Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: If I may, I have a question about the sale of Toshiba Corporation's semiconductor business. There are reports that in the event that the business is planned to be sold off to China or Taiwan the Government is considering  issuing guidance to Toshiba to halt or revise the sale based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law . Could you tell us whether such considerations are actually being implemented by the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from commenting on the application of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law in individual cases. As I have stated previously, Toshiba's semiconductor business is extremely important from the perspectives that it is highly competitive globally and supports employment domestically in Japan. Its importance is also likely to grow from the perspective of information security. The Government would like Toshiba to make a decision on the injection of foreign capital in its business after having first given due consideration to such perspectives. The Government will continue to thoroughly monitor the situation.

REPORTER: You have just stated that the Government wants Toshiba to give due consideration to the sale. Do you believe that there is a possibility that the injection of foreign capital could threaten national security, as stipulated in the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have just noted the Government will continue to thoroughly monitor the situation.

REPORTER: A terrorist attack has occurred in central London, causing a number of fatalities. Could I ask for the Government's reaction to this attack and also about the status of measures to confirm the safety of Japanese nationals?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is deeply shocked and angered by the terrorist attack that took place near the Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom in London in the early hours of yesterday, Japan time, causing the deaths of many people. Japan strongly condemns this abhorrent act of terrorism . The Government of Japan offers prayers for the victims of the terrorist attack, as well as heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased . We also wish the wounded a speedy recovery and would like to express our strong solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom. Following the attack the local response headquarters was established at the Embassy of Japan in London, which is continuing to gather information and make every effort to confirm the safety of Japanese nationals. At the current point there is no information to suggest that any Japanese nationals were caught up in the attack. The United Kingdom police are engaged in investigations, treating this attack as an act of terrorism. In close cooperation with the international community including the United Kingdom, Japan will continue to work actively to strengthen counterterrorism measures.

REPORTER: You have just stated that Japan will continue to work actively to strengthen counterterrorism measures. Terrorist attacks are occurring regularly against a backdrop of a heightened sense of alert in countries around the world. In a domestic context what do you think will be necessary to strengthen counterterrorism measures?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan is scheduled to hold major sporting events in the near future, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Rugby World Cup before that in 2019. We must naturally therefore work closely with the international community, making every effort to tackle terrorism with a sense of urgency. Above all, the key to preventing terrorism is information. It was for the purpose of collecting information and in view of the severe situation surrounding terrorism that the Government newly created the Counter Terrorism Unit-Japan last year. We have also reinforced the system. We will  continue to carefully collect and aggregate international terrorism information directly under the Prime Minister's Office. Furthermore, we are seeking to strengthen security measures through the joint efforts of the public and private sectors, such as by strengthening border control measures and bolstering security at important facilities and soft targets. The Government will continue to work collectively to take strong measures towards the prevention of terrorism. We also hope to achieve the passage of the draft bill for counter-terrorism that is currently being deliberated in the Diet, which will enable us to work closely on various measures with the international community and state parties to the treaty.

(Abridged)