Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issues related to the name of "Sea of Japan"
• The issue related to the address of former Prime Minister Murayama at the parliament of the Republic of Korea
• The issue related to the Prime Minister's attendance at the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics
• The issues related to Diet reforms
• The issue related to the right to collective self-defense

REPORTER: The Virginia State Legislature of the United States has passed a bill stipulating that the name "East Sea" should appear alongside the name "Sea of Japan." This bill has now made the use of both names a reality. Can I ask once again for your thoughts relating to this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The name Sea of Japan is the only internationally established name for the sea area concerned, and the federal Government of the United States itself has supported the sole use of the name Sea of Japan. The Government will continue to respond appropriately and will firmly assert its stance on this issue, seeking correct understanding and support from the international community regarding the name of the Sea of Japan.

REPORTER: There are reports that former Prime Minister Murayama is scheduled to give an address to the parliament of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on February 12. The theme of the address is apparently about the establishment of Japan-ROK relations based on the correct understanding of history. I believe that there is a possibility that its content may be critical of the Abe administration, coupled with the danger that it may be used for anti-Japanese purposes. What are your views on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have stated the position of the Abe administration on this issue many times. As I do not have even the slightest idea of what kind of address former Prime Minister Murayama will give, I would like to refrain from making any comments.

REPORTER: Returning to the matter of the Virginia State Legislature mentioned at the beginning of the press conference, considering that such a bill is expected to be enacted now, there is a possibility that similar moves will be seen elsewhere in the United States. How do you view this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is highly regrettable that such a bill has been passed in this form. However, as I mentioned before, the name Sea of Japan is the only internationally established name for the sea area concerned, and the federal Government of the United States has supported the sole use of the name. In that context, the Government will continue to approach this issue based on its established stance.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the Prime Minister's attendance at the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics. The Prime Minister is attending the event while other leaders from Europe and North America, including President Obama of the United States and President Hollande of France, have decided that they will not attend. To date, the Prime Minister has also naturally maintained a common stance with the countries of Europe and North America of shared values of freedom, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. I imagine that the decision to attend the opening ceremony was made by taking into account both this stance and the attendance of various other countries. However, do you not believe that the decision to attend contradicts or conflicts with the basic policies of the Prime Minister's diplomacy that focus on democracy and respect for human rights?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not believe that is the case. The Government is naturally monitoring the human rights situation in Russia, but we do not  link the status of human rights to the Sochi Winter Olympics. I believe that the Japanese athletes participating in the Games will  feel motivated by the Prime Minister's encouragement. I also hear that leaders from Europe, including from the Netherlands, are nevertheless scheduled to attend the opening ceremony as well.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: On a related note, the Abe administration has espoused a diplomatic policy of shared values, including respect for basic human rights. However, the policy generally does not mention issues such as the human rights of sexual minorities. What are your thoughts on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The basic policy of the Abe administration is, certainly, to thoroughly ensure human rights, and I believe this is fully reflected in the Government's diplomatic stance as well.

REPORTER: Were any considerations from this perspective a factor when deciding whether or not to attend the opening ceremony?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that, in fact, the Prime Minister should be expected to make a decision after having considered all factors and not just individual issues.

REPORTER: I have a question relating to Diet reforms. I imagine that the Government is currently requesting Diet reforms that focus on reducing the Prime Minister's attendance at the Diet, among other matters. However, little progress has been seen yet in this regard. What is your perception of the current status of consultations between the ruling and opposition parties, concerning Diet reforms?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The reforms do not imply that the Prime Minister does not want  to attend Diet sessions. When truly considering national interests as the Prime Minister of a nation, if it is not possible for him  to attend  international conferences or similar gatherings due to the Diet being in session, it is probably necessary to consider such matters in the context of national interests. If the Prime Minister is unable to attend international conferences due to Diet commitments, this could ultimately be a detriment to national interests. In the process of Diet reforms, the concept of the Government is to seek the cooperation of the Diet to the greatest extent possible with regard to this point.

REPORTER: On a related note, there are, however, those who have pointed out that even without Diet reforms, the recent deliberation process for the supplementary budget was advanced at great speed and adopted by the Diet. These people therefore question the need for reforms in the first place. What are your views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that there is a great necessity for Diet reforms. Looking around the world, I understand that Japan is the only country where the Prime Minister of the nation is required to spend six or seven hours a day in the Diet almost every day during session. As I once noted previously, the Prime Minister of Japan is required to be in the Diet for more than 120 days a year. But I remember that in the case of Europe the requirement is less, being fewer than 20 days in Germany and just over a month in the United Kingdom; I believe. Under these circumstances, the leaders of those countries engage in activities that are based on national interests, and it is based on this view that I think Diet reforms in Japan are necessary.

REPORTER: If I may, I have a question concerning the Prime Minister's responses to Diet questions this morning, in which he stated that a concept seeking to expand the right to individual self-defense would be rather nonsensical from an international perspective. Given that the New Komeito is still cautious about changing the interpretation of the Constitution of Japan, and there are also those who say that it would be possible to respond to a contingency by expanding the right to individual self-defense, how does the Government seek to coordinate or persuade these?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The issue of the right to collective self-defense is currently being deliberated by the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security. Basically, the Government would like to wait for the conclusions of the advisory panel. I believe that the process will be one where the Government will decide on its concept while also fully coordinating with the ruling parties, once the Government receives the report from the advisory council. However, this is all something that will be done from now.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Returning to the issue of the situation of human rights in Russia, issues relating to sexual minorities were discussed earlier. The human rights issue in question is regarding minorities, but meanwhile the Prime Minister made a decision to attend based on the overall picture. This would seem to suggest that giving attention to the overall picture normally results in sensitivity to minorities being overlooked. Therefore it would seem questionable to me whether human rights were truly being given attention. What are your views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I don't think that is the case at all. For example, in the case of Myanmar, I believe it is a fact that Japan's efforts and calls for action with regard to ethnic minorities have led to trust and hopes today being placed in Japan by such ethnic minorities. Furthermore, with regard to the Sochi Winter Olympics, it is after all the case that the major issue of the Northern Territories also exists between Japan and Russia. The Prime Minister is attending the opening ceremony, and will hold a summit meeting with President Putin. Despite the attendance of likely many other leaders in Sochi, President Putin found the time to set up a working lunch with Prime Minister Abe. Therefore, when truly thinking about national interests, I believe in a sense it is very natural for the Prime Minister to attend.