Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In recent years, China has accelerated its development activities of natural resources in the East China Sea. The Government of Japan has confirmed 12 new structures on the Chinese side of the geographical equidistance line between Japan and China since June 2013, and 16 structures in total including the structures that were confirmed before then. The Government has decided to release information related to the situation in the area in an appropriate manner, and has decided to make available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a map showing the location of the structures and relevant photos. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf in the East China Sea have not yet been delimited, and Japan takes a position that maritime delimitation should be conducted based on the geographical equidistance line between Japan and China. In this regard, under the circumstances pending maritime boundary delimitation, it is extremely regrettable that China is advancing unilateral development activities of natural resources, even on the China side of the geographical equidistance line. Every time Japan has become aware of relevant activities by China, Japan has strongly requested that China cease its associated unilateral development. Japan will steadily continue to undertake such efforts.

Q&As

REPORTER: What is the reason for disclosing the information at this time?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the Government has up to now been taking a robust response to China’s unilateral development. Nevertheless, China has continued to take a passive position on resuming negotiations on the implementation of the June 2008 Agreement. At the same time, China’s development activities in the East China Sea have not ceased at all, and there is rising domestic and international interest in China’s unilateral changes to the status quo. Based on such circumstances, we considered the various situations comprehensively and reached the decision to release such information as can be released in an appropriate manner. We have routine communication with China, and steady communication on an individual level.

(Abridged)