Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The sale of the headquarters of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan
• The understanding of history
• Joint training exercises at Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station

REPORTER: Following on from questions in this morning's press conference, with regard to the sale of the headquarters of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), Saifukuji Temple has recently held a press conference in which it was explained that the funding required to conclude a contract for the purchase of the building could ultimately not be procured due to pressure from the Government and that when the representatives of the temple visited a financial institution there were officials present from financial supervisory bodies. Could you confirm whether the Government has exerted any pressure with regard to the sale of the building?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I can state with 100 percent certainty that there was no such pressure. Given that a similar question was asked in this morning's press conference, I have confirmed the situation with the Financial Services Agency, which has responded that there is no truth whatsoever to such reports.

REPORTER: You have recently engaged in a vigorous exchange of opinions in the Cabinet Committee of the House of Representatives with former Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada. The debate focused on your repeated statement that the Government intends to take the same stance as previous Cabinets, and whether reference will be made to previous statements to include terms such as "colonial rule" or "aggression." Can I ask for your views on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There were various questions on this matter and what I have indicated is that it is a matter relating to taking the same stance as previous Cabinets. Therefore when we say "taking the same stance" I believe that it means just that.

REPORTER: I don't understand the point concerning whether reference will be made to previous statements to include terms such as "colonial rule" or "aggression". One of the reasons that this is a subject for debate dates back to before the Hosokawa Cabinet, when there was vigorous debate about whether to include reference to "aggression," which developed into a national discussion at the time. When former Prime Minister Hosokawa used the word "aggression" it became the subject of great debate. It was similarly the case when former Prime Minister Koizumi also used the word "aggression." It is through such statements that we see the Japanese view of history through the eyes of prime ministers and to date there has been a great deal of discussion about whether to perceive the Second World War as one that was fought for self-existence and self-defense. Is it the view of the current Abe Cabinet that such points are not an issue and not important? Is that the subject of the debate?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is the case that I have always stated in the forum of this press conference that the Government will take the same stance as previous Cabinets, including that of the first Abe Cabinet. With regard to the definition of "aggression," this is an issue on which there has been considerable academic debate, however, the Abe Cabinet has never sought to deny the fact of aggression. Whatever the case, the Government will continue to take the same stance as previous Cabinets and therefore in that sense the reference to "aggression" will also continue to remain.

REPORTER: So, you are saying that the Government will take the same stance, including use of the word "aggression"?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government will take the same stance. I do not know why this has become such a focus for discussion as I have stated on frequent occasions that the Government will take the same stance as previous Cabinets and I believe that will continue to be the case.

REPORTER: One of the reasons this matter is being discussed is that in response to a question Prime Minister Abe stated that "aggression" has not been fully defined and that even though this word has been used in previous statements by the Government, it does not have a fixed definition. This is an issue about which I have asked frequent questions in this press conference but have not received a direct answer. I believe that it is because it is thought that there was some intention behind the Prime Minister's words, that the issue has become a topic of discussion. Given this background, can you confirm that the Government will continue to take the same stance as previous Cabinets, including the parts that the Prime Minister has sought to deny?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There has never been any attempt to deny anything. The basic stance of the Government is to take the same stance as previous Cabinets and issue a future-oriented statement.

REPORTER: With regard to your debate with Mr. Okada in the Cabinet Committee, I believe that Mr. Okada asked why, if it is truly the case that the Government will take the same stance as previous Cabinets, that you would not confirm this point in the debate in the Cabinet committee. He focused on this point as a specific issue.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: When we say that we are going to take the same stance as previous governments, it is common sense that we mean the entire stance. However, it doesn't mean that the previous statements will be succeeded word-for-word. That is the point that was referred to in the debate in the Cabinet Committee. What I have consistently stated is that the Abe administration will take the same stance as previous Cabinets in a similar manner as in the past. I don't believe that there is anything unusual or abnormal with such a statement.

REPORTER: So was there some ulterior motive in not mentioning this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is because the process of taking the same stance as previous Governments on this matter has been long-running and well-established. I have stated that the Government will continue to take the same stance as previous Cabinets in a similar manner as in the past.

REPORTER: So there was no particular intention?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: None whatsoever, I have already stated that.

REPORTER: I would like to confirm one point. Prime Minister Abe has stated that it is not necessarily the case that everything contained in the statement of the Murayama Cabinet will be carried forward. It was this statement by the Prime Minister that sparked the current discussion. Is it now the case that you are stating that the Government will take the same stance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, the concept of taking the same stance as previous Cabinets is something that was implemented by the first Abe Cabinet and it was also something that I stated in my first press conference as Chief Cabinet Secretary of the second Abe Cabinet.

REPORTER: If that is so, does it mean that the statement made by the Prime Minister will be corrected?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I don't think it requires correction.

REPORTER: Well then, to put it another way, which parts of previous stances will the Government not be succeeding?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have already stated the Government has never attempted to deny anything. Any academic debate on the topic is a separate matter.

REPORTER: As a point of clarification, you have stated that the Government will take the same stance as previous Cabinets and issue a future-oriented statement. I suspect that if words relating to colonial rule and aggression appear in such a statement, there would be concerns that any future-oriented sections would be overcome and negated by such phrases. What are your thoughts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Whatever the case, as I have already mentioned, duly succeeding the stances of previous administrations, we seek to convene a meeting of experts to compile a future-oriented statement. That is our basic stance.

REPORTER: Large-scale joint training exercises are scheduled to take place tomorrow at Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station, which envision a potential terrorist attack on Fukushima Daiichi Power Station. What is the background to and aim of implementing such exercises at the current time?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As a real and pressing issue, it is the case that on a daily basis various organizations are involved in monitoring and surveillance of the nuclear power station. These organizations include the police service, the Japan Coast Guard and nuclear power-related business operators, who cooperate together to ensure a strong security structure. Approximately two years have now passed since the accident in Fukushima. Given that a joint operation continues to be implemented to monitor and survey the power station it was deemed necessary to confirm the various procedures and processes that are implemented mutually by the police service, Japan Coast Guard and others, thus leading to a decision to implement the joint training exercises.

REPORTER: There are some people within the Liberal Democratic Party who suggest that the Self-Defense Forces should be mobilized to engage in security patrols for nuclear power stations. There are moves also afoot to revise the Self-Defense Forces Act. What are you views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The fact of the matter is that if there were to be a terrorist attack on the power station, it could lead to a serious accident; therefore it was deemed necessary to give consideration to such contingencies. However, I believe that in the first instance the police service and Japan Coast Guard should engage in security and patrolling measures to the extent that is feasible for them to do so.