Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The meeting between Governor of Tokyo and President of ROK
• The issue of comfort women
• The Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets
• The execution on charge of drug smuggling of Japanese national in China

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding today’s meeting between Governor Masuzoe of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea (ROK). According to Governor Masuzoe, President Park stated during her meeting with Governor Masuzoe that sharing a correct recognition of history was the first step to maintaining friendly bilateral relations. This can be interpreted as the ROK giving a condition for the realization of a Japan-ROK summit meeting. How does the Japanese Government view this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not aware of the details. Precisely because there are difficult issues between our two countries, it is critically important that we maintain close communications at a variety of levels. Based on such standpoints, Japan welcomes today’s meeting between Governor Masuzoe and the ROK President. The Japanese Government will continue to work persistently to build future-oriented Japan-ROK relations from a broad perspective. 

REPORTER: I have a related question. I understand that you may not yet have an exact sense of the details of the meeting. However, do you consider that President Park’s statement about a correct recognition of history being the first step to maintaining friendly relations will stand in the way of realizing a Japan-ROK summit meeting?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The situation is the same as before. That is to say, it remains completely unchanged that Japan wishes to build future-oriented relations from a broad perspective without attaching any preconditions.

REPORTER: Regarding this matter, you have said from before that the meeting between Governor Masuzoe and President Park Geun-hye was part of inter-municipality or inter-city exchanges. What do you think were the intentions of President Park Geun-hye in bringing up the issue of history in the context of such inter-municipality or inter-city exchanges?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: President Park Geun-hye’s comment was not different from statements made previously. It does not come as any particular surprise to us. In any case, Japan’s position is clear. Japan deems that it is critically important for the leaders of the two countries to meet without any such preconditions. We are of the view that it is critically important for both countries and for the peace and stability of the region that we build future-oriented Japan-ROK relations from a broad perspective. 

REPORTER: During a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee, it was pointed out that there may be inconsistency between the view of the Japanese Government, which is that coerciveness was not involved in the recruitment of “comfort women,” and the content of the Kono Statement. Indeed, the explanation of this issue in the report of the study team of the Kono Statement is not entirely clear. A short while ago you stated that Japan’s position is clear. Can you please explain Japan’s position one more time? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A study team recently submitted an objective report regarding this point. It was made clear also in the report that coerciveness could not be found; that coerciveness was not involved. Moreover, this view was set out in a Cabinet decision of the first Abe administration. The Government’s view remains completely unchanged.

REPORTER: So that means the current administration also continues to adhere to the Kono Statement? Does that mean the Kono Statement is saying that coerciveness was not involved?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Cabinet decision of the first administration states that the Government will continue to uphold the Kono Statement as before. The Cabinet decision states that coerciveness was not involved. The Government’s view in this regard remains completely unchanged.

REPORTER: Earlier, the topic of the UN Human Rights Committee came up briefly, and I would like to ask a question in relation to this. The UN Human Rights Committee recommended that the Japanese Government prohibit propaganda such as hate speech and to punish perpetrators, as well as to enforce the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets according to strict criteria. This was the Human Rights Committee’s first review of Japan’s human rights situation in approximately six years. While its recommendations have no legal binding power, does the Japanese Government intend to take any concrete measures in response to the recommendations?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We would have to say that Japan deeply regrets that the basic position and efforts of Japan, including on the comfort women issue, were ultimately not fully understood despite Japan’s sincere explanations. As you just stated, while the recommendations have no binding power, Japan will address them appropriately upon sufficiently examining the content of the recommendations with the relevant ministries and agencies.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: This morning, a Japanese man was executed in China. This was the fifth Japanese national to be executed in China, all of whom have been executed on charges of drug smuggling. Can you please share with us your opinion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We were notified that such an execution took place. In principle, it is up to each country to decide what punishment should be imposed for any crime, taking into account such factors as the state of crime in that country and penal policy. In principle, Japan views that this is a domestic matter.

However, from the perspective of the public sentiment in Japan and the protection of Japanese nationals, the Japanese Government conveyed to the Chinese Government that Japan takes a heightened interest in the death penalty judgments handed down to Japanese nationals in China, including the case in question.

Drug-related crimes are grave crimes not only in Japan but also in the international community. Japan understands that to counter such crimes many countries impose severe sentences, including the death penalty. Japan will continue to carry out awareness-raising activities to prevent Japanese nationals from becoming parties to or involved in such crimes.