Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The situation in Syria
• The Osprey aircraft
• The information security bill
• The Governor of Fukui Prefecture's visit to the Prime Minister's Office

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the situation in Syria. Since determining the high possibility of the al-Assad regime's use of chemical weapons, the U.S. Government has stepped up its diplomatic pressure, which includes the prospect of military action. How are these actions that the U.S. is taking being communicated to the Japanese Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware that in response to the situation in Syria the U.S. and other countries concerned are discussing how to respond. I believe that I should not make any comments on behalf of the Government at this moment as it would not be appropriate to do so. Japan believes the use of chemical weapons is not permissible under any circumstances and we have great concern for the recent deterioration of the Syrian situation. We would like to help improve the situation by continuing to work in close cooperation with the U.S. and other nations.

REPORTER: Please allow me to ask another question on this topic. Some of the U.S. media have reported that the U.S. may possibly go ahead with a missile strike within a few days, or as early as tomorrow. Has information such as this been passed on to Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have no concrete details at this stage. However, while closely cooperating with the U.S. and other relevant nations, we will keep close tabs on the development of the situation with a strong sense of concern.

REPORTER: If the U.S. and other nations go ahead with military action, what role would Japan take?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from responding to any hypothetical questions at this point in time, but we strongly hope that the field investigation currently being conducted by the UN investigation team will be safely completed without interference in order that the facts may be revealed as soon as possible.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding Osprey aircraft. A U.S. Marine Corps Osprey made a hard landing in Nevada, U.S. on August 26. There have been doubts over the safety of Osprey aircraft in Japan, particularly in Okinawa. Could you once again share with us the Government's view on the safety of Osprey aircraft after seeing what happened in Nevada?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have been informed that in the afternoon of August 26, as you just mentioned, one Osprey aircraft made an emergency landing near Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. I have also been informed that there were no casualties and an investigation into the cause of the incident is currently underway. The Japanese Government has asked the U.S. Government to provide us with information pertaining to the incident, including the cause of the hard landing, as soon as possible. Moving forward, we will continue to strive to obtain information and will then carefully explain that information to the public.

REPORTER: What are your thoughts on the potential impact this incident may have on the additional deployment of Osprey in Okinawa?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It was a hard landing so I do not believe it will have any impact. Regardless, we will urge the U.S. to provide us with further details.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the information security bill. I understand that the Liberal Democratic Party commenced discussions on this yesterday. Could you share with us the Government's objectives and intentions for this bill?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The threat of information leakage is becoming extremely high and as such we introduced the NSC bill to the Diet in the previous session, which has been carried over for deliberation. When sharing information with other nations, it is done so with the assumption that the information is protected in each country. Given this, I believe that there is a pressing need to improve the legal system. As we attempt to make these legal improvements, the Government has been examining the topic from multiple perspectives while duly respecting the public's rights to access information and freedom of the press.

REPORTER: Please allow me to ask a question on the same topic. You just mentioned the public's rights to access information and freedom of the press. Taking for instance the past incident where video footage from when a Chinese fishing vessel and a Japan Coast Guard vessel collided in waters near the Senkaku Islands was leaked, how would such a situation be addressed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said earlier the Government has been examining the bill concerning information security from multiple perspectives while duly respecting the public's rights to access information and freedom of the press. Therefore I believe that I should not comment on individual incidents that occurred in the past.

REPORTER: I believe that officials from Fukui Prefecture came to the Prime Minister's Office in order to make a request in relation to nuclear power stations. May I ask what was discussed and how you responded?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Governor Nishikawa made requests mostly in relation to three items. He asked for the Government to accelerate the energy policy debate, to investigate if the Nuclear Regulation Authority is fulfilling its responsibilities as expected and for the Government to take the initiative in improving and diversifying infrastructure particularly relating to LNG. I asked the Governor about the economic situation in Fukui.

(Abridged)