Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL). The time that was viewed as the 72-hour deadline has now passed. Has the Government received any contact from ISIL at the current point in time?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The 72-hour timeframe is something that was announced by the other side. In the midst of a difficult situation, the Government continues to make every effort to request cooperation from countries and persons concerned in our endeavor to achieve the release of the two Japanese hostages. There is absolutely no change to that stance.

REPORTER: Is it the case therefore that the Government has still not be able to confirm the safety of the two hostages?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Although the situation is a difficult one, it is also a fact that the Government is in contact with various information sources, and is making every effort to request cooperation from countries and various organizations concerned in its endeavors to achieve the early release of the two hostages.

REPORTER: Now that the 72-hour deadline has passed, does the Government consider that the situation has changed or become more severe in any way?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As this timeframe is something that was announced by the other side, the Government for its part is continuing to make every effort to do all that can be done to secure the release of the hostages as soon as possible.

REPORTER: From this morning’s press conference you have been referring to the difficulty of the situation, but in what way do you mean that it is difficult?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The situation is a difficult one in that the message was released in a video format and the situation remains unchanged. However, the Government is in contact with various information sources and is continuing to make requests to the parties concerned for their cooperation in efforts to secure the release of the hostages.

REPORTER: A meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) was recently held. What sort of discussions took place in the meeting concerning the response policy from now on?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the Prime Minister has just returned from his visit to the Middle East, the meeting discussed issues relating to the Middle East and the current situation in Syria.

REPORTER: Did the Prime Minister make any statements concerning the Government’s response policy from now?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from discussing the details.

REPORTER: With regard to the 72-hour deadline, has the Government received any kind of message from ISIL about the deadline being extended, or that the deadline has expired?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, there has not been any such message.

REPORTER: This question is premised on the safety of the hostages still being unconfirmed. Until now, there have not been any publicly confirmed cases in which ISIL has made a ransom demand and set a deadline. Given that the 72-hour period set by ISIL makes it difficult to implement an independent investigation and the Government has been engaged in negotiations in this difficult position, if there is still no information about the safety of the two hostages forthcoming from ISIL, it could be assumed that ISIL has no intention of negotiating, or at the current time they are unable to demonstrate that the two hostages are still safe. What is the Government’s view of this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It was the other side that issued the demand in this format and set the 72-hour timeframe. The Government is engaged in various forms of analysis of the intentions and the background behind this demand, but given the nature of the situation I would like to refrain from making any further comment. However, in the midst of this difficult situation the Government is currently using all means at its disposal to continue to request the cooperation of countries concerned and representatives of ethnic and religious groups, towards securing the immediate release of the two hostages.

REPORTER: Is there any truth behind reports that the Government has started specific considerations about whether it would actually be possible to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) under the framework of legislation relating to the right to collective self-defense in hostage cases like this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There have been no such considerations initiated whatsoever.

REPORTER: On a related note, has the Government not even compiled a hypothetical question and answer sheet for such considerations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No such activities whatsoever have been taken. This is a matter that is entirely unrelated to security legislation.

REPORTER: A number of reports have stated that ISIL has issued a new message in which it states that the “countdown has begun.” Is the Government aware of this new message?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have various information sources and are analyzing all of them. However, due to their nature I would like to refrain from commenting about the details. What the Government should be doing, and is in fact continuing to do, is to make every effort to use every communication channel at its disposal to continue requesting the cooperation of countries concerned as we seek to secure the early release of the two Japanese hostages.

REPORTER: There have been press reports that Ms. Jen Psaki, spokesperson for the United States Department of State, commented in a press briefing on February 22 that the United States has conveyed privately its position that payment of ransom money is dangerous. What are your thoughts about the intentions of the United States side on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am completely unaware of such reports, or that such contact from the United States has been received. Japan’s stance has remained completely unchanged, even after the release of the video. Our stance in the midst of what is a difficult situation is to make every effort to secure the early release of the two hostages, to never give in to terrorism, and to continue to contribute to measures by the international community to combat terrorism. This stance remains entirely unchanged.

REPORTER: This has already been mentioned in a previous question, but this is the first time for ISIL to set a deadline in such cases. Is the Government planning a response that takes into account that this hostage case may become drawn out?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have already noted, the 72-hour timeframe was set by the other side and the Government is currently engaged in analysis of the perpetrators intentions and the background to the crime. However, due to the nature of the situation I would like to refrain from going into further detail. What should be, and is being, prioritized is the release of the two hostages, and the Government is making every effort through every mean at its disposal to request cooperation from countries and other organizations concerned.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Returning to the hostage situation, although this is not something that my organization has directly confirmed, it has been reported that in a press conference following this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Minister of Finance Aso stated that acceding to terrorist demands would be tantamount to giving into terrorist demands. Also, in response to a question about whether Government reserve funds could be used to pay a ransom, he responded the Government has no plans to give in to terrorism. Can we understand from these comments that the Government does not intend to pay a ransom?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I think that you are reading too much into the responses made. As I have repeatedly stated, the Government’s stance, in the midst of a difficult situation, is to make every effort possible to secure the early release of the hostages, to never give in to terrorism and to continue to support measures by the international community to combat terrorism. There is absolutely no change whatsoever to this stance.