Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issue regarding dissolution of the House of Representatives
• The number of foreign visitors to Japan

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the right of collective self-defense. At yesterday’s press conference, the Prime Minister stated that he ought to seek a popular mandate on major policy changes. I believe the Prime Minister was referring to the tax system. There is no question that the tax system is a major issue that has implications on the assets of the people. At the same time, the Government’s Cabinet decision this summer to change the constitutional interpretation of the right of collective self-defense is also a major issue that concerns the security of the people. Why did you not dissolve the House of Representatives and seek a popular mandate for that decision? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), already pledged to revise the Constitution in our campaign pledges for past elections of the House of Representatives and House of Councillors. Therefore, it was unnecessary.

REPORTER: I have a question on something I asked this morning as well. What constitutes the line separating victory from defeat in the upcoming House of Representatives election? Even today, the Prime Minister’s response of a “majority of seats” has given rise to dissenting opinions from among the ruling parties. There are those who say that this goal is too low, and is the kind of target that leaders of opposition parties set when seeking merely to take control of the government. Some say that the Government should be aiming for a “stable majority” or an “absolute stable majority,” in other words the number of seats the Government or ruling parties would need to ensure that the Diet is able to pass the bills necessary for policy execution. What are your views? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the Prime Minister stated, in principle it is a majority of seats. I think that is the case in principle.

REPORTER: I have a related question. The Government and ruling parties will of course set out campaign pledges for the upcoming House of Representatives election. Right now, the Government and ruling parties have more than an “absolute stable majority” of seats. In my opinion, the Government and ruling parties should set a goal that will make clear to the people how many seats are needed to ensure that the House of Representatives passes the bills necessary for policy execution, and thereby achieve its campaign pledges. What is your opinion? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A majority of seats will suffice, will it not?

REPORTER: I have a question concerning social security. During this morning’s press conference, you stated that the schedule for enhancing the social security system would need to be revised in light of the postponement of the consumption tax increase. Were you referring to the postponement of the launch of the 5,000 yen monthly payments for low-income pensioners? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I was speaking about the overall schedule. There is of course the issue of benefits and liabilities. This lies at the root of politics. Under such circumstances, in April of next year, we would like to launch the child-rearing support system in particular as scheduled. There is also the enhancement of pension and medical services. With regard to what these services will entail, we will do our utmost to meet the expectations of the people during the budget formulation process.    

REPORTER: To follow up, does that mean that you were not referring to the postponement of any services in particular?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I was not. However, as the consumption tax will not be increased, there will naturally be services that cannot be implemented from the standpoint of benefits and liabilities. Any responsible political party must rank social security services in an order of priority during the budget formulation process, rather than spending recklessly on all services. That is my opinion.  

REPORTER: I have a question in connection with the very first question. Are you saying that because the LDP already secured a victory in the general election based on its draft revisions of the Constitution, you consider that this matter obtained a popular mandate? Furthermore, do you therefore believe that you no longer need to seek a popular mandate?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There are of course a variety of issues that require a popular mandate. But in terms of security, this was already identified as a campaign pledge of the LDP. It was in this context that the Cabinet decision was adopted. 

REPORTER: An example of policies that were not included in the LDP’s campaign pledge is the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets. Some criticize the Government’s moves, saying that this too constituted a major policy change. Why do you seek a popular mandate for the consumption tax increase and not for the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is not that a popular mandate needs to be sought for each and every policy change. A popular mandate is sought for major changes. A tax issue is the most important decision that a politician will make. The administration led by the Democratic Party of Japan initially stated that they would not raise the consumption tax but in the end they did. That is how the consumption tax increase came about. In this sense, we consider that the tax system is obviously the most important issue for the people, and thus, we would like to seek a popular mandate. It was in this context that the Prime Minister declared that he would exercise his authority to dissolve the House of Representatives.

REPORTER: Related to the previous question, I agree with you that a popular mandate needs to be sought when the Government is asking the people to bear an increased tax burden. However, given that this time you are postponing the burden increase, it seems to me that there is not much of a need to seek a popular mandate. Do you not think so?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A consumption tax increase will have direct implications on Abenomics, which is aimed at revitalizing the Japanese economy and exiting deflation, one of the foremost priorities for the Prime Minister. Therefore, a popular mandate will be sought in line with the Prime Minister’s decision. It is the Government that determines what a popular mandate should be sought for and should not be sought for. In this sense, the Prime Minister determined that the tax increase was the most important issue for the people.

REPORTER: I have a related question. As was noted earlier, I imagine that the postponement of the consumption tax increase will prevent the Government from enhancing some of the social security services. Are you nevertheless saying that when running the election campaign, you will not be explaining to the people which services will not be implemented?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated a short while ago, there is the issue of benefits and liabilities. As such, we will be ranking the services in an order of priority in the process of formulating the budget. There is nothing more to it.

REPORTER: I would like to change the subject to the number of foreign visitors to Japan. The Government announced today that the number of foreign visitors to Japan from January to October of this year already exceeded last year’s number to set a new record. Can you please share with us your reaction and the factors that contributed to this? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the number of foreign visitors to Japan through October was 11 million people and has already exceeded the number of foreign visitors to Japan for all of last year. The Government has implemented various measures based on our major policy of implementing regulatory reforms, including the relaxation of visa requirements and this year’s expansion of tax-free items. I gather that these measures were behind the dramatic increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan. Furthermore, a Japan-China summit meeting was recently held, and we will press ahead with various measures, including the relaxation of visa requirements for Chinese tourists. In this context, we consider that tourism will also play a vital role for Japan’s growth strategy and the vitalization of local economies.   

REPORTER: I would like to return to the first question. You stated that the issue of the right of collective self-defense does not require a popular mandate, as constitutional revision was a campaign pledge of the LDP. What I find rather disturbing is that the result of the elections meant that the LDP did not have the seats to revise the Constitution, and on this basis, the Government changed the constitutional interpretation by adopting a Cabinet decision. Changing the constitutional interpretation is indeed a major policy decision and change, and is an issue for which I believe you should seek a popular mandate. What is the difference…?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We completely disagree. We have responded at the Diet that approving the limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense falls within the scope of the existing interpretation of the Constitution. That is the bottom line.

REPORTER: I would like to once again change the subject. A short while ago, Your Party has decided to disband. Can you please share your comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from making comments about other parties on behalf of the Government.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Opinions within Your Party were split between cooperating with the ruling parties and forming a united front with the opposition parties. What is your assessment as a member of a ruling party?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Could you say that again?

REPORTER: Some members of Your Party wished to cooperate with the ruling parties and this caused a split in the party.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, it is about policy. The more people there are that express understanding for our policies, the better.