(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Today, I have three announcements at the outset. The first concerns the conclusion of a contract for the acquisition of the former Setouchi Works Kure Area site of Nippon Steel Corporation (Nippon Steel). Today, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Nippon Steel entered into a contract for the MOD to acquire the former Setouchi Works Kure Area site, located in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. A short while ago, I met with President Imai of Nippon Steel, and we welcomed the execution of the contract. The Kure area, home to one of the major bases of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF), is an extremely important location for the security of Japan. At this site, we will build a multifunctional defense complex equipped with office buildings and barracks that will serve as facilities for the Self-Defense Forces’ activities, as well as facilities for the production of defense equipment by private-sector companies and facilities for disaster response, such as a supply depot and a heliport, and contribute to the fundamental reinforcement of Japan’s defense capabilities. The conclusion of this contract represents an important milestone for the development of this multifunctional defense complex. I would like to pay tribute to all those who made efforts to realize this contract. We will continue to work closely with Nippon Steel in steadily proceeding with the development of the complex. We recognize that members of the local community have high expectations that this project will contribute to regional development. We therefore intend to quickly begin procedures to call for applications from companies interested in joining the project in the area designated for private-sector companies. We will continue to listen to the opinions of Hiroshima Prefecture and Kure City as we work to steadily advance the project and build the facilities at an early date.
The second announcement is about the return to Japan of the JS CHOKAI destroyer. JS CHOKAI has been dispatched to San Diego in the U.S. for approximately one year and is scheduled to return to Sasebo on August 30. As I have stated at previous press conferences, JS CHOKAI acquired the capability to launch Tomahawk missiles in March of this year. On July 29, a live-fire test was conducted, which confirmed the ability of the crew and the destroyer to actually launch Tomahawk missiles. During a recent video call with the crew of JS CHOKAI, we rejoiced the successful completion of the launch test. The strengthening of stand-off defense capabilities is essential to protecting the lives and peaceful livelihoods of the Japanese people as we face the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II. There is no change to the fact that Japan’s defense capabilities, including stand-off missiles, constitute the minimum necessary defense capabilities for self-defense and would be used only in the event that Japan comes under armed attack. They will not pose a threat to other countries. JS CHOKAI has become the first MSDF vessel to acquire stand-off defense capabilities for the protection of Japan and to conduct a successful missile launch. Going forward, I ask the crew to take all possible measures to execute their missions in order to protect the lives and peaceful livelihoods of the Japanese people.
Third, I have an announcement about the holding of a Japan-Belgium defense ministerial meeting. On Monday, August 31, next week, I will hold a Japan-Belgium defense ministerial meeting at the MOD with H.E. Mr. Theo Francken, Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade of Belgium, who will be the first Belgium defense minister to visit Japan. This year marks the 160th anniversary of Japan-Belgium friendship. Furthermore, Belgium’s first defense attaché to Japan assumed their post this month. It is a great pleasure to welcome Minister Francken to Japan on this commemorative year for Japan-Belgium defense cooperation and exchanges. As the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific becomes ever more inseparable, I sincerely welcome the Minister’s visit, which is highly significant for further strengthening the cooperation between the defense authorities of the two countries. At the meeting, we will share our views on regional security issues and hold candid and substantive discussions with a view to further deepening Japan-Belgium defense cooperation and exchanges. On this occasion, I also look forward to enhancing the relationship of trust between Minister Francken and myself. That concludes my three opening remarks today.