Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet Meeting. The meeting approved 22 general and other measures as well as the promulgation of legislation, a cabinet order and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and I each made statements concerning the Basic Plan Relating to the Development, Management and Operation of a “Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony” as a Means of Promoting the Restoration of Ainu Culture. Minister Furuya made a statement concerning the Plan to Promote Investigations into Causes of Death and Other Matters. Minister Mori made a statement concerning the White Paper on the Aging Society and Measures for Crime Victims. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the FY2013 Report on the Implementation Status of Policy Evaluation, etc. and the Status of Its Reflection in Policies. The Minister of Justice made a statement concerning FY2013 Measures for Human Rights Education and Enlightenment. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning Emergency Grant Aid Cooperation in Response to the Abduction of School Girls in Nigeria.

I have an additional comment concerning the Basic Plan Relating to the Development, Management and Operation of a “Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony” as a Means of Promoting the Restoration of Ainu Culture. The Ainu people are indigenous to the northern regions of the Japanese archipelago, above all Hokkaido, and are an indigenous ethnic group that possess their own language, and unique religious practices and culture. Enabling the Ainu people to maintain their honor and dignity as an ethnic community and pass on their traditions to future generations is something that will promote coexistence of diverse values and contribute to the formation of a vibrant society. To this end the Cabinet approved a policy today that seeks to develop a “Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony” as a national center to promote the restoration of Ainu culture, among other matters, to be completed by the time of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is the first Cabinet decision concerning Ainu-related affairs for 17 years, since the submission of the Act on the Promotion of Ainu Culture, and Dissemination and Enlightenment of Knowledge about Ainu Tradition, etc. Based on this significant milestone, the Government will continue to engage in efforts to further promote Ainu-related policies and measures.

Q&As

• The Ainu-related policy
• The inclusion of the Japanese eel to the Red List of endangered species by IUCN
• The action of Chinese military aircraft

REPORTER: (Abridged) Could you tell us in greater detail the significance of Ainu-related policy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Cabinet decision today was the first relating to Ainu affairs for 17 years, since the submission of the Act on the Promotion of Ainu Culture, and Dissemination and Enlightenment of Knowledge about Ainu Tradition, etc., and also since the Diet resolution of 2008, which called for the Ainu people to be recognized as an indigenous ethnic group. The new policy will seek to give concrete form to the results of various considerations that have taken place to date and it therefore represents a significant outcome. (Abridged)

REPORTER: (Abridged) On the other hand, there are still some issues such as disparities in living standards, discrimination and prejudice that affect Ainu communities. (Abridged) How will the Government take forward efforts to respond to such issues?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Cabinet Office implemented an opinion poll last year, concerning Ainu-related policies. More than one-third of respondents thought that the Ainu people do not have equality. This result is something that the Government takes most seriously. The Government will analyze the reasons why such responses were provided to the opinion poll and consider measures in the forum of the Council for Ainu Policy Promotion. I believe that measures to support everyday living, which have been implemented from 1961 onwards, have resulted in the gradual reduction of disparities in living standards, through financial support measures to improve living standards and other measures. I think that as disparities are eliminated, it will likely be the case that measures for Ainu people will come into line with standard policies. With regard to legislative measures, in addition to basing our actions on the efforts that have been made to date, I believe that it will be necessary to seriously consider legislation from its relationship with the principles of equality set forth in Article 14 of the Constitution of Japan.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica). The Japanese eel has been included on the “Red List” of endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and there are criticisms from other countries noting that Japan eats too many of these eels. On the other hand there is the aspect of protecting Japan’s traditional dietary culture. What response measures will the Government be taking with regard to this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is also aware that the Japanese eel is in a critical situation. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is leading Government efforts to ensure the rehabilitation of the habitat of Japanese eels. With regard to matters relating to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Washington Convention), although the IUCN has included the Japanese eel on its endangered “Red List,” this does not lead directly to the species being listed in the Appendix of the Convention. My understanding is that its designation as “endangered” will provide a source of reference for discussions at the next Conference of the Parties concerning the addition of plants and animals to the Appendix of the Convention. (Abridged)

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the incident in which a Chinese military aircraft flew unusually close to a Self-Defense Force (SDF) aircraft, yesterday the Chinese authorities made public a photograph and video of the JSDF aircraft saying it had flown unusually close to their aircraft. What is the view of the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Government is confident that airspace anti-intrusion measures conducted by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) were in accordance with Article 84 of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Act and were conducted appropriately within the scope of international law. In my opinion, there is no truth to the assertions made by China that JASDF aircraft approached Chinese aircraft to a distance of 30 meters and had a serious impact on safety. Whatever the case, from the perspective of firmly protecting Japan's territorial land, waters, and airspace, Japan will continue to engage thoroughly in warning and surveillance activities in the sea or airspace in the vicinity of Japan. We will also implement strict airspace anti-intrusion measures in accordance with international law and the SDF Act. The dangerous maneuvers conducted by the Chinese fighter jet that Japan protest about include the Chinese fighter jet’s dangerous maneuvers, such as coming up from behind and passing by at very high speeds, or suddenly cutting across the flight path of JSDF aircraft. These maneuvers are unthinkable under normal circumstances and this is the one of the reasons why we make a protest. The order to scramble JASDF aircraft is made appropriately, based on the SDF Act. There is absolutely no truth to the allegations that JASDF aircraft closed in to a distance of 30 meters to the Chinese aircraft and the Government will lodge a strong protest to China about such allegations. Given that China recognizes the danger of unexpected incidents occurring in this airspace, the Government will also call strongly on China once again to initiate operation of the maritime communication mechanism between defense authorities as early as possible.

REPORTER: With regard to the protests that have been lodged, has the Government made a protest against China concerning the publication of the video images?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Ministry of National Defense of China  uploaded a video on its website, claiming the video is proof that a Japanese fighter jet closed in to a distance of 30 meters on a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft. In response to this claim, the Government has lodged a protest, noting that there is absolutely no truth to such allegations and the assertions of the Chinese side are totally without the fact of the matter.

REPORTER: If I may ask for more details, could you tell us at what level the protest were made?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Government has lodged a protest demanding that the video uploaded without any basis in fact to be taken down. This protest was made at 11 pm on June 12, from the Director of the First China and Mongolia Division to a Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the video that was recently released by the Ministry of National Defense of China. Does the Japanese Government consider this is the video of the incident on June 11, in which a Chinese military aircraft and an SDF aircraft flew unusually close to each other in the airspace above the East China Sea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is absolutely not the case.

REPORTER: Do you have any evidence of this? Have you conducted a thorough analysis of this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The aircraft in the video are not the aircraft involved in the incident.