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 27 measures for submission to the Diet as well as the promulgation of legislation, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Furuya made a statement concerning the Overview of Measures taken for Disaster Management and the FY2014 Disaster Management Plan; the Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning the FY2013 report on the Government's initiatives for resolving the abduction issue and responding to other human rights violations by North Korean authorities; the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Minister Yamamoto made statements concerning the Annual Report on the Promotion of Science and Technology, FY2013; and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the implementation of the FY2014 Economic Census for Business Activity.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Mori made a statement concerning Gender Equality Week.

I have an announcement regarding the Prime Minister’s visit to Okinawa Prefecture. The Prime Minister is scheduled to take a day trip to Okinawa Prefecture on Monday, June 23 to attend the Memorial Ceremony to Commemorate the Fallen on the Anniversary of the End of the Battle of Okinawa. Following the ceremony, the Prime Minister is planning to have lunch with Governor Nakaima. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to inspect the planned site for the runway expansion at Naha Airport.

Prior to today’s Cabinet meeting, a meeting of the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters chaired by the Prime Minister was held. Following discussions among experts, the meeting approved the measures to be included in the Intellectual Property Strategic Program 2014. These measures will also be properly reflected in the Growth Strategy which is scheduled to be revised in the near future. The Government will come in a body and work boldly and swiftly to make Japan a world-leading intellectual property-based nation. For further details please contact the Secretariat of the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters of the Cabinet Secretariat.

Q&As

• The live fire training exercises in the coast of Takeshima by ROK
• The draft censure motion against Minister of Environment Ishihara
• The right of collective self-defense
• The cabinet decisions regarding the Growth Strategy and so on
• The target of sexist heckling at Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The Republic of Korea (ROK) has apparently begun live-fire training exercises in areas that include Japan’s territorial waters off the coast of Takeshima. Could you please confirm this and inform us of the Government’s response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is aware of the matter you have just raised. In light of Japan's stance on the sovereignty of Takeshima the implementation of the exercises absolutely cannot be accepted by the Government of Japan. The Government of Japan has demanded strongly that the Government of the ROK cancel the exercises. The Japanese Government finds this highly regrettable. The Minister of the Japanese embassy in the ROK has lodged a protest with the Deputy Director-General of the Northeast Asian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK.

REPORTER: Do you mean a further protest has been lodged following the implementation of the training exercise?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I mean that on the afternoon of June 19 the Government lodged a strong protest at a higher diplomatic level.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Some believe that this live-fire training exercise was timed to coincide with the announcement of the results of the efforts to ascertain the background of the compilation of the Kono Statement, which is scheduled for today. How does the Government view this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not aware that that is the case. I am aware, however, that the ROK is conducting such exercises. In any case, in light of Japan's stance on the sovereignty of Takeshima the implementation of the exercises absolutely cannot be accepted by the Government of Japan. We have therefore lodged a stern protest.

REPORTER: Although it is yet to be announced, what kind of effect on Japan-ROK relations do you think the efforts to ascertain the background of the Kono Statement will have?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Having received a request from the Diet, the Prime Minister assembled a team to ascertain the background of the compilation of the Kono Statement and requested that they report the results to the Diet. I believe that any other democratic nation would have done exactly the same thing.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a related question. You mentioned that on the afternoon of June 19 the Government lodged a strong protest at a higher diplomatic level. Will you also be employing different methods in the coming days to lodge yet stronger protests?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, if these activities continue Japan will of course be lodging strong protests.

REPORTER: What specific measures are you considering?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Well, we will first monitor how the situation develops.

REPORTER: A question was also asked about this issue yesterday, but a draft censure motion against Minister of the Environment Ishihara has been jointly submitted by the opposition parties in the House of Councillors, and it seems they will also submit a no-confidence motion in the House of Representatives. How do you view these motions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Minister of the Environment Ishihara did make that statement during a door-step interview. In light of this, I understand that in a subsequent press conference he expressed his sincere apology for his response, rather than retracting his statement. Against this backdrop, I was told that it was never his intention to hurt or offend anyone. Therefore, during his opening address at today’s Environment Committee meeting he retracted his statement. The reconstruction of the regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, including Fukushima, is one of the three pillars of the Abe administration. In addition, the Government is working to move forward with the reconstruction while bearing in mind the sentiments of the people in the disaster-affected areas. There has been absolutely no change at all to that stance. I understand that Minister Ishihara expressed his apology while taking this policy into account and he has retracted his statement. I believe the motions will be voted down today without much argument.

REPORTER: I have a question relating to the right of collective self-defense. I also asked a question about this yesterday. It is being reported that in the consultations among the ruling parties, the Government and the LDP are leaning towards allowing the exercise of force in the context of collective self-defense. The latest debate relating to the reconstruction of the legal basis for security was initiated in line with the intentions of the Prime Minister. Therefore, I believe that it is of course also in line with the intentions of other members of the Government as well. However, how does the Government view this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At a press conference, the Prime Minister explicitly stated that it will remain the case that the JSDF will never participate in such warfare as the Gulf War or Iraq War for the purpose of the use of force. The Prime Minister mentioned the hypothetical example of a large number of mines being set up in the Straits of Hormuz. If the international community were to begin clearing those mines, we would need to consider whether it would be acceptable for Japan to not become involved in these activities, considering that many of the ships that pass through the straits head to Japan, as we source 80% of our oil from the Middle East. Whatever the case, I believe the discussion, which has been based on the basic orientation suggested by the Prime Minister, has reached the final stages, and we would like to closely monitor its progress.

REPORTER: I have a related question. It has been pointed out that even if Japan at first participated in minesweeping in maritime areas utilizing the right of collective self-defense, following a UN Security Council resolution this could end up becoming a collective security arrangement. How do you view that point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that that kind of issue is most likely currently being discussed in the debates among the ruling parties.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a somewhat related question. Will the Cabinet decisions regarding the Basic Policies on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform, the Growth Strategy, and the Regulatory Reform Work Plan be brought forward to June 24 because of the perceived need to make those decisions as quickly as possible?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have received a report that final consultations among the ruling parties relating to the Basic Policies on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform and the Growth Strategy are being carried out. Once an agreement between the ruling parties can be reached, we intend to immediately hold meetings of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and the Industrial Competitiveness Council, and make any related Cabinet decisions. Therefore, in any event, I believe it will depend on how the consultations among the ruling parties turn out.

REPORTER: I have a question relating to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. A female member of the assembly was the target of sexist heckling at yesterday’s Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly session. The Abe administration is calling for greater participation in society by women. How do you view this incident?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is a matter relating to a local assembly and I therefore would like to refrain from providing a comment on behalf of the Government. However, if sexist comments were indeed made, I believe the assembly would need to seriously clean up its conduct.