Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• The overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The handling of the revision of the remuneration of public servants
• The Global Warming Prevention Headquarters

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 20 general and other measures, the promulgation of legislation, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, the Prime Minister and I each made statements concerning the handling of the revision of the remuneration of public servants. The Minister of Justice made a statement concerning the White Paper on Crime 2013. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning the emergency grant aid to the Philippines for typhoon disaster.

During today's meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Relating to Remuneration of National Public Servants and the subsequent Cabinet meeting, the handling of the revision of the remuneration of public servants was decided. The material on today's Cabinet decision has been distributed to you. The main points are as follows. The measures for the reduction of national public servants' remuneration, which has been taken as a temporary special measure to secure financial resources for the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, will be terminated at the end of March of next year pursuant to the provisions of the law. With regard to the remuneration of public servants, fundamental reforms of the remuneration system will be undertaken, including reviews to better reflect local wages into public servants' remuneration, and they will be implemented from FY2014. Therefore, a request will be made to the National Personnel Authority to swiftly compile specific measures. With regard to the quota, in the FY2014 budget, bold cuts will be made in areas where cuts should be made, and the Government will continue to aim to realize a significant net reduction. Furthermore, at the Cabinet National Personnel Bureau, which is to be newly organized, policies will be established, including the basic policy on total personnel expenses and a new plan for the streamlining of public servants. At the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister instructed Cabinet members to create an environment in which public servants can engage in their duties with a sense of mission and pride and to foster human resources who can actively take action for the nation and the people, while steadily carrying out administrative and fiscal reforms and the reform of the public servant system to keep total personnel expenses under control.

Today, the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters held a meeting. During the meeting, the Minister of the Environment reported on Japan's greenhouse gas reduction target in accordance with the Prime Minister's instructions in January. The understanding of the members of the Headquarters was obtained regarding the international registration of the target. In addition, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Minister of the Environment briefed the meeting members on the "Proactive Diplomatic Strategy for Countering Global Warming." The consent of the members was also obtained regarding the strategy. The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of the Environment to attend the 19th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 19) with these, and to proactively communicate Japan's stance to contribute to the international efforts to address global warming.

Q&As

• The issue related to global warming
• The detention of an assembly member of Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture
• The issue related to stock price
• The issue related to the new law for exclusive economic zones

(Abridged)

REPORTER: At the meeting of the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters, it was decided that Japan would aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8% compared with the 2005 level. Can you please explain the background leading to the decision on this target?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, Japan had pledged to reduce 25% of its greenhouse gas emissions compared with the levels in 1990, a target that was registered with the United Nations. However, in a sense, this target was not supported by facts at all. Therefore, the Japanese Government has withdrawn this target and set a target of 3.8% compared with the levels in 2005. However, the energy policy, including the utilization of nuclear power stations and the optimal energy mix, are currently under consideration. In light of this, we established the target as of the present time, which does not include the possible effects of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due to nuclear power generation.

REPORTER: You said that this was the target as of this moment in time. However, considering that the previous target was to reduce emissions by 25% of the 1990 level, it seems it is unavoidable that Japan will be seen as backtracking. Do you think that you will be able to obtain understanding for this number at COP 19?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, targets must be identified, and they must be translated into action. Therefore, the Government considered that the 25% reduction target is baseless and is an unfeasible target, and decided to review the target from scratch. Both the ruling parties and the Government have been saying this. And this was in fact identified in our campaign pledge. With regard to the latest target, as I just mentioned, it was announced while the country's energy policy, including the utilization of nuclear power stations and the energy mix, are still under consideration. Given these circumstances, we presented the current target. We will be reviewing and establishing a definitive target, bearing in mind the progress of the considerations regarding the energy policy and energy mix.    

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It has become evident that an assembly member from Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture is being detained by authorities in Guangzhou, China on suspicion of possessing stimulant drugs. Is the Prime Minister's Office aware of information regarding this? If so, can you explain if the Office intends to take any measures in response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister's Office is not aware of this information.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding stock prices, the Nikkei Stock Average has recovered to the 15,000 mark for the first time in around four months I believe. Can you please share with us any thoughts you may have on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government would like to refrain from making comments regarding stock prices. However, speaking in general terms, I would think that higher stock prices are better than lower stock prices.

REPORTER: According to some media reports, the Government will launch a ministerial meeting to establish a new law for managing exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the first meeting will be held as early as the middle of next month for that purpose. Is there anything you can tell us, such as the current status of the arrangements?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In April of this year, the Cabinet approved the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy, which serves as the guidelines on ocean policy for the next five years. The policy stipulates that in order to promote the development of EEZs and other sea areas, a comprehensive legal system pertaining to the management of sea areas shall be established at the Headquarters for Ocean Policy. Accordingly, Minister in charge of Ocean Policy Yamamoto is now working on the bill with the goal of submitting it to the next ordinary session of the Diet.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: What about the timing of the meeting? What timing do you have in mind for the first meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Regarding the details, please contact the secretariat of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy. It was in accordance with the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy which was approved by the Cabinet in April of this year, the Councilors' Meeting of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy was held in July of this year. Under the Councilors' Meeting, the project team on the management of EEZs and other sea areas was established, and reviews have been conducted. Based on these reviews, Minister Yamamoto is leading the efforts towards obtaining the Cabinet decision for the bill.

REPORTER: Moments ago you commented on the stock prices. The dollar-to-yen exchange rate has also recovered to the 100 yen-level for the first time in two months and I believe this has both advantages and disadvantages. What is your view regarding this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Speaking in my capacity as Chief Cabinet Secretary can give a variety of impacts, and therefore, I would like to once again refrain from commenting on the exchange rate.

REPORTER: If you could please just offer a few words?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, while closely monitoring the impact on the market of a number of variables such as stock prices and the exchange rate, the Government will steadily promote the three arrows of Abenomics.