Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question about the Cabinet’s approval rate. Multiple media entities, including our company, conducted public opinion surveys over the weekend. The public approval rate climbed in all of the surveys, and I think this is an unusual trend coming right after the resignation of a Cabinet member. How do you assess the outcomes?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have often explained, we always prefer a higher approval rate than a lower one, but are not swayed back and forth by the approval rate and intend to steadily implement what needs to be accomplished.

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the incident in which a Japanese national is accused of spying by China. It appears that China has officially arrested the man from Sapporo taken into custody in Beijing in June 2015 and criminally detained since then. Could you explain the facts as the Government is aware of them and the Government’s response? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Chinese authorities provided notification in January 2016 of the official arrest of a Japanese man taken into custody in Beijing in June 2015. I would like to refrain from commenting on any further details.

REPORTER: On the same topic, it is being said that there is actually a suspicion of espionage. What is the Government’s view of this point? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated previously, the Japanese Government’s policy to date has been that it is not engaged in the suggested activity in any country. Additionally, I would like to refrain from making any further comments about this issue because of the nature of the topic.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Changing topic, the web pages of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare were temporarily difficult to access late last night and some pages still cannot be viewed. Since there is a possibility of a cyber attack, please explain what has been confirmed at this point and the Government’s response.
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, we have confirmed that difficulties accessing the web pages of the Financial Supervisory Agency, Ministry of Finance, and House of Representatives occurred on 31 January, and a group known as Anonymous subsequently wrote on twitter that it conducted a cyber attack. The police are currently looking into damages related to this event, and the Government is receiving reports. We intend to investigate the cyber attacks against multiple Japanese web sites last year and their relationship too.

REPORTER: I would like to ask about signs of a missile launch by North Korea. The Government has not made any announcement, but I would imagine that it has prepared for interception of any missile by staging PAC3 systems and Aegis-equipped ships. Please explain whether the Government is planning any further responses and how it intends to collaborate with the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the international community to prevent the launch. 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan always places significant emphasis on developments related to North Korea’s missiles and is monitoring the situation as a very important matter. The Government is also constantly gathering information and analyzing the situation based on the collected information. Additionally, we are fully prepared to protect the lives and security of the people while collaborating closely with the United States and the ROK.

(Abridged)