Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The right of collective self-defense
• The collisions between Chinese and Viet Nam Vessels
• The issue of the memorial hall in honor of Ahn Jung-geun
• A draft proposal to revise the national referendum act

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question in connection with the right of collective self-defense. I understand that during the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Prime Minister stated that he expected the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security to submit its report as early as on the 13th. Around when will the Government set out its own policy based on this report?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I myself have not heard anything about the date being the 13th. All I know is that the Advisory Panel is scheduled to submit its report sometime in the week beginning May 12th. In any case, the Government would not be presenting its policy. As I have been saying, we will be presenting a direction regarding the basic views of the Government. I believe we have not yet decided when we will present this direction.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Chief Cabinet Secretary, I understand you appeared on a TV program yesterday. I believe you stated that in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, it does not make sense that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces would not be able to escort any U.S. vessels going to the Korean Peninsula to rescue Japanese nationals. Were you presenting this as one example in which the exercise of the right of collective self-defense would be valid? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is in fact a crucial responsibility of the Government to protect the lives and property of the people and ensure national security. I therefore consider it to be of the utmost importance that the Government examines whether this is possible under the current conditions, including, for example, in the scenario you just mentioned. Therefore, the Government will be reviewing what we need to do in order to be able to conduct actions that are, in a sense, a matter of course in the eyes of the people of Japan. 

REPORTER: Is this one example of when the exercise of the right of collective self-defense would be valid?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I deem that this is a scenario in which the exercise of the right of collective self-defense would be valid.

REPORTER: It seems that some members of New Komeito, and perhaps members of other parties too, but some members of New Komeito hold the view that this would be possible not under the right of collective self-defense but under the right of individual self-defense. What is your opinion, Chief Cabinet Secretary?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The question of whether this can be interpreted as falling under the right of individual self-defense is among the matters we will discuss with the ruling parties.

REPORTER: So are you saying the question of whether this falls under the right of collective self-defense or the right of individual self-defense is among the matters to be discussed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I merely presented the aforementioned scenario as a hypothetical example of something that the Government should in fact be responsible for carrying out. I am sure this opens up various discussions, such as whether such actions can be performed only under the right of collective self-defense or whether they can be performed by expanding the right of individual self-defense. As such, the Government will be reviewing these issues.

REPORTER: I have a follow-up question. Is my understanding correct that the so-called protection of U.S. vessels as a general concept is seen as being separate from the protection of U.S. vessels in the specific case in which said U.S. vessels are transporting Japanese nationals who were rescued from the Republic of Korea (ROK)?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This was merely one example I provided to illustrate a specific scenario. Various scenarios are conceivable, and the Government will thoroughly examine the matter and present our findings before the public.

REPORTER: With regard to the right of collective self-defense, some argue for permitting the limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense based on the judgment of the Supreme Court in the Sunagawa case. The defendant’s counsel from the case has released a statement that says that the issue of the right of self-defense in the Sunagawa case concerned the issue of the right of individual self-defense and not the issue of the right of collective self-defense. The statement therefore argues against the use of this judgment as grounds for permitting the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. Can you please share your comments if you have any? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that is nothing more than the opinion of said defendant’s counsel. The Government is not in a position to comment on each and every such matter.

REPORTER: Based on what you said moments ago, am I right to understand that when discussing the basic views of the Government with the ruling parties, you will also be discussing the question whether it is the right of collective self-defense or the right of individual self-defense?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Just so there is no misunderstanding, let me clarify that what I meant was that the Government and the ruling parties will discuss whether or not the aforementioned actions should naturally be necessary. Rather than this being a question whether it is the right of collective self-defense or the right of individual self-defense, what I meant was that we will be discussing what we should do in instances like the case I mentioned.

REPORTER: Does that mean the discussions will not necessarily be premised on the right of collective self-defense?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I merely presented one specific example just now. However, a variety of scenarios are conceivable when it comes to protecting the lives and property of the people and ensuring national security. The Government will present its basic view on how such situations should be dealt with and discuss this with the ruling parties.

REPORTER: In that case, will the basic view of the Government clearly state that the right of collective self-defense is necessary?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: So, as I said, we hope to compile our views next week, including on such matters. We are still awaiting the report of the Advisory Panel, and I would therefore like to refrain from making any definitive statements.

REPORTER: I understand that the Government will receive the report of the Advisory Panel next week and present its basic views by the end of the same week. You say that the Government will take the report into consideration, but the Government has allotted very little time for doing this. If the Government does in fact intend to take the report into consideration when setting out its basic views, I would think that more time would be needed to review the report.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Well the Prime Minister and other ministers have been attending the meetings of the Advisory Panel. Furthermore, given that the Advisory Panel is close to reaching a conclusion, it is not as if we will be starting from scratch once we receive the report. In my view there is sufficient time for fully understanding the report.    

REPORTER: Does that then mean that, based on the discussions of the Advisory Panel to date, the Government has already been holding its own discussions in parallel?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I did not mean that we are holding discussions in parallel. Rather, what I mean is that we have a certain level of understanding of the views of the Advisory Panel.

REPORTER: So you have not yet begun setting out the views of the Government, and you will start doing this after taking a look at the report?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is of course the case. However, we anticipate that the opinions contained in the report will more or less be in line with the discussions held to date.

REPORTER: My question concerns the basic views of the Government. Once these are decided, will someone be explaining them?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We will make all such matters clear next week.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the collisions between Chinese Government vessels and vessels of the Viet Nam Coast Guard in the South China Sea. Has the Japanese Government since taken any new measures?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At this time, the Government is extremely concerned and paying close attention to the situation.

REPORTER: Did the Government issue any messages to the two countries through diplomatic channels?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Peace and stability in the South China Sea is a matter of great concern to the international community. The Government hopes that this matter will be resolved peacefully through dialogue. This is the consistent view of the Government. Therefore, Japan is currently dealing with this matter while engaging in diplomatic cooperation with the relevant countries.

REPORTER: I have a related question. When the incident occurred, you expressed concern during your press conference. The other day, a Chinese spokesperson criticized your statement, saying that it pays no heed to the facts and that it was irresponsible. What is your reaction to this criticism?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not agree with those comments at all.

REPORTER: The ROK Government dispatched a Government delegation to the memorial hall in honor of Ahn Jung-geun, which was established in Harbin Railway Station in China. Can you please comment on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of this. Japan and the ROK have completely different positions regarding Ahn Jung-geun. We view that the ROK and China’s decision to work together to communicate their views to the international community based on a one-sided analysis of an incident from the previous century does not contribute to the development of peace and cooperation within the region. We have to date explained Japan’s position to the ROK and China.  

REPORTER: As you just noted, it seems that in this case as well, Japan and the ROK are at odds over the issue of the understanding of history. I assume the ROK will continue to work together with China on this matter. How does the Japanese Government intend to deal with this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is the actions of the ROK Government. What I will say is that Japan is acting firmly and calmly.

REPORTER: On the other hand, senior officials of the Chinese Government did not attend this ceremony. Some view this as China taking into consideration the potential impact on the Japan-China relationship. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In my opinion, diplomacy involves various back-and-forths based on national interests. Japan will firmly assert its position, which is that our door for dialogue is always open.

REPORTER: This afternoon, the plenary session of the House of Representatives approved a draft proposal to revise the national referendum act, which will determine the procedures for revising the Constitution. Could you please share your views, if any?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, ever since its inauguration, the LDP has proposed what a revised Constitution should look like. The LDP has made a broad appeal to the public about the need to revise the Constitution. With regard to the latest national referendum system, seven parties submitted a bill to revise the national referendum act based on the deepening public discussion and the reviews carried out by the Commissions on the Constitution of both Houses. Today, this bill was approved at the House of Representatives. The Government welcomes this in the sense that it will prepare the necessary environment for revising the Constitution. In any case, what is most important is for thorough discussions on Constitutional revision to take place among the respective political parties, and of course the Commissions on the Constitution, as well as for lively discussions to take place among the public.