Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• The overview of the Cabinet meeting
• A meeting of the Security Council
• The announcement by the Ministry of National Defense of China on the establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone
• On damage caused by the typhoon disaster in the Philippines
• Decision by the Headquarters on Creating Dynamism through Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Industries and Local Communities

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to read out several statements.

Regarding the overview of the Cabinet meeting, the meeting approved 13 general and other measures, the promulgation of legislation, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, a meeting of the Security Council was held. First, there was discussion on the review of the National Defense Program Guidelines. The Government will, by making use of the Security Council Meeting, continue to work hard to review the Guidelines, while taking into account the discussions of the Council on National Security and Defense Capabilities.

Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of Defense (MOD) briefed the Council regarding the announcement by the Ministry of National Defense of China on the establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In partnership with the international community, the Government will strongly urge the Chinese side to exercise self-restraint.

Next, MOD and MOFA reported on damage caused by the typhoon disaster in the Philippines and Japan's response. For more information, please contact MOD and MOFA.

Following today's Cabinet meeting, the Headquarters on Creating Dynamism through Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Industries and Local Communities decided on the overall outline on the review on scheme for management and income stabilization measures, among other matters. The scheme includes measures that will allow farmers to produce crops based on their own business judgment. This will be done by abolishing the direct payment grants for rice, which strongly reflect protectionist policies aimed at maintaining the status quo, and by reviewing the production adjustment system. The scheme is designed to create an environment in which farmers with a business management mindset can succeed, and to accelerate the fundamental structural reform of agriculture.

The Government, in accordance with today's decision, will work to materialize relevant systems, including developing the measures into law. We will continue to undertake agricultural policy reforms from the viewpoint of making steady advancements in turning Japan's agriculture into a growth industry.

That is all from me.

Q&As

• The issue related to the announcement by China on the establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Moments ago, you spoke on the topic of ADIZ. Could you please once again explain the Government's policy? In addition, could you please tell us what exactly was discussed at the meeting, if there is anything you can tell us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Based on the nature of the matter, I would like to refrain from going into the details of the Security Council meeting.

However, the basic stance of Japan is clear. As was mentioned yesterday, I believe, the Chinese side's establishment of the East China Sea ADIZ attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea by use of force and could, escalate the situation. Therefore, Japan, in partnership with the international community, will continue to strongly urge the Chinese side to revoke its measures.

REPORTER: Regarding Japan's strong protest, China has not eased its hardline stance, even in response to Japan's demands that China revoke its measures. How will the Japanese Government work with relevant countries to deal with this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The U.S. was quick to release statements expressing its strong protest. Japan will, in partnership with the relevant countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK), work steadily to deal with this matter.

REPORTER: With regard to China's establishment of an ADIZ, I understand that Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have started submitting flight plans to the Chinese side. While this makes seem like the carriers are, in a sense, acknowledging China's establishment of the ADIZ, I can see that, naturally, as private companies, they are responding in this way out of concerns for the safety of their passengers. How does the Government intend to deal with this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware that private carriers are submitting flight plans to Chinese authorities based on their own judgment. On the 25th, yesterday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) conveyed to Japanese carriers the Government of Japan's policy that Chinese measures have no validity whatsoever on Japan and that the Government of Japan will apply conventional rules to aircraft.

REPORTER: When you say the measures have no validity whatsoever, is it your view that there is no need to submit such documents in principle?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes.

REPORTER: On the other hand, both carriers and the passengers aboard aircraft are flying above waters where tension is heightening. In this sense, conversely, I think that there is naturally a need for such actions. What is your opinion in this regard?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, we believe that Japanese carriers will make the best judgment for themselves, considering passengers' safety, while taking into account the Government of Japan's policies, various situations, and other issues comprehensively.

REPORTER: Yesterday, China stated that its measures do not violate international law and are in conformity with the United Nations Charter, and that China will not comply with the Japanese side's demands to revoke the measures. What is Japan's view?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is Japan that cannot comply with China's assertions.

As I have said during my press conference, the measures announced by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense include unilaterally obliging aircraft flying in international airspace to abide by its domestic procedures. As such, in terms of international law, the measures unduly infringe the freedom of flight in international airspace, which is a general principle of international law. Therefore, Japan cannot accept them and is demanding that China revoke such measures. In addition, the "zone" set by the Chinese side seemingly describes the airspace over the Senkaku islands, an inherent part of the territory of Japan, as if it were a part of China's territorial airspace. Japan utterly cannot accept such description. In this context, Japan will work with the U.S. and other relevant countries to deal with the matter.

REPORTER: A short while ago, the Minister for Foreign Affairs stated during his press conference that China's measures are problematic in light of international law. Can you say with certainty that the measures are in breach of international law?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The measures unduly infringe the freedom of flight in international airspace, which is the general principle of international law. Therefore, Japan cannot accept them and is demanding that China revoke such measures. That is the position of the Japanese Government.

REPORTER: Returning to the subject of the submission of flight plans by JAL and ANA, while this is left up to the judgment of private companies, did any prior negotiations, consultations, or dialogue take place between the private carriers and MLIT, or the Government, on whether or not flight plans should be submitted?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I understand there was no such interaction. On the 25th, MLIT communicated with the carriers about the facts, namely China's establishment of this zone.

REPORTER: Will the Government request JAL and ANA to refrain from submitting flight plans? Or will the Government not go to that extent?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: So, on the 24th, this matter came to light. Therefore, on the 25th, MLIT conveyed to the respective carriers the Government's policy that Chinese measures have no validity whatsoever on Japan and that the Government will apply conventional rules to aircraft flying in the airspace in question.

We believe that carriers will deal with the matter appropriately, taking into account the Government's policies.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: On the 23rd, JAL submitted flight plans in response to China's request. What do you think about this action?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is something that we, the Government, were not involved with. Therefore, as this came to light, bearing these factors in mind, the Government conveyed to the carriers the Government's policy that the Government will apply conventional rules to aircraft flying in the airspace in question.

REPORTER: After the Government requested carriers to deal with the matter appropriately in view of the Government's policies, have JAL and ANA stopped submitting flight plans to China?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are of the view that they will deal with it appropriately, taking into account the Government's policies.

REPORTER: As of this moment, have you confirmed whether carriers have stopped the submission of flight plans?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have not yet confirmed this. After all, we have just conveyed the Government's policies to the carriers yesterday.