Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The Cabinet Secretariat personnel decisions

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved five general measures as well as personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of the Environment made a statement concerning the FY 2013 Annual Report on the Environment, the Sound Material-Cycle Society and the Biodiversity in Japan; the Minister of Finance made a statement concerning the personnel affairs relating to the heads of special companies; the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism made a statement concerning the personnel affairs relating to the heads of special companies and independent administrative agencies; the Minister of the Environment made a statement concerning the personnel affairs relating to the heads of special companies; and I made statements concerning Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko's trip to Turkey and Her Imperial Highness Princess Ayako's trip to Canada.

In ministerial discussions, Minister Yamamoto made a statement concerning the FY 2014 Strategic Budget Allocation Policy for Space Exploration.

I would like to speak on the Cabinet Secretariat personnel decisions approved at the Cabinet meeting. On May 31, legislation to amend a portion of the Cabinet Act for the purpose of establishing the position of Cabinet Information Communications Policy Officer in order to strengthen the overall coordination capability of the Cabinet Secretariat in relation to the utilization of information communications technology, was promulgated and brought into force. As stated in the distributed document, following this decision, the Government appointed Mr. Koichi Endo, the current government Chief Information Officer, to the position of Cabinet Information Communications Policy Officer beginning today.

Q&As

• The online sale of drugs
• The Senkaku Islands
• Okinawan kariyushi shirts
• Osprey training exercises
• The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's annual report
• Economic sanctions on Iran
• The joint U.S.-Japan field exercise Dawn Blitz

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the online sale of drugs. I believe that talks involving four ministers took place this morning and I would like to ask if you came to any conclusions.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Prior to the Cabinet meeting, the relevant ministers openly exchanged opinions. Today's meeting did not finalize any policies, but the relevant ministers are currently making final arrangements. Ultimately, we will continue to vigorously discuss this issue in order to establish new regulations while giving weight to the recent supreme court ruling and due consideration to safety concerns.

REPORTER: I would like to ask another question on the same topic. I believe these are ministerial level negotiations, but could you share with us a rough idea about your schedule as to when you want to reach a conclusion? Is the Government attempting to come to a conclusion prior to tomorrow's delivery of the third growth strategy speech by the Prime Minister, or before Cabinet approval of the growth strategy scheduled for June 14?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The G8 Summit will be held on June 17 and 18 and our basic plan is to swiftly reach a conclusion by then in order to make it in time for the development of action plans for the growth strategy and regulatory reform.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Former Chief Cabinet Secretary and LDP Secretary General Hiromu Nonaka said yesterday in China that he once directly confirmed with former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka that the sovereignty issue over the Senkaku Islands was shelved immediately after the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and China. Could you share with us the Government's official views on these comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware that former Secretary General Nonaka made these remarks. Mr. Nonaka has already left the Liberal Democratic Party and therefore, as a representative of the Government, I would like to refrain from commenting on comments made by an individual. However, if I am to make a comment, the Senkaku Islands are clearly an inherent territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based upon international law. Indeed, the Senkaku Islands are under the valid control of Japan. The Government's official stance is that there are no territorial disputes over the Senkaku Islands to be resolved and there is no factual basis for the assertion that we have made an agreement with China to shelve or maintain the status quo concerning the Senkaku Islands because there are no issues to be shelved.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Mr. Takakazu Kuriyama, former Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, also attested that there was an agreement, or an unspoken agreement between Japan and China to shelve the issue. On what grounds does the Japanese Government say that this unspoken agreement does not exist?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I wish to refrain from commenting on your question but the Government's official stance is that there is no factual basis for the assertion that we have made an agreement with China to shelve or maintain the status quo concerning the Senkaku Islands because there are no issues to be shelved.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: You are all wearing kariyushi shirts today. Could you share with us your personal thoughts on the shirts? Are they comfortable?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Well, I think it suits me quite well, don't you? Today all Cabinet members and other officials that have a connection to Okinawa are wearing these traditional Okinawan kariyushi shirts. Personally I find them very comfortable and frankly, I wish I could wear them every day. I believe that it is very important for the Government to share and value history, tradition and culture.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Osaka Mayor Hashimoto said that he would like to accept training exercise flights of Osprey aircraft at Yao Airport in Osaka. Could you share with us the Government's assessment of these comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of this media report. However, I have not directly heard from the Japan Restoration Party, therefore I must refrain from making any comment. However, in line with the agreement made at the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee meeting that took place last September, we have been exploring the possibility of conducting Osprey training exercises within Japan at a location other than Okinawa.

REPORTER: I believe that Mayor Hashimoto intends to visit the Prime Minister's Office on June 6 to directly communicate to you his intentions. If he does so, will you welcome a proposal such as this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have been exploring potential locations for Osprey training exercises at a location other than Okinawa, so I would be happy to listen to what he has to say if he does visit.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: According to the announcement made by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, while the number of nuclear warheads throughout the world decreased by 10% compared to last year, it was revealed that only China of the five recognized nuclear powers increased its nuclear arsenal. Could you share with us your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: While the nuclear powers of the world, such as the U.S. and Russia, advance their efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament, China is increasing its nuclear stockpile. The Government has been keeping close tabs on such developments. Japan has been strongly urging all nuclear powers, including China, to advance nuclear disarmament and improve transparency. Japan will continue to make efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

REPORTER: Today a U.S. Presidential order to impose economic sanctions on Iran was announced. This includes a ban on the trading of the Iranian Rial and a ban on sales to the Iranian automobile industry. Could you share with us what you believe may be the implications for Japan and how the Government will respond?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In relation to the nuclear issues of Iran, remaining faithful to the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Japan has been implementing ancillary measures based on the Security Council Resolutions. More specifically, in light of the situation surrounding Iran and the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, Japan has, for example, been steadily decreasing imports of crude oil from Iran. As for the recent Presidential order, we would like to respond as we discuss the matter with the U.S. Government. The basic stance of Japan is to continue to adopt an approach of dialogue and pressure to place pressure on Iran.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the joint exercise between the U.S. military and Self-Defense Force. It has been reported that China has requested the cancellation of the remote island defense exercise scheduled to commence on June 10. Could you please provide us with the facts? Also, could you tell us how the Government will respond?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As we have already announced, the joint U.S.-Japan field exercise Dawn Blitz in the U.S. is scheduled to commence on June 10. The objectives of the exercise are to improve the SDF's integrated operational capabilities and joint response capabilities with the U.S. military. The exercise is not targeting a specific country or region. I will not comment on the details of diplomatic communications with China. I ask you to direct your questions concerning the details of the exercises to the Ministry of Defense.

(Abridged)