged)