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 20 general and other measures, draft bills, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made a statement concerning the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Japanese nationals; Minister Yamaguchi made a statement concerning the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Japanese researchers; and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Minister Yamaguchi made a statement concerning the launch of H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 25 with Geostationary Meteorological Satellite “Himawari-8” onboard.

Today, prior to the Cabinet meeting, the first meeting of the Headquarters for Creating a Society in which All Women Shine was held. The Headquarters decided on a policy package for creating a society in which all women shine. The government will take a unified approach to promote the measures incorporated into the policy package.

Today, the second meeting of the Council on Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan was held before the Cabinet meeting. With regard to the agenda, Minister Ishiba presented on the issues concerning the “long-term vision” and “comprehensive strategy” of the Council, which will be compiled by the end of the year.

Q&As

• The interim report on the revision of the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation
• The issue of the alleviation of burden of Okinawa
• The freedom of press and freedom of expression in ROK

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The category of “situations in areas surrounding Japan” was deleted from the interim report on the revision of the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation. Chair Shigeki Sato of the Foreign Relations and National Security Committee of Komeito has expressed the view that this category should remain in the report in light of the many years of discussions that took place over it. How will the Government and ruling parties be working this out in the lead-up to the compilation of the final report?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: You’re right that the term “situations in areas surrounding Japan” is not used in this interim report. However, this is only an interim report, and we are still midway in the process. The interim report does not determine the handling of the concept of “situations in areas surrounding Japan” in the revised Guidelines. This issue will be thoroughly addressed over the course of holding various discussions.

REPORTER: I believe the ministers concerned with Okinawan affairs met this morning. In concrete terms, what was discussed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of State for Okinawa Affairs, and I – the four of us – held a meeting. We affirmed that all four ministers would cooperate with each other to respond to the wishes of the people of Okinawa in working to alleviate the burden of the military bases in Okinawa and implement measures for the promotion and development of Okinawa.

REPORTER: My question concerns the case of former Seoul bureau chief of Sankei Shimbun. Was there any rebuttal from the Republic of Korea (ROK)? Also, can you please tell us how the Government will be responding, if at all?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, with regard to this matter, as I also stated yesterday, it is common sense in democratic nations in the world that law enforcement agencies restrain themselves as much as possible from interfering with freedom of the press and freedom of expression, which should be respected to the fullest extent. In this context, the indictment is far removed from international common sense, and is an act which is unacceptable in democratic nations. This is something the Government would like to critically point out. In addition, the Japanese Embassy in the ROK is making a strong request to the ROK regarding this matter.

(Abridged)