Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The report from the Advisory panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security
• The collision of the vessels of Viet Nam and China

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the right of collective self-defense. I believe that the talks with the ruling parties will start next week. I would like to ask once again whether you expect to be able to obtain the understanding of the New Komeito through the talks, given that the party remains cautious about supporting the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I expect that the discussions will start after the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security submits its report and the Government presents its basic direction. I would like to refrain from making any conjecture before we have even received the report.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a related question. In the Government’s view expressed in 1972, the Government stated that the use of force should be limited to the minimum and necessary level. There is debate within the Advisory Panel as to whether a part of the right of collective self-defense is included in this minimum and necessary use of force as times change. Chief Cabinet Secretary, what is your opinion regarding this debate?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the Government stated, we understand that there were indeed such debates. In any case, at this point in time, we have not yet thought about how to deal with this. We will address this in the course of our discussions with the ruling parties, after we receive the report and present the basic direction of the Government. This stance has not changed at all.

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the procedures you will take from the day after tomorrow. You announced that after the Government receives the report, a four ministers’ meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) would be held immediately. What kind of a meeting will this be?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I expect that at the four ministers’ meeting of the NSC, the Prime Minister will describe the basic direction that he envisages, based on the report that was received.

REPORTER: The NSC also has the nine ministers’ meeting. The basic defense policy and other important matters are to be deliberated at the nine ministers’ meeting. What is the reason behind not holding the nine ministers’ meeting and instead holding the four ministers’ meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In principle, the NSC holds the four ministers’ meeting. Of course, whenever we make any big changes, we hold meetings such as the nine ministers’ meeting and the Cabinet meeting. The upcoming meeting concerns the basic direction, and we deem that this does not require a nine ministers’ meeting.

REPORTER: Does this mean that during the four ministers’ meeting, the Prime Minister will present his own views on the direction and this will be approved by the four ministers?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Rather than this involving any kind of approval, I imagine it is more the case that the Prime Minister will read the report and explain how he would like to proceed.

REPORTER: If I may just focus on a very specific point, during your press conference on April 9, you stated that the Government would present its policy after receiving the report of the Advisory Panel. Recently, you have been using the term “basic direction.” Is there a reason for changing terminologies?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have basically uttered the words “the Government’s basic direction” nearly a hundred times. At that time I was probably asked, “Is it a Government policy?” and I said “yes.” I have always meant “basic direction.” 

REPORTER: I recall that you yourself said the Government would formulate a policy.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I was referring to the basic views of the Government.

REPORTER: Is there any particular reason for changing terminologies?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not changed anything. Have I not been saying the same thing all along at the Diet and elsewhere? Maybe on that particular day I happened to say “Government policy” because this represents the basic views of the Government, I do not know. However, nothing has changed. My understanding is that I have long continued to say the same thing.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a related question. The Yonhap News Agency of the Republic of Korea (ROK) reported that the Counsellor of Japan’s National Security Secretariat had given prior explanation of the content of the Advisory Panel’s report to the ROK. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I was briefed that there is no truth at all to the report’s claims that prior explanation was given. 

REPORTER: My question concerns the issue of the collision of the vessels of Viet Nam and China. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held telephone talks with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi. He criticized China, saying that the Chinese oil drilling activities that sparked this standoff, as well as China’s dispatch of vessels, were provocative. Does the Japanese Government have any reaction to this?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have said repeatedly at these press conferences, all parties should refrain from unilateral acts that change the status quo. I have long continued to say that the matter should be resolved through mutual dialogue.