Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Belgium and Italy from Tuesday, May 3 to Saturday, May 7, circumstances permitting. In Belgium, the Prime Minister will attend the G7 Summit to be held in Brussels. During the upcoming G7 Summit, candid exchanges of views will take place at summit meetings regarding a broad range of issues, including the world economy, the situation in Ukraine, and energy. Japan believes it is very meaningful that policy coordination is carried out through the G7 Summit. In Italy, the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral summit meeting with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The leaders will exchange views regarding such topics as cooperation towards economic growth, including the Japan-EU economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations, and the international situation. Prime Minister Abe will also visit the Vatican and will have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis.

Q&As

• The IISS Asian Security Summit
• The right of collective self-defense
• The need for concluding a General Security of Military Information Agreement with the ROK

(Abridged)

REPORTER: During the IISS Asian Security Summit which was held in Singapore this past weekend, a senior member of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) objected to the remarks made by Prime Minister Abe and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel that urged China to exercise self-restraint. What is the Japanese Government’s reaction to the objection?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, with regard to the remarks made by the senior member of the PLA, we view that the remarks made assertions based on a complete misconception of facts and included slanderous content about Japan. Therefore, Japan is lodging a strong protest against the Chinese PLA.

REPORTER: What is the content of this protest, and through what channels is Japan lodging this protest?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Japanese delegation is doing this. Also, during the Q&As in the following session, the Japanese Ambassador to Singapore explained once again Japan’s views regarding the rule of law and “Proactive Contribution to Peace” in relation to Prime Minister Abe’s keynote address. The Ambassador explained that the Japanese Government will continue to play a positive role for peace in the Asia-Pacific region and the world with transparency, as well as through actions, not by words.

REPORTER: I would like to hear your comments regarding the results of Yomiuri Shimbun’s public opinion poll. More than 70% of the respondents supported the revision of the constitutional interpretation of the right of collective self-defense, including allowing the limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense. Moreover, respondents were asked about individual case examples, and over half of the respondents supported four of the five case examples. The results showed that there is increasing public understanding also for the individual case examples. How do you assess these results?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: After the Prime Minister gave his press conference, this matter was discussed at the Diet and at other fora. In this context, if those were really the results, I perceive that the people are beginning to have a deeper understanding of the Government’s commitment to security; that is, the Government’s commitment to protect the lives and property of the people and the security of the nation.

REPORTER: The other day, Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) announced a joint statement for dealing with North Korea. In connection to this, if I may ask once again, what is Japan’s view at this point in time regarding the need for concluding a General Security of Military Information Agreement with the ROK?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, the Government of Japan deems it critically important that a foundation is created between Japan and the ROK for the exchange of defense intelligence. Japan will continue to seize various opportunities to negotiate with the ROK.

(Abridged)