Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The crash of the U.S. Forces helicopter
• The Osprey aircraft
• The relocation of Futenma Air Station
• Prime Minister's address at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony
• The review of the recognition system for atomic bomb disease
• The leakage of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the crash of the U.S. Forces helicopter. One of the crew members on board is still missing. Including his safety, can you please explain what the Government is aware of at this moment in time with regard to the series of events leading up to this accident?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to start by saying that accidents like this one cause a great concern to the local people, and it is deeply regrettable. Following this accident, the Government has expressed its regret to the U.S. At the same time, the Government has strongly requested the U.S. to uncover the causes, swiftly share information, and prevent the reoccurrence of such accidents. In addition, the Government has requested the suspension for the time being of flight operations of the same type of helicopter as the one that has crashed. It is our number one priority to ensure the safety of the Okinawan people, and the Government will continue to urge the U.S. to give utmost considerations to safety. The Government will continue to make every effort to reduce the burden on Okinawa.

Regarding the facts, yesterday, August 5, around 4 pm, a HH-60 helicopter crashed within the premises of Camp Hansen. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation. Of the four crew members, the whereabouts of three members have been confirmed, and the three are in stable condition. The whereabouts of the remaining crew member has not yet been identified. At this point in time, no damages have been reported outside of the premises of the facility.

Regarding the response of the Government, on the 5th, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida requested a U.S. response from Ambassador Roos by telephone. Furthermore, the Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Defense Policy of the Ministry of Defense requested a U.S. response from the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Forces.

REPORTER: The U.S. Forces have announced that they will postpone the additional deployment of Osprey aircraft. Was this requested by the Japanese Government? Also, according to the information you have been notified of, for how long will the deployment be delayed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In light of this accident, Japan requested that the U.S. postpone the transfer of Ospreys from Iwakuni to Futenma. Based on that, the U.S. postponed the transfer of Ospreys from Iwakuni Air Station to Futenma Air Station. That is my understanding.

REPORTER: For how long?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That has not been confirmed.

REPORTER: I would like to hear your reaction. This helicopter accident has occurred right in the midst of the transfer of Ospreys. What are your thoughts regarding this timing?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We believe that the deployment of Ospreys to Okinawa has great significance for the security of Japan. However, it goes without saying that Ospreys are operated on the assumption that utmost considerations are given to the wellbeing of the local people. Japan will continue to carry out necessary consultations with the U.S. regarding the appropriate implementation of the agreement of the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee and make every effort to reduce the burden of the bases on Okinawa.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding the length of the postponement of the transfer of Ospreys that Japan has requested, you stated that you did not know about the length. However, how long of a postponement does the Japanese Government have in mind? Or what kind of conditions must be satisfied for the transfer to be resumed appropriately?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This accident has just taken place. Based on these circumstances, at this stage, the Government is strongly requesting the U.S. to investigate why this accident has occurred, to uncover the causes and implement measures to prevent its reoccurrence.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Based on what you have just stated, are you saying that Japan requested the U.S. not to fly the Osprey at least until the U.S. has uncovered the causes and presented measures for the prevention of reoccurrence?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: More than that, the fact of the matter is that a helicopter has crashed in this way. A crash accident has taken place. And we recognize that the Osprey is critically important for the security of Japan. In this context, this matter will be reviewed with a view to appropriately implementing the agreement of the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee.

REPORTER: To confirm, the aircraft that crashed this time was not the Osprey.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Correct.

REPORTER: What then was the reason that you made a request with regard to the Osprey?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: While it was not the Osprey, the fact that a helicopter has crashed raises concerns to the people of Okinawa. In this sense, we made the request based on our viewpoint that the number one priority is the safety of the people of Okinawa.

REPORTER: I believe this accident will stir up strong protests from the Okinawan people against the series of initiatives that the Abe administration is now trying to advance, that is, the relocation from Futenma to Henoko, and regarding such issues relating to the U.S. bases. What kind of an impact do you foresee?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We must absolutely avoid allowing Futenma Air Station to remain at its current location indefinitely. At the same time, looking at the diplomatic and security environment surrounding Japan, I believe everyone understands that the deterrence of the U.S. Forces is critically important. In this context, the borderline option which meets both needs was to relocate Futenma Air Station to Henoko. We will proceed with the relocation bearing in mind the reduction of the burden of the bases and the overall situation.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony. During the ceremony, the Prime Minister strongly appealed Japan's responsibility to bring about a world without nuclear weapons, touching on the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles." Going forward, what kind of a policy will the Government follow in working towards the eradication of nuclear weapons? Can you please describe the Government's specific vision if any?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the Prime Minister stated in his address, Japan is the only country to have experienced the horror of nuclear devastation in war.  As such, Japan has been leading the initiatives of the international community, through realistic and pragmatic measures, with the goal of bringing about a peaceful and safe world without nuclear weapons as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, it is also true that in the world, there is large-scale military capacity, including nuclear capability, and the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, is increasing. Including the specific example of North Korea's nuclear development issue, I believe the security environment surrounding Japan is in a severe state. In light of this situation, Japan believes that it must make realistic and specific nuclear disarmament efforts towards the total abolition of nuclear weapons, and at the same time, as a real issue, work towards the total abolition of nuclear weapons while relying on the deterrence based on the Japan-U.S. alliance and ensuring the safety of Japan.

REPORTER: Related to this, the Prime Minister's speech this year did not refer to the Government's nuclear power policy. Past speeches have made note of the nuclear power station policy that the Government should pursue, or, since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the nuclear power station accident and energy policy. What was the Government's understanding for not touching on these matters in this year's speech? Was it also out of consideration for Hiroshima?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe it is all in the address that the Prime Minister delivered today. Japan will make every effort as a member of the international community to bring about a peaceful and safe world without nuclear weapons as soon as possible. I believe that is what is of critical importance.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding the criteria for individuals to be recognized as having an atomic bomb disease, during the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony today, the Prime Minister stated that the Government would exert every possible effort to enable individuals waiting to be recognized as having an atomic bomb disease to receive that recognition quickly. During yesterday's press conference, you stated that you are watching to see how the discussions of the Committee for the Review of the Recognition System for Atomic Bomb Disease of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) will unfold. The discussions of the Committee are still continuing. Will the Government wait for the discussions of the Committee to conclude and then, accordingly, carry out reviews of some sort with regard to the recognition system? Or will the Government set forth measures for reviewing the recognition criteria or the operation of the recognition system at some stage, without waiting for the discussions to conclude?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As it currently stands, with the participation of the representatives of atomic bomb victims, this Committee, which has been set up at MHLW, is working hard to examine the modality of the criteria for individuals to be recognized as having an atomic bomb disease, based on the idea of eliminating the inadequacies of the system and creating a better system than the existing one. Under this framework, I believe a final report needs to be compiled in accordance with this basic policy as soon as possible. We recognize that this needs to be done with great urgency.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It is natural that as a country that has experienced the horror of nuclear devastation, Japan desires the total abolition of nuclear weapons. As was mentioned earlier, is it correct to interpret that there is some kind of a meaning behind the fact that the Prime Minister did not touch on the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not believe there was any particular meaning whatsoever. In any case, it is natural that we will aim to eliminate all nuclear power station accidents. We are now making every effort towards the reconstruction of Fukushima. At each and every opportunity, we have continued to say that safety is the number one priority. In this context, indeed, as the only country to have experienced the horror of nuclear devastation in war, Japan will strive to bring about a peaceful and safe world without nuclear weapons.

REPORTER: Concerning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, it has become known that contaminated water has leaked into the sea and this is continuing. In effect, the previous administration's declaration that a state of cold shutdown that had been achieved no longer holds. What is your view regarding reviewing Step 2 of the roadmap, which factored into the declaration of achievement, or the impact on the realignment of the evacuation zones?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: With regard to the nuclear power station in Fukushima, in December two years ago, a state of cold shutdown was confirmed as a result of the quantitative evaluation of the state of the nuclear reactors, and even now, the nuclear reactors are in a stable state.

However, the reality is that, as has been reported daily, there remain a plethora of issues, including the disposal of contaminated water, decommissioning, compensation, decontamination, the realization of the affected people's early return to their homes, and their health management. The Government is now making every effort to resolve the many issues.

Given the circumstances that we are in, I believe the word "conclusion" (of the nuclear power station accident), which could be interpreted to mean that all of the issues have been resolved, is indeed inappropriate. The previous administration declared a "conclusion" and used this word. The Abe administration will, however, without using this expression, take all possible measures to address the array of post-accident issues, including contaminated water. That is our basic view at this time.

(Abridged)