Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs:

Today, the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors is in session. Since the time spent on answering questions is not counted in the allotted time, it is difficult to accurately predict how much time I have. I may have to cut this press conference short midway, and I would appreciate your understanding.

I have two announcements at the outset.

First, the Japan-UK Economic 2+2, a gathering of foreign and economic ministers of Japan and the UK, will be held today.

Japan and the UK are important partners that share responsibility for peace and stability in the international community.

At this meeting, we will discuss themes such as economic security, promotion of free and open international trade, and energy security, as well as third-country cooperation, including the Global South.

Prior to the meeting, I will hold the Japan-UK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Lammy.

Minister Iwaya: The other topic is about the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

If circumstances permit, I will visit Charlevoix, Canada from March 12 to 14 to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Within this past month as well, the international situation has changed rapidly. Under these circumstances, it is essential that the G7 will continue to firmly maintain and strengthen its cooperation for various issues facing the international community.

Therefore, at the upcoming G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, we will candidly exchange views for three days on urgent challenges in the international community, including Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and the situation in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, I intend to take this opportunity to further deepen the personal relationship of trust.

That is all from me at the outset.

Asahi Shimbun, Satomi: I would like to ask about the Japan-UK Economic 2+2 you referred to in your opening remarks. Japan and the UK have strengthened their cooperation over the last few years, not only in economic matters but also in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and security matters. With the international environment described as turbulent, I would like to ask what kind of bilateral relations Japan is aiming for strategically.

Minister Iwaya: At the Economic 2+2, which will be held for the first time, discussions will focus on four themes: economic security, promotion of free and open international trade, energy security, and third-country cooperation including the Global South. Although it is not the Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 Meeting, I expect that the security cooperation you just mentioned will naturally come up in conversation.

In any case, as the international situation and international order are being greatly disrupted, I hope to reach a shared view with the UK on working together to sustain and strengthen a free and fair rules-based economic order or a broader world order.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: I would like to ask about President Trump’s remarks. While speaking to the press at the White House, President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, stating that it was one-sided. The U.S. may use this as a reason to urge Japan to increase its defense spending in the future. How does Japan intend to address this matter? The President’s remarks also seem to contradict last month’s Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders’ Statement. What are your thoughts on this?

In addition, please clarify whether the U.S. side has conveyed to Japan that the treaty is one-sided, including during your Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Secretary of State Rubio.

Minister Iwaya: We are aware of President Trump’s remarks through media reports. The Japan-U.S. Alliance is the cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and security policy, and I believe that the strong Japan-U.S. Alliance was reaffirmed at the recent Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting.

Regarding defense spending, as Prime Minister Ishiba has repeatedly answered in the Diet, this is a matter that Japan will decide independently. Needless to say, a factor of importance in determining defense spending is not its amount or percentage but substance. Based on our National Security Strategy and other policies, we intend to steadily proceed with the fundamental reinforcement of our defense capabilities.

Additionally, on multiple occasions, including the recent summit meeting, Japan and the U.S. have reaffirmed that they will fulfill their obligations under the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security using their full range of capabilities, including nuclear. We have confidence that the U.S. will fulfill its obligations.

Moreover, we believe that the Legislation for Peace and Security has further strengthened the bond between the two countries, developing the Japan-U.S. relationship into an alliance in which both sides help each other. As a result, we view that the deterrence capability of the alliance has significantly improved. Japan will continue to constantly consider and implement efforts to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the alliance.

Furthermore, Secretary of State Rubio and I have reached a shared view on further strengthening Japan-U.S. Alliance deterrence and response capabilities that I just mentioned.

Mainichi Shimbun, Kim: Yesterday, the Chairperson of the Research Commission on Fishery Policies, the Director of the Fisheries Division, and other members of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) submitted a resolution to you requesting diplomatic efforts toward the lifting of import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products. With regard to China in particular, the resolution calls for a further strengthening of diplomatic efforts through making maximum use of high-level mutual visits between Japan and China. There is also talk about Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi visiting Japan in the near future, coinciding with the Japan-China-Republic of Korea (ROK) Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. How do you plan to utilize these opportunities to call on China to lift its import restrictions?

Minister Iwaya: As you indicated, yesterday, Chairperson Koizumi of the LDP’s Research Commission on Fishery Policies, Director Suzuki of the Fisheries Division, and other members brought over a resolution, which I have duly received. In response to the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, some countries and regions, including China, have continued to impose import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products. This situation is deeply regrettable. Taking seriously the resolution I received yesterday, I have renewed my determination to making efforts toward the removal of these import restrictions.

Based on the announcements made by the Governments of Japan and China last September, Japan has called on the Chinese side for the early resumption of Japanese imports, including at the Japan-China Summit Meeting last November and the Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting last December. Japan will continue to seize all opportunities to call for such a resumption.

Therefore, if there is an opportunity, including the Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting or a Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on its margins, which I will work to realize, I intend to steadily request China once again.

Chugoku Shimbun, Miyano: At the Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW in session at the United Nations Headquarters, the uncertainty and risks of nuclear deterrence are being discussed. Member States argue that nuclear deterrence does not always work, and should there be a nuclear explosion, it could destroy all of humanity. Please tell us how the Government of Japan intends to address these concerns.

Minister Iwaya: The current security environment surrounding Japan can be described as being the most severe since the end of World War II.

In addition, over 10,000 nuclear warheads exist in the world, and over 4,000 of them are operationally deployed in the periphery of Japan. This is extremely regrettable. As nuclear buildup continues, Japan views extended nuclear deterrence to be indispensable for securing peace in Japan and protecting the Japanese people.

I would like to express my respect for the efforts made by the States Parties to the TPNW and to the participants of the meeting. For its part, Japan will steadily pursue more realistic efforts under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) regime.

Pan Orient News, Azhari:Japan depends on the nuclear weapons for protection in the name of a nuclear umbrella or nuclear deterrence. Do you believe this kind of protection should spread in the world, especially in the Arab region, so Arab countries could also depend on nuclear deterrence or nuclear weapons for protection from Israel?

Minister Iwaya: The NPT regime, which I just mentioned, has the following objectives: nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We are committed to making realistic efforts, with the goal of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing current nuclear weapons inventory through disarmament. It is desirable to ensure that more countries will not have to rely on nuclear weapons, and this is what we must aim for.

That being said, as the security environment facing each country is different, it should be up to the respective countries to make appropriate decisions about their security policies.

In the Middle East region, Japan has consistently supported the resolution adopted at the NPT Review Conference in 1995, which calls for the establishment of a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction.

Nikkei Shimbun, Baba: It has been reported that around 20 countries have expressed interest in joining a coalition of willing to assure Ukraine’s security following a ceasefire. Is Japan one of them? Amid the current situation surrounding Ukraine, what is the significance of establishing this UK-led framework?

Minister Iwaya: Regarding Ukraine, the discussions within the international community are still ongoing. At this time, while there have been various reports about individual specific frameworks, I would like to refrain from commenting on them individually.

That being said, Japan will continue to firmly support Ukraine.

Japan intends to continue support for Ukraine in cooperation with G7 members and relevant countries, so that the diplomatic efforts of the U.S. and various other countries, including European countries, will bring an end to the combat under the unity of the international community, and achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible. In particular, we hope to steadily play a role in future recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine.