Press Conferences

Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs: At the outset, I have two announcements to make.

The first is related to strengthening border measures at Camp Hansen, which I requested to Commander Rupp of the United States Forces in Japan (USFJ) two days ago. Since then, we have been communicating with the USFJ, and I would like to share with you a number of items we have found out pertaining to all USFJ facilities and areas.

The U.S. Forces had previously imposed a 14-day restriction of movement (ROM) after individuals entered Japan. However, when Japan changed the period to 10 days on October 1 of this year, the U.S. Forces likewise changed the period to 10 days on the condition that individuals had been vaccinated.

Subsequently, Japan put back the 14-day period on December 1, and the U.S. Forces put back the 14-day period on December 20.

In addition, we have found out that, although tests had previously been conducted prior to departing the U.S., the tests were waived as of September 3, based on the high vaccination rate of the U.S. Forces and the global decline in the number of cases, which was in line with the policy of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Following my request two days ago, the U.S. Forces decided to start testing prior to departure once again on the same day.

In any event, the U.S. Forces are strengthening measures given the resurgence of infections globally. Japan and the United States will continue to further enhance their coordination to ensure that the U.S.’s measures are consistent with Japan’s measures.

Minister Hayashi: Secondly, today, the Government of Japan has decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid totaling 41.35 million US dollars as humanitarian assistance in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighboring countries and for people in Northern Ethiopia, of which 28.95 million is for Syria and neighboring countries and 12.4 million for Ethiopia.

In Syria and the neighboring countries of Lebanon and Jordan, whose society and economy have been devastated by the prolonged war, the spread of the novel coronavirus has put a strain on medical resources and further worsened the humanitarian situation.

Against this backdrop, the Emergency Grant Aid will provide non-food essential items, such as winter clothing kits, as well as food, water, and health and hygiene services to these countries through international organizations. Through such assistance, Japan will continue to work closely with the international community toward the settlement of the Syrian crisis, improving the humanitarian situation in Syria, and other countries and advancing the political process facilitated by the United Nations.

In Ethiopia, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated further due to the prolonged armed clashes between the Ethiopian Army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. In response to this situation, Japan will assist Ethiopia in the form of relief items such as shelter and food. Japan will continue to work in cooperation with the international community for peace and stability in Ethiopia.

That is all from me.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Abe: I would like to confirm something related to the Camp Hansen issue you mentioned in your opening remarks. In your request two days ago, I understand you sought thorough implementation of measures. I believe you explained what had come to light, which was that personnel working at the Camp Hansen base had not been tested before leaving the United States and had not been tested immediately after entering Japan. It has now come to light that it was the same for other units of the USFJ. Is my understanding correct?

Minister Hayashi: As I stated at the outset, I was referring to all USFJ facilities and areas.

My request to Commander Rupp two days ago was in response to the situation at Camp Hansen. As it is necessary to take all possible border measures, I have requested that the measures for all USFJ facilities and areas be consistent with Japan’s measures.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Abe: Although the United States had explained it would implement measures consistent with Japan’s measures concerning U.S. Forces personnel entering and leaving Japan, the actual situation was different. Could you please once again share your thoughts regarding this reality?

Minister Hayashi: As I stated yesterday, I conveyed my strong regret directly to Commander Rupp.

Japan and the United States must continue to further enhance their coordination to ensure that the U.S.’s measures are consistent with Japan’s measures.

Asahi Shimbun, Nobira: If I may confirm, I believe you explained before that individual were able to freely move around at Camp Hansen during the ROM period. Was this the case for other U.S. Forces bases? In addition, by tests received before leaving the United States and after entering Japan, are you referring to the antigen test?

Minister Hayashi: Our staff will explain the details. We are requesting measures that are consistent with Japan’s measures, and I believe that under Japan’s measures the tests received after entering Japan are antigen tests. Based on such a premise, we are requesting consistent measures.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: I would like to ask about the impact of the Corona pandemic on Japan's dignitary exchanges face to face with world leaders and also Middle East leaders that are not seen very often recently. Many visits have been and still being canceled by Japanese officials to foreign countries. I'm wondering how this trend is impacting Japan's foreign policy and is it going to remain in the future at the mercy of Corona?

Minister Hayashi: I would like to refrain from answering based on speculation regarding the effects of the recent novel coronavirus situation on Japan’s foreign policy.

If I were to say anything further, over the past one month since I assumed the position of foreign minister, I have had a total of 40 in-person and teleconference meetings as well as telephone talks with foreign ministers of 27 countries and regions to build up trust with each of these countries. Last week, I attended the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting held in the United Kingdom. In addition to attending the general meeting, I also held several bilateral meetings, including in-person meetings with the foreign ministers of other G7 countries. I reaffirmed the significance of conducting frank and candid discussions on important diplomatic issues and ensuring that the G7 countries with shared fundamental values lead the international community.

In that sense, I believe it is important to hold in-person meetings with dignitaries from various countries and have lengthy, thorough discussions on issues faced by the international community, and deepen our mutual understanding. At the same time, we will have to pursue foreign policy as effectively as possible even with the novel coronavirus-related restrictions are in place, while devising various ideas.

We will continue to respond appropriately based on the border measures and infection control measures taken by various countries, including Japan.

NHK, Okano: Regarding the U.S. Forces, I would like to ask about a few specific points. First, concerning the tests conducted immediately after entering Japan, had the tests not been conducted at all the facilities? In addition, is it correct to understand that MOFA has made the call that the U.S.’s measures had not been consistent with Japan’s measures based on the three confirmed facts that no tests had been conducted prior to departing the U.S., nor upon entering Japan, and the United States allowed access to all the U.S. Forces facilities and areas during the 14-day quarantine period?

Minister Hayashi: While I would like you to verify the details with MOFA officials, there are various specific points in addition to the three points you have just mentioned. As I stated earlier today and at the press conference the day before yesterday, I understand that the implementation of the measures was revealed to be not consistent with Japan’s measures.

Asahi Shimbun, Nodaira: I would like to ask again about how the situation was found out. As far as I know, on December 21, under Prime Minister Kishida’s instruction, you expressed regret to Commander Rupp. Is it correct to understand that, after that, the Japanese side discovered that measures were inconsistent at other USFJ bases as well?

Minister Hayashi: Given the result of our inquiry, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau Ichikawa has expressed strong regret to Commander Rupp once again. Even before and after I spoke with the Commander, like this, the officials of the two sides were and have been communicating with each other.

Independent Web Journal, Hamamoto: I would like to ask about Japan’s diplomatic policy. At the regularly-scheduled press conference on December 21, you announced that the Government of Japan would accept the request from the United States for increasing the costs borne by Japan for the “budget to enhance resilience of the Japan-U.S. Alliance,” the term decided to replace the Host Nation Support, or so-called omoiyari yosan (sympathy budget), which will cover five years from FY2022 to FY2026. Japan’s total expenditure will be 1,055.1 billion yen, which is an increase of 75 billion yen compared to the five years from FY2016 to FY2020.

Since Japan is currently issuing the highest amount of deficit-financing bonds in history, the difference between expenditures and tax revenues continues to widen. It is as though the difference keeps widening to look like a crocodile’s open mouth when shown in a line graph. Despite such a situation, why does Japan have to bear the military spending of other countries?

If the confrontation between the United States and China results in a war, Japan as a strengthened ally of the United States will be forced to participate. If that happens, Japan will lose its biggest market, and the Japanese economy will be severely impacted. Can we not imagine Japan’s diplomacy policy without involving the United States? Please tell us your view on this. Thank you.

Minister Hayashi: While the security environment surrounding Japan is growing increasingly severe, the Japan-U.S. Alliance and the USFJ have an indispensable presence for not only the defence of Japan but also the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

Based on this recognition, Japan and the United States have reached an agreement in principle on the “budget to enhance resilience of the Alliance.” This agreement will play an important role in ensuring the seamless and effective activities of the USFJ and their forward deployment in the region. At the same time, it will contribute not only to the USFJ, but also to the enhancement of readiness of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the improvement of the interoperability between the JSDF and the USFJ.

About the scale of the cost borne by Japan, we have reached a balanced cost-sharing agreement which we consider is at an appropriate level, based on Japan’s difficult financial situation.

Kyodo News, Maeda: I would like to ask about asset disclosure by Cabinet members. Under the asset disclosure system, your asset will also be disclosed. Could you please tell us the valuation of your asset? In addition, while this asset disclosure system itself is intended to monitor fraudulent savings, please tell us your thoughts on the system itself.

Minister Hayashi: I do not have specific comments on my asset, for I understand that it is not something to be compared with others. Regarding the asset disclosure system itself, it aims to ensure the people’s trust in the government and administration. I will appropriately cooperate in accordance with that aim as a politician, a Japanese national, and my position as a Cabinet minister.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Abe: The day before yesterday, Prime Minister Kishida made a remark in his speech that the political faction Kochikai has held up the banner of “realism diplomacy” and intends to promote “realism diplomacy for a new age”. Please elaborate on how you are envisioning the concept of “realism diplomacy for a new age” and also tell us how you will embody that image as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Minister Hayashi: Prime Minister Kishida and I have been groomed together in the Kochikai. In his speech, Prime Minister Kishida stated that in implementing “realism diplomacy for a new age,” Japan would firmly raise the ideal flag for the future and pursue proactive diplomacy in response to the complex international situation of the 21st century, while inheriting and placing in our policy backbone the concept of “realism diplomacy” that the Kochikai has been promoting.

In that sense, Prime Minister Kishida is referring to then Foreign Minister of Ohira’s diplomacy who successfully realized the normalization of Japan-China relations and the Miyazawa Administration which achieved the enactment of the Act on Cooperation with United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Other Operations, as examples in his speech. As Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Kishida Cabinet, based on the Japan-U.S. Alliance as well as the international trust in Japan, I will promote highly responsive, unwavering diplomacy and security policy in a resolute manner to protect the national interest with three forms of determination: the determination to protect universal values, the determination to protect Japan’s peace and stability, and the determination to face global scale issues and lead the international community. I will also firmly advance initiatives aimed at realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” I believe that this stance of unwavering diplomacy will contribute to realism.

Nippon Cultural Broadcasting: I am from Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. You mentioned this yesterday, but once again, what is your reaction to the police sending papers to prosecutors on the Deputy Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture for the violation of the Public Offices Election Act? Please also tell us your thoughts on why this has happened and how you feel about it.

Minister Hayashi: It is as I stated at yesterday’s press conference. Regrettably, there was a case referred to prosecutors concerning my election campaign, and I feel sorry for the inconvenience this has caused. I would also like to apologize for creating concern among those who have been supporting me.