Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issues related to Nago City mayoral election
• The issues related to the National Security Council
• The issues related to the Basic Energy Plan

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the Nago City mayoral election. I understand that during a local rally for the Nago City mayoral election, Secretary-General Ishiba announced his intention to establish a 50 billion yen Nago City development fund for making Mr. Suematsu's vision a reality. Am I right to understand that an additional category will be added to the budget for the promotion and development of Okinawa?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware that mayoral candidate Bunshin Suematsu has included such proposals in his campaign pledge. Nago City is a major urban center in northern Okinawa Prefecture and the Government also considers the promotion and development of Okinawa to be extremely important. The Government has secured five billion yen that it has promised to provide over eight years through to 2021 for the promotion and development of northern Okinawa. Furthermore, each year approximately 10 billion yen in lump-sum government subsidies for Okinawa Prefecture are distributed to municipalities in the northern part of the Prefecture. In light of this, the Government is not in a position to discuss the establishment of a new fund. However, I believe that it is very feasible for Okinawa Prefecture and the other parties concerned to make arrangements within the existing framework to secure the necessary funds.

REPORTER: Will the Government finance this fund with the budget for the promotion and development of northern Okinawa?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I just said, each year 10 billion yen is allocated to the promotion and development of northern Okinawa. The Government has already decided to continue allocating these funds through to, I believe, 2021. Therefore, I think it is feasible that the parties concerned make arrangements for using those funds. This is what I think.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Am I then right to understand that this new measure will only be implemented if Mr. Suematsu wins the election?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not talking about anything new. As we know, the budget for the promotion and development of Okinawa has already been determined. It has already been decided that lump-sum government subsidies will be distributed to Okinawa through to 2021. Under this scheme, approximately 10 billion yen is allocated for the promotion and development of northern Okinawa each year. Furthermore, there is also an additional five billion yen per annum allocated for the promotion and development of northern Okinawa. Therefore, I believe it is feasible for Okinawa Prefecture and the other parties concerned to make the appropriate arrangements and establish such a fund. The Government is not in a position to make comments, but I can say that these budget allocations have already been arranged.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I believe that a four ministers' meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) was held this afternoon. Could you share with us what was discussed at the meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We discussed the situation in South Asia, including India, as well as the situation in East Asia.

REPORTER: I understand that the four ministers' meeting of the NSC is scheduled to be held, in principle, every two weeks. Am I right to understand that today's meeting was, in that sense, a regular meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, that is correct.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: In relation to the Basic Energy Plan, I believe that at one point the Government was hoping to finalize the policy by the end of January. Am I right to understand that the Government is now aiming to finalize the policy sometime in February or thereafter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In short, regarding the Basic Energy Plan, during a liaison meeting of the Government and ruling parties held this year, the Chairperson of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party, Ms. Takaichi, asked that the Government proceed carefully and thoroughly while consulting the ruling parties. In response, I stated that the Government would naturally proceed with the process while duly consulting the ruling parties. Therefore, I would like to proceed as I promised.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on a related topic. It seems that the issue of nuclear policy is also becoming one of the major points of debate for next month's Tokyo gubernatorial election. Is there any possibility that this will influence or otherwise affect the formulation of the Basic Energy Plan or other such matters?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Tokyo gubernatorial election will have no influence at all on the Basic Energy Plan. We will simply proceed with the process as planned.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the development fund that Secretary-General Ishiba discussed. Earlier you said that the arrangement should be made at the discretion of Okinawa Prefecture. Is there a possibility that the Prefecture may decide to allocate the entire 50 billion yen to Nago City?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Whatever the case, at this point approximately 10 billion yen is already allocated each year to northern Okinawa, which will continue throughout the next eight years. There is now also an additional five billion yen allocated for the promotion and development of northern Okinawa in the form of government subsidies. Each year the Government has in fact been spending approximately 10 billion yen of the government subsidies for Okinawa on measures in the northern parts of the Prefecture. Additionally, the Government has promised that we will allocate another five billion yen annually for programs for the promotion and development of Northern Okinawa over the next eight years. Therefore, I think that it would make most sense if the parties concerned were to make arrangements for using the funds that have already been allocated.

REPORTER: I understand that in his remarks Mr. Ishiba said that the purpose of the fund was to make Mr. Suematsu's vision a reality. However, I believe that promising the provision of money or goods, or promising to provide financial benefits for the purpose of helping a particular candidate win an election is in violation of the Public Offices Election Law. What are your thoughts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not believe that is the case at all because the general outline of the budget allocation has already been determined and subsidies are something that are administered by Okinawa Prefecture. So far, 10 billion yen is allocated to northern Okinawa each year, in addition to an ongoing five billion yen in promotion and development funding for the area. Therefore, I personally believe it is very feasible for the Prefecture and other parties concerned to make the necessary arrangements.