Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: In a committee to discuss disarmament at the United Nations General Assembly, China’s Ambassador for Disarmament raised concerns to other countries about Japan’s position as the only non-nuclear power to possess a nuclear fuel reprocessing program. He noted that if a political decision were to be made, Japan could very quickly become a nuclear power. Japan’s representative in the committee robustly rebutted these comments, stating that Japan does not possess any military capabilities that would threaten other countries and that it staunchly maintains an exclusively defense-oriented policy. Can I ask for your thoughts on the comments made by a government representative of China?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, in the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, an issue was raised by China concerning the amount of plutonium held by Japan. In response to these comments Ambassador of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament Toshio Sano exercised Japan’s right of reply to explain the Government’s position. All nuclear materials in Japan, including plutonium, are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and the IAEA has concluded that all nuclear material in Japan has remained for peaceful activities. As a voluntary measure, Japan publishes information that is more detailed than that required by international guidelines as a means of appropriately ensuring transparency concerning nuclear materials. The Government therefore considers that the assertions made by China are not valid in any way whatsoever. Whatever the case, the Government is committed to a policy of not possessing reserves of plutonium that have no useful purpose and is very careful about the supply and demand balance. Japan will continue to engage appropriately and thoroughly in a manner that is transparent to the international community concerning plutonium management.

REPORTER: What are your thoughts concerning the fact that such comments were made by an ambassador of China?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: China has made such statements in various international forums. Japan’s position is therefore as I have just stated, and we will continue to robustly rebut such assertions in forums where the issue is raised.

(Abridged)