Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have two announcements.

First, if circumstances permit, Prime Minister Kishida will visit Kazakhstan and hold the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue Summit this month. As Central Asian countries have been affected in various ways by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, it has become more important than ever to cooperate and coordinate with these nations to uphold the free and open international order based on the rule of law.

To support such summit diplomacy, I myself have been engaging in outreach diplomacy. Just the other day, I exchanged views with the ambassadors of the five Central Asian countries to Japan. And this time, as part of our efforts to support for Japanese companies with the Central Asian market in mind, we decided to newly appoint officials in charge of cross-border economic affairs at four diplomatic missions in three countries: the Embassy of Japan in United Kingdom; the Embassy of Japan in Turkey; the Consulate-General of Japan in Istanbul; and the Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai.

Central Asia is not only a geopolitically important region surrounded by China, Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan, but also an attractive market with abundant energy and mineral resources high growth, and a growing population.
To incorporate the growth and vitality in the Central Asian region into the Japanese economy, the officials in charge of cross-border economic affairs will actively support Japanese companies by facilitating cooperation in third-country markets, taking into account the needs of Japanese companies.

As for the officials in charge of cross-border economic affairs, we plan to gradually expand the areas in which such officials are appointed, aiming to create a structure that covers the Global South by the end of the year. We hope that more companies will take advantage of the support provided by the officials in charge of cross-border economic affairs.

In addition, coinciding with the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue Summit, we have made a policy promotion video on Japan’s foreign policy focusing on the history of our cooperation with Central Asia.

After today’s press conference, it will be available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website, YouTube, and other platforms. We hope many people will watch it.

Minister Kamikawa: Secondly, yesterday, I received a courtesy call from the diplomatic missions of the 10 East African countries to Japan.

The ambassadors and others from East African countries, which have high economic potential and are attracting the attention from Japanese companies, and I were able to confirm that we will be working together closely in bilateral and international arenas, respectively.

The TICAD Ministerial Meeting will be held in Tokyo on August 24 and 25. Based on yesterday’s meaningful exchanges of views, Japan will be undertaking thorough preparations to host the TICAD Ministerial Meeting.

That is all from me.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about Central Asia. China has appeared to make attempts to draw Central Asia to its side, for example, holding a summit meeting with Central Asian countries in Xi’an on dates overlapping with the G7 Hiroshima Summit two years ago. How does MOFA intend to respond to such attempts and build relationships with Central Asian countries?

Minister Kamikawa: In 2004, Japan, ahead of other countries, launched the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue, and the two sides have deepened their partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation based on friendship and mutual trust.

Over the years, Central Asia has achieved steady economic development. We recognize that the region today is becoming increasingly important as an attractive market that continues to see strong growth and a rise in population. At the same time, as the international environment surrounding Central Asia changes rapidly, it has become more important than ever to cooperate and collaborate with Central Asian countries to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Against this backdrop, if circumstances permit, Prime Minister Kishida will visit Kazakhstan and hold the first “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue Summit this month. To support such summit diplomacy, I have been engaging in outreach diplomacy, which I just mentioned, and just the other day, I exchanged views with the ambassadors from the five Central Asian countries to Japan.

Japan will seize the upcoming summit as an opportunity to further strengthen our relations with Central Asia toward its autonomous and sustainable development.

Jiji Press, Murakami: I have a question on Japan-China relations. In its release regarding the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Laos on the 26th of last month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced that Minister Kamikawa stated that “Japan’s position on upholding ‘one-China’ remains unchanged” and Japan “will maintain constructive communication with China to appropriately handle” its semiconductor export regulations against China. Did you make these remarks during the meeting? Could you please verify? In addition, it has been reported by some media that MOFA lodged a protest over China’s release. Please also explain about the response of the Government of Japan.

Minister Kamikawa: With regard to Taiwan, Japan’s basic position is that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is important for the international community, including Japan. At the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Laos on July 26, I exchanged views based on this perspective.

During this conversation, I explained Japan’s consistent position that “Japan’s position on Taiwan is based on the Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China issued on September 29, 1972 and there is no change in this position.”

Regarding semiconductor export controls, Japan has been implementing the export controls from the perspective of maintaining international peace and security, and our discussions were based on this understanding.

During that discussion, in response to the concerns raised by China, I stated that Japan’s measures are not aimed at any specific country and hoped for continued close communication between Japanese and Chinese authorities.

Japan and China issued their own releases after the meeting. The Chinese announcement does not necessarily reflect Japan’s remarks accurately, and we conveyed our position to the Chinese side.

NHK, Igarashi: I would like to ask about Visits to the Graves in the Northern Territories by former island residents. According to some reports, the Russian side indicated to House of Councillors member SUZUKI Muneo during his visit to Russia that the 1986 agreement, which serves as the basis for the Visits to the Graves, is no longer valid. Has MOFA been able to confirm whether the framework for the Visits to the Graves is in effect? What are MOFA’s intentions going forward? Additionally, if the confirmation has been made, was it after Mr. Suzuki’s visit? Please tell us when it was made.

Minister Kamikawa: The Government considers the resumption of the Visits to the Graves as one of the highest priorities in Japan-Russia relations, and has continued to call on Russia to respond at a variety of levels, including the high level.

Through such communications, we have confirmed that the framework of the Visits to the Graves has not been annulled and has been maintained. Even after House of Councillors member Suzuki’s visit to Russia, we have confirmed that Russia’s position on the Visits to the Graves has not changed. However, we have not received a positive response from Russia regarding the resumption of such programs.

Driven by our strong desire to respond to the earnest wishes of the elderly former island residents, the Government will continue to strongly urge Russia to resume such programs, with particular emphasis now on the Visits to the Graves in the Northern Islands.

Kyodo News, Hidema: My question is about the situation in the Middle East. At the end of last month, a top leader of the Hamas Islamic group was assassinated in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The Government of Iran has determined that this attack was carried out by Israel and has hinted at retaliation. Furthermore, immediately prior to this attack, a commander of the Hezbollah Shiite Islamic group was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The situation that you and the Government of Japan had been trying to prevent, that is, the expansion of fighting in the Middle East or its spread across the region, is becoming a reality. What is your view on this? Please tell us Japan’s future policy.

Minister Kamikawa: Japan is closely following the situation on the ground with grave concern and alarm.

It is important to avoid retaliatory attacks and calm down the situation; Japan has urged relevant parties to avoid further escalation. We will continue to make all diplomatic efforts while working closely with other countries.

We have yet to receive any information that Japanese citizens have lost their lives or been injured. However, following the series of incidents, we are taking measures to protect Japanese citizens with heightened vigilance. On July 30, the Government issued spot information for Lebanon and Israel and urged Japanese citizens to cancel their trips to the two countries and to leave the countries as early as possible. Additionally, on July 31, the Government issued region-wide safety information for the Middle East. We have repeatedly been alerting Japanese citizens and will continue to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens residing in the region.

Freelance, Nishinaka: I have a few questions related to the joint statements of the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee “2+2” and the Japan-U.S. ministerial meeting on extended deterrence held on July 28. First, the joint statement of the “2+2” states that China’s foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others, giving the example of China’s activities in the East China Sea, including the Senkaku Islands. However, in 2012, when the Government of Japan nationalized the Senkaku Islands, Taiwan’s Representative Office urged, as the position of the Republic of China, that the Government of Japan reverse the nationalization, citing that it would undermine the long-standing cooperative relationship between Taiwan and Japan, intensify tensions in the East Asian region, and damage the Taiwan people’s friendly feelings toward Japan. Subsequently, with the increasingly severe relations between China and Taiwan and between the U.S. and China, as well as China’s expanding maritime activities, the Governments of Japan and the U.S. have reinforced their defense and military capabilities, mainly around the Southwest Islands of Okinawa in anticipation of a potential Taiwan contingency. Ten years have passed since the nationalization. What diplomatic efforts has MOFA made to mitigate tensions between China, Taiwan, and the U.S. in the East China Sea in consultation with Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures and other parties concerned? In particular, prior to the Japan-U.S. “2+2,” what explanations did the Government of Japan provide to the U.S. Government regarding its twelve years of diplomatic efforts? Please share with us and highlight the key points. That is my first question.

Minister Kamikawa: The Senkaku Islands are indisputably an inherent part of the territory of Japan in light of historical facts and based upon international law, and are, in fact, effectively under the Japanese control. In the first place, there exists no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved concerning the Senkaku Islands.

The first intrusion by Chinese government vessels into Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands took place in December 2008. Since September 2012, there have been successive intrusions into these territorial waters by vessels belonging to the China Coast Guard (CCG).

Repeated intrusions by CCG vessels into Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands and their attempts to approach Japanese fishing vessels can absolutely not be tolerated. We have lodged strong protests against China through diplomatic channels, in addition to our responses in the waters in the area.

Japan has reiterated its serious concerns over the situation in the East China Sea, including the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, at various meetings, such as at the leader and foreign minister level, and has strongly urged actions from the Chinese side. During the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Laos on July 26, I also strongly urged the Chinese side Foreign Minister Wang Yi to take action.

In addition, we have advanced international efforts led by our ally, the U.S. For example, at the Japan-U.S. “2+2” on July 28, Japan and the U.S. reiterated their strong opposition to China’s intensifying attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea, including through actions that seek to undermine Japan’s longstanding and peaceful administration of the Senkaku Islands, as well as escalatory behavior around the Southwest Islands. Furthermore, the U.S. reaffirmed that Article V of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty applies to the Senkaku Islands.

The Government of Japan is determined to firmly and perpetually defend Japan’s territorial land, sea, and airspace and will continue to deal with the situation in a resolute and calm manner while firmly maintaining its position.

Freelance, Nishinaka: I would like to ask one more question. The Japan-U.S. ministerial meeting on extended deterrence was held. At the same time, the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is currently in session in Geneva. Ahead of this meeting, on July 9, I believe it was, the Japan NGO Network for Nuclear Weapons Abolition exchanged views with MOFA and submitted a request to you and Prime Minister Kishida. At the recent Japan-U.S. ministerial meeting on extended deterrence, it seemed that emphasis was placed on strengthening nuclear deterrence, while messages on nuclear non-proliferation and the elimination of nuclear weapons were weak. Why was this? Both the joint statements of the extended deterrence meeting and the “2+2” are based on the three revised security-related documents decided by the cabinet in December 2022 and on Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to the U.S. this April. The U.S. seemed to very much commend the measures taken by the Government of Japan since then. Japan’s initiative did not really come through in the joint statements. What role did MOFA play in the “2+2,” especially in regard to nuclear deterrence, which I believe is an extremely important issue for the Government of Japan? I would appreciate if you can answer these two questions.

Minister Kamikawa: The Japan-U.S. “2+2” is an important forum for discussing various issues related to Japan-U.S. security cooperation. In this context, as a matter of course, Japan’s foreign and security policies are determined in accordance with our constitution and domestic laws and regulations, and based on our national interests.

In addition, discussions at the Japan-U.S. “2+2” that can be disclosed have been made public, and discussions have been conducted in the Diet and other forums.

That being said, at the recent Japan-U.S. “2+2,” the U.S. expressed its intention to gradually reconstitute the present U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) as a joint force headquarters reporting to the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to facilitate deeper interoperability and cooperation on joint bilateral operations in peacetime and during emergencies. The reconstituted USFJ will enhance its capabilities and operational cooperation with Japan’s joint operations command.

The details pertaining to Japan-U.S. cooperation on reconstituting USFJ will be discussed at Japan-U.S. working groups.

In any case, as Foreign Minister, I will continue to work to further enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance. At the same time, I will continue to carefully explain such efforts to the people of Japan.

Freelance, Nishinaka: How about nuclear deterrence capabilities?

Minister Kamikawa: I have explained earlier.