Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• The Prime Minister's plan to visit Viet Nam, Thailand and Indonesia
• The launch of the Facebook page of the Prime Minister's Office (in Japanese)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all I would like to report to you about the overseas visit to be made by Prime Minister Abe. From January 16 to 19 Prime Minister Abe will visit Viet Nam, Thailand and Indonesia, where he is scheduled to hold summit-level talks with the leaders of each of the three countries. Given the significant changes occurring in the strategic environment in the Asia-Pacific region, it is important to strengthen cooperative relations with the countries of ASEAN in order to ensure peace and prosperity in the region. The Government believes that the Prime Minister's visit will serve to further strengthen relations with the three countries, with which Japan shares strategic and cooperative ties. Furthermore, the three countries that the Prime Minister will be visiting are part of the growth center of the 21st century that is spurring global economic growth.  The Government believes that economic cooperation with these countries should be strengthened in order for Japan to take in their growth and use it to bring forth economic revival in Japan. In addition, this year also marks the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Viet Nam diplomatic relations. Through frank exchanges of opinions in summit-level talks with each leader it is expected that the Prime Minister's visit will not only result in strengthened bilateral relations, but will also provide an opportunity to create a base for further strengthening Japan-ASEAN partnership.

I have one more item to report, concerning the Facebook page of the Prime Minister's Office of Japan. From today a new Facebook page of the Prime Minister's Office of Japan will be launched. Prime Minister Abe and his Cabinet wish to provide information to the people of Japan in various formats and through this Facebook page the intention is to present directly to the public, including photographs, etc., the basic concepts of Prime Minister Abe and the policies being implemented by the Cabinet, as well as the daily workings of the Prime Minister's Office. For further details please direct your questions to the Cabinet Public Relations Office.

Q&As

• The Prime Minister's plan to visit ASEAN countries
• Japan-U.S. relations (including the instructions to review the Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation)
• The Northern Territories issue
• Japan-China relations (the Senkaku Islands)
• Press reports on the allocation of supplementary budget for the development of a radiation research center in Fukushima
• The launch of the Facebook page of the Prime Minister's Office (in Japanese)

REPORTER: The overseas visit of the Prime Minister will be to ASEAN countries, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs is also currently visiting countries of ASEAN. This apparent focus on ASEAN countries could be perceived as an effort to encircle China. Could you tell us the purpose and aims of the Prime Minister's upcoming visit in relation to China?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not think that observations such as the one you have just mentioned actually match the reality. Strengthening cooperative relations with neighboring countries is one important pillar of the strategic diplomacy of the Abe Administration. I believe that strengthening relations with the three countries included in the visit on this occasion has strategic importance in itself. In addition, during the visit the Prime Minister will explain the resolve and the efforts being implemented by the Abe Administration to ensure peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region in the midst of significant changes in the strategic environment, while also engaging in frank exchanges of opinions with leaders about the regional situation and future cooperative ties.

REPORTER: When do you expect the Prime Minister to make a visit to the United States, which, it was anticipated, would be made before the end of January?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the Prime Minister has already stated in a press conference that strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance constitutes the foundation of Japan's foreign policy. There is no change to the Prime Minister's desire to visit the United States at an early juncture and engage in summit-level discussions on the direction for strengthening the alliance. The United States has also given Prime Minister Abe's stance a warm welcome and currently coordination is continuing between the two countries towards the early realization of a visit. On the U.S. side, various events are already scheduled, including the response to the "fiscal cliff," the inauguration ceremony of President Obama, the State of the Union Address, etc., so coordination of schedules will continue bearing these various commitments in mind. In addition, the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs has visited the United States and held various meetings, but it was also the case that as strengthening cooperative relations with neighboring countries is an important pillar of strategic diplomacy for the Abe Administration, coordination of a visit to such neighboring countries has also taken place in parallel with arrangements for a visit to the United States. The result is that the Prime Minister will make a visit to the three ASEAN countries I have mentioned, and I would like to add that the United States has welcomed the Prime Minister's plan to visit these countries.

REPORTER: In the event that a Japan-U.S. summit meeting is held, what does the Government intend to discuss with regard to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is naturally still the case that various preparations are being made in advance of the Japan-U.S. summit meeting, and in actual fact Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida will be visiting the United States himself. Through these various processes I imagine that various issues will be dealt with and finalized.

REPORTER: Will there be any conditions placed on the summit meeting with regard to the TPP in particular?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There will be absolutely no such conditions. Yesterday, the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs provided me with a report concerning his visit to the United States and there was no mention whatsoever of any conditions. The basic thinking on the part of the United States is to create a strong and trusting Japan-U.S. relationship.

REPORTER: I believe that China may perceive that the visits being made by senior figures in the Government to neighboring countries are an attempt to encircle and contain it. Does the Government plan on paying attention to such concerns in diplomatic terms?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have already mentioned, I do not believe that such observations match the reality of the situation. China is an important neighbor country for Japan and it was at the time of the first Abe Cabinet that a path towards building a strategic relationship of mutual benefit was decided and a strong commitment set forth. That is the stance that the Government seeks to maintain and advance in the future.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the issue of the Northern Territories, in a program on Fuji Television yesterday former Prime Minister Mori stated his view that a resolution should be reached with the return of three of the four islands, with the exception of Etorofu. Prime Minister Abe has stated that his basic policy is the return of all four islands. What, therefore, is the view of the Government with regard to the statement made by former Prime Minister Mori?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The basic stance of the Government of Japan is to resolve the issue of the attribution of the four islands and to conclude a peace treaty with Russia. That is the policy that the Government intends to firmly maintain. In addition, the existing stance of the Government has been that once it is confirmed that the four islands are attributed to Japan, the actual timing of their return should be dealt with in a flexible manner. You mentioned the statement by former Prime Minister Mori, and as I have just noted, the Government's stance is not necessarily for the four islands to be returned all at the same time. First of all, the attribution of the four islands needs to be confirmed and once this issue has been resolved a peace treaty with Russia would be concluded, after which the timing of the return of the four islands could be dealt with in a flexible manner. This has been the stance of the Government to date. With regard to the statement by former Prime Minister Mori, it is the case that he will be visiting Russia, but the basic prerequisite is that negotiations about the Northern Territories will naturally be conducted between the governments of Japan and Russia. What he was referring to in the television program was that ultimately the governments would negotiate and a decision would be made by Prime Minister Abe.

REPORTER: It has been decided that Prime Minister Abe will send former Prime Minister Mori as a special envoy in February. However, given the fact that former Prime Minister Mori has issued such a message on television I believe there is a possibility that his words could be misunderstood abroad. What is your view?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have already mentioned, former Prime Minister Mori stated that a decision would be made by the Government. Naturally, in his capacity as special envoy, once dispatched to Russia he would convey the stance of the Government.

REPORTER: Given that he has been designated as a special envoy, is it acceptable for former Prime Minister Mori to refer to the return of three of the four islands?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that in his position as special envoy he would naturally convey the basic concept of the Government on this issue.

REPORTER: With regard to Uotsuri Island (sic), there are press reports that suggest Prime Minister Abe has instructed the Minister of Defense to review the operations of the Self-Defense Forces, or, in other words, to consider the use of warning shots in the event that Chinese aircraft incur on Japanese airspace. Could you tell us the facts behind such press reports? If warning shots were used, there are concerns that this would escalate tensions between Japan and China. What are your thoughts on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not heard anything at all about this matter and the Government of Japan has no intention whatsoever to cause any escalation of tensions. The Government will continue to emphasize that the islands are an inherent territory of Japan and seek a measured and calm response from China. The Government therefore intends to continue to emphasize its stance on the Senkaku Islands.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: There are some press reports that suggest the Government is planning to allocate 80 billion yen in the supplementary budget for the development of a radiation research center in Fukushima. Could you tell us if such considerations are being made by the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of the newspaper reports about this matter, but I am not acquainted with their detailed content. However, what I would say is that given the difficult situation in Fukushima, the Government will make every effort to ensure the reconstruction of the prefecture and in that context various measures will be forthcoming.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The Abe Administration has set the rebuilding of the Japan-U.S. alliance as an important agenda, and so there are some voices of concern with regard to the fact that the first country the Prime Minister will visit following the inauguration of his administration will not be the United States. What impact on relations do you think this upcoming visit to ASEAN countries will have, given that the first country the Prime Minister visits will not be the United States?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not think there will be any impact whatsoever. The United States has also welcomed the planned visit to ASEAN countries on this occasion. What I would like you to bear in mind is that Japan and the United States are engaged in close cooperation and the decision to make the visit to the three ASEAN countries was one that was also warmly welcomed by the United States.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the Northern Territories, in the event that their attribution is confirmed to lie with Japan, do you believe that the timing of their return could be dealt with in a flexible manner?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, the current basic stance of the Government is to thoroughly confirm the attribution of the four islands and then to first conclude a peace treaty, after which the actual timing of the return of the islands could be dealt with in a flexible manner.

REPORTER: The Government has issued instructions to the Ministry of Defense to implement a review of the Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation. Were these instructions issued based on China's maritime expansion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, the fact of the matter is that more than a decade has passed since the current guidelines were determined and in that time significant changes have occurred in the security environment. In that sense it is only natural for a review to be implemented.

REPORTER: Is the review a response to China's maritime expansion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, as I have just stated, the current guidelines were compiled more than a decade ago. Therefore, as the world has undergone great changes in that time, based on the changes in the security environment I believe that it is only natural for discussions to take place concerning the big picture for future Japan-U.S. defense cooperation.

REPORTER: With regard to the Government's decision to provide information via Facebook, I believe that there are various tools that could be used for information purposes, including a basic website or other services such as Twitter. What was the reason for choosing Facebook?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not sure about the specific reason, but given the desire by the Government and Prime Minister Abe himself to reach out and provide information to as many people as possible, and in view of the fact that the Prime Minister himself has been a user of Facebook for some time before assuming office as prime minister, with his posts being enjoyed by many people, it was decided to launch an official page for the Prime Minister's Office.

(Abridged)