Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Today is 14 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred on March 11, 2011. I would like to once again express my heartfelt condolences for the lives lost and send my deepest sympathies to the bereaved families. I would also like to reiterate my appreciation for the abundant support and encouragement Japan received from around the world.

On dispelling harmful rumors and lifting the import restrictions on Japanese food products, they continue to be important issues for the Government of Japan. Notably, we will seize various occasions to persistently call for the lifting of import restrictions by the six countries and regions where they remain in place.

Minister Iwaya: Next, I would like to introduce our government-wide efforts to prevent the recurrence of special scam operations near the Thailand-Myanmar border.

First, in late February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) informed the public about consultation services available at MOFA’s headquarters and at Japanese embassies and consulates overseas. In addition, we have decided to distribute three types of informational materials, which have been distributed to you, at the service counters of passport centers nationwide in coordination with the National Police Agency (NPA). Using these materials, we will enhance our efforts to warn minors and conduct outreach campaigns at Japanese airports.

MOFA takes this matter seriously and will continue to work closely with relevant ministries and agencies to alert Japanese nationals and ensure that they do not inadvertently become either perpetrators or victims of crime.

Minister Iwaya: Lastly, on March 30 and 31, the sixth and final meeting of the IGEP will be held at the United Nations University. At the meeting, final discussions are scheduled to take place for compiling recommendations for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

I myself will attend the meeting of the IGEP.

The meeting itself will be closed to the public, but on April 1, a public discussion event, which will include external experts, will be held. We look forward to the participation of many people.

That is all from me at the outset.

Kyodo News, Ayukawa: I believe you will be visiting Canada from tomorrow to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. My question is in regard to this meeting. Some have pointed to a rift forming among the G7 members over the situation surrounding Ukraine and the issue of the U.S. administration’s tariffs. At the recent G7 leaders’ conference, the leaders were unable to finalize and issue an outcome document. In attending the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under these circumstances, what efforts will Japan be making to maintain unity among the G7 members? Please share with us what you envision as the role for Japan.

Minister Iwaya: A rift must not be formed among the G7 members. That is why we will gather together for discussion this time.

At the upcoming G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, as you noted, I expect that thorough discussions will be held in light of the current international situation, including the situations surrounding Ukraine and the Middle East, which are rapidly changing. Even under these circumstances, Japan will firmly advocate that the G7 must remain united in pursuit of the shared goals of achieving peace and stability in the international community and a free and open international order. Japan will also emphasize that it is only through the unity of the G7, which shares values and principles, that we can deal with these situations and move toward their settlement.

Naturally, Japan will steadily convey this view to its counterparts, including the U.S. In particular, as Japan is the only member from Asia, we consider that our expected role is to ensure that the Indo-Pacific perspective is incorporated into the G7’s discussions.

Under this view, we will conduct candid exchanges of views to cement the unity and cooperation of the G7.

Mainichi Shimbun, Kim: I would like to ask about Japan-China relations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi of China gave a press conference on March 7 last week, in which he assessed that bilateral relations have demonstrated a momentum of improvement and growth. Conversely, on the issues of history and Taiwan, the Minister’s remarks appeared to keep the Government of Japan in check. Could you share your comments as well as your plans once again for Japan’s diplomacy with China?

Minister Iwaya: Various dialogues are now underway between Japan and China to comprehensively promote a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests” and build “constructive and stable Japan-China relations,” as the two leaders have confirmed. It means a momentum of improvement and growth is demonstrated, as Minister Wang described. Therefore, above all, it is necessary to maintain the momentum of improvement and growth.

That being said, 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.

In addition, the Ishiba Cabinet has upheld in their entirety the positions of previous cabinets on history, including previous statements by prime ministers, and will continue to uphold them.

While there remain various issues between Japan and China, there are also great possibilities. Both countries bear a responsibility for the peace and prosperity of this region and the international community. It is important that the two countries work closely wherever possible and contribute to the region and the international community.

Under this broad direction, the two countries must continue to steadily build a bilateral relationship to maintain close communication at all levels, including at the summit level, in a wide range of fields and, as I stated earlier, reduce issues and concerns and increase cooperation and coordination.

Chugoku Shimbun, Miyano: First, I have a question on the final meeting of the IGEP you mentioned at the outset. What are your expectations for the discussions at the final meeting? Secondly, what significance do you think the recommendations from the meeting have? Additionally, you stated that a discussion will be held on March 1, which will include external experts. Will Hibakusha and representatives of civil society groups be participating? Please tell us what kind of a discussion forum this will be.

Minister Iwaya: I consider that next year’s NPT Review Conference will be an extremely important meeting. Regretfully, the past two conferences were unable to produce outcomes. Therefore, ahead of next year’s Review Conference, we will carefully consider the recommendations from the IGEP and make preparations for the Review Conference.

In this sense, we are eagerly awaiting the recommendations from the IGEP. We will significantly draw on them as a reference and reflect them into the position of Japan.

As for which experts will be participating in the forum, forgive me, I do not have the information on hand, and I am unable to say who. It is my hope that the forum will be participated in by a broad range of people as much as possible.

Kyodo News, Ayukawa: I have a follow-up question on your visit to Canada. In his press conference today, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto explained that he visited the U.S. and lodged a claim for Japan’s exemption from the additional tariffs the Trump administration plans to impose, but that Japan was not excluded. In Munich, too, you lodged a claim for Japan’s exclusion during your informal talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio. I imagine an individual meeting with the U.S. could be held on the margins of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. If such a meeting is realized, will you be communicating Japan’s position once again? What other matters do you wish to discuss? In addition, could the importance of the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security be on the agenda? Please elaborate on these matters.

Minister Iwaya: First, as you just indicated, at the recent Munich Security Conference, I exchanged views with Secretary Rubio, and I lodged a claim for Japan’s exemption. This time, Minister Muto visited the U.S. and held meetings with his U.S. counterparts. Of course, at the meetings, Minister Muto lodged a claim for Japan’s exemption. I understand that, regrettably, the Japanese side has not received confirmation of its exclusion from the tariff measures at this stage, and it was decided that talks would continue.

Japan will continue to persistently take the necessary responses, including calling on the U.S. to exclude Japan from the measures. On the margins of the upcoming G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, I intend to hold a Japan-U.S. bilateral meeting if possible, and communicate a clear message through such opportunities. If a meeting is realized, as a matter of course, I hope to exchange views on not only economic and tariff issues, but also on the future arrangements of the Japan-U.S. Alliance, and our bilateral efforts in the international arena and for various international challenges.

NHK, Yonezu: I would like to ask about awareness raising efforts on the special scam that you described in your opening remarks. You stated that MOFA is enhancing efforts to warn minors and conduct outreach campaigns at airports. I would think that reaching out to minors is quite challenging. What specific measures are you envisioning? Are you thinking of particular locations, such as schools or other places where minors get together? Additionally, minors as well as young people in their 20s and 30s have become victims and perpetrators. How do you perceive this issue, and how do you hope to reach out to them? I would appreciate it if you could explain this once again.

Minister Iwaya: I reported on MOFA’s efforts earlier. However, the Government as a whole or all the relevant ministries and agencies will be implementing respective measures. I believe NPA is considering its own various measures, or the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology are considering their own various measures. We hope that these measures combined will have even a marginal impact.

It is extremely regrettable that young minors are being lured by promising offers and end up becoming perpetrators or victims. To ensure that this does not happen and reduce such incidents even slightly, MOFA recognizes that it needs to issue robust warnings more than ever before.

Chugoku Shimbun, Miyano: I would like to ask about the Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW that concluded on March 7.

The Government of Japan decided not to participate as an observer in this meeting, as did the NATO member states that attended the past two meetings, namely, Germany, Norway, and Belgium. On the other hand, Australia, which is under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, participated in the meeting.

What is your analysis of these countries’ moves? Furthermore, please tell us how you view the international landscape that has led to such a situation.

Minister Iwaya: As you just mentioned, we understand that Australia was the only U.S. ally that participated as an observer, and that no NATO member states participated in this meeting.

I gather that each of the countries made their decision based on their respective security policy. Therefore, I believe it would not be appropriate for Japan to comment on the responses taken by other countries.

Regrettably, the current international situation is extremely severe, as are the circumstances surrounding nuclear weapons. In this context, as I have stated previously, Japan will promote practical and realistic efforts under the NPT regime, a universal framework participated in by a range of nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States.

I am sure that both the states parties to the TPNW and the countries that participated in the meeting share the ultimate goal of realizing a world without nuclear weapons. This also remains our goal. As part of our practical and realistic efforts, Japan will work hard to make next year’s aforementioned NPT Review Conference a fruitful meeting and create an NPT regime for advancing nuclear disarmament even marginally, advancing nuclear arms control, and preventing any further proliferation of nuclear weapons.