Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issue related to the right to collective self-defense
• The issues related to the missing Malaysian aircraft

REPORTER: In the recent Budget Committee meeting Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau Ichiro Komatsu made a statement with regard to the right to collective self-defense. He said the Prime Minister is not planning to submit basic  law on national security to the Diet. Could you confirm whether or not the Abe administration shares this view?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, what the Prime Minister has stated to date in his responses to the Diet is as follows. The Government would first like to wait for the conclusions of the discussions that are taking place in the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security. After receiving the report from the Panel, the Government will consider its response in consultation with the ruling parties and based on opinions from the Cabinet Legislation Bureau. Following these consultations, a Cabinet decision will be made, after which we intend to hold discussions in the Diet. This is what the Prime Minister himself has stated and it represents the basic concept of the Government. In any case, the Government will consider this matter once the report of the Advisory Panel has been submitted.

REPORTER: If that is the case, are we to understand that the comment made by Mr. Komatsu was largely influenced by his own personal opinion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have just returned from the Ceremony to Commemorate the Third Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and I have not yet examined the details of the comments made. However, the basic concept of the Government is to wait for the submission of the report and then to consider the matter in consultation with the ruling parties in particular. That is what we are thinking about.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the Malaysia Airlines passenger plane that has disappeared, does the Government have any further information? Also, it would appear that the scope of the search is being extended. Has the Government received any request for assistance in the search efforts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is liaising closely with the Government of Malaysia on this matter. As I said yesterday, if we were to receive a request for assistance, the Government would cooperate with the Malaysian Government. . Yesterday evening a request from Malaysia was received through diplomatic channels. The National Security Council is currently engaged in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies to offer the cooperation it is possible for us to provide.

REPORTER: Are you specifically planning to dispatch the Japan Coast Guard?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government of Japan will offer the cooperation it is possible for us to provide in line with the requests received.

REPORTER: What kind of request for assistance was received with regard to this case involving Malaysia Airlines?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A request was made through diplomatic channels for assistance and cooperation relating to search and other activities.

REPORTER: So will the Japanese Government decide the form of assistance it will provide?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The relevant ministries and agencies are currently engaged in cooperation on this matter.

REPORTER: Is there any plan to dispatch a team to investigate the cause of the disappearance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not think that the situation has reached that stage yet. In any case, the aircraft itself has yet to be located and I understand the request we received was for assistance in search efforts. I am hoping to receive a thorough report on this matter today.

(Abridged)