Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved five general and other measures, the promulgation of a treaty, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Inada made a statement concerning the Recommendation of the National Personnel Authority (NPA) regarding the remuneration of officials in the regular service, among other matters. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning the emergency grant aid in response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West African countries including the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Republic of Liberia and the Republic of Guinea. Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Furuya made a statement concerning the damages from and the status of the responses to Typhoons No. 12 and 11.

On August 7, the Government received an NPA Recommendation on revising the remuneration of officials. Today, the Ministerial Meeting Relating to Remuneration of National Public Servants held a meeting and began the work of reviewing the handling of this fiscal year’s remuneration of national public servants. During today’s meeting, the Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs explained the NPA Recommendation and then opinions were received from relevant ministers. The handling of the remuneration of national public servants will be reviewed from all angles of governmental affairs, including the Government’s financial situation and the socioeconomic situation, in order to be able to reach an appropriate conclusion based on our fundamental stance of respecting the NPA Recommendation system, which functions as a compensatory measure for the restriction on the basic labor rights of national public servants.

It has been decided that Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India will visit Japan from August 31 to September 3. During today’s Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet approved the treatment of the Prime Minister’s visit as an Official Visit. During his stay, on September 2, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan will hold an audience with Prime Minister Modi. On September 1, Prime Minister Abe will hold a Japan-India summit meeting and banquet. The two sides are expected to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations in various areas, including policies and security, economy and economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, among other matters. India is the world’s largest democratic nation and is achieving significant economic development. The Japan-India relationship is blessed with some of the largest potential of any bilateral relationship anywhere in the world. This visit will be the first full-scale overseas bilateral visit for India’s new Modi administration following its establishment in May, excluding visits to neighboring countries. Japan will take this opportunity to further deepen the strategic and global partnership between Japan and India.

I have an announcement regarding Japanese assistance in response to the Ebola virus disease. During the Cabinet meeting today, August 15, the Cabinet decided to extend assistance of US$1.5 million to three international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to support the Ebola virus disease outbreak response in West African countries. Accordingly, Japan will be extending emergency assistance totaling approximately US$2.0 million, including the emergency grant aid of US$0.52 million (financial assistance) which was extended in response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea this April. On August 8, Japan issued an infectious disease risk advisory for Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and is urging people to postpone unnecessary and non-urgent visits to these countries. In addition, we are urging Japanese nationals living in these countries to consider early evacuation. Japan will continue to coordinate with relevant organizations, including the WHO, and closely follow the moves of major countries and other developments in order to take appropriate responses for ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals.

Q&As

• The issue of the relocation of Futenma Air Station
• The Minister’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine
• The Military exercises in Northern Islands by Russia
• The Memorial Ceremony for the War dead

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in relation to the relocation of Futenma Air Station. Workers have begun placing buoys and floats off Henoko since yesterday, and this has resulted in protests in Okinawa. Can you please comment on this? Also, can you explain how the Government will be addressing this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, I understand that yesterday, workers began placing buoys and floats in order to take all necessary measures to ensure safety in going ahead with the construction work and other activities associated with the construction of an alternative facility for Futenma Air Station. I ask that you please ask the Ministry of Defense regarding the individual activities. In any case, based on Governor Nakaima’s recent approval of the land reclamation for the construction of the alternative facility for Futenma Air Station, the Government will continue to take steps to alleviate the burden of the bases in Okinawa. At the same time, we will steadily move forward with the relocation of Futenma Air Station to Henoko while making every effort to realize the quickest possible return of Futenma Air Station.

REPORTER: I have a related question. A gubernatorial election will be held in November in Okinawa. How will these relocation-related developments affect the election in your opinion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not really know. The Government, however, will steadily move forward with the construction based on the approval of the land reclamation that Governor Nakaima gave at the end of last year.

REPORTER: My question concerns this topic of the construction work in Henoko. It seems that the friction with opponents is escalating. Today, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) forbade entry even into areas which are not part of the no-entry zone. The JCG is preventing entry even into areas for which there is no legal basis for banning entry. What are the Government’s thoughts regarding this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We understand that the JCG is taking appropriate responses in accordance with laws and ordinances, while coordinating with relevant organizations, giving foremost priority to ensuring safety in the relevant sea area. Regarding the specifics, I ask that you please confirm with the JCG.

REPORTER: May I ask one more question? Buoys are being placed since yesterday. What will be the schedule going forward? For example, how much of the construction work will be completed by the end of this year?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I ask that you confirm the details with the JCG. The position of the Government remains unchanged that the construction work will steadily move forward based on Governor Nakaima’s approval of the land reclamation last year.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Shindo and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Furuya visited Yasukuni Shrine today. China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have been opposed to Japanese ministers’ visits to Yasukuni Shrine where Class-A war criminals are enshrined. The two countries are bound to protest. Can you please comment on behalf of the Japanese Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have often stated, I believe it is a completely normal practice in any country to join our palms together to pay our respects and pray for the repose of the souls of all those who had fought for our country and made ultimate sacrifices. You just mentioned that ministers visited Yasukuni Shrine. In any case, the Government’s understanding is that the visit was made in a private capacity. The view of the Government is that a minister’s visit in a private capacity is a matter of personal religious freedom, and therefore, the Government should not intervene in such matters.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a related question. Prime Minister Abe is calling for an early realization of Japan-China and Japan-ROK summit meetings. However, some observers feel that the ministers’ visits today will further delay the realization of the meetings. How do you look at the situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated moments ago, I believe in any country it is a completely normal practice to join our palms together to pay our respects and pray for the repose of the souls of all those who had fought for our country and made ultimate sacrifices. The Government would like to refrain from commenting on ministers’ visits which were made in a private capacity.

REPORTER: Russia has carried out military exercises in the Kuril Islands, which include both the islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu in the Northern Territories. I presume that the Japanese Government already lodged a protest. Nevertheless, by conducting the exercises, Russia has reaffirmed that it has effective control over the Northern Territories. Under the current circumstances, it seems that the decline of Japan-Russia relations is inevitable. How does the Government analyze the situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan lodged a strong protest to Russia, explaining that Japan cannot at all accept these military exercises based on Japan’s legal position on the Four Northern Islands. Japan’s legal position on the Four Northern Islands is already clear, and Japan can never accept Russia’s assertion. This is the position of the Government.

REPORTER: Some analysts are already saying that while President Putin’s visit to Japan in autumn was expected to make progress on the territorial negotiations, the prospect of the visit is hopelessly remote. Has the Government made any changes to the dates?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Nothing has been decided with regard to the itinerary of President Putin’s visit to Japan. In any case, the basic view of the Government is to consider this matter by judging all of elements comprehensively.

REPORTER: You have repeatedly stated that nothing has been decided. However, I understand that Japan and Russia agreed in February that President Putin would visit Japan in autumn. Are you saying that nothing has been decided with regard to his visit? Or is the visit still set to take place?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, Japan and Russia still have not reached an agreement on the details of the bilateral negotiations. At any rate, nothing has been decided at this point in time. Japan will consider this matter by taking into account an array of elements comprehensively. This remains completely unchanged.
 
REPORTER: Today is the anniversary of the end of World War II, and the Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead will take place shortly. Last year, President Kaieda of the Democratic Party of Japan criticized the Prime Minister’s address, saying that the Government did not take any responsibility for its action in the war. What is your current view on President Kaieda’s comment?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In last year’s address, the Prime Minister stated, “We will make contributions to lasting world peace to the greatest possible extent and spare no effort in working to bring about a world in which all people are able to live enriched lives.” Accordingly, I do not believe the comments of Mr. Kaieda are the case at all.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding diplomatic materials. Cables personally kept by a former diplomat have shown that in May 1944, then-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mamoru Shigemitsu considered ending the war with China through the mediation of the former Soviet Union with which Japan had concluded the Japan-Soviet Neutrality Pact. What do you think about the revelation of such historical facts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, I would like to say that the Government has not confirmed the diplomatic materials in the media reports. Therefore, I would like to refrain from making comments with regard to the individual media reports. In any case, my first hope is that studies about history will be deepened through various materials.

REPORTER: A related question. Many of the confidential diplomatic cables from that time do not exist today as they were burned or were disposed by other means. Following the entry into force of the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, will public records and archives be appropriately managed to enable studies of history by future generations? Do you have any concerns in this regard?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, public records and archives are an invaluable informational resource for the people. The Government recognizes that it has an important role to appropriately manage public records and archives and to pass them on to future generations. We believe that we need to continue to appropriately manage government documents in accordance with the Public Records and Archives Management Act, which entered into force in April 2011.

REPORTER: I would like to return to the topic of Russia’s military exercises in the Northern Territories. In connection with Russia’s military exercises, the U.S. Department of State reaffirmed its position to date of recognizing Japanese sovereignty. Can you please comment on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The United States has consistently supported the position of Japan with regard to the Northern Territories. I deem that the United States was affirming its support.

REPORTER: Changing the subject, yesterday, a newspaper of the Communist Party of China published an article which criticizes the anti-Japanese TV dramas that are mass produced in China. This topic has become a heated topic even in Japan, especially on the Internet. It is unprecedented for China to publish such an article prior to the anniversary of the end of WWII. What is your view regarding this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are aware that this article was published in the China Youth Daily yesterday. As this is about a media report of another country, the Government would like to refrain from making comments for each and every report. Speaking in general terms, however, Japan has stated its position from before that we should not turn the history issue into a political or diplomatic issue. We will follow such media reports which encourage calm discussions in China for some time to come. In any case, Japan has followed the path of a peace-loving nation from the end of WWII through today. We perceive that the course Japan has taken as a peace-loving nation has garnered significant praise from many members of the international community. It remains completely unchanged that Japan will continue to follow the path of a peace-loving nation.   

REPORTER: I have a related question. Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. I gather that the Government will start drafting Prime Minister Abe’s statement. Can you give us a sense of the schedule of the drafting process?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated a number of times during these press conferences since Prime Minister Abe took office, the Murayama Statement was released on the 50th anniversary and the Koizumi Statement on the 60th anniversary. As such, former Prime Ministers have issued the Statement in the milestones. Bearing in mind that next year will mark the 70th anniversary, Prime Minister Abe intends to release a future-oriented statement which will fit for the 21st century. In any case, we are talking about next year. We will give adequate thought to the content of the statement.