Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have an announcement at the outset.

The Diplomatic Bluebook 2025 was distributed at the Cabinet meeting today.

The Diplomatic Bluebook is a record of Japan’s diplomatic activities, and it has been published every year since 1957, which is the year the Prime Minister and I were born. Each volume documents the diplomatic activities Japan has conducted in the international community.

Diplomatic Bluebook 2025, which is the 68th volume, solidly presents Japan’s “diplomacy of dialogue and cooperation.” Specifically, it is described that, amid a severe international situation, including the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the security environment in East Asia, Japan, placing the highest priority on protecting the lives and property of its citizens, is safeguarding a free and open international order based on the rule of law and leading the world from division and confrontation toward reconciliation and cooperation, working in a multilayered and multifaceted manner with global partners.

The Diplomatic Bluebook is now available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website. We hope that as many people as possible will read it and deepen their understanding of Japan’s diplomacy.

That is all from me at the outset.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about Japan-U.S. relations. Yesterday, the Prime Minister held a telephone talk with President Trump. Tough negotiations are expected to take place over tariffs. How do you see the trade issue affecting overall Japan-U.S. relations? In addition, Minister Akazawa was appointed as the minister in charge of the negotiations today. Please share with us your thoughts on this. As Foreign Minister, what role do you intend to play in Japan-U.S. diplomacy?

Minister Iwaya: Needless to say, the Japan-U.S. relationship is the cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and security policy. The Japan-U.S. Alliance is also the foundation of stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

At the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting held in February, the two leaders shared the views on the severe and complex security environment and concurred to elevate the Japan-U.S. Alliance to new heights.

There have been no particular issues up to that point. That being said, we view that the restrictive trade measures that the U.S. Government has broadly introduced could have, or rather, will have a significant impact on the economic relationship between Japan and the U.S., and by extension, the global economy and the multilateral trading system as a whole. Japan has serious concerns regarding whether the measures are consistent with WTO agreements and the Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement.

In Munich in February, in Charlevoix in March, and in Brussels last week, I expressed Japan’s regret over the U.S. tariff measures and lodged a strong claim for the reconsideration of the measures to my counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

At the Japan-U.S. summit telephone talk held last evening, it was decided that both sides would appoint a minister in charge and to continue the discussions. I am aware that, today, it was decided that Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization AKAZAWA Ryosei would be appointed as the minister in charge on the Japanese side.

In the previous round of negotiations, then Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Motegi was in charge of the negotiations. With Minister Akazawa at the lead, the Government will spare no effort in engaging in Japan-U.S. negotiations. As Foreign Minister, I will fully support Minister Akazawa through continued cooperation and coordination with relevant ministries and agencies and strongly urge the U.S. to reconsider its measures.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: You just mentioned that you will be supporting Minister Akazawa. Will MOFA be sending personnel, establishing a regime, forming a team, or exploring measures of any kind? Could you elaborate on these aspects?

Minister Iwaya: We will discuss going forward, and MOFA will give urgent consideration to what form of support would be most appropriate and establish arrangements accordingly. At the same time, MOFA has work of its own to do. As Foreign Minister, I also must continue to urge my counterpart. The respective Japanese counterparts must approach officials across the U.S. Government. We will approach and strengthen outreach at all levels, including Congress, think tanks, and the U.S. business community.

Nikkei Shimbun, Baba: I would like to ask about assistance for Myanmar. As assistance in response to the earthquake that occurred in central Myanmar, the Government of Japan has dispatched a medical team and transported medical supplies on Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) aircraft. Providing support to a military regime presents certain challenges. Please tell us the significance of Japan actively providing such medical assistance.

Minister Iwaya: Disasters are not someone else’s problem. Especially for Japan, a disaster-prone country, the earthquake in Myanmar is not an issue of a distant region by any means. We must treat it as our own issue. Therefore, Japan has commenced its assistance with the intention of supporting the people of Myanmar rather than supporting the military regime.

So far, we have decided to provide emergency relief goods through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and dispatch a Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team, which has already begun its activities. We have also announced the implementation of Emergency Grant of 6 million US dollars through international organizations.

The JDR Medical Team commenced its medical activities in Mandalay on April 4, and I understand that it has been treating a large number of sick and wounded people every day. In order to transport medical goods, including medicine and test kits, which are necessary for the medical team to continue its activities, we dispatched one C-130 JSDF aircraft to Myanmar on April 8. I understand that it will arrive tomorrow.

Under Japan’s consistent policy of supporting the people of Myanmar facing difficulties, the Government of Japan will continue to make full efforts to provide humanitarian assistance that directly benefits the people of Myanmar, taking into account the advance team’s report that there are critical medical needs.

Deutsche Welle, Cheng: I have a question on China’s military drills around Taiwan. The G7 members recently expressed strong concern about China’s unilateral military drills. Has MOFA had any communication or discussion on this matter with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs? If so, could you please share with us what views were exchanged specifically?

Minister Iwaya: As you indicated, the G7 members issued a foreign ministers’ statement that expresses deep concern about the military drills conducted around Taiwan by the Chinese military from April 1 to 2.

The Government of Japan has closely followed developments related to the drills with great interest and has communicated Japan’s concern to the Chinese side.

As this is diplomatic communication, I would like to refrain from disclosing the details. In any case, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is extremely important for the entire international community, including Japan.

I conveyed this directly to Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi at the recent Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Japan has worked closely with its ally and like-minded countries, including the U.S. and other G7 members, and has expressed this position clearly as the common position shared by all of these countries. We will continue to closely follow the related developments and fully pursue diplomatic efforts.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: What is Japan’s position on Israel resuming attacks on Gaza and causing as much death to the Palestinian people including babies as possible?

Minister Iwaya: The Israeli military has resumed military operations across a wide area in the Gaza Strip, and as you just mentioned, they have resulted in many casualties, including civilians. Japan finds this situation, including the further worsening of the humanitarian situation that is already dire, to be extremely regrettable.

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

At the same time, we will once again strongly urge all parties concerned to return to negotiations for the release of hostages and the ceasefire proposal and to work in good faith toward the continuation of the ceasefire agreement, including the transition to the so-called second phase.

A short while ago, I held a telephone talk with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelatty of Egypt. During this talk, I once again expressed my appreciation and support for the mediation efforts made by the countries concerned, including Egypt, and conveyed that Japan would work to restore calm and improve the humanitarian situation. We will continue to steadily carry out such diplomatic efforts.