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 seven general and other measures, draft bills, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the findings of a study regarding the simplification and streamlining of regulations, and Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits.

Today, a meeting of the Ministerial Council on Prices was convened before the Cabinet meeting. During today’s meeting, the Ministerial Council decided to approve the appraisal policy for Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc.’s (HEPCO) application to make changes to the supply provisions. As a result of a rigorous review that was conducted pursuant to the Electricity Business Act, it was decided that the percentage increase in the electricity prices for private customers would be reduced from the requested 17.03% to 15.33%. Furthermore, to mitigate the impact of the price change, the requested increase would be further reduced by 2.90% to 12.43% until the end of next March. In approving the changes to the supply provisions, conditions were attached which require the sequential implementation of price reductions in light of the restarting of nuclear power stations. 

Prime Minister Abe will visit Milan, Italy from tomorrow, October 15, to October 18 to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) 10 Summit Meeting. Prime Minister Abe will be holding bilateral meetings with leaders attending the Summit Meeting. The Prime Minister will also be holding the “NB8 (Nordic-Baltic Eight) + Japan” Summit Meeting with eight Nordic and Baltic countries. The ASEM Summit Meeting is an opportunity for Japan to show to the leaders of Asian and European countries how Japan is taking steps to promote the growth of the world economy and address global issues and how Japan is putting “Proactive Contribution to Peace” into practice in view of the international and regional situations. We look forward to deepening and expanding Japan’s diplomacy through bilateral meetings with participating leaders and through other opportunities. 

Q&As

• The nine minister’s meeting of the National Security Council
• The Japan-China relations
• The Annual Autumn Festival of Yasukuni Shrine
• The reincrease of the margin of HEPCO’s price
• The official activity of First Secretary of North Korea
• The situation of the meeting arrangement during the G20

REPORTER: Can you tell us the content of the nine ministers’ meeting of the National Security Council that was held before the Cabinet meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The meeting was a briefing on the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets and on other relevant cabinet orders.

REPORTER: Also, can you please elaborate on the content of today’s Cabinet decisions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Guidelines were developed taking into account the opinions which were received during the meetings of the Council for the Protection of Information as well as during the solicitation of public comments. The Guidelines establish mechanisms designed to ensure the appropriate execution of the Act, including a ban against the designation of “secrets” for concealment purposes and the establishment of bodies that check whether or not the designation of “secret” is appropriate. We will continue to provide careful explanations to the people about these mechanisms in order to dispel their concerns. 

REPORTER: I have one more related question. Concerns have always been voiced that the designation of “secrets” would be arbitrary under the Guidelines. Do you perceive that today’s Cabinet decisions were able to dispel such concerns? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated moments ago, it is true that the public had such concerns and anxieties. We accepted them humbly. And in order to prevent such concerns from materializing under the Guidelines, we developed mechanisms to ensure the appropriate execution of the Act, taking into account the opinions which were received during the meetings of the Council for the Protection of Information as well as during the solicitation of public comments as I just noted.

REPORTER: According to media reports, on October 11, Director-General Ihara of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) visited China for arranging a Japan-China summit meeting. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is the job of the Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau to exchange wide-ranging views on a daily basis with Chinese and other countries’ officials. In this regard, I believe I should not disclose any details.

REPORTER: I have one more question. It has been reported that Secretary General Yachi of the National Security Secretariat was also present at the meeting between President Xi Jinping and former Prime Minister Fukuda during his visit to China at the end of July. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is no truth to such reports.

REPORTER: A short while ago, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Takaichi expressed her intention to visit Yasukuni Shrine for the Annual Autumn Festival. What is your view on this? Also, can you once again explain the Abe Cabinet’s stance regarding Cabinet members’ visits to Yasukuni Shrine?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Since the inauguration of the second Abe administration, the Abe government has maintained the stance that if Cabinet members wish to visit Yasukuni Shrine in a private capacity, then that is up to the Cabinet members themselves to decide. We believe it is essentially the same in any country to solemnly pray for the repose of the souls of all those who died for their country and wish for peace.

REPORTER: I have a related question. The Annual Autumn Festival will be starting this weekend. Do you yourself wish to visit Yasukuni Shrine? China has said that the realization of a bilateral summit meeting would be conditional on the Prime Minister’s pledge not to visit Yasukuni Shrine. Do you have any comments regarding the Prime Minister’s visit to the shrine?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated from before, I will not disclose whether the Prime Minister will or will not be visiting Yasukuni Shrine.

REPORTER: I understand that at the meeting of the Ministerial Council on Prices, the margin of HEPCO’s price re-increase was decided. A lot of concerns have been expressed by local residents and companies. How will the Government be addressing their concerns?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated earlier, as a result of a rigorous review, it was decided that the price hike would be reduced to 15.33% from the requested 17.03%. Furthermore, measures will be taken to mitigate the impact of the price change, and minimize the impact on the people and companies as much as possible. At the same time, in approving the changes to the supply provisions, conditions were attached requiring the sequential implementation of price reductions in light of the situation of the restarting of nuclear power stations. The decision was made based on a comprehensive examination of the current situation.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the official activities of First Secretary Kim Jong-un of the Workers’ Party of Korea of North Korea. Although there was no news of his activities for over one month, a photograph was published in this morning’s newspaper showing the First Secretary walking with a cane. To what extent is the Japanese Government aware of the health status of First Secretary Kim Jong-un?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, Japan constantly collects information and conducts analyses on the official activities of First Secretary and First Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-un and the situation in North Korea. However, the Government would like to refrain from disclosing the details.

REPORTER: It has been reported that arrangements are being made to hold a Japan-U.S.-Australia summit meeting during the G20 which will be held in November in Australia. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Nothing has been decided yet regarding the itinerary of the Prime Minister during the G20.

REPORTER: It has been reported that MOFA has started considering whether or not it will relax the requirements for issuing multiple entry visas to affluent Chinese tourists that would allow them to enter and leave Japan as many times as they wish to until the expiration of the visa. Is this true? And if so, what is the objective? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the number of Chinese people that visited Japan this year is already approaching last year’s total. The Government considers that holding proactive people-to-people exchanges will lead to deepening mutual understanding and further economic growth in Japan and China. Against this backdrop, it is true that people in China wish for the relaxation of tourism visas. In Japan, the relaxation of visa requirements for certain countries is to be determined by comprehensively taking into account various factors, such as bilateral relations and diplomatic significance. As of now, nothing has been decided regarding the relaxation of visa requirements for Chinese nationals.