Announcement Through Press Conference After G20 Summit Completion
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that a cabinet reshuffle and appointments within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will be "implemented as early as the 13th." He also mentioned that he has broadened understanding by persuading the Group of Twenty (G20) leaders regarding the discharge of contaminated water.
Japanese media outlets such as Kyodo News and NHK reported on the 10th (local time) that Prime Minister Kishida, who visited India to attend the G20 summit, made these remarks at a press conference immediately after the meeting ended.
Prime Minister Kishida explained that since it has been a year since the first cabinet reshuffle in August last year, he thought it was time to make personnel changes, adding, "Once I return on the 11th, I will coordinate (personnel plans) in earnest with relevant parties."
Regarding the convening of the autumn extraordinary Diet session, he said, "We intend to prioritize reviewing bold economic measures under a new system and promptly implementing them." He added, "In the current high inflation situation, we aim to protect the people's livelihoods and strongly promote wage increases and expanded investment."
Prime Minister Kishida is scheduled to visit New York, USA, from the 19th to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
In Japan, there are expectations that Kishida may retain Taro Aso, LDP Vice President and leader of the second-largest faction following the Abe faction, as well as Toshimitsu Motegi, LDP Secretary-General and leader of the third-largest faction.
There are also forecasts that Kishida may keep Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and a member of the Abe faction, and Sanae Takaichi, Minister in charge of Economic Security, who is non-factional but supported by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Another prominent figure, Digital Minister Taro Kono, is expected to be reappointed, and Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary, and Koichi Hagiuda, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman, may be appointed to key positions as well.
Meanwhile, in this press conference, Prime Minister Kishida stated that he clearly explained Japan's response to the discharge of contaminated water to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and G20 countries. He also explained, "Many countries, including the United States, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Cook Islands, the Netherlands, and T?rkiye, have shown understanding and support."
He emphasized that he met face-to-face with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who strongly opposes the discharge of contaminated water, to convey Japan's position. Regarding China's complete ban on imports of Japanese seafood following the discharge on the 24th of last month, he said, "We will continue to demand withdrawal through dialogue opportunities among the two countries and multiple nations, as well as through trade negotiation frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)." He also explained that "dialogue with China will continue at various levels, including high-level talks."
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tetsuro Nomura, who was criticized for referring to the contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant as "contaminated water" instead of the Japanese government’s official term "treated water," may be replaced in this cabinet reshuffle. Minister Nomura previously stated at the Diet on the 8th regarding this issue, "I am well aware that this is not a matter that can be resolved with just an apology."
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