Press Conferences

Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs: It was thrilling to see OHTANI Shohei at the Home Run Derby, although the result was unfortunate.

I have three announcements. The first is on vaccine provision and the “Last One Mile Support” by Japan.

Up until now, Japan has provided AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Japan to Taiwan and five Southeast Asian countries. As a result of consideration based on requests for additional provision and the like, Japan has decided to provide one million additional vaccines respectively to Indonesia, Viet Nam, and Taiwan. We plan to transport these vaccines to the countries and region on July 15.

In regard to provision of vaccines through COVAX, because AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Japan were added to the WHO’s emergency use listing on July 9, we are coordinating with relevant organizations to provide a total of 11 million vaccines through COVAX once the preparation for transportation is complete.

Once the coordination is over, these vaccines are planned to be provided to Cambodia, Laos, East Timor, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Iran.

Furthermore, Japan has been providing “Last One Mile Support” to deliver vaccines to vaccination sites. In addition to providing support via UNICEF, we have begun bilateral support worth of four billion yen since June. We have decided to provide support to Ghana, Senegal, Mozambique, Malawi, and Palestine, and last week we have decided to provide support to the Philippines and Mongolia. Including all of this, in total, Japan has provided a total of 13.7 billion yen worth of support to 59 countries and regions under “Last One Mile Support.”

Minister Motegi: The second announcement is on the start of reservations for vaccinations by Japanese nationals living overseas when they temporarily return to Japan.

As I have stated on June 25, we will start accepting reservations online from July 19 for the vaccination project aimed at Japanese nationals living overseas. As we start accepting reservations, a link to the special website will be displayed on the homepage of MOFA’s Overseas Safety Website. Those who wish to be vaccinated under this scheme are requested to make a pre-reservation through the special website.

Vaccinations will begin on August 1 and are scheduled to end in early January next year. For the time being, reservations are available for up to two months from the date of access to the website.

In addition, each local government is planning to start accepting applications for vaccine passports from July 26. For those who temporarily return to Japan, if they apply to MOFA, we will issue them vaccine passports. Further details will be posted later on MOFA’s Overseas Safety Website, so please have a look.

Minister Motegi: The last announcement is regarding our support to Myanmar. Sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation including shortages of food and daily necessities has been taking place in the southeast area of Myanmar following the coup in February 2021. In addition, the number of internally displaced people is surging amid clashes between armed groups including the ethnic armed organizations and the Myanmar military.

Against such a backdrop, the Government of Japan decided today to provide Emergency Grant Aid of 5.8 million US dollars for humanitarian assistance to the populations in the southeast area of Myanmar affected by the coup through international organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Including this support, Japan will have provided a total of 20.89 million US dollars in humanitarian support to Myanmar since the coup in February 2021.

The Government of Japan will continue to provide support and stand by the people of Myanmar. That is all from me.

JoongAng Ilbo/JTBC, Yoon: Yesterday, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee released its decision regarding early modern facilities such as Hashima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, which states that the Government of Japan has not fulfilled what it promised in 2015, which was to properly implement measures to allow an understanding of a large number of Koreans and others brought against their will and forced to work. What is the Government of Japan’s position on this decision?

Minister Motegi: The draft decision you mentioned and the report will be handled by the World Heritage Committee, which is scheduled to meet from July 16-31. Therefore, I would like to refrain from commenting at this point.

If I were to say anything further, Japan has taken the decisions and recommendations of the World Heritage Committee seriously, and the Government of Japan has been sincerely implementing measures that we promised. Based on our position, we will appropriately respond to the World Heritage Committee.

JoongAng Ilbo/JTBC, Yoon: In that case, at this point, you have no intention of changing the exhibition content at the Industrial Heritage Information Center in Shinjuku?

Minister Motegi: That is not what I said, please listen carefully. What did I say at the beginning? The draft decision you mentioned and the report will be handled by the World Heritage Committee, which is scheduled to meet from July 16-31. Therefore, I would like to refrain from commenting at this point. That is what I said at the beginning. (In response to a comment from the reporter) I would like to refrain from commenting at this point.

Nikkei Shimbun, Tobita: I would like to ask about the situation of infections in Indonesia. Please tell us what MOFA knows about the current situation of infections among Japanese nationals living in Indonesia, and what support measures are being considered.

Minister Motegi: We know that as of July 12, 14 Japanese nationals have lost their lives.

Novel coronavirus infections are spreading rapidly in Indonesia, and we are currently directly providing vaccines free of charge. Due to this situation, we could expect the number of Japanese nationals who wish to return to Japan to increase.

Amidst this situation, from the perspective of protecting Japanese nationals, I believe it is important to arrange an environment in which Japanese nationals who wish to return to Japan can do so as soon as possible.

Necessary consideration and coordination are being conducted within the government to enable repatriation of Japanese nationals by having Japanese airline companies operate special flights.

There are Japanese nationals in Indonesia who work for large companies or small- and medium-sized companies, and those who are there for personal reasons. We are currently conducting consideration, including how to transport those people.

Amidst this situation, we are now under consideration on how to secure their quarantine facilities when they return to Japan and other issues. Furthermore, the Government of Indonesia has recently announced measures restricting movement, and as a response, MOFA immediately made a request so that the movement of Japanese nationals in Indonesia not be restricted excessively.

As a result, foreign nationals are not required to show proof of vaccination not only when they directly leave Indonesia but also when they transport within Indonesia such as to an international airport in order to leave the country.

Due to the spread of novel coronavirus since last year, we have provided support for over 12,000 Japanese nationals in 101 countries to return to Japan until last November, beginning with support for the repatriation of Japanese nationals, totaling 868 people, using five chartered flights from Wuhan. We would like to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals overseas and provide them with repatriation support, including those in Indonesia.

Sankei Shimbun, Tamura: In regard to UNESCO which was mentioned earlier, I would like to confirm the Government of Japan’s position on the former civilian workers from the Korean Peninsula. I believe that the Government of Japan has stated that the requisition was conducted lawfully based on the domestic laws at the time, and does not mean that there was forced labor in an illegal manner. Is there a change in that position?

Minister Motegi: There is no change.

Radio France, Nishimura: I would like to ask about an issue related to Japan and France. Last Saturday, a French man began a hunger strike in Tokyo because he cannot see his children. Have the governments of Japan and France already begun exchanging information or some sort of procedure regarding this issue?

Minister Motegi: I am not in the position to comment on behalf of MOFA regarding individual civil cases. If I were to say anything further, I believe that domestic cases concerning parental authority over children should be resolved among the parties concerned with the support of experts such as lawyers when necessary, in accordance with domestic laws without differentiating between Japanese nationals and foreign nationals.

Radio France, Nishimura: In regard to this case, despite the fact that the father still has parental authority because the couple is not divorced, he cannot see his children and does not even have information on whether or not they are alive. Despite the fact that the Government of France has followed procedures for information provision from the Government of Japan, there has not been any response. Moreover, there are several other cases of similar circumstances.

Minister Motegi: Excuse me, let me ask you one thing.

Radio France, Nishimura: Could you please comment on that?

Minister Motegi: Let me ask you one thing. Did you confirm that with the Government of France?

Radio France, Nishimura: Yes.

Minister Motegi: You confirmed that with the government?

Radio France, Nishimura: Yes.

Minister Motegi: You confirmed that directly with the government?

Radio France, Nishimura: Yes. I checked with the embassy and heard that several procedures have been taken, and that procedures have started in the United Nations. The lawyer says that too. I would like to hear the Government of Japan’s view.

Minister Motegi: As I have stated, I am not in the position to comment on behalf of MOFA regarding individual civil cases.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Fukuda: I would like to ask about vaccine passports. Acceptance of applications for passports will begin on July 26. Please tell us the merits for those who will travel overseas. In addition, there are people who cannot be vaccinated due to reasons such as allergies. What care will be taken for such people?

Minister Motegi: I believe that vaccine passports will enable countries and others to make decisions regarding partial easing of travel-related restrictions, as vaccinated people will be able to show the vaccine passports, which are official proof of their vaccination, when they travel overseas. I believe that vaccine passports will lead to resumption of international travel around the world going forward.

Furthermore, coordination is currently under way on what measures of relaxation and exemption would be acceptable in which countries and regions with the vaccine passports. Other countries are also in consideration. We will post the latest information as necessary on MOFA’s website.

It is my understanding that not having a vaccine passport does not mean that it is impossible to travel overseas. For example, I believe that each country will have their own response on what to do if a person cannot be vaccinated for various reasons and instead shows proof of a negative PCR test or some other means of proof. We will also gather such information and post it as necessary.

Tribune News, Susilo: I would like to follow up on the earlier question by the reporter from Nikkei Shimbun. I believe that there is a recommendation for Japanese nationals in Indonesia to evacuate and cooperation with local medical institutions. Is the Government of Japan or the embassy cooperating with the medical institutions?

Minister Motegi: I did not understand the meaning of your question. If you want to speak in English, that is fine.

Tribune News, Susilo: I believe there is a medical environment, a local one, for Japanese nationals in Indonesia.

Minister Motegi: Yes.

Tribune News, Susilo: I believe there is a connection between companies and hospitals in Indonesia. I would like to confirm whether the Government of Japan or the embassy is cooperating in some way with hospitals.

Minister Motegi: Excuse me, but I do not understand the meaning of your question, so please confirm that with an official.

Tribune News, Susilo: I understand. Thank you.

Radio France, Nishimura: I would like to ask about border enforcement measures. Last week from July 9, people entering Japan from some countries and regions were no longer required to spend three days in quarantine at a specified facility. Since then, there have been many countries where the delta variant has been spreading. In particular, over half of new cases of infection are of the delta variant in France. Considering this situation, is there a possibility that the measure requiring a three-day quarantine in a specified facility, which was previously lifted, could become necessary again?

Minister Motegi: The Government of Japan is responding to the spread of variants with a strong sense of crisis. We are taking multilayered infection prevention measures, including requiring people entering Japan to stay for ten, six, or three days at facilities designated by the Chief of the Quarantine Station. The Government considers the extent of the spread of the variants to be important. At the same time, we comprehensively make judgments based on matters such as the overall number of infected people and the latest information on people who test positive at Japanese airports, and will quickly and appropriately take additional measures if necessary.