Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issue related to the courtesy call from U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy
• The issue related to the Air Defense Identification Zone
• The issue related to Nikkei Stock Average

REPORTER: I believe that earlier this afternoon you received a courtesy call from U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy. I understand you requested that Japan and the U.S. cooperate closely in relation to the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) issue. Could you tell us how the Ambassador responded to this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This afternoon I received a courtesy call from Ambassador of the United States of America to Japan, Ms. Caroline Kennedy.

Firstly, I expressed to her my delight that she has assumed this role and also expressed my gratitude for the Ambassador's visit to the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake so soon after her arrival in Japan. This provided tremendous encouragement to the people of those affected areas.

We exchanged views on a number of matters. I have expressed my strong concern regarding the dangers of China's current establishment of an ADIZ and expressed my great appreciation for the comments made yesterday by the Ambassador herself, during a speech at a meeting she attended. She stated that the U.S. shares the same concerns as Japan in relation to the ADIZ issue and therefore the U.S. too will cooperate closely with Japan in addressing the issue.

In response, Ambassador Kennedy stated that she would like Japan and the U.S. to work in even closer cooperation to thoroughly address this issue.

REPORTER: Did the Ambassador suggest any specific forms of cooperation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Ambassador stated that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will be visiting Japan next week and we expect to have discussions for facilitating thorough coordination on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and on other major issues.

REPORTER: Did you exchange views on the relocation of Futenma Air Station during today's meeting with the Ambassador?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We did discuss the issue and exchange views.

REPORTER: To the extent that you are able to, could you inform us of what was discussed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I stated that, on the Japanese side, the Diet members of the Liberal Democratic Party and members of the Liberal Democratic Party of Okinawa have changed their policy to support the relocation of Futenma Air Station within Okinawa Prefecture to Henoko, rather than their view to date of relocation to somewhere outside of Okinawa. The Ambassador strongly welcomed this move.

REPORTER: Returning to the topic of the ADIZ, I believe that Self-Defense Force (SDF) and Japan Coast Guard aircraft flew through the ADIZ without providing notification to the Chinese side. Could you tell us when the flights took place and how long they were? I understand that the Chinese side made no particular response to this, such as scrambling intercept aircraft. How does the Government analyze this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Ministry of Defense and the SDF flexibly deploys P-3C Orion aircraft and escort ships as necessary in and above the seas surrounding Japan, including the East China Sea, in order to appropriately conduct patrol activities, as has been the case to date.

Japan's patrols and surveillance activities in the East China Sea area, including in the area that China has declared an ADIZ, have in fact continued as usual even after China announced its establishment.

As we have always stated, Japan has no intention at all to alter or limit our patrols and surveillance in consideration of China.

In any case, we will continue to do everything we can to conduct effective patrol and surveillance activities with strong determination to defend resolutely  the territorial land, waters and airspace of Japan against China's attempt to alter the status quo by coercive measures. This is my view on the matter.

REPORTER: How do you analyze China's response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I understand that no particularly unusual action was observed.

REPORTER: In relation to the ADIZ, besides Japan, a meeting involving defense leaders from China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was held today after it was revealed that the ROK's ADIZ falls within the ADIZ that China has declared. The Chinese side reportedly expressed its intent to reject the ROK's request that China make changes to its ADIZ. Do you have any thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is an issue between China and the ROK and I am not privy to the details. Each country has its own views, and I think that it is only natural that any country, be it the U.S. or the ROK, would issue such a protest if another country changed its ADIZ in such a unilateral manner, without any prior consultation.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Today the Nikkei Stock Average reached its highest closing value for the year. Could you tell us how you analyze the current situation and share with us any other thoughts you may have?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, I was informed that this was a six-year high, the highest close since December 2007.

I always say that higher stock prices are better than lower stock prices. So basically I welcome these increases.

And, as I said previously, these high stock prices will have a positive influence on the economy including public pension fund profits and individual corporations, and for these reasons I would like to welcome stock price increases.

The Government will steadily advance the three prongs of Abenomics and diligently pursue bringing an end to deflation while seeking to revitalize finances and the economy. By doing so, we would like to contribute to the global economy.