Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The car crash and fire in Tiananmen Square in China

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the incident at Tiananmen Square in Beijing where a vehicle drove on to the footpath, burst into flames and killed a number of people. I understand that a Japanese man sustained injuries. What information has the Chinese Government provided to the Japanese Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: According to reports from the Japanese Embassy in China, a Japanese man residing in Shanghai was injured and taken to the hospital but his condition is not life threatening. The Embassy has sent its staff to the hospital to visit the Japanese citizen, and is currently providing as much support as necessary to ensure the welfare of the individual. Given that a Japanese national was affected by the incident, the Japanese Government will contact the Chinese Government through diplomatic routes to obtain further details.

REPORTER: I believe that the Beijing public security authorities are currently investigating the incident with the suspicion that it was an act of terrorism. If the incident was indeed an act of terrorism, it means that a Japanese national was caught in a terrorist attack. Could you share with us the Government's current thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do have knowledge of such information, however we do not yet know the specifics of the background of the incident. Therefore, we will communicate with the Chinese Government via diplomatic routes to obtain further information.

(Abridged)