Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Government's consideration on revising the "Act on Cooperation for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Other Operations"
• The incident in which a vehicle was rammed into the Embassy in Korea

REPORTER: With regard to the Act on Cooperation for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) and Other Operations (PKO Act), there have recently been a number of press reports suggesting that plans to submit a draft bill for the revision of the act, which would enable Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to engage in "deployment in response to a call for protection", have been shelved. What are the facts of this matter and the current status?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I am aware of the press reports. The revision to the PKO Act would be the first such revision for 11 years and it is currently being considered by the Government. As vigorous consultations are underway with a view to submitting the draft revision bill to the current session of the Diet, the matters as reported in the press are somewhat different from reality. With regard to "deployment in response to a call for protection", I believe that the question of what SDF personnel participating in peacekeeping operations should do if the lives of staff members of international organizations or NGOs engaged in humanitarian assistance operations are endangered, is an important issue that is also being discussed in various ways within the Diet. The Government believes that it is necessary to create a clear and unequivocal framework for SDF personnel working on the ground, including the point about the use of armed force. Considerations are thus ongoing, in which Minister Morimoto and Minister for Foreign Affairs Gemba are involved, and the aim is to move to formulate a draft revision bill as soon as possible.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the incident in which a vehicle was rammed into the Japanese Embassy in Korea, a question on which also came up this morning. Since this morning, have you received any explanation from the government of the ROK concerning the circumstances and situations of the incident?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: First of all, there has been some degree of communication in which it has been reported to us by the ROK that this was not merely a traffic accident. I will not go into the details. The ROK's Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung-Han has made a statement noting that the incident is regrettable and that all possible measures will be taken to prevent a recurrence. The Government of Japan also considers this to be a regrettable incident.