Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issue related to NSC
• The verdict of the District Court in Korea regarding forced to work at the munitions factory in Japan during the World War II
• The car crash and fire in Tiananmen Square
• The issue related to the right to collective self-defense
• The issue related to the online sale of pharmaceutical products
• The issue related to the letter that House of Councillors member Taro Yamamoto handed to His Majesty the Emperor

REPORTER: Please allow me to ask a question concerning this morning's Special Committee meeting for clarification. The committee members today expressed their intention to explore means by which to disclose information, including the keeping of minutes of National Security Council (NSC). Could you please elaborate on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: What I said this morning during the Committee meeting is that to date, no minutes have been taken at the Security Council and this has been the case since even before the Democratic Party of Japan gained power. I said this during the interpellation session earlier today. Overviews of discussions have, as you all know, been disclosed during the press conferences afterward given by the Chief Cabinet Secretary of the time. On the other hand, I stated this morning in relation to the new National Security Council and the four ministers' meetings to be established following the enactment of the bill, that we will discuss matters related to the disclosure of information and the creation and handling of documents while ensuring that any new processes do not compromise national security.

REPORTER: Please allow me to ask another question on this topic. Am I then right to understand that the committee will discuss information disclosure, including the creation of minutes, at length?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, that is correct.

REPORTER: If the NSC bill is passed, I understand that the NSC will be launched in January. Am I correct to assume that it is possible that the minutes from the four ministers' meeting will be disclosed from the outset?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: What I just said is that sensitive topics are included among the items discussed by the NSC and at the four ministers' meeting. In light of this, we will thoroughly explore matters related to the disclosure of information and the creation and handling of documents, while fully accounting for the nature of the NSC and ensuring that any new processes do not compromise national security. Therefore, our current stance is that we will explore our options.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: My question also concerns the agenda of the NSC Special Committee. When you were asked a question concerning the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) this morning, you said that the NSC may discuss issues related to the TPP. I believe that you also said that specifics would be determined on a case by case basis, and you were therefore unable to give us a definitive answer. This is not very clear to me, so could you tell us exactly what kind of hypothetical situation you have in mind that would lead to the NSC discussing issues concerning the TPP in the context of national security?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We will determine whether a certain topic will be discussed by the NSC by looking at the details and situation relating to the topic at the time and assessing its relevance in the context of national security. Therefore, I think it is difficult at this moment to provide a definitive response as to what the NSC will discuss and how these discussions will be held.

REPORTER: Is it possible then, that although it is not certain that the topic will be discussed, the TPP might become an agenda item?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: If it becomes relevant to national security, I think it is possible that it may become an agenda item.

REPORTER: I believe that it was said recently that the TPP is not subject to special intelligence protection, but am I right to understand that if it becomes relevant to national security, it will be subject to NSC?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I think that it should be looked at separately.

REPORTER: Would there not be the possibility of an overlap?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, whether a certain topic is discussed or not will be determined by assessing its relevance to national security and therefore it will be dependent on the specific topic. So I cannot provide you with a definitive answer at this time. However, this means that there is a possibility that the TPP will be on the agenda.

REPORTER: A group of Korean women who are former members of the women's volunteer labor corp and who claim that they were forced to work at the munitions factory of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagoya during the war, have filed a lawsuit for compensation. The court gave a ruling today and the Gwangju District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff. There have been more and more instances of this kind of ruling, such as the court case involving the requisition of Korean civilians, for example. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The verdict is currently being looked at, so I must refrain from making any comments as a representative of the Government. However, while communicating with the Japanese companies, we will address this issue appropriately based on the Government's consistent stance that the issue of compensation claims between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) has indeed been resolved.

REPORTER: At one point Japan and the ROK reached an agreement that the issue has been fully resolved with the signing of the Agreement between Japan and the ROK concerning the Settlement of Problems in regard to Property and Claims and Economic Cooperation. The courts, however, have been making rulings that contradict this. I understand that the Government has been insisting its stance to the ROK Government, which you have repeated on numerous occasions during these press conferences, but what are your thoughts on the current situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that, naturally, the recent case with regard to compensation claims is one that has already been resolved through the agreement made between the two countries. Therefore, the Japanese Government has been addressing this issue to the ROK Government based on this consistent stance.

REPORTER: Do you think that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries should appeal to a higher court?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Our stance is consistent, and in our view the issue has already been resolved. Therefore, we will address the issue through cooperation.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the incident at Tiananmen Square. Chinese authorities have determined that it was a terrorist attack. They believe the attack was carried out by Uyghurs and are showing signs that they will clamp down on the Uyghurs using this incident as justification. Could you share with us your thoughts on this attitude shown by the Chinese Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, we are aware that such an incident took place, and we will keep a close eye on the progress of the investigation while continuing to obtain further information. Japan promotes the universal values of respecting human rights and the rule of law and we will keep a close eye on the human rights situation in China from this perspective.

REPORTER: I believe that you recently said that because a Japanese national was among those affected by the incident, Japan was seeking further information. Has the Chinese Government provided any information since then?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We continue to request further information via diplomatic routes.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the right to collective self-defense. The current Abe administration has been advancing its security policies based on the principle of making a proactive contribution to peace. The Government has demonstrated a stance of providing detailed explanations to the international community on items such as Japan's discussions on exercising the right to collective self-defense in an effort to gain support. Could you tell us if the Government thinks that it has been able to gain the support it anticipated?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Abe administration has been communicating to the international community the Prime Minister's determination to make a proactive contribution to peace through national security initiatives, including the right to collective self-defense, at occasions such as the recent Prime Minister's address to the General Assembly of the United Nations. We have been providing thorough explanations to countries concerned at occasions such as summit meetings and foreign ministers' meetings. As a result, for instance, ASEAN member nations such as Vietnam and the Philippines, and Western nations such as the U.S., UK, Australia and Canada have expressed that they welcome and support Japan's initiatives. We will continue to provide thorough explanations of Japan's policies to all countries concerned, including our neighbors.

REPORTER: Please allow me to ask another question on this topic. It has been reported that China and the ROK still retain a strong sense of caution in relation to the right to collective self-defense. Has the Japanese Government communicated with the Chinese and ROK Governments in relation to this? How does the Government intend to gain their understanding?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are aware that China and the ROK have an interest in this. Therefore, we will continue to provide thorough explanations. This proactive contribution to peace which the Prime Minister aims indeed means   that Japan is going to make greater contributions to the peace and security of the world based on a principle of international cooperation. Therefore, this is not something to be criticized, and we will explain this to each country so as to gain their understanding.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question with regard to the online sale of pharmaceutical products. I understand that during yesterday's Regulatory Reform Council meeting, some council members expressed their opinion again that the differences between online and over the counter sales should be eliminated. How much weight will this opinion be given as the Government makes its final decision?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Japan Revitalization Strategy states that a conclusion is to be reached sometime in autumn and that necessary regulatory measures will be taken. We will be addressing the issue appropriately as per the strategy. I understand that, under the leadership of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, the opinions of all ministers concerned will be coordinated regarding how we will proceed.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: In relation to the letter that House of Councillors member Taro Yamamoto handed to His Majesty the Emperor, I would like to ask a question from a different perspective. According to the Imperial Household Agency, an act of this kind in public is extremely unusual. If you look at it from another perspective, the Imperial Household Agency possibly did not anticipate an incident such as this and I believe that the recent incident highlights the difficulties regarding security for His Majesty the Emperor. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have been informed that given that the recent incident only involved a House of Councillors member who was invited to the party, and that did not result in any direct harm to His Majesty the Emperor, police authorities did not take any special action. I do not think that there was any particular security issue. Regardless, I anticipate that the police will continue to do their best in ensuring the safety of His Majesty the Emperor, while closely cooperating with the Imperial Household Agency.

(Abridged)