Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seko

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: I would first like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved eight general and other measures, legislation proposals, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers which followed, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the FY2013 revenue and expenditure budget for the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), the financial statement and operational report for FY2011 and the opinions of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, etc., as well as concerning the FY2013 projected revenue and expenditure total for local organizations. 

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Yamamoto made a statement concerning the establishment, etc. of the Comprehensive Strategy on Science and Technology Innovation (tentative title).

Q&As

• China's defense budget
• The Osprey transport aircraft
• The surveillance of the Senkaku Islands
• The IOC Evaluation Commission's visit to Tokyo

REPORTER: China has announced this year's defense budget. The budget was increased by 10.7% compared to last year, so again it grew by a two-digit high percentage. First, may I ask you to please share your thoughts on this?   

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: I am aware of these news reports. Japan will continue to monitor China's defense costs or defense policy and military capabilities.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding Osprey, with regard to the training on mainland Japan, the U.S. forces in Japan has notified prefectures through the Ministry of Defense that it will conduct low-altitude flight training in Kyushu. With the training also to be conducted in the evening, the residents have expressed concerns. How will the Japanese Government seek their understanding?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: Yesterday, the U.S. forces in Japan notified the Ministry of Defense that between March 6 to 8 three Osprey aircrafts will fly from Okinawa to Iwakuni Air Station and will plan to conduct low-altitude flight training in the Kyushu area, as well as that during this same period conduct evening training. This training plan may change depending on the weather conditions of that day and other factors. With regard to the information on this training, the Government has also swiftly notified the relevant local governments. We will urge the U.S. in conducting this training to comply with the agreement of the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee of September 19, 2012 as well to take all possible measures to ensure utmost safety and keep the impact on local communities to a minimum.        

(Abridged)

REPORTER: According to some news reports, the Government is considering diverting a Self-Defense Force vessel to use for the surveillance of the Senkaku Islands in place of the patrol vessel of the Japan Coast Guard. As of November last year, current Prime Minister Abe expressed this same view when he was President of the Liberal Democratic Party. Can you explain what considerations the Government is making at this present stage?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: I am aware that such discussions exist. However, there is indeed the question of whether an escort vessel can be utilized as a patrol vessel as is, or there is also the cost of retrofitting the vessel. Or, as this is an escort vessel which was originally scheduled to be decommissioned, its use has reached the limit in a variety of meanings. Therefore, also bearing these factors in mind, I believe we need to make a decision as to whether the vessel can be utilized as a patrol vessel for a certain length of time, while carefully considering the costs and benefits. In any case, this will be thoroughly discussed as an issue which concerns the whole of the Government.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission will convene a meeting. You will be explaining the Government's financial assurances and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shimomura will give a presentation. Can you once again explain what makes Tokyo superior compared to the other candidate cities?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SEKO: First of all, the Government believes that it is very meaningful to host the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo in terms of international goodwill, the promotion of sports and more. Also, we would very much like to become the host city in the sense of showing to the world the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake. I believe Tokyo has a variety of advantages over other cities, including its compactness in regard to the closeness of the different facilities to each other. I hope the Evaluation Commission members will take a good look at this. Yesterday, too, a great many people came out to welcome them in various locations. We hope to fully convey that the Japanese people as a whole would like Tokyo to be the host city, and with the Prime Minister attending and different ministers attending today that the Government is making concerted efforts to this end.