Press Conferences

Mr. OHTAKA Masato, Press Secretary: This morning, a press release was issued on the Middle East. Mr. KONO Masaharu, Representative of the Government of Japan and Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace, who is visiting Israel, Palestine, and Qatar, held a meeting with President Abbas of Palestine on the night of February 4 local time, which was about 4 a.m. on February 5 Japan time. A press release was issued concerning that content, so please read it.

Yomiuri Shimbun, GOTO: Minister Motegi held a press conference today and stated that coordination is continuing to be able to dispatch the fourth chartered flight to Wuhan tomorrow. Do you have information on how many people want to return to Japan now and around how many of them are not Japanese nationals?

Press Secretary OHTAKA: I do not intend to repeat everything that Minister Motegi announced this afternoon. In any event, coordination is being advanced to dispatch the fourth chartered flight tomorrow, February 6. We would like the fourth chartered flight to be used to bring back to Japan as many people as possible who wish to return. Minister Motegi also announced that after this flight, we will continue to put in efforts to enable all the people to return to Japan who wish to do so.

As Minister Motegi stated, based on the fact that it is still possible for there to be changes in the number of people who wish to return to Japan, we would like to refrain from giving the current overall number of people as well as a breakdown of them.

Yomiuri Shimbun, GOTO: How are you soliciting people who would like to return to Japan? Are you contacting them individually and asking them their wishes?

Press Secretary OHTAKA: I believe that it is the same as before. It is my understanding that individuals are being contacted basically using email, telephone calls, and other such methods.

NHK, WATANABE: As Minister Motegi announced this afternoon, there are currently about 140 Japanese nationals in Wuhan who want to return to Japan, but about 200 people will fly on the fourth chartered flight. What about the other 60 people? Is it being assumed that Chinese spouses of Japanese nationals will take those spots?

Press Secretary OHTAKA: As Minister Motegi stated this afternoon, there are still about 140 Japanese nationals in Hubei Province who wish to return to Japan. He also stated the number of people who will fly on the flight, but noted that it is an estimate that could change. As it would not be appropriate for me to give an answer based on speculation at the present stage, I would like to refrain from commenting.

NHK, WATANABE: Are there no particular different circumstances for the operation of the fourth flight compared to previous ones? For example, are there no major changes such as the operation time? How is the coordination for this?

Press Secretary OHTAKA: I assume that the fourth flight will be the same as the previous three flights, including the departure location. As aspects such as the actual flight operation time are still being coordinated, I can only give you an estimate, but it is my understanding that coordination is being conducted to have the fourth flight depart at night from Japan like the previous three flights.

Asahi Shimbun, ONO: The Federated States of Micronesia has decided to deny entry to people from all countries where people have been infected by the novel coronavirus, including Japan. How is the Government of Japan responding to this? I believe there are probably concerns about such a move, so how does the Government view this?

Press Secretary OHTAKA: The Government of Japan is of course exerting all efforts now to prevent the spread of infections within Japan as a matter of utmost importance. On the other hand, specialists and World Health Organization personnel are also stating that it is also important to respond by having an objective, full understanding of the illness conditions and the situation. Our view is that we would like various countries to respond based on accurate information.