Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The last minute cancellation of the reservation for an event marking the SDF’s foundation in ROK
• The issue concerning Osprey training in locations outside of Okinawa

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the last minute cancellation by a Lotte Hotel in Seoul of the Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) reservation for an event marking the SDF's foundation. During a press conference on July 11, you expressed your intent to lodge a protest with the hotel and communicate the Government's concerns to the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK). However, today the spokesperson for the ROK's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told journalists that the Japanese Government never lodged a protest, nor did it communicate its concern. Did the Japanese Government actually express its concern?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Japanese Government considers this issue to primarily be one between the Japanese Embassy and the hotel. During the press conference, I said that the Japanese Government conveyed our concerns to the ROK Government. And we did indeed convey our concerns.

REPORTER: May I then assume that the answer that the spokesperson of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave to the journalists today was not factually correct?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not know what exactly the spokesperson said. In any case, we did in fact convey our concerns to the ROK Government.

REPORTER: I believe that a protest was lodged to the hotel through the Japanese Embassy. How were the Japanese Government's concerns conveyed to the ROK Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We conveyed our concerns via the Japanese Embassy.

(Abridged)　

REPORTER: I would like to ask another question on the same topic. Does the Japanese Government intend to take any further action other than making a protest?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said, this issue is primarily one between the Japanese Embassy and the hotel and we therefore believe that the issue should be resolved between those two parties. Nevertheless, we did also convey our concerns to the ROK Government. There is nothing more or less to the matter.

REPORTER: Please allow me to ask another question on this topic. You just said that a protest was lodged to the hotel via the Japanese Embassy. Could you tell us what kind of explanation or excuse the hotel provided to the Embassy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Regardless of the reason, the hotel's decision to take such action the day before the event should not happen in a liberal society. As such, the Embassy conveyed to the hotel that it found the matter extremely regrettable. It is now up to the Embassy and hotel to solve this problem. Therefore I do not consider this to be something in which the Government should intervene. At the same time, while I do not believe the Government should comment on each and every individual matter like this, this particular incident was so unreasonable that we decided to convey our concerns to the ROK Government via the Japanese Embassy.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: A U.S. Forces' Osprey transport aircraft arrived at Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture earlier today. I understand that the Government is considering allowing Osprey training in locations outside of Okinawa Prefecture in the interest of reducing the burden borne by Okinawa. However, this marked the first flight of Osprey aircraft in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and local municipalities and residents have expressed their concerns over safety. Could you share with us your thoughts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, as I have said on numerous occasions, Okinawa Prefecture is currently bearing more than 70% of the burden placed on Japan by the U.S. bases. The Government has always sought to take into consideration the feelings of the people of Okinawa as we work to eliminate the dangers presented by Futenma Air Station and relocate it to Henoko. At the same time, amidst an extremely challenging national security environment we must ensure Japan's deterrence capacity. Therefore, we are working on the issue in the recognition that this is a matter of extreme importance for the safety of all people throughout Japan. In light of this, the Government has explored, from various perspectives, the possibility of holding Osprey aircraft training in locations outside of Okinawa Prefecture. We are aware that local residents have concerns and worries about the flights of the aircraft, and when the Government receives information about such activity from the U.S., as was the case today, we will notify the relevant municipalities as soon as possible via the Ministry of Defense. Furthermore, the Government will work even harder to fulfil the promises we made to Okinawa Prefecture, as we seek to reduce the burden placed on Okinawa by the bases of the U.S. Forces, including the matter of Osprey aircraft.