Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Constitutional revision
• The stock market
• Japan-Philippines relations
• The comfort women issue
• North Korea

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the revision of the Constitution. Article 21, Paragraph 2 of the revised Constitution drafted by the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) stipulates, "Acts which are intended to harm public interest and public order shall not be permitted." Hate speech, which has been a problem in recent years, is targeted at specific ethnicities and groups. Do you believe that these activities are constitutional in light of Article 21, Paragraph 2 of the LDP draft Constitution?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The LDP has insisted that the Constitution be revised ever since the party was established. Accordingly, on April 28 of last year, we released a draft of a revised Constitution. The party presented what a Constitution should look like to be suitable for the 21st century. During last year's House of Representatives election, Constitutional revision was included in the party's campaign pledge. Naturally, Constitutional revision will be included also in our campaign pledge for the upcoming House of Councillors election. In the context of these procedures, the LDP's draft Constitution has not breached any Japanese laws. I believe that based on LDP principles, Constitutional revision will be included in our campaign pledge.

REPORTER: I have a question again regarding the stock market. Today, although the closing price was higher, the price movements were volatile, with the stock market moving in a 1,000-plus-point range during the day for two days in a row. What is your analysis of the market's volatile price movements?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: After stock prices today fell below 14,000 at one point, they seesawed during the session and ultimately ended higher today compared to the previous day. I would like to refrain from commenting on these movements as that would cause unnecessary confusion to the market. However, the Japanese economy has been steadily recovering, and I believe it is important to take calm responses. The Government will closely monitor future trends in the financial and capital markets and their impacts. I believe it was also a fact that stock prices had risen at an abnormally high speed.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the meeting between Prime Minister Abe and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. The website of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines issued a release stating that yesterday, Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan's support for the Philippines' initiation of arbitral proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) regarding the Philippines' claims over the islands in the South China Sea. However, neither the Japanese media nor the website of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported anything about this. I would like to confirm whether or not this is true.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is assumed that the Japanese Government does not side with either China or the Philippines regarding the issue of their territorial rights. During the courtesy call paid yesterday by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines on Prime Minister Abe, discussion took place on the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, including the South China Sea issue. Your question concerns individual dispute settlements or procedures between the Philippines and a third country, and therefore, I would like to refrain from commenting on the exchanges which took place during the courtesy call. In any case, generally speaking, Japan's position is that it is important to resolve maritime territorial disputes peacefully based on international law.

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the Government's written response to Ms. Tsujimoto's question regarding comfort women. In the response, it is stated that the Government will succeed the Kono Statement. To date, I have heard a number of times, even here, that the Government express its position of taking the same stance as past governments. By "succeed" as stated in the latest written response, did you mean succeeding the statement itself or is this confined to just taking the same stance as past Cabinets?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not taken a close look at the written question and response. If the written question was in regard to the statement, then naturally I would think that the statement was made in response to that.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The Abe administration has stated that it will succeed the Kono Statement. However, during the press conference in September of last year when Mr. Abe expressed his intention to run in the LDP presidential election, he vowed to review the Kono Statement. When did he make this 180 degree shift?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe our stance has not changed at all. The Abe administration, since its establishment, has never denied the Kono Statement.

REPORTER: As was asked a short while ago, various newspapers have reported that the LDP has decided not to include in its draft campaign pledge for the House of Councillors election, the revising of Article 96 of the Constitution ahead of other constitutional amendments. Although the campaign pledge is still a draft, did the LDP take into account cautious public opinions regarding the prior revision of Article 96 or did it want to avoid the prior revision of Article 96 turning into a controversy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I actually have still not taken a look at the draft. I am not fully aware as to how this was reported. However, Constitutional revision has been part of the spirit of the LDP since its establishment. As this is indeed the case, as Constitutional revision was included in the campaign pledge for the House of Representatives election, I believe naturally it would be the same (for the House of Councillors election). We have already presented an overall picture of the Constitution. I believe as other political parties present their pictures of what should be done with the current Constitution, various discussions should take place to arrive at a vision. We are fully aware that there are cautious views regarding Article 96. In this context, the LDP must naturally discuss this with all parties and parliamentary groups. Therefore, I believe Constitutional revision as a whole will be included in our campaign pledge.

REPORTER: On May 22, during the meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida and the Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary, the two sides agreed on the provision of Japanese patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Is it known specifically around when the vessels will be provided?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: During the meeting, it was agreed that Japan would support the capacity-building of PCG, including the provision of Japanese patrol vessels to PCG. This has been requested by the Government of the Philippines from before. Japan will continue to study what kind of cooperation will be possible.

REPORTER: Will this not be in breach of Article 9 of the Constitution or the Three Principles on Arms Exports?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This matter, including the provision of patrol vessels to PCG, is currently being reviewed. We will not do anything which will be in conflict with the Constitution.

REPORTER: Going back to the topic of the Kono Statement, so the fact of the matter is that the LDP President, who vowed to review the Kono Statement, changed his view 180 degrees when he became Prime Minister? Or does this mean that Mr. Abe adheres to the Kono Statement as the Prime Minister but opposes it as the LDP President?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister and LDP President are one - they are, after all, the same person. Mr. Kono made the statement as the Chief Cabinet Secretary - not the Prime Minister. Therefore, I, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, am expressing the opinions of the Government regarding the Kono Statement. That is all.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding North Korea, during this morning's press conference, I believe you stated that as the basis for any dialogue, North Korea must take concrete steps towards denuclearization. My question concerns the interpretation of this. I presume that Special Advisor to the Cabinet Iijima's visit to North Korea will be followed by dialogue in the future - in what form, I do not know. In any case, is my understanding correct that as the basis for any dialogue, North Korea must take concrete steps towards denuclearization?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that is natural. Our basic stance has been "dialogue and pressure." In this context, we must comprehensively resolve the outstanding issues of concern such as the abduction, missile, and nuclear issues. The abduction issue has three conditions. Also, the members of the Six-Party Talks are intent on comprehensively resolving the nuclear and missile issues. Therefore, naturally, I believe denuclearization will be at the basis of any dialogue.

REPORTER: So based on what you just stated, is my understanding correct that Japan does not intend to resolve only the abduction issue prior to the other issues?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, while the abduction issue in and of itself is extremely important, at the same time it is necessary to aim to comprehensively resolve also the outstanding issues of concern such as the nuclear and missile issues.