Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have two announcements at the outset.

First is about Japan-Mauritius Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Ramful of Mauritius is visiting Japan from July 13 to 16 to attend the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. I will be holding a meeting with the Foreign Minister later this afternoon.

Mauritius, located at a strategic point in the Indian Ocean, is an important partner in promoting a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).” Through the meeting, I intend to confirm the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation in the regional and international arena, looking ahead to TICAD 9 in August.

Minister Iwaya: Second is about the fentanyl issue.

I understand that the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare spoke today at his press conference about the efforts to combat the synthetic drug fentanyl.

To regulate narcotics, including fentanyl, I am aware that the relevant Japanese authorities, including the Narcotics Control Department, have been working closely with enforcement authorities in the U.S. and other countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is also working actively to eradicate illicit drugs, including fentanyl, and to dismantle their production and distribution networks around the world in close cooperation with relevant countries, including the U.S., and with international organizations, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Domestically as well, MOFA has been addressing the issue in close coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan Customs under the Ministry of Finance, and the National Police Agency. I understand, for example, that Japan Customs has not detected any fentanyl smuggling into or out of Japan in the past six years.

To take strict measures against the unauthorized production, sale, import/export, and other activities related to fentanyl, MOFA will continue to cooperate closely with relevant countries, including the U.S., with international organizations, including UNODC, and with relevant ministries and agencies.

That is all from me at the outset.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: I would like to ask about the meeting that was held today at the Prime Minister’s Office on policies related to foreign nationals. A new office to deal with foreign nationals’ issues was established today. Please tell us once again how MOFA intends to engage in this matter. With the population decreasing, what are your thoughts on the importance of diversity and coexistence with foreign nationals in Japan? In addition, in the House of Councillors election campaign, many political parties seem to be advocating for enhanced policies and regulations on foreign nationals and minorities. What is your view on these arguments? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: First of all, an office to deal with foreign nationals’ issues was established at the Cabinet Secretariat today. The director general in charge and other personnel from MOFA will also be involved in relevant initiatives as members of this office.

As Prime Minister Ishiba instructed at today’s inauguration ceremony, it is important to incorporate overseas vitality by accepting foreign human resources to a certain extent and expanding inbound tourism consumption to ensure the transition to a growth-oriented economy in Japan, which faces a declining birthrate, aging population, and shrinking population.

At the same time, ensuring the safety and security of Japanese nationals is an essential prerequisite for economic growth. Therefore, we believe that taking stringent measures against those who do not follow the rules, and revising systems and policies that are inadequate for addressing the current situation surrounding foreign nationals, are key challenges that the Government must tackle.

For its part, MOFA will work with relevant ministries and agencies and fulfill an active role for realizing an orderly, intercultural, and cohesive society with foreign nationals, a society where Japanese and foreign nationals respect one another and lead safe and secure lives.

Regarding various debates being made during the House of Councillors election campaign, I believe that Japan must be, in principle, a country open to the world, and I wonder if rhetoric that unnecessarily incites discrimination against foreign nationals or fuels division is appropriate.

What is important is to build an orderly, intercultural, and cohesive society. Under the leadership of the office established today, the Government will steadily formulate and implement policies to promote such a society, and MOFA will make firm efforts to this end.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about manipulative activities using AI. Several U.S. media outlets have reported that a fake voice of Secretary of State Rubio was created, and that it was used to hold talks with several people, including three foreign ministers. The U.S. Government has acknowledged some of the facts in the reports. Have you experienced such a situation? In addition, please explain what measures MOFA is taking against such manipulative activities.

Minister Iwaya: No, I have not experienced it, yet. “Yet” may sound odd to say, though. I am aware of the reports you referred to, but I have not been targeted.

MOFA enforces information security in accordance with its regulations on the protection of classified information and the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cybersecurity Policy.” Regarding communications, especially communications between foreign ministers, while I will not go into detail, they are conducted in a strictly controlled environment. Therefore, we believe that appropriate measures are in place to prevent deceptive manipulations such as the latest incident you mentioned.

Furthermore, MOFA as a whole has consistently implemented necessary measures, including training, seminars, and awareness raising in the field of information security. However, now that we are in an era in which any kind of image can be created with the use of AI, we intend to implement rigorous measures more than ever before.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: Japan has been a global hub for diplomacy these last months. Expo diplomacy in particular illustrates that and not a single day perhaps passes without a leader or a top decision maker from another part of the world makes a trip to Japan, providing Tokyo and Osaka with an appearance of a secondary United Nations. My question is how will these diplomatic activities or expo diplomacy increase Japan's clout and influence in the world affairs and especially in the Middle East?

Minister Iwaya: As you stated, we have been actively conducting Expo diplomacy. Three months have passed since the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and it has reached the halfway point. I understand that it is thriving with a number of visitors every day. From overseas as well, a range of people are visiting each day, including heads of state, leaders and ministers from various countries. We are fortunate that officials whom we would normally have to visit to meet are coming here on the occasion of the Expo.

Prime Minister Ishiba has held numerous summit meetings so far. I, too, have held meetings with my counterparts from 18 countries and international organizations so far. Later, as I mentioned at the outset, I will be holding a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Mauritius. Many more meetings will be held, and I look forward to meeting with many people.

Regarding Middle East countries that you mentioned, I have held meetings so far with foreign ministers as well as other ministers and officials from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. On those occasions, as a matter of course, we exchanged views toward realizing peace and stability in the Middle East. I look forward to meeting with more people from the Middle East.

The Expo offers an excellent opportunity to deepen exchanges with countries around the world and showcase Japan’s appeal to the international community. We will make full use of this occasion to deepen bilateral relations, and at the same time, promote cooperation on challenges facing the international community.

Jiji Press, Chiba: I would like to ask about TICAD 9, which will be held from August 20 next month. As countries such as China enhance their influence in African countries, how do Africa and Japan intend to advance their relationship through TICAD? Secondly, at the previous TICAD8, then Prime Minister Kishida participated online, and the number of African heads of state who participated was small. Around how many leaders are expected to participate in the upcoming meeting? These are two questions from my side.

Minister Iwaya: At TICAD 9, taking place in Yokohama next month, plenary sessions will be held where leaders will discuss issues, including the economy, society, and peace and stability. In addition, there will be a Public-Private Business Dialogue with participation from the private sector, as well as nearly 200 Thematic Events organized by companies, NGOs, and others.

TICAD8 was held in the format you mentioned due to the influence of COVID-19 and other factors. However, at TICAD 9, we would like it to serve as an opportunity for Japan and Africa to work together, rather than Japan working unilaterally, to create solutions to challenges that will lead to the prosperity of both sides by leveraging, for example, the latest technologies such as AI, digital healthcare, and other Japanese innovative technologies and expertise.

As of now, over 40 African countries have already expressed their intention to participate. At TICAD 9, numerous bilateral meetings will also be held. On this occasion, Japan will sincerely address the challenges facing each country and work to further strengthen our relationship with Africa.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: You made comments on fentanyl in your opening remarks. May I ask what the Government of Japan’s aim of making these comments at this time is, just as President Trump is raising the issue of the influx of fentanyl from Mexico and so on? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: There is no particular aim. I stated that Japan has been addressing the issue of fentanyl firmly and will continue to take firm measures.

While there were reports suggesting that Japan was a transit point, that is not the case. I understand that the smuggling of fentanyl into or out of Japan has not been detected in the past six years and we will continue to take through measures on this issue.