Press Conferences

NHK, Igarashi:I would like to ask about ensuring the safety of Japanese people. Currently, how many Japanese citizens remain in Israel and Palestine? What is the status of their safety? In addition, please tell us again what efforts the Government has been making to protect the Japanese people so far.

Ms. KOBAYASHI Maki, Press Secretary:First, there are approximately 900 Japanese citizens currently residing in Israel and Palestine. We have yet to receive any information that any have lost their lives or been injured.

A small number of Japanese citizens reside in the Gaza Strip, and we are communicating closely with them.

In light of the current situation, the Government of Japan established an Information and Liaison Office in the Crisis Management Center at the Prime Minister’s Office, and a liaison office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). We are making every effort to ensure the safety of the Japanese people while working closely among the relevant ministries and agencies.

As to your second question, I would like to explain a summary of our efforts to protect Japanese people to date. Since immediately after the incident, MOFA has been sending consul emails and spot information in a timely and appropriate manner, as well as revising Travel advice and Warnings in a flexible manner, to alert Japanese citizens residing there.

Currently, airports in Israel are operating, but the situation is constantly changing. The regular commercial flights are being reduced in number. We intend to once again urge all those who wish to leave the country to do so as soon as possible, while commercial flights are still being operated.

At the same time, the Government has been providing assistance as needed to Japanese citizens leaving Israel.

First, on October 14, eight Japanese citizens departed the country for Dubai on a chartered flight arranged by the Government. The flight was chartered so as to offer Japanese citizens an option besides commercial flights for leaving quickly. In addition, on the same day, 51 people, including Japanese people, departed the country for Seoul on a special flight arranged by the Government of the Republic of Korea.

The situation on the ground has become more tense and fluid than ever. MOFA has just raised the Travel advice and Warning for the border area with Lebanon from Level 3 to Level 4 “evacuate and avoid all travel,” and for most of the West Bank from Level 2 to Level 3 “avoid all travel.”

In addition, the Government has dispatched three Self-Defense Forces (SDF) aircraft to nearby countries and placed them on standby there so as to be able to rapidly respond in case it becomes necessary to transport Japanese citizens and others. These SDF aircraft have already arrived in Djibouti and Jordan, and the Government has just established standby arrangements for the transportation of Japanese nationals and others.

Furthermore, we are currently conducting a survey among Japanese people in Israel to ask if they wish to leave the country, on the assumption of transporting Japanese citizens and others from Israel by SDF aircraft later this week.

The Government of Japan will continue to appropriately take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese people while carefully assessing any future developments in the situation.

Asahi Shimbun, Nagasaki:You said that the Government will evacuate Japanese citizens from Israel by SDF aircraft later in the week. The chartered flight to Dubai on October 14 carried only eight people, and the government is continuing to conduct a survey to determine who wishes to leave the country. Please tell us what arrangements the Government is currently making in relation to the use of the aircraft, including whether flights would go to Dubai again or Japan this time. I would also like to ask about the purpose of evacuating Japanese citizens on SDF aircraft while commercial flights are still in operation.

Press Secretary Kobayashi:First, regarding the number of people who wish to leave and their destinations, as you asked, I would like to refrain from answering in detail. I would also like to refrain from answering in detail on flight routes, as this matter concerns SDF operations.

Next, concerning the use of SDF aircraft while commercial flights are still in operation, given that the situation on the ground is becoming extremely tense, we are paying close attention to the situation and making the proper preparations to use SDF aircraft to transport Japanese citizens and others. We are aware that there are a certain number of people who wish to use a chartered flight, so given the circumstances, we believe that it would be appropriate to dispatch SDF aircraft. Therefore, we are currently making arrangements towards using the aircraft in the latter half of this week.

Mainichi Shimbun, Murao:Regarding the chartered flight and the SDF aircraft, I understand that a chartered flight was first dispatched on October 14, followed by the SDF aircraft. Was there an option or consideration to dispatch SDF aircraft from the beginning?

Press Secretary Kobayashi:As the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary explained in detail at the press conference this morning, when we made the initial decision to charter the flight, commercial flights were in operation, but with the number of regular flights reducing, we considered it necessary to present an option. However, at that time, the situation was not as urgent as it is now. Later, the Prime Minister of Israel stated that there was a very high possibility of a ground assault, and the situation became considerably more urgent, so the Government of Japan made the decision to place SDF aircraft on standby.

Kyodo News, Katsurada:As you mentioned earlier, today the travel advisory for the border area with Lebanon has been raised to Level 4 and for most of the West Bank to Level 3. Please tell us specifically about the situation on the ground that was behind the decision to raise the levels of Travel advice and Warning.

Press Secretary Kobayashi:Currently, as we are seeing that Hezbollah has been actively attacking some areas in the northern part of Israel, we decided that it would be better to issue a recommendation for evacuation at this point. This was a change we made in light of the extremely fluid situation.

In particular, on October 15, the Israeli military established a military exclusion zone within 4 km of the border with Lebanon, prohibiting the evacuation and entry of civilians. We have also received reports that the Upper Galilee Regional Council and other organizations called on the residents in the surrounding areas to evacuate if at all possible. We decided to raise the levels in light of these facts.

Anadolu Agency, Furkan: I think that the statements by the Government of Japan so far have not expressed a direct reaction to the Israeli assault. My question is about the attack on the hospital in Gaza last night. If it is proven that Israel carried out this attack, will the Government of Japan directly criticize Israel? Ms. Kobayashi, please share with us your thoughts as the Press Secretary.

Press Secretary Kobayashi:First of all, I would like to refrain from answering a hypothetical question. However, as we stated in the statement by the Foreign Minister issued this morning, we believe that attacks against civilians cannot be justified on any ground.

NHK, Igarashi:I would like to change the subject and ask you about Chinese maritime research vessels. I understand that the Japan Coast Guard confirmed this morning that a Chinese maritime research vessel was extending a wire-like object in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Please tell us the facts, your reaction, and about MOFA’s response.

Press Secretary Kobayashi:At around 8:10 a.m. on October 18, the Japan Coast Guard observed the Chinese maritime research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 18 extending a wire-like object into the sea in Japan’s EEZ, about 129 km northeast of Taisho Island.

According to the research vessel, it had not obtained Japan’s consent on conducting scientific maritime research in the area. Therefore, on the same day, the Japan Coast Guard demanded the suspension of the activities in the area. Additionally, we protested to the Government of China through diplomatic channels that if they are conducting scientific maritime research, it is extremely regrettable and should cease immediately.