Press Conferences

Kyodo News, Fukuda: Today, the Japan-U.S. Dialogue on Southeast Asia was held online. Firstly, please tell us the significance of this and the future prospects.

Ms. ONO Hikariko, Press Secretary: The Japan-U.S. Dialogue on Southeast Asia was held online this morning. The participants from the Japanese side were Director-General KANO Takehiro and Deputy Director-General ISHIZUKI Hideo of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department of MOFA/ The participants from the U.S. side were Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands Mark Lambert, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Multilateral Affairs and Global China Issues Jung Pak.

During the meeting, both sides mentioned recent diplomatic exchanges between Southeast Asian countries and Japan as well asthe United States, including mutual visits by dignitaries. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international affairs and various relevant issues, as well as about bilateral and regional cooperation with the Southeast Asian countries.

The Southeast Asia region is the key for realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” or so called FOIP. We recognize that it is extremely significant that we have had this strategic dialogue with the United States, which shares the common goal of realizing regional peace and prosperity in the region. Japan’s policy is to continue to exchange views closely with the United States.

Kyodo News, Fukuda: In relation to this, I believe that the United States has recently made a deep commitment to the ASEAN region. Please tell us how the Government of Japan evaluates these moves by the United States and what are its expectations for them.

Press Secretary Ono: I am aware that from May 12-13, President Biden invited the leaders of various ASEAN countries to Washington, D.C. for the U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit, and announced the Joint Vision Statement and various cooperation initiatives of over $150 million in total..

Prior to that, in October 2021, President Biden attended the U.S.-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit. In addition in February 2022, he announced the “Indo-Pacific Strategy”, which calls for increased cooperation with ASEAN. In this way, we recognize that the United States is clarifying its stance of placing importance on ASEAN.

We recognize that through a series of such actions, the United States has once again clearly demonstrated its ongoing commitment to being a strong and reliable partner in Southeast Asia.

Japan welcomes such movements and expects that U.S.-ASEAN relations will be further strengthenedin the future.

Asahi Shimbun, Aibara: I would like to ask about the movements of the ROK maritime research vessel. It has been confirmed that a ROK maritime research vessel is conducting research in Japan’s EEZ north of Takeshima. I believe that MOFA has made a protest. The Japan-U.S.-ROK Director-General Level Talk will be held the day after tomorrow, on June 3. Does Director-General Funakoshi of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau have the intention to raise this issue? In addition, the next Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled to be held in Japan. Is there any possibility that the research will somehow affect the Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, including whether it will be held or not?

Press Secretary Ono: On June 3, the Japan-U.S.-ROK Director-General Level Talk on North Korea will be held in Seoul in the ROK, and Director-General FUNAKOSHI Takehiro of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau is planning to attend.

At this talk, we are planning to hold discussions on the response to North Korea.

With regard to the maritime research by the ROK within Japan’s EEZ, Japan has repeatedly and strongly protested to the ROK that it is unacceptable to conduct maritime scientific research within Japan’s EEZ without the prior consent of Japan, and strongly requested the ROK to stop such activities.

Japan-ROK cooperation as well as Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation are essential for regional stability, including responding to North Korea.

Although Japan-ROK relations are currently in a very difficult situation, Japan will continue to request the ROK to appropriately respond based on our consistent positions on various issues, including the issue of Takeshima. There is no change in our basic view.

You also asked about the status of consideration of the Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. We are aware that there have been various reports on a series of related matters. However, nothing has been decided at this point regarding the foreign ministers’ meeting with the ROK.

Asahi Shimbun, Aibara: During the Talk on June 3, is Director-General Funabashi prepared to directly convey Japan’s positions and request the ROK to stop its research if some sort of bilateral discussion is held between Japan and the ROK?

Press Secretary Ono: I would like to refrain from speculating about the Talk at this point.

Fuji TV, Murakami: I would like to ask about Foreign Minister Hayashi being infected with the novel coronavirus. The day before yesterday, there was a joint press conference with the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia. Yesterday, there was a regular press conference by Minister Hayashi and other activities but it was announced that nobody in MOFA had had close contact with him. Is there a definition of “close contact” applied within MOFA? If there is, could you e tell us what it is?

Press Secretary Ono: Today, June 1, it was confirmed that Foreign Minister Hayashi was infected with the novel coronavirus. As you mentioned in your question, it has been confirmed that he did not have any close contacts within MOFA. As for the definition of close contact applied within MOFA, it is determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the standards of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Kyodo News, Maeda: I would like to ask about Japan-China relations. Today, MOFA established the “Japan-China Exchanges Promotion Executive Committee” within Keidanren. It was also announced that the Government of Japan will authorize relevant projects. In relation to this, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China relations. As there are many political issues, what are the government’s expectations for private sector exchanges?

Press Secretary Ono: As announced today by Keidanren, the “Exchanges Promotion Executive Committee” for the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China Relations has just been established.

Taking the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China relations, the Government of Japan intends to support people-to-people exchanges and economic exchanges between Japan and China, while firmly cooperating with the private sector, including the Executive Committee that was established today. Visit to a Pacific Island Countries by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kaneko: In relation to South Pacific Island countries, Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China recently visited Fiji and held meetings with the foreign ministers of 10 countries. According to media reports, these countries did not agree on a security agreement. Please tell us your evaluation and reaction to the visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to a South Pacific Island countries.

Press Secretary Ono: We are aware that China is making efforts to strengthen relations with Pacific Island countries. Japan is monitoring the relevant developments, including the recent visit to the Pacific Island countries by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

In particular, Japan is concerned about developments that could have a major impact on the security environment in the Pacific region, and has been monitoring and responding to such developments.

Specifically, with regards to the situation concerning the Solomon Islands, Foreign Minister Hayashi visited Fiji and Palau from May 6 to8 this year and conveyed Japan’s view. Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Uesugi also conveyed Japan’s concerns when he visited the Solomon Islands from April 25 to 27. In this way, Japan has been monitoring and responding to the situation with concern.

In addition, we have also been promoting close exchanges of views and communication among the leaders and foreign ministers of the United States, Australia, and others that share such concerns. We will continue to firmly respond to the regional situation in cooperation with relevant countries, including Pacific Island countries. Specifically, in order to realize the FOIP, we will continue to further strengthen cooperative relations with Pacific Island countries through providing all-Japan support that meet the needs of various countries in a wide range of fields, such as maritime security, climate change and disaster risk reduction as well as sustainable and economic development, in cooperation with like-minded countries.