Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The special intelligence protection bill
• The abduction of Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan
• The upcoming Annual Autumn Festival of Yasukuni Shrine

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the special intelligence protection bill. Yesterday, the draft was approved by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and soon it will also be approved by the New Komeito Party. Can you once again explain the need for this law?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The National Security Council (NSC) bill, the deliberations of which will be carried over from the previous session of the Diet, is expected to be passed during the next session of the Diet. This very law is designed to fully protect the security of the nation, and the lives and the property of the people. In this context, naturally, exchanges which deal with such intelligence will take place with other countries. However, even in terms of acquiring such intelligence from other countries, we will not be able to obtain intelligence unless we indeed have this kind of robust law in place. In a sense, I believe this is natural. Therefore, we will work hard to pass the special intelligence protection bill at the same time as the NSC bill during the next session of the Diet.

REPORTER: I have a related question. As has been noted before, Chief Representative Yamaguchi of the New Komeito Party, during his press conference today, expressed concerns once again about the right to access information and other matters. In addition, he stated that the party would like to propose revisions and additional proposal to the Government. If the party does so, how will the Government be dealing with this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Regarding freedom of the press or the right to access information, freedom of the press is stipulated, and the basic view of the Government is that we are constructive about considering also the inclusion of the right to access information.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It has been reported that Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was abducted by an armed group. Are there any facts which you are aware of at this moment in time? Also, depending on the situation, will the Government of Japan be responding in any way?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are now confirming the facts through our embassy in Libya and are thus collecting information. As there is conflicting information on the matter, we do not yet have a firm grasp of the actual situation.

REPORTER: The Shuki Reitaisai (Annual Autumn Festival) of Yasukuni Shrine will be held from the 17th to the 20th. While on the one hand, the Prime Minister has said at the Diet that it was extremely regrettable he was unable to pay a visit to Yasukuni Shrine during the time of his first Cabinet, the Prime Minister skipped visiting the shrine during this year's Shunki Reitaisai (Annual Spring Festival) and only made an offering of a "masakaki" (a votive stick). In addition, on the day of the anniversary of the end of the war in August, the Prime Minister made an offering of a "tamagushi-ryo" (ritual fees) without visiting the shrine. What is your view regarding what the Prime Minister will do for the Annual Autumn Festival?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that the Prime Minister himself will make an appropriate decision as to whether he will or will not visit Yasukuni Shrine. Therefore, I would like to refrain from making any comments.