Press Conferences

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

First, regarding the current situation in the Middle East, while relevant parties are making utmost efforts to negotiate the release of hostages and a ceasefire with the mediation of the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, the situation remains unpredictable, as evidenced by the intensification of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah on August 25.

Under these circumstances, I have been encouraging relevant parties to avoid further escalation. Since the beginning of this month, I have held meetings with the foreign ministers of the G7 countries, Jordan, Iran, and Lebanon, and confirmed that we will continue to maintain close communication at a high level to prevent the further escalation of the situation.

Furthermore, I held meetings twice with Foreign Minister Abdelatty of Egypt, who was visiting Japan to attend the TICAD Ministerial Meeting. We reaffirmed the importance of calming down the situation and working together to this end. Since then, I have continued to receive regular updates on the situation on the ground.

We will continue to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals residing in the region, as well as make diplomatic efforts while working closely with other countries to avoid further escalation.

Minister Kamikawa: Second, this August marked two and a half years since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine began. The aggression is an outrageous act that shakes the very foundations of the international order. Japan has strong sense of crisis that “Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow,” and has been consistently addressing this issue as its own issue.

On August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, the foreign ministers of the G7, including Japan, jointly created and released a video demonstrating our unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.

This video contains clips from my visit to Ukraine this January. The vivid scars of the aggression that I saw firsthand during the visit have not faded from my memory. On this occasion, Japan would like to reaffirm its determination to stand with Ukraine.

Even now, the people of Ukraine continue to suffer daily under Russia’s aggression. To stop Russia’s aggression and achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible, Japan will make every effort, working together in various ways with the G7 and Global South countries.

That is all from me.

NHK, Igarashi: I would like to ask about the situation in Ukraine which came up in your opening remarks. There have been drone attacks on Russia’s southern and western regions. At the same time, there were large-scale attacks on Ukraine by Russian missiles and drones on August 26, resulting in casualties. Could you comment on the attacks? Additionally, please tell us about the position of the Government of Japan on whether it supports Ukraine’s cross-border attacks.

Minister Kamikawa: First, we take it extremely seriously that civilians are victimized by Russia’s recent attacks in various regions of Ukraine. Attacks on civilians and civilian facilities are a violation of international law. Such actions can never be justified, and Japan strongly condemns them.

Regarding Ukraine’s attacks on Russian territory, Japan is gathering information with great concern.

The situation is constantly evolving and remains extremely fluid. We will continue to constantly gather and analyze information on future developments.

Kyodo News, Nishiyama: I would like to ask about yesterday’s intrusion of a Chinese military aircraft into Japan’s territorial airspace. The aircraft reportedly intruded into Japan’s territorial airspace for two minutes above an area southeast of the Danjo-gunto Islands of Nagasaki Prefecture. Please share with us the assessment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the response it will be taking, and whether the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) did this intentionally or not.

Minister Kamikawa: It has been confirmed that on August 26, beginning at 11:29 a.m., a Chinese military reconnaissance plane, Y-9, intruded into Japan’s territorial airspace for approximately two minutes above the Danjo-gunto Islands of Nagasaki Prefecture.

The intrusion into Japan’s territorial airspace by a PLA aircraft is not only a grave violation of Japan’s sovereignty but also a threat to its safety, and it is absolutely unacceptable.

Following this incident, on the same day, Mr. OKANO Masataka, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, summoned Mr. Shi Yong, Charge d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and issued a very severe protest concerning the incident, strongly urging the Government of China to ensure that similar acts do not recur.

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

Sankei Shimbun, Harakawa: The UN General Assembly session will be held in late September, and the High-Level Week will begin on September 24 I believe. The High-Level Week will coincide with the final stage of the LDP presidential election if you run for it. With that in mind, what are your plans for attending the UN General Assembly session this year? Will you attend, or will you give priority to the party’s presidential election and not attend?

Minister Kamikawa: Nothing has been decided regarding my attendance at the UN General Assembly.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: As a follow-up to the previous question, I would like to ask more broadly about the presidential election and your official duties. I understand that you have plans for overseas visits, which are either being arranged or were being arranged for late August to September. Please tell us about your thoughts on how you intend to balance your presidential election campaign with your official duties, particularly overseas visits. Furthermore, regarding the presidential election, or political affairs, what are your prospects for securing recommendations from 20 party lawmakers?

Minister Kamikawa: I am fully aware of my heavy responsibility as Foreign Minister, and I have been giving priority to addressing the diplomatic issues before me.

Regarding my recent duties, I visited India from August 19 for the Japan-India “2+2” meeting and the Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.

In addition, until the day before yesterday, I chaired the TICAD Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, and I held a total of 33 bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of 32 countries over the course of two days.

Through these opportunities, I reaffirmed that it is immensely important for Japan’s diplomacy to strengthen its engagement with the Global South.

In last few years, the international situation has become increasingly severe. In this context, building personal relationships of trust with foreign ministers of like-minded countries and engaging in candid exchanges of views are becoming ever more important. With each meeting, I feel that we are able to have more honest and candid discussions. I believe that such opportunities will continue to be critical for Japan’s diplomacy in any situation, and I will continue to make every effort in this regard.

(Regarding the second question on recommenders) I have been making every effort in asking party lawmakers for their endorsement. One cannot run for the election if the one does not have enough recommenders. Therefore, I am currently seeking endorsement to get on the ballot paper.

Yesterday evening, a team of my peers organized our first meeting. I was actually in Osaka and participated virtually. It was highly encouraging and gave me the opportunity to hear people express their support for me. I hope those who share the same aspirations as me join our team. During the meeting, we discussed extensively about the future of Japan. Through this process, we also reached a shared view about how we will change Japan and create a major movement. This was the first such opportunity, and the team has said it will continue to organize many more meetings. I look forward to working together with my peers and to expanding our circle.

Mainichi Shimbun, Odanaka: I would like to ask another question related to the presidential election and your official duties. Foreign policy will also be an important issue in the presidential election. As Foreign Minister, you are currently in a position to lead Japan’s diplomacy in an increasingly complex and fluid international situation. In terms of the presidential election and your aspiration to become party president, what do you think about your advantage or the significance of your current position, which allows you to be up-to-date with the latest international situation?

Minister Kamikawa: I have long been engaged in civil diplomacy or diplomacy with people overseas, including during my studying abroad, and I have a vast network overseas.

In my current capacity as Foreign Minister, as I mentioned earlier, I believe it is important above all to build relationships of trust, which form the basis for interstate relations.

The mutual trust I have built as Foreign Minister is another significant network that I highly value. As you noted, the present international situation is very severe. I have colleagues with whom I have worked together to address this situation and with whom I have had numerous conversations about it. I will coordinate with these people directly in working together to solve each issue. This is also critical in the international community.

I know this firsthand because I am the incumbent Foreign Minister. This knowledge will be a key element for the party presidential election, and I believe it is also my strength.

As I discussed today, the situation is changing very rapidly in the Middle East, Ukraine, and East Asia. Against this backdrop, how will Japan address these issues? If I become the Prime Minister, regardless of being a female Prime Minister, I will make full use of my network to continue to steadily advance Japan’s efforts.

In addition, since assuming the office of Foreign Minister, I have consistently advocated for Women, Peace and Security (WPS), and the tackling of peace and security issues by women. And now, such momentum is gaining tremendous speed, domestically and internationally. Considerable changes due to climate change have caused famine and flood damage. Children have lost their lives in conflict. In these circumstances, women have an important role to play not as victims but in peacebuilding. The importance of getting their voices heard has been demonstrated through dialogues. I have a vital mission to get this done together with everyone, and I want to make this a major pillar of Japan’s diplomacy and a pillar of Japan, a nation of peace. This has been my approach, which has received a highly positive response. I am very pleased that there is a major international consensus in TICAD that we need to integrate women’s perspectives in Africa and to establish a leader who can do this. I will work to further drive such developments.