Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The measures to respond to the Ebola virus disease outbreak

REPORTER: According to some media reports, the Government is considering dispatching around 400 Ground Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to Sierra Leone as part of measures to respond to the Ebola virus disease outbreak. Firstly, could you please inform us of the state of the considerations? In addition, if the Government is indeed advancing such considerations, could you share your thoughts on the kinds of ideas the Government would be considering?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY KATO: At this moment in time, no such decisions have in fact been made to dispatch SDF personnel in response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak. Nevertheless, it is the case that the Government as a whole has been taking measures to address the outbreak. Furthermore, regarding future considerations, to which you just referred, generally speaking, any decision to dispatch SDF personnel overseas would be made from a comprehensive perspective. The Government would take into account a variety of factors, including the need to ensure the safety of the dispatched personnel, any potential impact on the defense and security duties of the SDF, and the needs of the country in question and those of the international community.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have another question regarding something that is being reported by parts of the media. There are reports that the Prime Minister is considering attending the Bandung Conference that will be held in April in Bandung, Indonesia. Firstly, could you please confirm the facts? Additionally, the reports suggest that if the Prime Minister were in fact to attend, he may make some kind of announcement in relation to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. As such could you please tell us the state of considerations and whether such matters are in fact being considered?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY KATO: I am aware of such reports. However, as things stand, nothing has been decided regarding whether or not the Prime Minister will attend the events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference, or the so-called Bandung Conference.

(Abridged)