Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have an announcement at the outset.

H.E. Ms. Batmunkh Battsetseg, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, will visit Japan from today, February 28, to March 5 as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

I will hold a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Working Dinner with Minister Battsetseg on March 4.

Mongolia is a “special strategic partners for peace and prosperity,” which shares fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law with Japan. I intend to take this opportunity to have in-depth discussions with Minister Battsetseg, to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation as well as collaboration to resolve global issues.

That is all from me.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Uemura: Regarding the recent G7 Leaders’ Video Conference, no joint statement has been issued yet. What is the current state of the coordination among the members? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: On the G7 leaders’ Statement, as the situation is constantly evolving, we have coordinated from the perspective of what kind of message and at what timing would be appropriate for the G7 leaders to issue. However, at this point in time, no statement has been issued yet.

Japan will continue to closely coordinate with the G7 and the international community to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: My question may be somewhat related. The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in South Africa concluded yesterday. Amid the growing risk of a resurgent trade friction between the U.S. and China, the meeting failed to adopt a joint statement outlining the achievements of international cooperation, following on from the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting you attended last week. It has become clear that multilateral cooperation frameworks, including the G20, are being reduced to a mere formality. What are your thoughts on this situation, and how does Japan intend to address it?

Minister Iwaya: I would like to refrain from commenting on the outcomes of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting. As for last week’s G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg that I attended, I understand that the creation of an outcome document was not planned from the start.

That being said, G20 members include advanced and major emerging economies, and their combined GDP accounts for more than 80% of the global GDP, making the G20 increasingly more important.

It is essential that all countries take shared responsibility and lead efforts to solve the challenges facing the international community. Japan, for its part, will continue to actively play a role through multilateral frameworks, including the G20.

I believe now is a time to stand firm. Whether it is the G7 or the G20, even if a consensus cannot be reached at once, I believe it is critical to continue dialogue and foster unified cooperation within the international community, and Japan will make steady efforts to this end.

NHK, Yonezu: I would like to ask about Ukraine. President Trump of the U.S. has indicated that President Zelenskyy of Ukraine will visit the U.S. on the 28th of this week, local time, and sign an agreement document surrounding rights and interests to mineral resources. Attention is being paid to how the strained relationship between the two leaders will play out and to the conclusion which will be made on the security guarantees that Ukraine is seeking. What are Japan’s expectations?

Minister Iwaya: At first glance, the relationship appears strained at times. However, there have been instances where the U.S. President corrected his statements, or President Zelenskyy stated to the effect that the two leaders had a good conversation. In any case, the situation is fluid as I understand it. We will gather information with great interest and closely follow the situation.

For this reason, at this time, it is somewhat premature for the Government of Japan to delve into individual concrete matters and make an assessment.

Japan views that the diplomatic efforts of our ally, the U.S., as well as various other countries, including European countries, are crucial for bringing an end to the prolonged combat in Ukraine under the unity of the international community and, as we have repeatedly stated, to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible. Japan will continue to work closely with the international community toward this goal.

Nikkei Shimbun, Baba: I would like to ask about the U.S. tariff policy. The Trump administration has announced that additional tariff measures on steel and aluminum products will take effect on March 12. That date is approaching. The Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan has expressed his willingness to visit the U.S. and engage in discussions with the U.S. side. How do you intend to request the U.S. side to exempt Japan from the tariffs? Please share with us what approach you will be taking.

Minister Iwaya: We are, of course, aware of the announcement on U.S. tariff measures for steel and aluminum products you mentioned.

The Government of Japan has asked the Government of the U.S. to exempt Japan from the measures. I have also made this request to Secretary of State Rubio on the occasion of the recent Munich Security Conference.

Japan will carefully examine the details of the measures and their impact on Japan and take necessary responses. As Prime Minister Ishiba and Minister Muto mentioned earlier in the Diet, I understand that arrangements are being made for Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Muto to visit the U.S., provided that the Diet’s approval is obtained.

Regarding the details, please ask the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Sankei Shimbun, Harakawa: I would like to ask about the Government of Thailand’s repatriation of more than 40 detained Uyghurs to China. The repatriated people were some of the Uyghurs who had fled China to escape persecution by the Chinese authorities and were subsequently detained in Thailand. Since information emerged that such detainees may be repatriated, coinciding with the Thai Prime Minister’s visit to China early this month, you received a request from two bipartisan parliamentary associations to prevent the forced repatriation. My questions are as follows. What specific diplomatic actions have you taken so far based on the requests from the parliamentary associations? Moving forward, will Japan, for example, condemn the Government of Thailand similar to the U.S. Government, or make any requests to the Government of China? Please tell us about Japan’s past and future responses.

Minister Iwaya: We are aware of the reports you are referring to.

On the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, there have been numerous reports of gross human rights violations, and Japan is seriously concerned about the human rights situation in the region.

Based on this position, we have repeatedly conveyed Japan’s concerns to the Government of Thailand. Despite this, the Government of Thailand repatriated the Uyghurs to China, which is deeply regrettable.

I would like to refrain from disclosing about individual diplomatic communications. As I mentioned earlier, we have repeatedly conveyed our concerns to the Government of Thailand.

Moreover, Japan believes it is important that freedom, basic human rights, and rule of law, which are fundamental values of the international community, should be guaranteed in China as well. Based on this position, Japan has directly urged the Government of China at various levels on the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and will continue to make such efforts.

Freelance, Takahashi: I would like to inquire about the impact of USAID’s closure on Japan. The Trump administration in the U.S. is set out to close USAID. What impacts could this closure have on Japan? Notably, last September, MOFA signed a memorandum of cooperation with USAID in the field of international health. This memorandum includes clauses on cooperation between the Governments of Japan and the U.S. in the field of international health. Is it correct to understand that such provisions are now null and void? What about the impacts on the conclusion of the Pandemic Agreement and the establishment of the UHC Knowledge Hub in Japan? Additionally, is it a fact that funding from USAID had flowed to the Executive Committee on Global Health and Human Security or to the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE), where the secretariat for the committee is located? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: Regarding the closure of USAID which you mentioned, we are aware that a 90-day pause has been put into place for now, and that the U.S. Government is currently assessing consistency between U.S. foreign assistance and foreign policy. On future developments relating to USAID and the impact on assistance to Japan, at this stage I would like to refrain from responding based on speculation.

In the area of development cooperation, Japan has been working closely with the U.S. through bilateral dialogues as well as the G7, G20, the United Nations, and other multilateral frameworks. Japan will continue to actively play a role, while communicating with various countries, including the U.S.

In addition, as I just mentioned, the U.S. Government is in the midst of conducting its assessment. At this stage, I would like to refrain from making comments based on speculation, including about the impact on the memorandum of cooperation you mentioned.

The U.S. has been a key contributor to international health efforts. Accordingly, Japan will continue to advance efforts with the understanding that we will be collaborating with the U.S. and various other countries.

I believe there was also a question on the Pandemic Agreement. Japan will continue to participate constructively in the negotiations, from the standpoint that it is vital to establish and strengthen international norms that contribute to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

Regarding the Knowledge Hub for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), I understand that arrangements are being made toward its establishment. For details, please ask the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Finance, which are the central ministries involved in this matter.

Have I answered all your questions? Was there one more?

Freelance, Takahashi: Is it a fact that funding from USAID had flowed to the Executive Committee on Global Health and Human Security or to JCIE, where the secretariat for the committee is located?

Minister Iwaya: MOFA is unaware of the details of the flow of USAID funds.

Independent Web Journal, Hamamoto: I have a question about policy on Ukraine. Following the inauguration of the Trump administration, U.S. policy on Ukraine has shifted from continuing the war to proposing a ceasefire. At the G7 Leaders’ Video Conference on February 24, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed that “Japan will continue support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, in coordination with the G7.” The total amount of the Government of Japan’s support for Ukraine over the past two years is said to reach USD 12.1 billion, or approximately 1.7 trillion yen. In the U.S., Elon Musk posted on X that “kickbacks” to politicians were the reason why there is a lot of funding for Ukraine in the Senate’s budget proposal. In addition, it appears that the U.S. is changing course surely and significantly, including commencing the dismantlement of USAID. At the same time, in Japan, protests for the dissolution of the Ministry of Finance are gaining momentum, with demonstrators arguing that politicians and bureaucrats should use the budget to benefit Japanese citizens. The national budget should be used to support the livelihoods of the people. Could you please share your view? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: We have been addressing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as Japan’s own issue, believing that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region is inseparable, and with a strong sense of crisis that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force should not be tolerated anywhere in the world.

Based on this view, as you pointed out, we have announced and steadily implemented a total amount of more than USD 12 billion in support so far in the humanitarian, financial, and recovery and reconstruction fields.

Various developments surrounding Ukraine are now emerging in the international community. Japan will continue to support Ukraine in close cooperation with the international community, including the G7, while closely following these developments.

On Japan’s support for Ukraine and other Japanese foreign policies, in order to obtain the public’s understanding, we have seized a range of opportunities, including this press conference, to explain the significance, and we will continue to make steadfast efforts.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: I would like to ask about a Diet matter. Earlier today, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would revise its policy on raising the out-of-pocket expense ceiling of the high-cost medical expense system. While I understand that this matter falls outside your jurisdiction, I think that such a reversal of an initial government policy constitutes a major political decision. Throughout this Diet session, the Government has consistently faced difficulties as a minority ruling party. You yourself have consistently emphasized the importance of deliberation. What is your reaction to the Prime Minister’s major decision? Having observed the Prime Minister close by, what difficulties do you suppose were encountered? If you have any views, I would like to hear about them. Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: As this matter is outside my jurisdiction, I do not necessarily have an accurate grasp of the details. As a minority ruling party, it is very important that ruling and opposition parties deliberate carefully and reach a consensus. Regarding the high-cost medical expenses you asked about, I gather that it was through such dialogues that the policy direction was decided.