Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The Comprehensive Strategy on Science and Technology Innovation
• The Government Action Plan for Countermeasures against Novel Influenza and Other Diseases
• Cabinet decision on a relevant bill to establish a "National Security Council (NSC)"
• The Council on Measures for Society with Decreasing Birthrate

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 12 general and other measures, the promulgation of legislation, a draft bill, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, I made a statement concerning the Government Action Plan for Countermeasures against Novel Influenza and Other Diseases. Minister Yamamoto made a statement concerning the Basic Guidelines on Intellectual Property Policy and the Comprehensive Strategy on Science and Technology Innovation. Minister Aso made a statement concerning the Report on the Details of Measures Taken to Deal with Failed Financial Institutions. The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries made a statement concerning the FY2012 Annual Report on Forest and Forestry in Japan. The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry made a statement concerning the FY2012 Measures to Promote Manufacturing Technology. I made a statement concerning the Draft Bill for the Partial Amendment of the Act for Establishment of the Security Council of Japan and Other Acts. In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Inada made a statement concerning the disclosure process of the administrative program review.

At today's Cabinet meeting, the Comprehensive Strategy on Science and Technology Innovation was decided. In order to make Japan "the most suitable country in the world for innovation," in response to the instructions of Prime Minister Abe, the strategy was compiled as the culmination of the intensive discussions which took place during the meetings of the Council for Science and Technology Policy - the control tower of science and technology innovation. The Government hopes that the Council for Science and Technology Policy will fully exercise its control tower functions. In partnership with relevant ministries and agencies, we will dynamically promote, implement, and move forward the comprehensive strategy which was decided by the Cabinet. For details, please direct your questions to Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Yamamoto.

At today's Cabinet meeting, the Government Action Plan for Countermeasures against Novel Influenza and Other Diseases was decided. Pursuant to the Act on Special Measures for Countermeasures against Novel Influenza and Other Diseases that entered into force in April of this year, and in order to be prepared for any outbreaks of highly pathogenic novel influenza and other diseases, this plan has put together the countermeasures which will be implemented under a Government-wide effort. Should any emergencies arise in the future, we will take effective countermeasures in a flexible manner in light of this plan. Going forward, we will continue to take all possible countermeasures.

In aiming to establish the "National Security Council (NSC)," which will serve as the control tower of the foreign and security policies of Japan, the Government has been carrying out reviews while receiving the opinions of experts. Today, following the deliberations of the Security Council of Japan, a relevant draft bill was decided at the Cabinet meeting. Amid the increasingly perilous security environment facing Japan, the Government will make utmost efforts to obtain the understanding of the people in order to get this draft bill passed at an early date.

Today, before the Cabinet meeting, the Council on Measures for Society with Decreasing Birthrate, whose members are all ministers, convened a meeting with the Prime Minister serving as the Chair. During the meeting, the "Emergency Measures to Overcome the Declining Birthrate Crisis" were decided. These are measures that the Government will implement based on the proposal compiled by the Task Force for Overcoming the Declining Birthrate Crisis. With regard to the pillars of the emergency measures, the measures for the existing two pillars - "childcare support" and "work style reform" - will be strengthened, and a new pillar, "marriage, pregnancy, and child delivery support," was added. Based on these "three arrows," measures to cope with the declining birthrate will be promoted. The emergency measures which were decided today will be steadily translated into action.

Q&As

• The National Security Council
• The Senkaku Islands
• ROK-North Korea relations

REPORTER: You stated that a draft bill related to the NSC was approved by a Cabinet decision today. In association with this, what instructions did the Prime Minister give at the Security Council meeting or Cabinet meeting? I believe the Prime Minister has been yearning to create the NSC since the first Abe administration. What did the Prime Minister have to say on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister stated that as the security environment facing Japan is extremely perilous, we should all cooperate to pass this draft bill as quickly as possible and achieve the intended objective.

REPORTER: What is the principal pillar or priority of the NSC? What have been the problems until now? How will things change when the NSC is established? What is your perspective on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I believe the foundation has been laid down to be able to establish the NSC, which will serve as the control tower of national security policies, and for it to exercise powerful political leadership. In the context of the basic policy of diplomacy and defense as it relates to security, the four ministers' meeting comprised of the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense, and myself will be established and will meet routinely and share understanding on national security constantly. Furthermore, under the four ministers' meeting, the National Security Bureau will be created. Expert staff will be assigned to this bureau. They will be assigned full-time to constantly analyze and collect information on various security matters, including external issues, in order to deal with national safety in a thorough and comprehensive manner. This draft bill was finally able to be approved by a Cabinet decision based on the recognition that a framework must be created at the earliest possible date to deal with security comprehensively by mobilizing and pooling resources, instead of maintaining a vertically segmented structure.

REPORTER: How is the NSC different from the existing Security Council, which has existed to date and which I believe met today as well?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The difference is that four ministers will be meeting regularly - every however many days - but consistently, about once every two weeks, and sharing understanding on the issues. Along with sharing understanding, the National Security Bureau of the Cabinet Secretariat, under the Chief Cabinet Secretary, will constantly be working exclusively on collecting information from overseas, designing policies, and taking other responses. For example, there was the incident in Algeria. Since the National Security Bureau did not exist at that time, it was very difficult for us to integrate various information in the face of a vertically segmented administrative structure. But now, a secretariat that will consistently perform these comprehensive tasks will be created. And under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the issues will be shared primarily at the four ministers' meetings, and accordingly, I believe this will enable quick decision-making. I believe these are the main points of the draft bill. 

REPORTER: Chief Cabinet Secretary, in other words you are saying that the difference is the breaking down of this vertically segmented structure and quicker decision-making?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes. And information collection as well as policymaking will be performed consistently there - because a secretariat will be created.

REPORTER: Today was just the Cabinet decision, and after this, of course, this has to be turned into a draft bill. With regard to the schedule, currently, I believe that the Diet session is virtually in a state of suspension. Assuming that you submit the draft bill to the Diet, what is the schedule in terms of how things will proceed from there?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The end of the Diet session is approaching. However, we will strive to submit the draft bill to the Diet as quickly as possible and have it passed by the Diet as quickly as possible.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: President Ma of Taiwan has proposed joint development by shelving the issue on the Senkaku Islands. Can you please explain the view of the Japanese Government regarding Taiwan's East China Sea Peace Initiative?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan's position on the Senkaku Islands is clear. I have said repeatedly here that there is no doubt that the islands are "an inherent part of the territory of Japan." On the basis of this understanding, I believe having dialogues on various issues is not a proposal to be dismissed. Japan's door is always open.

REPORTER: You stated that the Senkaku Islands are "an inherent part of the territory of Japan." However, the Government of the United States, while acknowledging that the islands fall within the scope of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America, takes a neutral position and has not acknowledged that the islands are "an inherent part of the territory of Japan." However, Taisho Island and Kuba Island of the Senkaku Islands have been offered to the U.S. by Japan. What are your views regarding the U.S. stance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The U.S. too has acknowledged that the Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory in the San Francisco Peace Treaty. The U.S. and China were both present at that time.

REPORTER: What I meant was, will Japan request that the U.S. not take a neutral position and clearly acknowledge that Japan has territorial claims over the Senkaku Islands?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, as there is no mistake that the Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of the territory of Japan. I believe the U.S. understands this too.

REPORTER: Do you have any intention of asking the U.S. to clearly acknowledge that Japan has territorial claims?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We will not ask as it is clear that Japan has territorial claims. We will be offering explanations on this.

REPORTER: There are moves being made increasingly towards holding a South-North dialogue between North Korea and the Republic of Korea (ROK). How does the Japanese Government view these moves?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not aware of the details. It is true that we are closely monitoring the situation, and if the dialogue is realized, we would like to welcome this. I believe these South-North moves must contribute to the denuclearization of North Korea and the resolution of other outstanding issues of concern. Japan will continue to work with the U.S. and the ROK in dealing with the issues related to North Korea.

(Abridged)