Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have some announcements at the outset.

From November 25 to 26, I attended my first G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

During the meeting, the G7 members repeatedly emphasized that the security environment in Europe and the Indo-Pacific is more inseparable than ever before at a time of deepening division and confrontation in the international community, and confirmed the importance of maintaining G7 unity. In addition, the G7 concurred that it was essential to deepen cooperation with international partners, including the foreign ministers of outreach countries.

Furthermore, I held numerous individual bilateral meetings. I feel that I was able to build personal relationships of trust with the respective foreign ministers, which will contribute to future cooperative relations, and this was a valuable asset for me. Building on the outcomes of these discussions, I intend to continue to carry out vigorous Japanese diplomacy.

Minister Iwaya: Next, over the past three days through today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has been hosting the Conference of the Ambassadors to African Countries, with the attendance of Japanese ambassadors to Africa. Broad-ranging discussions are taking place on diplomatic initiatives related to Africa.

Japan will host TICAD 9 in Yokohama next August. Building on the discussions at this Conference of the Ambassadors, we will undertake preparations to make TICAD 9 an opportunity to create innovative solutions to challenges, together with Africa.

Minister Iwaya: Lastly, the extraordinary session of the Diet opened yesterday. Amidst an increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan, it is essential to have the understanding and support of Diet members and the people to advance the efforts of Japanese diplomacy.

I intend to fully engage in the upcoming Diet debates, both to strive to build a shared understanding that transcends the boundaries between ruling and opposition parties and to pursue diplomacy with full commitment.

That is all from me at the outset.

NHK, Yonezu: I would like to ask about the extraordinary Diet session you mentioned in your opening remarks. I gather that this session presents a very different set of tough challenges than past sessions, including the issues of incorporating policies of opposition parties such as the Democratic Party for the People and making considerations for the Diet’s operations. How do you intend to proceed with the session?

Minister Iwaya: As I stated at the outset, the security environment surrounding Japan is very severe. Amidst these circumstances, I believe obtaining the understanding and support of the people and their representatives, the Diet members, is essential for advancing diplomacy.

Fundamentally, I believe that it is vital to build a broad, shared understanding on diplomacy and security that transcends the boundaries between ruling and opposition parties as much as possible, particularly as we are currently a minority ruling party. We must make a firm effort to build a broad, shared understanding. I will be embarking on the upcoming Diet debates with this in mind.

Kyodo News, Ayukawa: My question is on Japan-China relations. Since assuming office, you have stated at your press conferences and on other occasions that you hope to meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China as soon as possible and hold candid dialogues. Recently, some media outlets reported that your visit to China is being arranged for as early as late December. There are issues between Japan and China, such as the increased activity of the Chinese military, the resumption of imports of aquatic and agricultural products, and the safety and detention of Japanese nationals, meanwhile in recent developments, including China’s resumption of short-term visas for Japanese nationals. Against this backdrop, what outcomes do you hope to achieve if you do visit China? Could you explain them as much as you can?

Minister Iwaya: There are various issues between Japan and China, including the ones you just pointed out. However, it is precisely because these issues exist that we must continue to hold dialogues.

During the recent Japan-China Summit Meeting in Peru, the leaders shared the view to make arrangements to realize mutual visits by their respective foreign ministers, including holding the Japan-China High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Dialogue and Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue at an appropriate time. I, too, hope to meet with my counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China, as soon as possible and hold dialogues on various issues.

As you just mentioned, the resumption of short-term visas has been realized. However, as a number of issues remain, I hope to hold extensive discussions on these issues as well. In the broader context, the two countries will comprehensively promote a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests,” as was confirmed during the summit meeting. In this context, I hope to deepen discussions with Minister Wang, with the goal of further enhancing communication on the issues of various fields, including diplomacy ,security and the economy, and in this process, reducing and resolving outstanding issues as much as possible.

NHK, Yonezu: I would like to ask a follow-up question. Before China’s resumption of the short-term visa exemption for Japanese nationals, MOFA engaged in prolonged discussions with China. Could you once again share your thoughts on the realization of resumption, as well as your expectations for the future revitalization of bilateral relations?

Minister Iwaya: To build an amicable relationship between the two countries, it is above all essential for the people of both countries to interact and travel between each other’s countries.

Therefore, Japan has repeatedly requested the resumption of the visa exemption for short-term stays, and it was recently announced that it will resume from tomorrow, November 30.

I expect that this will boost exchanges between the people of both countries and step up economic exchanges, which will lead to further promoting mutual understanding between the two countries.

Mainichi Shimbun, Kim: I would like to ask about TICAD that you talked about in your opening remarks. TICAD 9 will be held next year. More than 30 years have passed since TICAD was established, and I believe Japan has made steady efforts to support Africa. In recent years, however, it has been suggested that the participation of African leaders has declined following the spread of COVID-19. I believe it has also been noted that China and Russia, particularly China, have an increasing presence in Africa. Please once again tell us about Japan’s efforts and determination to make next year’s TICAD 9 a success.

Minister Iwaya: TICAD is an initiative that Japan launched ahead of the rest of the world. While the holding of meetings became somewhat irregular during COVID-19 for unavoidable circumstances, we intend to hold the conference in its full form next year.

I believe Japan’s support and cooperation for Africa have been highly appreciated. I believe Japan’s support has been regarded as being very thorough and sincere. Building on our past experience, we intend to make steady preparations for next year’s TICAD 9, considering how to evolve TICAD to its next phase in line with the current situation in Africa.

At the same time, as you are aware, similar initiatives have been undertaken by other countries. We have heard that various opinions have been raised, not only in Japan but also from African countries, on whether it remains sensible to gather all African countries together every time there is a conference. We will consider how TICAD should be in the next era by carefully listening to such opinions.

Kyodo News, Ayukawa: I have another question on Japan-China relations. Today, in China, Dong Yuyu, who formerly held a senior position at Guangming Daily, a major newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, was convicted on espionage charges for allegedly giving information to Japanese diplomats. He was detained two years ago, along with a Japanese diplomat who was detained temporarily by Chinese authorities in Beijing, to which the Government of Japan lodged strong protests at the time. According to our interviews and other sources, it has come to light that the judgment explicitly named MOFA’s Intelligence and Analysis Service as a spy organization, and referred to several individuals believed to be Japanese diplomats in the form of “Mr. So-and-so,” describing them as agents of this spy organization. Does the Government of Japan have any views on this matter?

Minister Iwaya: While I am aware of some aspects of this matter based on news reports, your question included details I am hearing for the first time. The Government has no comment to make at this stage.

In any case, we view that the diplomatic activities conducted by Japan’s overseas diplomatic missions are legitimate duties performed by diplomats.

Nikkei Shimbun, Baba: I would like to ask about discussions within the LDP. Yesterday, the LDP held the inaugural meeting of the Special Mission Committee on Asian Security. It was explained that the committee aims to discuss security policies for Asia, including an Asian version of NATO and revisions to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, looking ahead to the incoming Trump administration, and ultimately submit recommendations to the Prime Minister. Please share your expectations for the committee’s discussions and what MOFA will be doing.

Minister Iwaya: The Prime Minister instructed the party to consider all aspects of future security policy, and I believe discussions within the party have begun based on this instruction. As the discussions have just got started, I would like to refrain from making detailed comments. I expect the party to conduct exhaustive discussions on mainly how to create a major security framework in this region and the future of the Japan-U.S. Alliance. We will listen to the discussions and build on them for the formulation of subsequent foreign policies.

Independent Web Journal, Hamamoto: The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted Pan Zhengming, former CEO of the Chinese company 500.com, now BIT Mining Ltd., for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with an IR project in Japan. According to the complaint, Pan and others allegedly paid bribes totaling USD 1.9 million, equivalent to 290 million yen, to several Japanese Diet members over a period of two years between 2017 and 2019. They reportedly testified that you are among the Diet members. You denied the allegations at the time. Domestically, this matter is considered resolved as the statute of limitations has already expired. However, the statute of limitations in the U.S. has not expired. In the U.S., as Pan and others, the bribers, have pleaded guilty to the bribery charges, some are suggesting that you, an alleged recipient of the bribes, will become a suspect. You are considered a suspect for bribery in the U.S. Under these circumstances, will you be able to fully carry out your Foreign Minister’s duties, which include frequent overseas travel?

Minister Iwaya: First, I would like to make clear that this matter has already been resolved. I held a press conference on January 4, 2020, and it is as I explained already at the time. It is absolutely not true that I received money from a Chinese company. Furthermore, I have never been approached by the company. I have absolutely no connections with the Chinese company mentioned in the reports. I would never accept donations from foreign companies under the Political Funds Control Act. I responded to questions during the press conference until there were no more. I am confident that the suspicions you just mentioned have already been cleared.