Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

This morning the Government held a meeting on countermeasures against novel influenza and other diseases among director general-level officials from relevant ministries and agencies. The Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management chaired the meeting. Currently, sustained person-to-person transmission of avian influenza A (H7N9) in China has not been confirmed. There is also no elevated possibility of the emergence of novel influenza. However, there have been 211 confirmed patients since October last year and we need to continue to closely monitor the situation. It is against this backdrop that the Government held a meeting with the aim of enhancing mutual cooperation among relevant ministries and agencies. The participants in the meeting shared information and exchange opinions on the current situation, including the status of infection in China and the responses made by Japan. For further details, please contact the Office for Countermeasures against Novel Influenza at the Cabinet Secretariat.

Q&As

• The issues related to Trans-Pacific Partnership
• The issues related to the alleviation of the burden of Futenma Air Station in Okinawa

REPORTER: In a press conference following this morning's Cabinet meeting, Minister Amari made a statement on tariffs on important agricultural products under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations. He said that "if we are not willing to shift our stance at all on any of the items, negotiations cannot move forward." As such, he seems to be indicating Japan's readiness to make concessions, including the abolition or lowering of tariffs. Are we to understand that this is the policy of the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, it is my understanding that we are in the final stages of the current negotiations leading up to the TPP Ministerial Meeting that will start on February 22. I would imagine that Minister Amari just shared the general views and concepts about the current status of these difficult negotiations. If I were to go further, I would point out that Minister Amari stated that Japan will definitely not simply seek a one-sided compromise based on the requests of the United States. I suppose he will clearly request that the United States also demonstrates flexibility. Whatever the case, there is absolutely no change to the Government's stance. We will earnestly take the resolution of the Diet on the so-called five sensitive agricultural items, and do our utmost to look after Japan's national interests in the negotiations.

REPORTER: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Abe administration both pledged to secure sanctuary for the five sensitive items among agricultural products. This was also cited in the resolution passed by the Diet. I understand that some people argue that this concessionary stance contradicts the aforementioned pledge. What are your views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not consider such observations to be applicable. I heard that in his press conference Minister Amari stated that Japan will definitely not simply seek a one-sided compromise based on the requests of the United States. Therefore the observations you mentioned are not applicable at all. The Government will engage in negotiations, earnestly accepting the resolution passed by the Diet.

REPORTER: Among these five sensitive items, there are technically 586 individual agricultural items. It seems the Government deems it inevitable that tariffs for these five items will be abolished or reduced over the course of negotiations. Is my understanding correct?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not fully acquainted with all the details. In any case, the Government will engage in negotiations earnestly taking the Diet resolution. We want the negotiators to do their best with this background in mind.

REPORTER: Later today we will hold the first meeting of the Council for Promoting the Alleviation of the Burden of Futenma Air Station. Governor Nakaima of Okinawa Prefecture has requested the termination of operations at Futenma within five years, so what efforts will the Government be making towards the realization of that request?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the Prime Minister has also frequently commented, the Government will deal with discussions on this matter on the basis of the Governor's requests. I imagine that the future meetings of the Council will be concentrating on this matter. With regard to the Governor's request to terminate operations within five years, although we must remember that the U.S. side is also part of this process, the Government will work with strong resolve and make concerted efforts towards realizing the request.

REPORTER: The key to terminate the functions of Futenma Air Station will be the transfer of the U.S. military aircraft stationed there and also bringing forward the actual relocation plan itself. How does the Government intend to advance each aspect of these issues?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is a fact that from June this year all 15 KC-130 tanker planes will be transferred to Iwakuni. In the meantime, the Ministry of Defense is making every effort to seek locations on mainland Japan that will accept half of all Osprey aircraft training exercises. In this way, the Government is steadily making concrete and visible efforts to stop operations within five years, which was a strong request from the Governor. While the U.S. side is certainly also part of this process, there is absolutely no change to the Government's concerted efforts towards the realization of this request.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding when the Council will deliver its conclusions. Some conservatives in Okinawa are expressing a strong desire for an outcome to be achieved prior to the gubernatorial election in November. Will the Government therefore set out a vision of reaching such an outcome prior to the election? Could you give us an idea of the outlook of the situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the central issues for discussion are based on the requests the Governor and the Mayor of Ginowan City made at the end of last year when they came to Tokyo. The written requests include the termination of operations at Futenma within five years, the full return of Camp Kinser within seven years, the addition of new articles to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, and the deployment of around 12 Osprey aircraft to locations outside Okinawa Prefecture. The Government made a pledge centered on these requests, and we intend to make concerted efforts to realize outcomes that are clearly visible and apparent.

(Abridged)