Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The Senkaku Islands

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I understand that today, vessels bearing the legend "China Coast Guard" entered Japan's contiguous zone for the first time. How does Japan regard this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of the news reports that a new organization of the State Oceanic Administration of China was approved and that the China Coast Guard was established. However, I believe I am not in a position to comment on the intentions behind China's activities with regard to future navigation in the contiguous zone.

REPORTER: How will Japan be responding to this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from commenting on the details of Japan's monitoring and surveillance structure as that is equivalent to revealing our strategy. However, the patrol of the Senkaku Islands will remain unchanged, in that the relevant ministries and agencies will continue to work together to collect information and take all possible measures for monitoring and surveillance, as they have been doing up till now.