Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• The Prime Minister's visit to Iwate Prefecture

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would like to report about Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's visit to Iwate Prefecture. Tomorrow, Saturday, July 14, the Prime Minister will make a one-day visit to Iwate Prefecture. He is scheduled to observe the situation of the damage as well as of the recovery and reconstruction in Kamaishi City and Otsuchi Town, as well as conduct talks with the affected people. The details are still being arranged.

Q&As

• The protection of remote islands (in relation to the Prime Minister's message on the occasion of Marine Day)

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The Prime Minister has issued a statement on the occasion of Marine Day, which states that Japan will make concerted efforts to protect remote islands and ensure maritime safety. I believe the protection of remote islands includes the Senkaku Islands and remote islands on the national border. To protect such remote islands on the national border, what kind of concerted efforts does the Government intend to pursue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The protection of remote islands, as you are probably aware, is a matter which is set out in the Basic Act on Ocean Policy. The Basic Plan on Ocean Policy in line with this Act, which was decided by the Cabinet in March 2008, specifies basic guidelines on how to protect and manage remote islands in order to appropriately manage and protect Japan's territorial waters, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and other areas. Specifically, the basic guidelines provide that the names of unknown remote islands will be determined, which is what we have been doing all throughout since last year. In addition, the basic guidelines based on the Basic Plan states that efforts will be made to protect remote islands as the basis of the waters under Japan's jurisdiction, through the designation of low-water line preservation zones and the regulation of conduct, among other measures. Therefore, the statement is based on the Basic Act on Ocean Policy for the protection of remote islands.

(Abridged)