Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
(Abridged)
 
Q&As
 
REPORTER: I have a question about Osprey aircraft. The U.S. Forces Japan announced yesterday that Osprey aircraft are to be deployed to Yokota Air Base from this summer. This is the first case of deployment of Osprey aircraft at bases in Japan other than those in Okinawa Prefecture. Could you tell us once again about the necessity and significance of this deployment?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Given the increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan, the deployment of U.S. Air Force Osprey aircraft to Japan will contribute to both Japan’s national defense and the stability of the Asia-Pacific by enhancing deterrence and the response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance from the perspective of the United States’ commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and maintaining readiness structures. In any event, ensuring safety is a prerequisite to flights of U.S. military aircraft and, regarding flight operations of Osprey Aircraft by the U.S. Air Force in Japan, we seek to cooperate with the United States so that maximum attention is paid to safety aspects and efforts are made to minimize impact on local residents.
 
(Abridged)
 
REPORTER: It is being reported that the Governments of Japan and China are soon to conclude an agreement which aims at facilitating joint film production between Japan and China. If these reports are true, could you tell us the purpose of such an agreement and the time frame for the conclusion of the agreement?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, with regard to the Japan-China Film Co-Production Agreement that you mentioned, this is an agreement that aims at promoting film co-production between Japan and China by setting up the procedures to follow in the cases of joint production by the two countries. We have held three rounds of negotiations on this agreement with the Government of China and an agreement in principle was reached at the time of the third round of negotiations last September. Both Japan and China are currently advancing the necessary procedures to sign the agreement. While I would like to refrain from conjecturing a specific timing for the signing of the agreement at this time, we will continue to work on an early signing.
 
REPORTER: I have a related question. When the Japanese anime film Your Name was released in China it proved to be a massive hit, making approximately 9 billion yen at the box office in just over two weeks of its release. At the time there were some issues about the Japanese production company not receiving revenues commensurate with such a box office hit. Is it likely that this agreement would have a positive impact on such issues in the future?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The film market in China has been rapidly expanding in recent years, and entry into the Chinese market has been an urgent agenda item for the Japanese film industry. If this agreement is concluded it will help to promote co-production of films between Japan and China, which in turn will boost the distribution of Japanese films in the Chinese market.
 
REPORTER: The United States has announced new tariff measures against China. Could I ask for a comment from the Government about this announcement?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government will continue to closely monitor developments.
 
REPORTER: What role do you think Japan has in preventing a trade war between the United States and China?
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I think that a first priority should be for both countries to engage in dialogue.