Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The 2013 Spring Conferment of Decorations and Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals

I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 10 general measures as well as the promulgation of legislation, draft bills, cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, I made a statement concerning the 2013 Spring Conferment of Decorations and Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning a decision on the FY2013 Administrative Evaluation Program.

Regarding the Spring Conferment of Decorations and Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals, the recipients of the 2013 Spring Conferment of Decorations and Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals were decided at today's Cabinet meeting. They will be announced on April 29. The total number of recipients and the breakdown by decoration are as stated in the material which has been distributed to you. For details, I ask that you direct your questions to the Decoration Bureau of the Cabinet Office.

Q&As

• The Senkaku Islands
• Yasukuni Shrine

REPORTER: It appears that Chinese Government vessels have entered Japan's territorial waters in the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands. Could you tell us what information the Government has about this incursion at the current time?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Today from around 7:30 am to 8:30 am, eight Chinese "Haijian" maritime surveillance vessels entered Japan's territorial waters one after the other in the vicinity of Uotsuri Island in the Senkaku Islands, where they are still cruising in Japan's territorial waters around Uotsuri Island. This entry into our territorial waters is extremely regrettable. In any case, there is no doubt that the Senkaku Islands are clearly an inherent territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based upon international law and it is therefore truly regrettable and unacceptable for Chinese Government vessels to repeatedly enter Japan's territorial waters in this way. An extremely strong protest has been lodged through diplomatic channels, both in Beijing and Tokyo, demanding the immediate withdrawal of these vessels from Japan's territorial waters.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the timing of this incursion into territorial waters by as large a number as eight vessels, how does the Government analyze the actions of the Chinese Government on this occasion and is it considered that the recent visit of Cabinet ministers to Yasukuni Shrine is the reason behind the current incursion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not believe that there is such a causal relationship as you have mentioned. I am aware that there is also a large number of Japanese fishing vessels in Japan's territorial waters in the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands at the current time. In any case, I do not think that it can be said with any certainty what the intention of China is on this occasion.

REPORTER: Are we to understand that eight vessels is the largest number of vessels to enter Japan's territorial waters at one time since the Senkaku Islands were nationalized?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, that is correct. It is for this reason that a strong protest has been lodged both in Beijing and Tokyo.

REPORTER: What is the route that is being used to lodge these protests?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In China the protest has been lodged through the Japanese Embassy. In Japan the protest has been lodged to the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.

REPORTER: Can you confirm press reports that in addition to the eight vessels currently in territorial waters, there are two further fishing patrol vessels sailing in Japan's contiguous waters?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, there are a further two vessels.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Today a total of 168 Diet members have visited Yasukuni Shrine. Can I ask for a comment from you concerning these visits?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I noted yesterday, visiting Yasukuni Shrine is a personal decision and Japan is a country that ensures freedom of religion. Therefore it is not for the Government or the Prime Minister to intervene even if Cabinet ministers or, as is the case today, all-party Diet members, choose to visit the shrine.

REPORTER: Yesterday evening the Chinese Government lodged a protest at the visit to the shrine of Japanese Cabinet ministers, urging Japan to recognize history correctly. What is the reaction of the Government to this protest and with regard to the intention of Prime Minister Abe to not reiterate the statement made by former Prime Minister Murayama, what is the reason behind this intention?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated yesterday, whether Cabinet ministers visit Yasukuni Shrine or not is not something that is decided by the Cabinet as a whole, rather it is a matter for each individual to make a decision on, of his or her own free will. With regard to the Murayama Statement, as the Prime Minister noted just recently in responses to questions in the Diet, the statement by former Prime Minister Murayama was issued on the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. Similarly, former Prime Minister Koizumi issued a new statement on the 60th anniversary of the end of the war. Therefore, I imagine that Prime Minister Abe seeks to issue a statement of his own on the milestone 70th anniversary of the end of the war.

(Abridged)