Press Conferences

Kyodo News, ICHIKAWA: Tomorrow will mark one year since the inauguration of the TAKAICHI administration. You have supported the Prime Minister with your extensive diplomatic experience and have played a leading role in Japan’s foreign policy. Could you please share your thoughts on the achievements of this past year and the challenges that lie ahead? I would also like to ask for your views on how Japan should approach China going forward.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: Tomorrow will mark one year since I assumed office as Minister for Foreign Affairs of the TAKAICHI Cabinet. Over this past year, I have made 15 overseas trips, visiting a total of 29 countries and regions, and held 220 meetings with foreign ministers and other officials of various countries.

I served my first tenure as Foreign Minister until five years ago. Compared with that time, the world has changed dramatically, and the situation has become extremely severe. Five years ago, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine had not yet begun. Although the Middle East has always been unstable, tensions were not this high, nor had conflicts intensified to the levels we see today. Furthermore, amid the rapid advancement of new technologies, including AI (artificial intelligence), the ways of warfare themselves are also changing. This is the situation we are currently facing. The world today is undergoing the most significant structural changes since the end of World War II. The security environment surrounding Japan is also becoming increasingly severe. This, too, represents a difference from five years ago.

At the same time, through my visits to various countries and meetings with foreign ministers, I am reminded that expectations toward Japan are growing amid these difficult international circumstances. These expectations may be even greater than they were five years ago.

To meet with these expectations, I believe it is extremely important that Japan further advance efforts to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law and build cooperative relations in a wide range of fields with various countries. Under the Updated FOIP (Free and Open Indo-Pacific), Japan intends to play a more proactive role, for example, by working to strengthen the resilience of supply chains for critical mineral and other resources.

With regard to China, an important neighboring country, even amid various challenges, we have built up years of efforts to address these issues and manage our bilateral relations. Building on this foundation, Japan will comprehensively promote a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests”. This policy remains consistent.

Although Japan-China relations are currently in a difficult situation, it remains unchanged that both countries bear a significant responsibility for the peace and stability in the region. Precisely because there are issues and concerns, we believe it is important to maintain communication between our two nations at various levels. Japan intends to advance dialogue to protect its national interests and build a constructive and stable bilateral relationship.

Hokkaido Shimbun, YOSHIDA: I would like to ask about the detention of a Japanese reporter by Russian authorities. It has been one week since a male reporter from the Hokkaido Shimbun was detained in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in the Far East by the Russian Federal Security Service. During this time, consular access, which, under the Japan-Soviet Consular Convention, is to be granted within four days of detention, has not been provided. Please share with us the Government’s view on this situation. I would also like to ask what efforts the Government will be making to secure early consular access and the reporter’s early release.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: The Government is making every effort to protect and ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, and this case is no exception. As for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), with regard to the Japanese national who has been detained by Russian authorities since October 13, local time, our utmost priority is to secure consular access as soon as possible to confirm the individual’s health condition and ascertain the facts. To this end, we have been urging the Russian side and making various coordination efforts, including arranging a visit to the detention facility designated by Russia.

As you have pointed out, according to the Protocol to the Consular Convention between Japan and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which is still in force, the right of consular access may be exercised within no later than four days from the time of arrest or detention.

Notwithstanding this, consular access has not been provided without any clear reason. We consider this extremely regrettable.

Given these circumstances, we believe our foremost priority is to ensure the safety of the Japanese national. Therefore, we will continue to make every effort from the standpoint of protecting Japanese nationals in strongly demanding that the Russian side grant early consular access, immediately release the Japanese national, and provide humanitarian consideration, as well as fair and equitable treatment. We are making approaches and coordination efforts through various channels. MOFA is doing everything we can at this moment. There is no doubt about this.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: I asked a similar question in the past, but as there is a new development, I am asking this again. Media reports indicate a potential rapprochement between the United States and Myanmar, highlighted by a recent meeting between their representatives in Tokyo. Has this development prompted any change in the Japanese government's position toward Myanmar?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: I think whether the situation has changed or not is a matter of interpretation. I am aware of the reports you referred to, but since they concern exchanges between third countries, I do not believe Japan is in a position to comment on the matter.

In any case, as I have stated before, Japan maintains the view that the immediate cessation of violence, political progress, including the release of detainees and sincere dialogue among the parties concerned, and efforts to improve the lives of people are indispensable to improving the situation in Myanmar. Japan will continue to strengthen its efforts to improve the situation, including through engagement with the relevant authorities.

Independent Web Journal, HAMAMOTO: Following the October 9 agreement regarding a partial lifting of sanctions against Russia, President Trump announced on October 16 that the U.S. would waive the implementation of a sanctions law against Russia, stating that a waiver at this time was in the national interests of the U.S. On October 11, answering questions at the White House, President Trump called for the resignation of President Zelenskyy and the election of a new president. While Prime Minister TAKAICHI has expressed Japan’s unwavering support for Ukraine, will the Government of Japan maintain its stance of supporting the Zelenskyy administration as before, regardless of the shift in the U.S. diplomatic posture?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: Our view differs slightly from the assertions made in your question. As the overall direction, we understand that the U.S. continues its mediation efforts to help achieve an early peace between Ukraine and Russia. We do not believe that the U.S. has given up on these efforts or shifted course in any way.

Based on the belief that any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force can never be tolerated, Japan will continue to provide support for Ukraine and impose sanctions against Russia, in close coordination with the international community.