Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Today, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) deemed that the Sendai Nuclear Power Station conformed to the new regulatory requirements and decided to approve changes in the reactor installations.

The Strategic Energy Plan identifies that nuclear power is an important base-load power source contributing to the stability of the energy supply-demand structure, on the major premise of ensuring safety. The Plan also sets forth that in the case the NRA confirms that the nuclear power plants conform to the new regulatory requirements, which are of the most stringent level in the world, the Government of Japan will follow the NRA’s judgment and will proceed with restarting the nuclear power plants.

With regard to the Sendai Nuclear Power Station, the NRA confirmed that the power station maintains the safety level required to restart operations. Accordingly, the Government will proceed with restarting the Sendai Nuclear Power Station in accordance with the Strategic Energy Plan. Pursuant to the Strategic Energy Plan, we will work to obtain the understanding and cooperation of host municipalities regarding the Government’s policy. We will be providing careful explanations of the results of the review of the power station’s conformity with the new regulatory requirements, the energy policy, the nuclear power policy, measures to prevent nuclear disasters, among other items.

Furthermore, the Government will provide assistance to further enhance local disaster management plans, including disaster recovery plans. The Government will also check the content of these plans and continue to work to improve and strengthen them.

The process of restarting operations at the power station will start after the necessary procedures required by laws and ordinances are undertaken, including the NRA’s approval of the construction plan. The Government will proceed responsibly with the restarting of operations in accordance with relevant laws and ordinances.  

We have received a request from the Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture to make the Government’s policy clear in writing. In response, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry will be presenting the Government’s policy which I noted moments ago in writing.

I will now take your questions.

Q&As

• The report of the photo of a representative of Japanese far-right organization and Ministers
• The restarting of the nuclear power station
• The Summer Davos held in Tianjin
• Two years since nationalization of Senkaku Islands
• The Japan-China summit meeting at APEC

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It has come to light that three Diet members from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Takaichi and Chairwoman of the LDP Policy Research Council Inada, were photographed with a male representative of a Japanese far-right organization. This has sparked controversy among some people. If the Government has received any reports on this can you please share the information with us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have been informed that this has been reported. However, I understand that they neither met with nor talked with this individual. He was accompanying another person. The three were asked to take a photograph with him and they agreed. That is all.

REPORTER: Who informed you of this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I heard it from the minister directly.

REPORTER: Just Ms. Takaichi?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes.

REPORTER: This matter has stirred considerable controversy among the foreign media and elsewhere, which are saying that this is proof that the Abe administration has shifted to the right and so forth. How does the Government intend to deal with this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: With regard to this matter, I understand that this individual, whom they had absolutely no contact with, was accompanying another individual. When he requested to be photographed with Minister Takaichi and Chairwoman Inada, they agreed. When asked about this, the only explanation we can give is that they have absolutely no association with this individual.

REPORTER: Returning to the subject of the restarting of the nuclear power station, many people in the host community are voicing their concerns. How will the Government be addressing their concerns? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated, the Government will be providing careful explanations to obtain the understanding of the local municipalities.

I understand that Kagoshima Prefecture will be holding briefing sessions for residents in five municipalities in the Sendai area. The Government would like to take such opportunities to provide sufficient and careful explanations. 

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Minister Amari and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seko are attending the Summer Davos being held in Tianjin. What was the aim behind dispatching these two individuals? Also, can you tell us whether they will be meeting with Chinese Communist Party executives or senior Government officials on the sidelines?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, Minister Amari, Minister Shimomura, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seko are attending the Summer Davos. We understand that ministers, company executives, and experts from various countries are gathering for this meeting to discuss a variety of themes related to the economy. The three individuals are attending the meeting as Japan considers it critically important that minister-level officials attend the meeting and hold discussions with ministers and company executives from other countries regarding the current growth strategy and global issues.

REPORTER: Are there any meetings planned with senior Chinese officials?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At this moment in time there are no meetings in particular scheduled with senior Chinese officials.

Two-year anniversary of the nationalization of the Senkaku Islands

REPORTER: It will be exactly two years tomorrow since the Democratic Party of Japan-led government nationalized the Senkaku Islands in September 2012. China still continues to lodge criticisms against Japan on the grounds of the nationalization. Even today, the Japan Coast Guard spotted Chinese Government vessels intruding into Japanese territorial waters. How does the Abe administration assess the nationalization policy, and what is its view regarding the current situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the position of the Japanese Government is that there is no doubt that, in light of historical facts and based upon international law, the Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of Japanese territory. Indeed, the Senkaku Islands are under the legitimate control of Japan. There exists no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved concerning the Senkaku Islands.

The situation has remained unpredictable ever since Japan acquired and retained ownership of the three Senkaku Islands on September 11, 2012, because of the multiple intrusions into Japanese territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands by Chinese Government vessels. With regard to patrolling the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, the relevant ministries and agencies will remain vigilant in working together to collect information and take all possible monitoring and surveillance measures.

REPORTER: Prime Minister Abe has made a number of comments regarding the Japan-China summit meeting at APEC in November. I have two questions. First, what is the current status of the arrangements? Secondly, if the summit meeting is realized, will Japan be prepared to exchange views with China regarding the Senkaku Islands?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, as the Prime Minister stated in his press conferences and doorstep interviews, he hopes to hold a Japan-China summit meeting on the occasion of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting to be held in Beijing this November. The issues between the two countries make it all the more important that the leaders engage in open dialogue without attaching any preconditions.

Regarding your question about a hypothetical, I would like to refrain from answering the question other than to say that if they meet, I would anticipate a variety of views being exchanged as would be suitable for the second and third largest economies in the world.

REPORTER: To confirm about Summer Davos, your wording was that there are no meetings scheduled at this time between either Mr. Amari or Mr. Shimomura and senior Chinese officials. Are you implying that meetings may be held?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not know. Many Japanese ministers are currently there and I assume many senior Chinese officials are there as well. In this context, nothing has been decided at the present moment in time.

(Abridged)