Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary(AM)(Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet Meeting. The meeting approved 14 general and other measures, as well as the promulgation of a treaty, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, I made a statement concerning the National Security Strategy (NSS), the National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG) for FY2014 and beyond, and the Mid-Term Defense Program; the Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning the NSS; and the Minister of Defense made a statement about the NDPG for FY2014 and beyond.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the revision at the conclusion of mid-term objectives relating to independent administrative agencies and Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning visits to regional areas of Japan by ASEAN leaders.

My next announcement concerns the Inter-Ministerial Council for Nuclear Power. Today the first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Council for Nuclear Power was held. At the meeting Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi provided an explanation about the status of considerations relating to the Basic Energy Plan and received a broad range of opinions from ministers and others concerned. Minister Motegi was instructed to coordinate towards the formulation of the Basic Energy Plan taking into account the discussions in the meeting. It was also confirmed that the Government will work thoroughly to advance considerations on this issue.

Next, I would like to report on the Inter-Ministerial Council for the Final Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste. The first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Council for the Final Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste was held today. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi provided an explanation about the new process towards the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste and received opinions from the various ministers and others concerned. The ministers confirmed that the issue of the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste would not be delayed. The Government will make concerted efforts to address this issue standing at the fore. For details about these two meetings, please contact Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) was held. In the meeting today the NSS, the NDPG for FY2014 and beyond and the Mid-Term Defense Program (FY2014-2018) were deliberated and approved. Following the meeting a Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary has been issued, which has been distributed to you. In the midst of a security environment surrounding Japan that is increasing in severity, the Government will thoroughly promote policies relating to national security, under the policies set out in the NSS and other guidelines.

Also prior to the Cabinet meeting, the first meeting of the National Resilience Promotion Headquarter was held, which was established based on the Basic Act for National Resilience. In his opening address the Prime Minister gave instructions for the Cabinet to work together to achieve the prompt formulation of a basic plan that would crystallize measures aimed at achieving national resilience. Based on this, the meeting approved the guidelines for vulnerability assessments, which will help to clarify the challenges and other matters relating to national resilience. The meeting also approved the “National Resilience Policy Outline,” which will serve as the basis for a basic plan. Following the decisions made in today’s meeting, the Government will implement vulnerability assessments for large-scale natural disasters and other contingencies by the end of the fiscal year and  formulate a basic plan for national resilience by around May next year. Based on this plan the Government will make concerted efforts to engage in full-fledged measures towards making Japan a resilient nation across the entire country. For further details, please direct your enquiries to the National Resilience Promotion Office, the Cabinet Secretariat.

The next item is about the Okinawa Policy Council. Today, following the Cabinet meeting, a meeting of the Okinawa Policy Council was held, with the Prime Minister in attendance. In today’s meeting the Government provided explanations about FY2014 tax system reforms, the promotion of the use of former U.S. military base, and measures towards reducing the burden of U.S. bases. In response, Governor Nakaima of Okinawa Prefecture made requests concerning the reduction of the burden of bases, and the FY2014 budget for the promotion and development of Okinawa. At the end of the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that he would consider the requests earnestly, and that the Government would continue to cooperate closely with Okinawa Prefecture and make efforts to realize the requests to the maximum extent.

Q&As
・The issues related to nuclear energy
・The issue related to final disposal of high-level radioactive waste
REPORTER: With regard to the Inter-Ministerial Council on Nuclear Power, are we to understand that the ministers provided positive opinions on the draft that had been compiled by the deliberative body of METI?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Since March this year, the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy of METI has met and discussed 17 occasions. It is composed of experts from a broad range of sectors. Regarding the direction set out by the advisory committee there are strong public interests on this issue in particular, following the nuclear power station accident. The relevant ministers will work together with a common goal in mind, while exploring all possible energy sources.

REPORTER: On a related note, the draft makes clear that nuclear energy is an important energy source. What opinions were expressed by ministers in the meeting concerning this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At the meeting today there was no discussion on this point. However, as has already been announced, I believe the direction is based on the Government’s policy that intends to seek out all possible directions with regard to renewable energies as well, thereby ultimately reducing dependence on nuclear energy to the greatest degree possible.

(Abridged).

REPORTER: With regard to the Inter-Ministerial Council for the Final Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste, you have mentioned that Minister Motegi explained about the new process, but what specifically did he mention with regard to the new process?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Until now it has been the case that a direction has been followed whereby local governments have offered to provide sites for final disposal of waste themselves. However, ultimately, the Government believes that this is an issue in which it should stand at the fore and conduct focused activities for the selection of candidate sites, after having first taken into consideration such factors as geological formation, and whether sites are considered promising from a scientific perspective. It is along these lines that the process has been changed, and in that sense I believe that it truly is a new process.

REPORTER: On a related note, in that case, will it be this ministerial meeting that will decide on the sites for final disposal?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The basic position that was explained today is that under the responsibility of the Government, sites will be selected that are thought to be appropriate from a scientific perspective. The Government will then stand at the fore and conduct focused activities to seek the understanding of the communities close to the sites and make requests. For that reason, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications also attended the meeting today as a member.

(Abridged)