Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

(Abridged)

At today's Cabinet meeting, approval was given to invite to Japan H.E. Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, and the First Lady on an Official Working Visit. Prime Minister and Mrs. Netanyahu will arrive in Japan on 11 May and stay until 15 May. Israel is a nation which has traditionally been friendly towards Japan and at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake Israel promptly dispatched a medical team to Japan. The number of people from Japan and Israel making mutual visits is increasing year by year. Also, in order to deepen further cooperation in sectors such as high-tech and information and communications technologies, for which Israel is highly regarded internationally, it is of the greatest importance to promote further bilateral relations. In addition, Prime Minister Netanyahu is one of the most important figures in the context of realizing peace in the Middle East and it will therefore be of the greatest significance for the leaders of Japan and Israel to engage in an exchange of opinions on the stabilization of the important Middle East region.

Q&As

• The issue concerning the Trans-Pacific Partnership
• The contents of the Japan-U.S. Joint Statement

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. It would appear that in the consultations with the United States the two sides have failed to reach a broad agreement. Can I first ask for your thoughts on this outcome, and also what kind of joint statement is expected to be issued?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, through both summit-level and ministerial-level consultations Japan and the United States have confirmed a path forward on important bilateral issues. We also agreed that it will be important for Japan and the United States to cooperate towards the swift conclusion of the TPP consultations, and to work together to accelerate the consultations with other TPP partners. A general agreement was not reached and there are still outstanding issues that need to be resolved. Furthermore, all the items of the TPP negotiations are part of a larger set, but we have not yet reached an agreement on all items. We are currently in the final drafting stages of a joint statement.

REPORTER: On a related note, the consultations this time have been unusual in that the issuance of a joint statement was postponed and the consultations extended. Ultimately, however, agreement could not be reached on the TPP by the time of the Japan-U.S. summit meeting. Can I ask what your thoughts are with regard to this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, with regard to the TPP consultations themselves, we are conducting negotiations as firmly as we can. However, as I have just stated, all items are part of a larger set and we have not yet reached an agreement on all items. Nevertheless, it was possible to identify a path forward on important outstanding bilateral issues and the two sides also agreed that they will cooperate to accelerate consultations with other TPP partners. On this occasion, the two leaders thoroughly confirmed these matters.

REPORTER: On a related note, you just mentioned that the two sides confirmed a path forward. What does this mean in specific terms?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Both countries have a number of so-called important items that they are discussing. While taking into consideration the items that are important to each country, both countries have demonstrated their understanding on a path forward towards the very realization of the comprehensive and high-level agreement to which they are aiming. At the same time, both countries agreed to cooperate in accelerating consultations with other participating nations.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Is there any goal or deadline for this path forward?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Well, with regard to when a deadline would be, I believe the sides have pledged to try and reach an agreement by the time of the next ministerial meeting in May. As such, as I just noted, Japan and the United States have in any case agreed on a path forward towards the next meeting.

REPORTER: Is it the case that consultations at the working level will continue up until the time of the May ministerial meeting, or will a ministerial-level meeting between Japan and the United States also be held?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A great deal of work and coordination has been completed and the remaining issues will have to be finalized at the working level. In addition, we have not yet to reach an agreement as a whole. In light of this, at this point in time it is expected that rather than being finalized at the ministerial level, they will initially be finalized at the working level.

REPORTER: My question concerns the fact that the issuance of the joint statement has been so delayed. I believe the joint statement is expected to include points not only about the TPP but also about security. Is the reason that its issuance has been so delayed ultimately due to the United States’ desire to treat both issues as part of the same set?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I noted prior to the President’s arrival in Japan that security and economic policy, particularly the TPP, would be very important issues for the visit. In light of this, negotiations on the TPP have been continuing since yesterday, including at the working level, right up until the early hours of the morning. It is therefore my understanding that the joint statement is in the final drafting stages, so as to reflect the ongoing TPP negotiations.

REPORTER: Are we to understand, therefore, that in this process the United States is seeking to treat security issues and TPP issues as part of the same set?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Rather than security and TPP issues being treated as a set, first it was the case that the leaders made an announcement about security issues in the press conference yesterday. In addition, the TPP was also mentioned and so we will of course reflect that in the joint statement. However, the negotiations are still ongoing and we have been making adjustments accordingly. I believe it is this that has taken time and has caused the delay in the issuance of the joint statement.

REPORTER: Speaking about the TPP in a press conference following the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Finance Aso stated that President Obama does not have the power to bring the United States together now. He was also very skeptical about the possibility of the TPP negotiations reaching agreement prior to the mid-term elections in the United States in November. What are your thoughts on the minister’s comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not think that such a scenario is likely. Japan and the United States are very much leading efforts to reach a broad agreement. Furthermore, we have been able to confirm a path forward towards the realization of a comprehensive and high-level agreement, taking into consideration each other’s concerns and important items. Therefore, I do not think what you are suggesting is likely.

REPORTER: So do you think that an overall agreement will be reached in a proper format prior to the U.S. mid-term elections?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The elections are a domestic matter for the United States. Furthermore as I am not aware of the context in which the Minister of Finance actually made his remarks I would like to refrain from making any further comment. However, as both Japan and the United States were able to confirm a path forward towards the very realization of an agreement that takes into consideration each side’s concerns about important items, it is my understanding that we will proceed with negotiations along the path that was agreed to today.

REPORTER: I have a further question. It is highly irregular for a minister to question the capabilities of the leader of another country who is visiting Japan as a State Guest. What are your thoughts on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not know the context in which the comments were made and therefore I do not wish to comment about the specific phrases you mentioned. Although I am not aware of the overall content of what was said, I think that if you look at the Finance Minister’s comments in their entirety he did not say such a thing. However, I am not aware of the entire content of what was said.

REPORTER: Are you making efforts to clearly reflect in the joint statement the fact that the Senkaku Islands are covered by the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As this is something that has already been stated in front of television cameras in the press conference yesterday, I would think it is evident that this will be incorporated into the joint statement.

REPORTER: Apparently you met with Minister Amari following the Cabinet meeting. Could you tell us what you talked about?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We talked about what I have already mentioned. I received a report about the ongoing negotiations.

REPORTER: With regard to the TPP, unless Japan and the United States can reach an agreement, the entire TPP process is unlikely to progress. What are your thoughts about the current predicament surrounding the TPP process?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not think that will happen. Both Japan and the United States have confirmed that they will advance negotiations towards the realization of an agreement that gives consideration to the important items for each side. What is more, Minister Amari has stated that Japan and the United States have agreed to cooperate to accelerate consultations with other TPP partners. However, as I said earlier, all items in the TPP negotiations are part of a larger set and we have not yet reached an agreement on all items. Furthermore, we would not issue an agreement on individual items. As such, we will ultimately treat the TPP process as an entire package.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to return to the issue of the TPP negotiations. There have been press reports indicating that the United States has suggested dropping reference to the Senkaku Islands from the joint statement unless agreement is reached on TPP-related matters. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is inconceivable and I have not heard anything about it.

REPORTER: Given that negotiations have been so prolonged, some people may start to wonder what will happen to the level of trust between Japan and the United States. A joint statement has yet to be issued, and even though the TPP negotiations have continued through the night they are still not finalized. Do you not think that these things cast doubt on the Japan-U.S. relationship?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not think that is the case at all. Both leaders made clear statements yesterday in the forum of the joint press conference. What I would say is that we are conducting the TPP negotiations as firmly as we can to protect national interests. Furthermore, all items of the negotiations are part of a larger set and we have not yet to reach an agreement on all items. Nevertheless, the two sides have confirmed a path forward towards the realization of a comprehensive and high-level agreement that takes into consideration important bilateral issues that are a top priority for both countries. They have also agreed to cooperate to accelerate consultations with other TPP partners. As such, given that we have made meticulous efforts to move the process forward, I do not think there are any doubts whatsoever about the level of trust.

REPORTER: I also have a TPP-related question. Although I can understand your position in having to stress the positive outcomes of the consultations, in reality they lasted until 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning and still failed to reach agreement. I think that this can only be viewed as a regrettable outcome. What are your views?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not think that is the case at all. After all, the TPP negotiations are of the utmost importance and involve each country’s national interests and strengths. With that in mind, we have conducted negotiations as firmly as we can. In addition, each country has items it considers important and both sides have been able to mutually confirm a path forward towards an agreement that bears in mind such important items. Based on this, both countries have also agreed to cooperate in accelerating consultations with other participating nations. These agreements have all been reached through a meticulous process and therefore I do not think your observation is a valid one. It is rather the case that we have conducted negotiations as firmly as we can.