(5 Sep 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tokyo, Japan – 5 September 2024
1. Wide of Japanese Minister for Digital Transformation, Taro Kono, entering room for news conference
2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Taro Kono, Japanese Minister for Digital Transformation:
"As I stressed in the news conference when I announced my bid, foreign diplomacy and national security, despite the challenges we are facing, Japan needs to discuss how to shape the world. What used to be known as "one-country pacifism" is becoming more difficult. One cannot maintain peace by itself. Looking at the situations in Ukraine and Taiwan, it is necessary to think how to cooperate with those who share mutual values. The Liberal Democratic Party is seeking that the Self Defence Force’s name be specifically mentioned in a revised Constitution, and the discussion shouldn’t end there. A discussion about what kind of responsibility Japan should take, what kind of role Japan should play and how, should follow when working together with other countries with mutual values."
3. Pan from reporters to Kono
4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Taro Kono, Japanese Minister for Digital Transformation:
(Responding to question on reports the White House is signalling an openness to block the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel)
"Acquisitions with the intention to improve productivity and effectivity are beneficial for both parties and the local business. For a government to intervene on an individual case, I think shouldn’t be the case. I believe this is because they (the United States) are hoping to get votes from the labour union in the upcoming election. I hope this will not distort the market."
5. Wide of Kono leaving
STORYLINE:
The Japanese Minister of Digital Transformation and former Defence Minister Taro Kono laid out his key policies Thursday following the announcement of his candidacy for September’s Liberal Democratic Party leadership race.
The former Defence and Foreign Minister listed foreign diplomacy and national security as some of his priorities, stating that there needs to be discussion on the role Japan should take on the international stage.
"What used to be known as "one-country pacifism" is becoming more difficult. One cannot maintain peace by itself," said Kono, highlighting the situations in Ukraine and Taiwan.
"A discussion about what kind of responsibility Japan should take, what kind of role Japan should play and how, should follow when working together with other countries with mutual values," he added.
When asked about the reports on U.S. President Joe Biden planning to stop the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel from going forward, Kono said a government shouldn’t intervene on such individual cases.
"For a government to intervene on an individual case, I think shouldn’t be the case. I believe this is because they (the United States) are hoping to get votes from the labour union in the upcoming election," Kono said.
"I hope this will not distort the market," he added.
The party election is scheduled for September 27 after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced he will be stepping down.
The internal election must be held by the end of September, which marks the end of Kishida’s three-year term and will only include the party’s parliamentarians and its 1.1 million dues-paying members.
AP video shot by Mayuko Ono
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