Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issues related to Prime Minister Abe's comments made in Davos

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to once again ask about Prime Minister Abe's comments made in Davos. Prime Minister Abe stated that current Japan-China relations were similar to those of the UK and Germany prior to World War I. In relation to this, have you since gained anything new about the facts and the intent of his comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Since I was asked this question this morning, I obtained more details about the comments. When asked about Japan-China relations, the Prime Minister said, "The Senkaku Islands became a territory of Japan in 1895. Japan and China are each other's largest trading partners and the Japanese companies in China have generated employment in China. The relations between Japan and China is inseparable. Therefore, we must not close our doors to each other over an individual issue. We must return to the basic position of a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests. Japan and China should hold summit meetings without any conditions attached and it is my belief that continuously holding summit meetings will provide us with the wisdom to further develop bilateral relations." After saying this, a journalist asked an additional question, asking the Prime Minister if it were possible that current Japan-China relations may escalate into military conflict. The Prime Minister then said, "Incidentally, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. I would like to add as historical context that despite the important economic relations shared by the UK and Germany at that time, World War I broke out. If what you asked about were to occur, it would not only be a great loss for Japan and China, but it would also be a great loss for the rest of the world. We must ensure that this never occurs. In light of the growing economic relations of Japan and China, occurring alongside China's economic development, we must maintain close communication with each other whenever issues arise between Japan and China." The Prime Minister said this to point out that we must not allow events like those in World War I to take place again. As such, I have absolutely no idea how his comments were misconstrued in such a way. As the Prime Minister always says, we must maintain close communication with each other whenever issues arise between Japan and China. I believe this was what he was trying to convey.

REPORTER: Am I then right to understand that the Prime Minister did not actually liken the Japan-China relationship to that of the UK and Germany prior to World War I?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is correct. I believe what the Prime Minister clearly said is that it will soon be the 100th year since the start of World War I and despite the important economic relations shared by the UK and Germany, World War I broke out. We should never allow something like this to occur. The Prime Minister also said that this would be a great loss for Japan and China, and for the rest of the world. Therefore the Prime Minister said that whenever issues arise between Japan and China, we must maintain close communication with each other.

REPORTER: A number of foreign media outlets such as the BBC and Reuters were critical and skeptical of the Prime Minister's use of this example. Could you share your thoughts on this as well?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Well, he was merely citing an actual historical event and stating that we must not let something like that happen again. As I just stated, the Prime Minister clearly said that "If what you asked about were to occur, it would not only be a great loss for Japan and China, but it would also be a great loss for the rest of the world. We must ensure that this never occurs. The Prime Minister then said, "In light of the growing economic relations of Japan and China, occurring alongside China's economic development, we must maintain close communication with each other whenever issues arise between Japan and China." I do not believe that he said anything inappropriate.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on a related topic. Did the Prime Minister bring up the example of the UK and Germany because he was speaking to the BBC and other foreign press members?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Well, I am not sure if that was the case but as you know, it will soon be the 100th year anniversary of the start of World War I and our two countries are the second and third largest economies in the world. The Prime Minister's comments were intended to mean that two such countries must never wage any wars. I do not believe that there is anything wrong with what I just explained.

REPORTER: Will not you then specifically ask the media outlets that misreported the comments to make a correction?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Well, everything that the Prime Minister said is a historical fact. I do not believe that there was anything wrong with the Prime Minister's comments.

REPORTER: What I mean is, internationally, the Abe Government is viewed as a hawkish administration. As such, on this occasion, overseas media outlets have misreported the facts. Does not the Government intend to request a correction?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Rather than asking for a correction, I would like them to correctly report the facts.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the topic discussed earlier. I understand that the Prime Minister refuted the possibility, and he was instead making the point that something like that should never happen. However, the Prime Minister gave the impression that he was saying such a scenario was possible. In that sense, do you not think that the comments were slightly ill-considered?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not believe the comments were ill-considered at all. We know that these are historical facts. Therefore, the Prime Minister clearly said, "If what you asked about were to occur, it would not only be a great loss for Japan and China, but it would also be a great loss for the rest of the world. We must ensure that this never occurs. In light of the growing economic relations of Japan and China, occurring alongside China's economic development, we must maintain close communication with each other whenever issues arise between Japan and China." Therefore, I believe that the comments were not at all ill-considered.

REPORTER: Basically, I understand that the Prime Minister refuted the possibility. That is fine. However, at the same time, I believe one could read into his comments and come to the conclusion that he had to refute this exactly because there is a possibility. In other word, one could take that he referred to the possible scenario.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, that is beside the point. The Prime Minister was asked by a journalist if it is possible for the current Japan-China relations to escalate into military conflict. To go into further detail, as I just said, before the question the Prime Minister had clearly stated that, "Japan and China are each other's largest trading partners and the Japanese companies in China have generated employment in China. The relations between Japan and China is inseparable. Therefore, we must not close our doors to each other over any individual issue. We must return to the basic position of a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests. Japan and China should hold summit meetings without any conditions attached and it is my belief that continuously holding summit meetings will provide us with the wisdom to further develop bilateral relations." In response, a journalist then asked the Prime Minister if it was possible that the current Japan-China relations may escalate into military conflict. In reply, the Prime Minister said, "Our two countries are the second and third largest economies in the world. If what you asked about were to occur, it would not only be a great loss for Japan and China, but it would also be a great loss for the rest of the world. We must ensure that this never occurs. In light of the growing economic relations of Japan and China, occurring alongside China's economic development, Japan and China we must maintain close communication with each other whenever issues arise between." This is what the Prime Minister said, and I do not believe that he said anything inappropriate at all.

(Abridged)