Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• A joint meeting of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters and Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Council
• Japan-U.S. summit telephone talks, particularly on the situation in Syria

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet Meeting. The meeting approved two general measures as well as cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting ministers while ministers in charge are away on an overseas visit. In ministerial discussions, Minister Amari made a statement concerning the development of the immediate implementation policies for measures related to the growth strategy, and Minister Yamamoto made a statement concerning the FY 2014 budgetary request for science and technology.
Today, following the Cabinet Meeting, a joint meeting of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters and Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Council was held. The Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters finalized its basic policy on achieving a fundamental solution for the contaminated water leaking from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The Government will from now on come to the fore and is committed to resolving this issue; we will arrange a Cabinet meeting with the relevant ministers and strengthen the system in order to physically stop the leaks. The policy also includes fiscal measures, and some finances will be allocated from Government reserves. The Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Council finalized its policy to enable the entire Government to provide support on this matter in order to fundamentally improve and enhance the evacuation plans of the municipalities surrounding the nuclear power station. Furthermore, the meeting also approved the plan to conduct a Nuclear Energy Disaster Prevention Drill, the first to be undertaken since the accident, at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima sometime early next month. Prime Minister Abe instructed the whole Government to give its utmost effort. For more details on this topic, please contact the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

From 9:30 today for 30 minutes, Prime Minister Abe and President Barack Obama held Japan-U.S. summit telephone talks. We had previously been making arrangements for a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting during the G20 Summit meeting in Saint Petersburg, however while President Obama is scheduled to arrive in Saint Petersburg in the afternoon of September 5, Prime Minister Abe will have to leave the city later that evening for Buenos Aires, which means that it will be physically difficult for the leaders to make sufficient time to hold a meeting. For this reason the telephone talks were arranged to allow the Prime Minister and President to exchange views, particularly on the situation in Syria. During this morning's telephone talks, President Obama provided a detailed explanation of the U.S. Government's current assessment of the situation in Syria and his thoughts on future action. The President emphasized the importance of the international community sending a clear and unified message that there are international rules prohibiting the use of chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). To this end, President Obama also emphasized that it is imperative that major countries, including Japan, work in close cooperation. Prime Minister Abe once again explained Japan's position on this issue and communicated that Japan views the statement made by President Obama on August 31 as an expression of the President's grave determination. The Prime Minister also said that he will keep a close eye on proceedings in the U.S. Congress. Following this, both leaders agreed that they will remain in close cooperation as they address the situation in Syria. The President commended the Prime Minister's leadership since his inauguration in strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance. Both leaders also agreed that they will make some time to discuss at length important matters such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other regional matters. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato will hold a briefing for journalists on the details of these phone talks.

Q&As

• Japan-U.S. summit telephone talks, particularly on the situation in Syria
• Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado's attendance to the IOC Session
• The leakage of contaminated water from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

REPORTER: With regard to the telephone talks, you said that views were exchanged regarding the situation in Syria. If any specific comments were exchanged between Prime Minister Abe and President Obama regarding the situation in Syria, can you please share them with us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I was also present during the telephone talks. It is as I just explained. President Obama explained the current U.S. position to the Prime Minister, to which the Prime Minister stated the position of Japan. The two leaders naturally share the view that the use of WMDs, notably chemical weapons, shall never be condoned.

REPORTER: Did President Obama seek the Japanese Government's support for the series of decisions made by the President?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: President Obama has unveiled his position to seek the approval of the U.S. Congress on taking U.S. military action, and Japan is closely monitoring this process. That is where we stand, and therefore, I would like to refrain from responding to this question. As I stated a short while ago, President Obama explained the U.S. position, and Prime Minister Abe explained Japan's position. The two leaders shared the view that the two countries will work closely and make efforts towards the improvement and normalization of the situation in Syria.

REPORTER: You said that the U.S. and Japan explained their positions respectively. How did Prime Minister Abe choose to word himself or what was Prime Minister Abe's specific response regarding the position of Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As he stated during his press conference, the Prime Minister explained to the President Japan's position to date, which is that the Japanese Government considers it to be extremely likely that chemical weapons were used in Syria. The use of chemical weapons is not permissible under any circumstances on humanitarian grounds. Furthermore, responsibility for the deterioration of the situation in Syria clearly lies with the Assad government, which shows no regard for the worsening of the humanitarian situation. The Government of Japan will act in close cooperation with the international community to improve the situation in Syria.

REPORTER: What was President Obama's response to this or understanding?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In this sense, the two leaders shared the view that the use of chemical weapons is not permissible under any circumstances on humanitarian grounds.

REPORTER: If I may confirm. While the U.S. has stated definitively that the Assad government used chemical weapons, the Prime Minister explained the current position of the Government during the talks by saying that chemical weapons were used in Syria, and therefore, stuck to Japan's wording to date. Is that correct?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In principle, it was the same wording as before. As before, the Japanese Government considers it to be extremely likely that chemical weapons were used in Syria. Presently, the Japanese Government is continuing to work in close cooperation with the countries concerned, including the U.S., and collecting and analyzing a variety of information regarding who used the chemical weapons. However, the Government's recognition is that the use of chemical weapons, which are considered to be WMDs, is not permissible under any circumstances on humanitarian grounds.

REPORTER: So the Prime Minister explained that the use of WMDs shall never be condoned, and based on this, the U.S. explained about military action. Are you saying that it was not the case that the Prime Minister showed understanding towards U.S. military action?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Rather than an explanation about military action, the U.S. explained that it has unveiled its current position and will seek congressional approval. Japan is closely monitoring this process. That is where we stand, and therefore, I would like to refrain from commenting on the specifics.

REPORTER: Did President Obama describe his outlook for persuading Congress?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At this stage, I would like to refrain from commenting on such details.

REPORTER: Are you saying that President Obama discussed this but that you would like to refrain from elaborating on it here?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, I would like to refrain from going into the specific details which were discussed between the two leaders.

REPORTER: Perhaps you cannot discuss this, but it is the most crucial element. I believe if congressional approval is obtained, President Obama will naturally conduct airstrikes. Is my understanding correct that President Obama sought Prime Minister Abe's understanding towards attacks against Syria in the case that approval is obtained?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The current situation was explained. I would like to refrain from responding about specific details.

REPORTER: Is my understanding correct that the Government has given up on holding a Japan-U.S. summit meeting on the sidelines of the G20?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would not say given up. There are physical difficulties to realizing the meeting. The Prime Minister will be leaving for Buenos Aires on the evening of the 5th, and President Obama will be arriving on the afternoon of the 5th.

REPORTER: So it is in effect unlikely?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is extremely difficult physically to hold a meeting in which the two leaders will be seated. However, I believe in some form or another, the two leaders will have a moment to exchange their views.

REPORTER: I apologize for changing the subject, but I would like to ask a question regarding the 125th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Imperial Household Agency has announced that from the Imperial family, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado will be attending the IOC Session. However, during the announcement made by the Imperial Household Agency, Grand Steward Kazaoka of the Imperial Household Agency stated that Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress may be concerned in light of the Imperial family's response to date and that it was a difficult decision for the Imperial Household Agency to accept the requests for the attendance of Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado. Some people within the Government or some people have expressed concern that this falls under the political use of the Imperial family. Can you please explain the Government's opinion on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado has been appointed the Honorary Patron of the Japan Football Association (JFA). From today, Her Imperial Highness will be visiting Argentina to attend an event which will be held there to commemorate the friendship between the football associations of Japan and Argentina. On this occasion, Her Imperial Highness will converse with IOC members to express her appreciation for the IOC's support for the reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake through sports. The IOC Session is a suitable setting for Her Imperial Highness to deliver an address, in order to express Japan's appreciation and respect to the IOC to as many IOC members as possible. We are very grateful for this. It was for this purpose that the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made requests to the Imperial Household Agency. I believe criticisms that this is political use of the Imperial family or that this is pressure from the Prime Minister's Office are without merit.

REPORTER: What is your personal view regarding the fact that despite this, the Imperial Household Agency made a point of raising such concerns?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I find it very discomforting that the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency commented on the thoughts of Their Majesties based on presumption. I would like to refrain from commenting any further on this.

REPORTER: I'm sorry, I have one more question. I believe such issues as the political use of the Imperial family have been debated in the past not only under the Abe administration but under various administrations. What is the view of the Abe administration regarding the modality of the Imperial family or where to draw the line, that is, what constitutes or does not constitute political use of the Imperial family?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We believe that the matter at hand does not fall under political use.

REPORTER: So it is case-by-case. Is there any uniform opinion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe a judgment should be made according to the specific case.

REPORTER: Changing topics, going back to the earlier topic of the contaminated water issue, can you once again explain the objective of compiling the basic policy? Also, I believe there were some financial measures. Can you say what its approximate total amount will be?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The urgency of the contaminated water issue has been increasing day by day, and the Government feels that it needs to make all efforts to deal with this issue. What the Government did today was express its intention to come to the fore to resolve this issue without leaving it up to TEPCO. As this is an urgent issue which requires measures of a high level of technical difficulty, the Government has decided to take financial measures based on our view that the Government needs to come to the fore to deal with this. At these press conferences, I have stated that even by injecting reserve funds the Government needs to take emergency and drastic measures. In this context, the Government has decided to construct an impermeable wall to prevent the flow of groundwater by the frozen soil method. The Government believes that the development of a high-performance Advanced Liquid Processing System will require around 47 billion yen in operational costs. The Government will mobilize the funds. As this is an emergency, the Government's stance is that the system will be developed even if this entails the use of reserve funds. While this is presently under review, the Government is ready to act immediately, even if this requires the use of around 21 billion yen in reserve funds. For details, I ask that you direct your questions to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

REPORTER: Returning to the subject of the Imperial Household Agency, a fair number of Royal family members have interactions with the IOC. For example, the Crown Prince of Spain has active interactions with the IOC. Your view is that in Japan's case, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado's attendance of the IOC Session does not fall under the political use of the Imperial family. If so, is there any possibility that the Abe administration in the future will give consideration to making the Imperial family a little more open? That is my first question. My other question is, if that is the case, what is the administration's intention regarding the creation of some kind of clear criteria for determining which situations do not fall under political use rather than making it arbitrary?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I understand that the Crown Prince of Spain is currently in Argentina. During London's bid to host the Olympics, Queen Elizabeth played a large role. Japan has its own position. Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado has expended great efforts on sports as a whole, including serving as the Honorary Patron of the JFA as I mentioned a short while ago. I understand that Her Imperial Highness has earned deep trust in the world of global sports. In this context, as I stated a short while ago, the Olympics is described as a peace festival, and thus, our current opinion is that Her Imperial Highness's attendance does not at all fall under political use.

REPORTER: On this basis, have you given any consideration to the modality of the Imperial family? What is your outlook?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have not gone so far as to discuss the modality of the entire Imperial family. However, we determined that this does not fall under political use and made a request to the Imperial Household Agency.

REPORTER: Regarding the tornado damages in Saitama and Chiba, many people have been injured. Yesterday, the Government dispatched advance teams. Can you explain the Government's response going forward, including reports obtained from the advance teams?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Tornadoes formed yesterday and the Government has dispatched advance investigation teams. Yesterday evening, from 7 pm, a disaster response meeting among relevant ministries and agencies was held to share information regarding the status of the damages and confirm future responses. With regard to supports for those who were affected by the tornadoes, if it is determined that the requirements are met for the application of the Act on Support for Reconstructing Livelihoods of Disaster Victims based on the situation of the housing damages currently under investigation, the Government will respond as quickly as possible in close cooperation with relevant prefectures.