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 extraordinary Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved two general measures. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Finance made a statement concerning the estimates of the FY2015 budget, among other matters. Minister Arimura made a statement concerning the results of the review of government mechanisms and the fixed number of personnel in FY2015. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made statements concerning the results of the review of independent administrative agencies, among other agencies in FY2015, the operational reforms of ministries, and the outline of the FY2015 tax reform (local tax).

The National Security Council held a meeting before the Cabinet meeting. During the meeting, the main items of the defense capability build-up in FY2015 were deliberated and decided as shown in the material distributed to you.

Q&As

REPORTER: Tomorrow, members of the ROK-Japan Parliamentarians’ League of the Republic of Korea (ROK) will be visiting Japan. Will the Prime Minister be meeting with them? That is my first question.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A courtesy call on the Prime Minister is currently being arranged.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the issue of North Korea’s nuclear development. There are rumors that the chief negotiators for the Six-Party Talks from Japan, the United States, and the ROK will be holding a meeting in Tokyo this month. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are now coordinating for the chief negotiators for the Six-Party Talks from the three countries of Japan, the United States, and the ROK to hold a meeting in Tokyo. The exact dates have not been decided as of now. The arrangements are still being made. With regard to North Korea, Japan considers it critical for the three countries of Japan, the United States, and the ROK, which share common interests on peace and stability in the region, to strengthen their policy coordination and work together. In particular, Japan has worked closely with the United States and will support the United States’ response to issues, including the cyber-attack at the end of last year and North Korea’s announcement that it stood ready to impose a temporary moratorium on its nuclear tests on the condition that the U.S.-ROK joint military exercises are suspended. To begin with, North Korea’s nuclear tests are in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, and the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. The three countries of Japan, the United States, and the ROK are closely working together with the recognition that North Korea’s assertions are unacceptable.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Is this meeting being organized at the initiative of the Government of Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The meeting is being arranged given the critical importance of Japan-U.S. relations and for the countries to mutually coordinate, rather than at the initiative of the Government of Japan.

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the FY2015 budget. I recall that in the last three years, the budget for Okinawa matched or exceeded its budget request. However, the next fiscal year’s budget for Okinawa has been cut. What is your understanding of the reasons for this cut?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The necessary funds have been comprehensively and proactively secured for promoting the measures for the development of Okinawa in accordance with the Act on Special Measures for the Promotion and Development of Okinawa. In the FY2015 budget, 334 billion yen has been set aside for the promotion and development of Okinawa. In particular, 33 billion yen has been set aside for the construction of a second runway at Naha Airport, as per the agreement reached at the end of last year. Furthermore, the necessary funds have been earmarked for Okinawa’s promotion and development subsidies as well as for the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology.  

REPORTER: The reduction in Okinawa’s promotion and development subsidies stands out in the draft budget. The amount deemed necessary for the promotion and development subsidies in the budget request was nearly equal to the amounts of the past three years. So why is the amount lower this year?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There were a lot of unused funds this fiscal year. There are unused funds and carry-forward funds. The budget was established upon examining such funds.

REPORTER: The Governor of Okinawa Prefecture changed last year. Due to the change in Okinawa’s circumstances, or rather, due to the change in the Governor, the stance of Okinawa has changed, especially towards the base issue. And this is affecting the budget. In other words, there are speculations that the Okinawa promotion and development budget and the base issue are linked.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is absolutely no truth to that. After all, we have clearly secured more funds than the 30 billion yen-level that the Government promised Governor Nakaima. I am talking about the budget for the promotion and development of Okinawa.

REPORTER: You mean 300 billion yen?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, we have fully secured these funds. Given Japan’s difficult financial circumstances, it is natural that we appraise the carry-forward funds and unused funds.

REPORTER: My last question. The Government has committed to providing 300 billion yen every year during the duration of the Okinawa Promotion and Development Plan. Is it correct to understand that the Government will continue to provide this funding next fiscal year and the following fiscal years? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, this was a promise made between Governor Nakaima and the Prime Minister. In this regard, it was a promise made between the Government and the prefecture. We will take steady steps in accordance with this promise. 

REPORTER: Even after FY2016?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the budget for Okinawa’s promotion and development. There were unused funds and carry-forward funds even in the FY2013 budget. Nevertheless, last fiscal year, the Government satisfied Governor Nakaima’s request to the fullest extent and allocated funds that exceeded Okinawa’s budget request. In this light, there indeed seems to be differences between how the Government is dealing with Governor Nakaima and Governor Onaga.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is natural that we appraise the unused funds and the carry-forward funds. As there are unused funds and carry-forward funds, it is important that financial authorities make full use of these funds.

REPORTER: Last fiscal year, I believe you and the Prime Minister held numerous meetings with Governor Nakaima, and thereby, built up trust. Do you perceive that trust has been established with the current Governor Mr. Onaga?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is not so much an issue of trust. We will steadily work with Mr. Onaga as the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture.

REPORTER: Do you have any plans to meet with Governor Onaga in the near future?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Not me, personally.

REPORTER: I would like to change the subject. According to some news reports, Prime Minister Abe is considering a visit to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii when he visits the United States during the holidays in early May. What is the status of the considerations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I myself heard about this for the first time from reading the news reports. A visit to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii is not under consideration whatsoever. The reports are erroneous. Nothing has been decided with regard to Prime Minister Abe’s overseas visit during the holidays in early May. 

REPORTER: Just now, you stated that the reports are erroneous. When you usually deny something, you do not really use such strong language. Does this mean that there is zero chance of a visit to Pearl Harbor? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The newspapers reported on something that is not being considered. That is what I meant by the reports being erroneous.

REPORTER: I understand that France is deploying its largest police presence following the series of terrorism incidents which occurred in the country. Will any changes be made to the counterterrorism measures and police patrols in Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the serial terrorism incidents that occurred in France cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, and the Government of Japan strongly condemns them. Following these incidents, the Government has been working to take counterterrorism measures, including strengthening information gathering and analysis under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management, tightening border-control measures, and stepping up the surveillance and patrols of key facilities. During yesterday’s meeting of the Cabinet Intelligence Council, I strongly instructed vice-ministers of the relevant ministries and agencies in charge of intelligence to further ensure that information gathering and analysis activities are being conducted. In any case, we are taking all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, including Japanese nationals overseas, through intensive counterterrorism measures.