Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the capture of a Japanese national in Syria. A video has been released, believed to be that of journalist Mr. Jumpei Yasuda held by an armed group in Syria. Can you please tell us what the Japanese Government is aware of, including the authenticity of the video?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I am aware of the video you have referred to. The Government is making all possible efforts to deal with the situation, using various information networks, based on the recognition that it is the Government’s most important responsibility to ensure the security of Japanese nationals. We are working on analyzing this video, but I would like to refrain from responding about it due to the nature of the matter.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Does the Government know where and by whom Mr. Jumpei Yasuda is held? Is the Government aware of the situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government comes into contact with a variety of information. Due to the nature of the matter, I would like to refrain from responding. As it is the Government’s most important responsibility to ensure the security of Japanese nationals, it is taking every possible measure while making use of various information networks.

REPORTER: I have one more question regarding this issue. The mediator who provided the video and others are noting that the purpose of this capture is ransom. Have any ransom demands been made to the Government or the family?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not aware of these matters.

REPORTER: Does the Government consider that the man shown in the video is Mr. Yasuda himself?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The person is believed to be Mr. Yasuda. However, I would like to refrain from responding any further. In any case, as I stated moments ago, the Government is working to deal with the situation while consolidating a variety of information, in order to ensure the security of Japanese nationals.

REPORTER: A related question. With the release of this video, will the Government be holding a National Security Council meeting or taking any other responses?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, the Prime Minister issued instructions based on the release of this video. In fact, all along the Government has been responding to this matter by making extensive arrangements, based on instructions received from the Prime Minister. Following the release of this video, the Prime Minister once again instructed that responses continue to be taken by giving top priority to ensuring the security of Japanese nationals.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: My question is in regard to this matter. Has the Government been able to make any contact with the group believed to be holding Mr. Yasuda, including indirect contact?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Due to the nature of the matter, I would like to refrain from responding to your question. However, I would like to say that it is the Government’s most important task to protect Japanese nationals, and therefore, the Government is responding to this matter by having extensive arrangements in place.

REPORTER: You stated that your top priority is to protect Japanese nationals. As far as what you have been able to analyze so far, does the Government view that it is turning into an urgent situation where the life of Mr. Yasuda is at risk?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, the Government is dealing with the situation by doing all that it can to protect Japanese nationals under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management, based on the Prime Minister’s instructions.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Can you tell us what information the Government has with regard to Mr. Yasuda’s whereabouts after leaving Japan? In addition, around when did the Prime Minister give his previous instructions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from disclosing the timing. The Prime Minister issued his first set of instructions when we came into contact with information that Mr. Yasuda was missing.

REPORTER: Once again I would like to ask whether you can tell us Mr. Yasuda’s whereabouts to the extent that you can.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are dealing with these matters while making use of all kinds of information networks. However, due to the nature of the matter, I should refrain from responding about the exact timing and details.

REPORTER: I would like to confirm whether the Government has confirmed Mr. Yasuda’s capture.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said, based on the Prime Minister’s instructions to collect and analyze various information and take response, with protecting Japanese nationals as our top priority, to date the Government has been dealing with the situation under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding this same matter. In similar cases in the past, I recall that the Japanese Government did not agreed to the ransom demands made by armed groups. Will any changes be made to this posture or policy in the latest case?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, I would like to refrain from responding to this due to the nature of the matter. However, no changes will be made to the Government’s response policy.

REPORTER: You stated that the necessary arrangements are in place under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management. Does that mean a response office or the like has already been established at the Prime Minister’s Office?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have been taking measures all along with the Response Office at the Prime Minister’s Office playing a leading role.

REPORTER: Is this since July of last year when information came out about Mr. Yasuda’s capture?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Based on the Prime Minister’s instructions, we have been taking steps with the necessary arrangements in place under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Are any arrangements being made at Japan’s diplomatic establishments, including in the countries near Syria?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would also like to refrain from responding to this question. However, in any case, we are dealing with the situation by making extensive arrangements.

REPORTER: For example, have you received any demands from the other party, including unconfirmed information?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from disclosing such information. I should refrain from disclosing this.

REPORTER: I would like to change the topic to the issue of the relocation of Futenma Air Station. Yesterday, the Government redid the process of issuing instructions to Governor Onaga to nullify his revocation of the land reclamation approval. What was the reason for this? In addition, can you please share your views on the fact that the circumstances have led to this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I have been informed that recently, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism withdrew his nullification instructions to the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, and that yesterday the Minister would once again issue nullification instructions to the Governor based on more detailed reasons than those given previously. The Government and Okinawa Prefecture agreed on a settlement proposal, and the nullification instructions that the Government issued recently were in accordance with this agreed settlement proposal. In the settlement proposal, it was agreed that the three ongoing lawsuits would start from zero and be unified into a single lawsuit over whether or not Governor Onaga’s revocation of the land reclamation approval was appropriate, based on the decision of the Central and Local Government Dispute Management Council. The settlement proposal states that the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture would fully cooperate to ensure that the Council and the court can swiftly carry out an examination and make a decision. On this basis, Okinawa Prefecture filed a complaint with the Council in the context of the provisions of the Local Autonomy Act. At the same time, it was stated in Okinawa Prefecture’s documentation to file a complaint with the Council as well as in the Governor’s press conference that a complaint was filed because the document with the nullification instructions does not list the reasons for the instructions and violates the provisions of the Local Autonomy Act and that no concrete reasons or facts at all were provided, and therefore, it cannot be found that the revocation of the land reclamation approval violates relevant laws and ordinances. It was stated that the instructions were inconsistent with the purpose of the settlement to unify the lawsuits into a lawsuit over whether or not the Governor’s revocation of the land reclamation approval was appropriate. The Government issued the nullification instructions in accordance with the provisions of the Local Autonomy Act based on the settlement terms agreed upon between the Government and Okinawa Prefecture, and therefore, sees no problems. However, as it is not the Government’s intention at all to take time debating the procedures of the nullification instructions and as it also differs from the settlement terms, the Government once again issued nullification instructions based on more detailed reasons than those given previously.

REPORTER: In response to the Government’s reissuance of its nullification instructions, yesterday Governor Onaga expressed the view to reporters that the Government in fact admitted the Governor’s claim that the lack of rationale violated the provisions of the Local Autonomy Act. The Government does not share this view?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is as I stated moments ago. The two sides reached an agreement under the terms of the settlement. Therefore, the Government issued nullification instructions based on the settlement. However, as it resulted in Okinawa Prefecture raising these procedural issues, the Government straightened them out. That was it.

(Abridged)