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 one general measure, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Arimura made a statement concerning Suicide Prevention Week in FY2014, and Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits, among other matters.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Arimura and I made statements concerning the World Assembly for Women in Tokyo: WAW! Tokyo 2014.

Effective today, Mr. Tatsuya Ito, House of Representatives member, will be appointed Special Advisor to Minister of State Ishiba. I understand that Special Advisor Ito will be in charge of priority matters relating to vitalizing local economies, including businesses of small- and medium-sized enterprises in National Strategic Economic Growth Areas and other areas.  

Q&As

• The release of the annals of Emperor Showa
• The status of Self Defense Forces
• The extension of Japan’s continental shelf
• The issue of abduction

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Today, the Imperial Household Agency released the annals of Emperor Showa. The annals quote the diary of the Grand Chamberlain. They also contain detailed records of Emperor Showa’s sentiments and thoughts in the lead-up to the end of World War II and the February 26 incident. Can you please tell us the significance of releasing the annals as well as your assessment of them?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the annals of Emperor Showa have been presented by the Imperial Household Agency to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. It is very moving to remember the life of Emperor Showa. We hope that the annals will allow a wider circle of people to understand the achievements of Emperor Showa. 

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Minister of Defense Eto stated during a recent interview with various media that if the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are participating in minesweeping operations in sea lanes, even in the case that the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopts a resolution and the minesweeping evolves into a collective security measure, the SDF will not suspend its operations, provided that the new conditions for invoking the right of self-defense are met. The New Komeito has been quite cautious on this matter, whereas it seems that the Minister has taken quite a bold step forward by making such statements. Can you please share your comments? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the Prime Minister has also answered at the Diet, it all comes down to whether or not the so-called three new conditions are met. The Government considers that minesweeping is permitted under the Constitution provided that the three conditions are met.

REPORTER: During the Cabinet meeting a short while ago, a cabinet order was approved to extend Japan’s continental shelf by roughly 180,000 square kilometers in waters north of Okinotori Island. What is the significance of this order, including the significance for Japan’s resource development?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Cabinet decided to establish a cabinet order concerning the extension of the continental shelf in two sea areas as you noted moments ago, in light of the decision made by the Headquarters for Ocean Policy in July of this year. After the cabinet order enters into force on October 1, Japan will exercise sovereign rights over the two sea areas where the continental shelf will be extended, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Government deems that this will help Japan enhance its national interests through the development of resources and also in other respects.

REPORTER: I have a related question. The United Nations has put off its conclusion with regard to Japan’s application for extending the continental shelf in waters south of Okinotori Island, with China and the Republic of Korea protesting that Okinotori Island is not an island. How will Japan be persuading the UN?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is true that the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf has put off its recommendation regarding the continental shelf in waters south of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge. Japan will continue to persistently urge all parties concerned so that a recommendation is issued at an early date.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the abduction issue. I believe it was anticipated that North Korea would submit its reinvestigation report as early as during the second week of September, but you are saying it will be from the end of the summer to early autumn. Do you now deem it unlikely that the Government will receive the report by the end of this week?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated from the outset, the report was scheduled to be submitted sometime during a very long span from the end of the summer to early autumn. This remains unchanged.

(Abridged)