Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The daily newspaper column reporting on the Prime Minister's activities of the day
• The media report on the U.S. NSA's request to Japan
• The issues related to NSC
• The accident at Tiananmen Square

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the Special intelligence protection legislative system. Ms.Yuriko Koike of the Liberal Democratic Party asked some questions during a meeting of the House of Representatives' Special Committee on National Security and stated that Shusho Dosei (Prime minister's activities), a daily newspaper column reporting on the Prime Minister's activities of the day, goes beyond the public's right to access information. Do you share the same view? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I understand that journalists make a lot of effort to write the column, which reports the Prime Minister's activities the following day. Therefore, the Prime Minister's activities are reported in the column and all become public and I recognize that while some of the reports may be considered critical information, I do not believe in the nature of things that they constitute special intelligence as defined by the special intelligence protection bill.

REPORTER: It has been reported that in 2011, the US intelligence agency, the National Security Agency, asked Japan to tap fiber-optic cables to monitor emails and other forms of communication. Could you please confirm the facts of this report?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of this media report. The Government regularly exchanges information with other nations, however I must refrain from revealing with what kind of organizations we do so and what information is exchanged as doing so may hinder future intelligence gathering and activity. Naturally, I believe that intelligence gathering must be conducted in compliance with the law.

REPORTER: The article states that the Japanese Government refused to carry out the U.S. request, but can you confirm this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not have any knowledge of the facts.

REPORTER: Do you believe that Japan could possibly have been the target of this monitoring program?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I also do not have any knowledge of that. We have not been asked to conduct such tasks, nor have we ever discussed such things.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the National Security Council (NSC) bill. I understand that Diet deliberations on the bill, will be implemented from various aspects but am I right to understand that one of the largest advantages of the bill is that what was reported to the Prime Minister by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense independently would come as one combined report?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Deliberations on the bill took place today, and I believe that it is extremely important that in the four ministers' meetings held twice a month views are exchanged on diplomatic and security issues and a common understanding of the challenges facing Japan in this area are shared. At the same time, I think it is important that in the current vertically segmented Government, the prospective National Security Agency will play an important role in consolidating information and views for the entire nation. Therefore, I believe that the bill will allow information from all ministries and agencies to be consolidated in daily scheme under the Prime Minister. This will also allow the Government to be ready to act at all times, which is something that Japan should naturally have had. However, I believe that one of the bill's most important functions is the consolidation of that which is presently vertically segmented.

REPORTER: I have a question on the related topic. I believe that consolidating these reports will speed up the Prime Minister's decision-making process. However, the U.S., for instance, developed policies based on the false information that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. I believe that President Bush has reflected on this, but I am afraid that it is possible that the consolidation of information will result in the Prime Minister only receiving arbitrary or convenient information, as shown by past events. How do you intend to ensure that this will not occur?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We will assign people to positions specifically for the purpose of analyzing information to ensure its validity through, for instance, discussions.

REPORTER: Can you then say with certainty that the information will not be arbitrary?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not believe that it will be arbitrary.

REPORTER: Is it because there will be a team of analysts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Of course, there will be objective analysis.

REPORTER: One of our concerns is that once a piece of information is designated as special intelligence, even the media is unable to access the information. I believe that this means important decisions may be made without the public having any prior knowledge. What is your response to that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We will further discuss that clearly during Diet deliberations on the special intelligence protection bill and I believe that we will be able to demonstrate during the Diet session that the public should have no concerns.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the NSC. During today's committee meeting, when you spoke with regard to the head of the prospective National Security Agency you stated that the appointee must have strong expertise and practical operational experience in national security issues. You also said that the appointee might be recruited from the private sector. On which of these do you place greater emphasis?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: They are equally important. Regardless, the Prime Minister of the time will be responsible for the appointment. My comments have no special intention, they are basic criteria and system.

REPORTER: I understand that today there was an accident at Tiananmen Square in China. I believe that some tourists have been affected by the accident. Do you have any information regarding the safety of Japanese nationals?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of this media report. We do not presently have any details on the incident but we are gathering information. As of now, we have no information concerning the safety of Japanese nationals. Therefore, we have not issued any alert for Japanese travelers or Japanese nationals residing in China.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I am afraid that I am returning to the topic of the NSC, but what do you believe is most important for ensuring that, the new organization and the body, including the NSC, will function effectively?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: When I was involved in responding to the hostage situation in Algeria, I learned that it is extremely important to receive information regularly from respective ministries and agencies, particularly concerning diplomatic and national security affairs. Therefore, in this sense I believe that the prospective National Security Agency will play the important role of eliminating the vertical structures within the Government, allowing the Government to regularly gather and analyze information on the various situations of the world and make more informed decisions for the respective regions.

REPORTER: I understand that the prospective National Security Agency is expected to play such a role, but what do you regard are the requirements for the process to work effectively? For instance, do you consider that you must ensure that information is reported by each ministry and agency without failure?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: When the bill is enacted, it will certainly cover the appointment of leadership positions and the requirement to provide information. Therefore, I believe that it will help eliminate vertical structures within the Government in a way that nothing else has thus far been able to do. I believe that the structure will allow the Government to share information.