Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: Today, I have three announcements at the outset.

The first is about the results of the ministerial negotiations for our budget in the next fiscal year. A short while ago, I attended negotiations with Minister of Finance KATAYAMA regarding the FY2026 initial budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). I went into the negotiations with the understanding that diplomacy is the basis for protecting the lives and property of Japanese people amid an increasingly severe and complex international situation. As a result, additional funding in three areas to which MOFA attaches importance have been approved.

First, an additional JPY 3 billion was approved for the Official Security Assistance (OSA) budget, increasing it by JPY 10 billion from JPY 8.1 billion in FY2025 to JPY 18.1 billion. Second, an additional JPY 2.6 billion was approved for the budget related to Official Development Assistance (ODA), marking the first increase in grant aid budget in three years. Combined with the grant for JICA’s operational expenses, the total ODA budget reaches JPY 303.1 billion. Third, JPY 1.5 billion was approved for the budget to reinforce our responses to information warfare and strengthen cultural diplomacy, bringing the total to JPY 25 billion.

While detailed calculations are still underway, with this additional funding, the initial FY2026 budget is expected to exceed JPY 810 billion —the largest initial budget in nearly 30 years, since 1997.

In order to address the numerous diplomatic challenges under severe international situation, MOFA intends to make use of these funds responsibly and effectively, and will pursue vigorous diplomacy with a broad perspective even more proactively.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: The second announcement is about passport fees.

Based on the instructions given by Prime Minister TAKAICHI at last month’s meeting of the Ministerial Council on the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and the Realization of a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence, MOFA intends to make arrangements toward reducing passport fees.

To this end, we will prepare to submit a bill to amend the Passport Act in the next ordinary session of the Diet. If approved, the fee for a ten-year passport for those aged 18 and over will be lowered from the current amount of approximately JPY 16,000 to approximately JPY 9,000. Additionally, for five-year passports for those under 18 years old, the current fee of about JPY 11,000 for those aged 12 years and over and about JPY 6,000 for those under 12 years old will both be lowered to about JPY 4,500.

We expect that the reduction of passport fees will contribute to promoting Japan as a tourism-oriented country, as well as to enhancing the international exchanges of Japanese people and deepening their understanding of foreign countries.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage those traveling overseas to register with our overseas travel registration service (Tabi-Regi).

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: The third and last announcement is about the launch of the Strategic Partnership Framework between Japan and MERCOSUR. Last Saturday, on December 20, Japan and the Southern Common Market, known as MERCOSUR, launched the Strategic Partnership Framework between Japan and MERCOSUR.

Going forward, discussions will be held under this framework in a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, to further strengthen the economic relations between Japan and MERCOSUR. Although this framework will not immediately lead to a free trade agreement (FTA), the first meeting under this framework will be coordinated to be held early in the new year.

That concludes my opening remarks.

NTV, HASE: At the outset, you mentioned the reduction of passport application fees. While you explained about the amounts, could you share the anticipated timeline, if you have one?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: As I mentioned earlier, reducing passport fees requires an amendment to the Passport Act. At this point, as a Government, I would like to refrain from speculating about when the fees will be reduced. In light of Prime Minister TAKAICHI’s instruction to consider increasing the international tourist tax while taking into account its impact on Japanese outbound travelers, I believe it would be desirable to introduce the fee reductions in conjunction with raising the international tourist tax. Regarding this international tourist tax, I understand that the Japan Tourism Agency is currently making arrangements to apply the new tax rate on or after July 1 next year.

Nikkei Shimbun, HORIKOSHI: I would like to ask about Horizon Europe. On December 22, the Government announced that an agreement in principle was reached on Japan’s association to Horizon Europe, the European Union’s (EU) funding program for research and development. What is the significance of Japan’s participation in this framework and what outcomes do you expect from it?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: Japan’s association will enable Japanese research institutions and companies selected for Horizon Europe projects to receive research and development grants from the EU.

The expected outcomes are thought to include stimulating international cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, such as research and development with EU member states, as well as enhancing Japan’s research capabilities, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and enabling Japan to participate in the setting of international standards and rules for advanced technologies.

We intend to work in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies for the signing of the agreement as early as possible in 2026.

Asahi Shimbun, MIYAWAKI: I would like to ask about your meeting yesterday with National Security Advisor Wi Sunglac of the ROK. In the press release, it is stated that you explained the Japan’s position on the current regional situation. Could you share with us what you explained or what the two of you discussed about the recent Japan-China relations?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: As already announced in our press release, during my meeting with National Security Advisor Wi, we reaffirmed the importance of developing the bilateral relations in a future-oriented and stable manner under the current positive atmosphere of the Japan-ROK relations, and concurred on continuing to work closely between the two Governments.

I would like to refrain from disclosing the details of the meeting as they are diplomatic communications. That said, I clearly conveyed the Japan’s position on the regional situation.

Sankei Shimbun, NAGAHARA: There is some overlap with the question raised at last week’s press conference, but I would like to ask about the tenth anniversary of the Japan-ROK agreement on the issue of comfort women. This weekend will mark ten years since the two countries reached the agreement of 2015, which confirmed that the comfort women issue was resolved finally and irreversibly. As you stated last week, I believe the Japan-ROK relations are developing in a future-oriented and stable manner. On the other hand, there is the issue of Japan’s contributions to “the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation,” which was unilaterally dissolved by the Moon Jae-in administration in 2018. Furthermore, in lawsuits filed by former comfort women in the ROK, a series of judgments were rendered ordering the Government of Japan to pay compensation. However, any corrective measures have not been taken. How does the Government view these issues and what actions will be taken?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: When I previously served as Foreign Minister, the Japan-ROK relations had cooled considerably, or various obstacles had emerged. In such a context, as I mentioned the other day, the Japan-ROK agreement was reached between the Foreign Ministers of Japan and the ROK in December 2015, in which, as a result of efforts by both Governments, the two sides confirmed that the issue of comfort women was “resolved finally and irreversibly.”

The Government of the ROK also respects this agreement as an official agreement between our two Governments. Both Governments will continue to take appropriate actions in close communication with each other.

While there may be various issues or remarks, the two Governments have basically reached an agreement on this issue and confirmed their shared intention to steadily implement the agreement. If there are any remaining challenges, we would like to resolve them one by one.

Bloomberg, MURAKAMI: I would like to ask about Taiwan. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, Japanese Diet members visited Taiwan 123 times this year, exceeding last year’s total of 97 times. The Ministry has also announced that around 30 Japanese Diet members will be visiting Taiwan from the end of this year through the beginning of the new year. Can you once again tell us about its necessity for Japan to continue parliamentary diplomacy with Taiwan, with which Japan has no formal diplomatic relations, even as Japan-China relations deteriorate?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: As you are aware, the Government’s consistent position has been to maintain Japan-Taiwan relations as a working relationship on a non-governmental level basis.

I would like to refrain from commenting on what the Government considers to be desirable activities of Diet members or political parties.

Jiji Press, CHIBA: I would like to ask just one question regarding the budget you explained in your opening remarks. You mentioned that the budget related to OSA will increase significantly. However, even in the current fiscal year, I believe the number of OSA recipient countries rose compared to the program’s first fiscal year, and the items supplied by Japan have become increasingly sophisticated. Can you just tell us about the significance of supporting the enhancement of security capabilities of like-minded countries?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: Providing support to countries in enhancing their security capabilities and capacity building is becoming extremely important for realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP). From this perspective, the budget has been increased by JPY 10 billion, from JPY 8.1 billion to JPY 18.1 billion. We intend to appropriately utilize these funds while carefully taking into consideration the needs of each country.