Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku hinted Friday that disclosure of the Cabinet's controversial discretionary funds will not take place anytime soon, saying the issue needs a thorough examination to avoid tampering with national interests.
"This is undoubtedly a thorny theme," Sengoku, who was named Prime Minister Naoto Kan's right-hand man Tuesday, said in an interview.
The government's top spokesman questioned whether ending the practice would truly benefit Japan, explaining that its impact extends even to diplomatic affairs.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.