Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s visit to ROK
• The situation in Ukraine
• The Japan’s trade balance
• The Japan-ROK relationship

REPORTER: Governor Masuzoe of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is currently visiting the Republic of Korea (ROK). Tomorrow, he is set to hold a meeting with President Park Geun-hye. Can you please explain the Japanese Government’s expectations for the meeting if any? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not fully aware of the details of the Governor’s meeting with the President. While there are difficult issues between Japan and the ROK, we view that it is critically important to maintain close communications at a variety of levels.

REPORTER: If I may confirm, there are reports that the ROK side made the announcement about the meeting. Does this mean that the Japanese Government was unaware of this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is correct.

REPORTER: In connection with this, I was wondering why you think President Park Geun-hye, despite not responding to Prime Minister Abe’s calls for a summit meeting, agreed to meet with Governor Masuzoe.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from commenting on behalf of the Government. However, I will just say that Governor Masuzoe of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is visiting the ROK in the context of local government exchanges. I believe Seoul and Tokyo are sister cities or share some other similar relationship, and exchanges between the two city governments are taking place for the first time in over a decade, if I am not mistaken. As I stated moments ago, there is no harm in holding meetings through a variety of channels.

REPORTER: I have a related question. The other day, Governor Masuzoe came to the Prime Minister’s Office. Did the Prime Minister hand over to the Governor anything like a personal letter addressed to President Park Geun-hye?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I was present on that occasion. The Prime Minister and the Governor exchanged a variety of opinions. However, I would like to refrain from disclosing the details.

REPORTER: Changing the subject, I have a question in relation to the situation in Ukraine. Amid growing criticisms of the inflow of arms from Russia to Ukraine, there are reports that France will sell two large-scale landing ships to Russia. The Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State has said that this was inappropriate. Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom has also criticized that this was unthinkable. What is the Japanese Government’s view regarding the sale of the ships?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the Government is of course aware of such news reports. I believe an array of discussions is currently taking place within the European Union, and the Government would like to refrain from making comments. On the other hand, however, there has been information from before that one of the two ships to be exported from France to Russia will be deployed to the Far East. Therefore, Japan will closely monitor the situation from the standpoint of security.

REPORTER: My question concerns the trade balance. Japan’s trade balance for the first half of this year from January to June was released a short while ago, and Japan’s trade deficit reached a record high of over 7.5 trillion yen. Can you please share your reaction on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the trade balance for the first half of 2014 was a record 7.598 trillion yen deficit. We consider that various factors were behind the trade deficit increase, including the high percentage of foreign-currency-denominated imports while exports remained flat, the significant impact of the yen’s depreciation, and a surge in last minute demand in March associated with the increase of the consumption tax and the tax for countermeasures against global warming. In any case, with regard to the economic outlook, we expect that Japanese exports will gradually recover as the U.S. economy shows clear signs of recovery and overseas economies are on a moderate recovery trend.

REPORTER: With regard to the Japan-ROK relationship, it is reported that Takeo Kawamura, Director-General of the Election Strategy Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party, expressed the view that Japan should resume payments of atonement money which were previously paid out by the Asian Women’s Fund. What is your opinion regarding this? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, as I am unaware of the exact statement made by House of Representatives member Kawamura, I would like to refrain from making comments. However, I believe that Mr. Kawamura was expressing his own personal opinion.

(Abridged)