Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: This afternoon, I received a courtesy call from H.E. Ambassador AlBanai, Chair of IGN of the UN, Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations (UN), and we confirmed that we will work together on issues in the international arena including Security Council reform.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the UN. At a time when divisions and confrontations are deepening and the Security Council is unable to fulfill its intended, expected role, it is essential to make concrete progress toward the realization of Security Council reform.

While reforming the Security Council is by no means an easy task, Japan will continue to engage actively, constructively, and persistently in Security Council reform in cooperation with many countries, including the G4, which are Japan, Germany, India, and Brazil, as well as with the U.S., the UK, France, and African countries.

That is all from me at the outset.

Asahi Shimbun, Matsuyama: I would like to ask about the situation in the Middle East. After approximately two months of ceasefire, Israel resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18. On the 24th, yesterday, two local journalists, including a correspondent for our company, The Asahi Shimbun, were killed in an Israeli attack. More than 170 journalists are believed to have lost their lives in Gaza in about the year and a half since the fighting began. How do you view this fact? Additionally, what outreach do you think Japan can do, both in the medium- and long-term, in response to the situation in the Middle East where war continues to rage on?

Minister Iwaya: The Israeli military has resumed and is conducting military operations across a wide area in the Gaza Strip. We are aware that they have caused numerous casualties, including civilian casualties. Japan is strongly concerned about this, including the further worsening of the humanitarian situation that is already dire.

In Gaza, up to now, many civilians, including journalists and aid workers, have come under attack and lost their lives. These attacks, including the recent incident you mentioned, are deeply regrettable. I extend my sincere condolences to all the victims and my sympathy to their bereaved families.

Japan will strongly urge all parties, including Israel, to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, so as to avoid further civilian casualties.

Japan, in close communication with the countries and international organizations concerned, will continue to engage with the international efforts concerning the improvement of the humanitarian situations, the reconstruction and governance of Gaza, and will redouble its diplomatic efforts toward achieving a two-state solution and establishing long-term peace and stability in the region.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: I have a question on President Trump’s remarks on tariffs. President Trump has stated that tariff measures on automobiles imported to the U.S. would be announced in the “next few days,” hinting that such measures could be announced ahead of the reciprocal tariffs to be announced on April 4. The Government of Japan has thus far been calling for Japan’s exclusion from the tariffs. Please share with us your thoughts on such announcements made by the U.S. How will Japan be making further calls for its exclusion? Please also explain any specific plans that have already been decided.

Minister Iwaya: I am aware of the remarks by President Trump you are referring to from the media reports.

Regarding automobile tariffs, I have repeatedly lodged claims with my counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto also recently visited the U.S. and lodged claims with his counterparts. We have explained Japan’s concerns to the U.S. at various levels and have lodged claims for Japan’s exclusion from the measures.

We will continue to take necessary actions, including engaging in close consultations between Japan and the U.S., while carefully examining the scope of the U.S. tariff measures, their potential impact on the Japanese economy, and other details.

Shanghai East Television, Song: I would like to ask about the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Could you describe the atmosphere at the Japan-China-ROK and Japan-China meetings? Were you able to achieve the expected outcomes? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: First, the Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in a very friendly and harmonious atmosphere. During the meeting, we were able to exchange views candidly from a broad perspective on trilateral cooperation as well as regional and global situations. We confirmed the promotion of a future-oriented cooperation among the three countries.

Specifically, for the Trilateral Summit to be eventually held in Japan, whose date, time, and other details will be arranged going forward, we concurred on accelerating preparation to achieve concrete outcomes, focusing on three areas. The three areas are: first, knowing each other better; second, cooperation to shape and protect livelihoods; and three, joint efforts of all generations to tackle common challenges.

Likewise, the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue were held in a very friendly atmosphere.

At the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, we shared the view to ensure the progress of reducing issues and concerns and increasing cooperation and coordination.

At the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue, a very lively discussion took place, and it ran about an hour longer than scheduled. I believe we were able to candidly exchange our respective concerns and other issues, deepen one another’s understanding, and resolve some misunderstandings.

Specifically, we confirmed that we will promote mutually beneficial and practical cooperation in a wide range of fields, including the green economy and measures to deal with the declining birthrate and aging population.

In addition, the two sides held not only a discussion on cooperation projects but also a candid discussion toward the resolution of issues and concerns. I emphasized the importance of resolving the issues and concerns one at a time in the course of conducting high-level exchanges.

I discussed, for example, the process toward the resumption of imports of Japanese aquatic products, and it was very meaningful that the two sides confirmed progress in the process.

Furthermore, I expressed Japan’s views and concerns candidly about issues and concerns, such as the situation in the East China Sea, including the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, the recent intensification of Chinese military activities, the issue surrounding the buoy, the issue of the detention of Japanese nationals, the challenge of ensuring the safety and security of Japanese citizens, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the situation in the South China Sea, and the human rights situations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Hong Kong, and others, and urged the Chinese side to address them.

Sankei Shimbun, Harakawa: In your response just now, you mentioned being able to resolve some misunderstandings during the Japan-China foreign ministerial level dialogue. Could you tell us what you were referring to exactly?

Minister Iwaya: I would like to refrain from disclosing the details. I was saying that, both Japan and China expressed their views on various trade practices and other questions we both had, and I believe this helped to deepen our understanding and resolve some misunderstandings.