Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Today, commencing at 11:00 a.m., I held the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and a working lunch with Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi of China, for a total of nearly three hours. This meeting was my first meeting with Foreign Minister Wang in person, and I think we were able to have a greatly candid and in-depth discussion on the wide range of matters. I was also able to build a personal relationship, which will lead into the future, with Foreign Minister Wang.

Minister Wang and I, under a broad direction of comprehensively promoting a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests” and building “constructive and stable Japan-China relations” as confirmed by the leaders of both Japan and China, concurred that we will enhance Japan-China relations in looking ahead to high-level communication and interaction. We also concurred that we would make joint efforts to reduce issues and concerns and increase cooperation and coordination. It is my hope that my visit to China can serve as a catalyst for these efforts.

In addition, Minister Wang and I confirmed to hold a high-level economic dialogue on the occasion of Foreign Minister Wang’s visit to Japan at the earliest appropriate timing next year. We will proceed with concrete coordination.

Additionally, we concurred on steadily implementing the announcements made in September regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea and China’s import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products. I called for the early lifting of import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products. Moreover, we confirmed the early resumption of consultations between the authorities regarding the resumption of Japanese beef imports and the expansion of imports of Japanese rice. Apart from these matters, we conducted a wide-ranging discussion on cooperative projects between the two countries.

Furthermore, I expressed Japan’s serious concerns about various issues, including the situation in the East China Sea such as the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, the intensification of Chinese military activities, the buoys, and China’s unilateral development of natural resources, and urged the Chinese side to address these issues. Regarding the buoys, we have newly identified a buoy within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) south of Yonaguni Island. We believe it was installed by China and have called for its immediate removal.

Moreover, amid China’s relaxation of visa measures for short-term stays, the two countries need to work together to ensure the safety and security of Japanese citizens to increase people-to-people exchanges between Japan and China. At today’s meeting, I once again requested cooperation from the Chinese side in this regard.

During the working lunch, we deepened discussions on not only bilateral relations but also the regional situation and issues that the international community is facing. In these times of significant changes in the international community, we confirmed that both Japan and China, as its responsible members, will respond to these issues steadily.

Today, I also paid a courtesy call on Premier of the State Council Li Qiang. Premier Li and I had a discussion building on the meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and Premier Li, and Prime Minister Ishiba and President Xi Jinping, and reaffirmed a broad direction of Japan-China relations.

After this, I am scheduled to hold a High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Dialogue, and a dinner meeting with Minister of the International Department Liu Jianchao of the Communist Party of China. People-to-people and cultural exchanges form the foundation of mutual understanding between the people of both countries. From this perspective, I look forward to deepening the discussion on how we can promote such exchanges in a way that takes into account the needs of the times.

That is all from me at the outset.

Reporter: Your visit to China is the first by a Japanese Foreign Minister in a year and eight months. Furthermore, since taking office, Prime Minister Ishiba held meetings with Premier Li and President Xi in succession. How do you perceive the current Japan-China relationship? Where do you position this visit in this context, and how will you build on it to advance diplomacy between the two countries next year and beyond? While my question slightly overlaps with your opening remarks, please also share with us your communication on Foreign Minister Wang’s visit to Japan and any responses from the Chinese side.

Furthermore, the import suspension of aquatic products remains an issue between Japan and China. While it slightly overlaps with your opening remarks, could you also tell us about the discussions held toward resuming imports and the response from the Chinese side?

Minister Iwaya: In November, Prime Minister Ishiba and President Xi held a meeting in Peru in South America and confirmed the broad direction of comprehensively promoting a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests” and building “constructive and stable Japan-China relations.” Today, Minister Wang and I concurred to make joint efforts in line with the direction confirmed by the two leaders. Based on today’s meeting, we intend to increase opportunities for high-level communication and interaction from next year onwards. There are of course various concerns and issues between the two countries, but I believe it is important to reduce such concerns and issues one at a time and increase opportunities for cooperation and coordination and will make efforts to this end. I hope Minister Wang’s visit to Japan is realized at the earliest possible timing next year. We confirmed to hold a high-level economic dialogue on that occasion. We will proceed with the concrete coordination going forward. As for your question on the import restrictions on aquatic products, as I stated earlier, we concurred that we would steadily implement the announcements made by the Governments of Japan and China in September. I would like to refrain from disclosing the details of our discussion, but Japan will be making efforts for the early lifting of the import restrictions. The Government will continue to call on the Chinese side for the early restoration of imports.

Reporter: From Japan’s perspective, there are also uncompromisable issues between the two countries, such as China’s hegemonic activities in the East China Sea, including around the Senkaku Islands, as well as ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals in China, including detention and crime victimization of Japanese nationals. Please share with us what you took away from the meeting. Do you feel that these issues are resolvable? Additionally, the Chinese military is continuing intense activities around Taiwan, and a state of heightened tension remains. How will Japan engage in managing escalations in this region? I have one more question. What position should Japan take as the U.S.-China confrontation becomes the underlying tone across the international community? Was this raised at today’s meeting? In addition, you stated at the outset that a buoy was newly discovered. Please tell us any basic factual details if available, such as when it was discovered.

Minister Iwaya: I expressed Japan’s serious concerns about various issues, including the situation in the East China Sea such as the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands, the intensification of Chinese military activities, the issue of buoys, and China’s unilateral development of natural resources, and urged the Chinese side to address these issues. Furthermore, regarding the cases of Japanese nationals being detained, I called for the early release of Japanese nationals who are being detained.

Advancing Japan-China relations requires reducing such issues and concerns, and to do so, it is important to deepen communication at various levels. From this perspective, in the area of security, we concurred at today’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to hold the Japan-China Security Dialogue at the earliest possible timing next year.

Today, I urged the Chinese side to fully address the issues I mentioned earlier, and through the Japan-China Security Dialogue, I will call for further responses from the Chinese side.

Regarding Taiwan, at today’s meeting as well, I stated that Japan is closely monitoring relevant developments, including the recent military activities. I also reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is extremely important for the international community, including Japan. I once again conveyed that we expect that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully by dialogue, which has been the consistent position and stance of Japan.

U.S.-China relations were not one of the main topics of today’s meeting, but I believe stable U.S.-China relations are critical for the international community today. While maintaining our strong relationship of trust with our ally, the U.S., we will maintain communication with China as well. We consider that the U.S. is required to demonstrate appropriate leadership, and at the same time, we have called on and will continue to urge China to fulfill its responsibilities as a major power.

Lastly, a buoy has been newly identified within Japan’s EEZ south of Yonaguni Island. Yesterday, the Japan Coast Guard issued a navigational warning. At today’s meeting, I called for the immediate removal of the buoys installed in Japan’s EEZ, including the newly identified buoy. I do not believe a buoy was newly placed because I was coming here. Based on the external appearance of the newly identified buoy, it is possible that some time has passed since its installation. In any case, Japan considers such actions to be unacceptable, and I stated that they only adversely affect Japan-China relations. From such perspectives, we will continue to call for appropriate responses from the Chinese side.

Reporter: I would like to ask about international affairs. During the series of meetings, have you exchanged views with the Chinese side on increasing military cooperation and other cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, which is affecting the current global and regional situations? In this connection, during the series of meetings, were views exchanged on the situation in Ukraine? Furthermore, was the inauguration of the U.S. Trump administration next month raised at the series of meetings?

Minister Iwaya: During the working lunch, we discussed the response to the DPRK, including the nuclear and missile issues and the abductions issue. I expressed serious concerns about the DPRK’s nuclear and missile activities and advancing military cooperation with Russia, including the participation of the DPRK troops in combat in Ukraine, and stated that Japan expects China to play an important role. In addition, I once again asked for the Chinese side’s cooperation toward the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

We also discussed the situation in Ukraine. I will refrain from disclosing the details, but I called on China to also fulfill a responsible role in maintaining the peace and security of the international community.

The inauguration of the Trump administration was not one of the main topics of today’s meeting. I stated that stable U.S.-China relations are important for the entire international community. As a U.S. ally and as a neighboring country of China, Japan intends to work hard to ensure that such relations are established.