Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The TPP
• North Koran issues

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The Prime Minister has reiterated to date that Japan will not join the negotiations as long as the requirement for participation is that the Japanese Government makes prior commitment to eliminate tariffs with no sanctuary.  Also, to a question asked by Mr. Yuichi Goto on February 12, the Prime Minister responded that he will not immediately announce Japan's participation at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting. However, to Ms. Tomoko Kami's question at this afternoon's meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors, in which she asked whether the Prime Minister can promise that Japan's participation will not be announced during his U.S. visit, the Prime Minister answered that he is unable, right there on the spot, to make a promise either way as to whether he will or will not announce Japan's participation. I would like to confirm whether this represents a change in the stance of the Prime Minister. 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe it has not changed in any way. (Abridged) I say this as I too was there.

REPORTER: I believe the TPP will be one of the key themes of the summit meeting with President Obama. Is it correct to understand that if the Prime Minister encounters what he was talking about, Japan's participation in the negotiations will not be announced at the summit meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe it is just as the Prime Minister has stated to date.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding the sanctions against North Korea, the Chinese state media, Xinhua News Agency, has reported that the latest nuclear test was the result of the failed policies of the United States (U.S.), the Republic of Korea, and Japan. There are some views that China now, at this juncture, is distancing itself from the moves in the international community. What is your view regarding this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: China has said that it will take harsh measures. I believe it is not for me to make comments regarding individual news agencies. We will strive to impose rigorous sanctions against North Korea and ensure that such an incident never happens again, working together with other countries in the context of the United Nations as well as among the five parties or bilaterally or trilaterally.

(Abridged)