Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: I attended the APEC Ministerial Meeting yesterday and today. This was my first time attending the APEC Ministerial Meeting in person since 2013, when I was Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. In addition to the APEC Ministerial Meeting, I held bilateral meetings and a Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministers’ meeting. Therefore, please bear with me as my opening remarks may be somewhat long.

At this year’s APEC Ministerial Meeting, a lively discussion took place under the themes of “Innovate,” “Prosper,” and “Connect” presented by the ROK, the APEC Chair.

I emphasized that in today’s world, where uncertainty in the global economy is ever-increasing, maintaining and strengthening a free and fair economic order has never been more crucial and strengthening cooperation among APEC economies has never been more necessary.

I also held a Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers’ meeting. The strategic environment in East Asia is growing increasingly severe, alongside the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. In this light, it is important to strengthen the solidarity among the three countries, as well as advance action-oriented discussions and concrete trilateral cooperation to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP).

From this perspective, we reaffirmed that we would further advance our coordination on North Korea and concrete efforts on security, including economic security.

We also reaffirmed our commitment toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea, and that the Governments of the U.S. and the ROK would continue to cooperate regarding the abductions issue.

Furthermore, at the bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun of the ROK, we discussed the Japan-ROK relations and regional situations, including North Korea, and shared recognition that the Japan-ROK relations and the coordination among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK are important under the current strategic environment.

While acknowledging that there are various issues on which our positions differ due to our proximity as neighboring countries, we concurred to manage these issues and to develop the Japan-ROK relations in a future-oriented and stable manner, based on the foundation of the Japan-ROK relations which has been established since the normalization of the Japan-ROK relations.

I also expressed my appreciation for the consistent support from the Government of the ROK for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

Additionally, I just held a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Wong of Australia. During the meeting, we concurred on further deepening the relationship between Japan and Australia, which is the central pillar of the coordination among like-minded countries, and on further promoting multi-layered cooperation with the U.S. and other like-minded countries.

We also confirmed that we would further advance concrete bilateral cooperation across a broad range of areas, including security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, in the leadup to the 50th anniversary in 2026 of the signing of the Japan and Australia Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

In addition, I held a meeting with my old friend, Director-General Okonjo-Iweala of the World Trade Organization (WTO). We reaffirmed the importance of the multilateral trading system and affirmed that we would work together to promote WTO reform.

Japan has strongly supported Director-General Okonjo-Iweala since she was appointed to her position, and I perceive she has extremely high expectations for Japan and WTO reform.

I also held a brief meeting with another good acquaintance, Minister for Foreign Affairs Balakrishnan of Singapore.

Beginning with the ASEAN-related meetings, followed by President Trump’s visit to Japan and my visit to the ROK for the APEC meeting, I have been able to attend multilateral meetings and hold bilateral meetings with my counterparts, the U.S., India, Australia, and the ROK—the members of the Japan-Australia-India-U.S.(Quad) and the Japan-U.S.-ROK frameworks. I believe this was a major achievement, and I intend to steadily promote the Quad and Japan-U.S.-ROK frameworks as key vehicles for the realization of FOIP. I am confident that the Economic Leaders’ Meeting from tomorrow will build on the discussions at the Ministerial Meeting and deliver fruitful outcomes. That concludes my opening remarks.

Reporter: I have a question about something you partially mentioned in your opening remarks. The U.S. Trump administration is pressing forward with protectionist policies like tariff measures. Against this backdrop, what position did the Government of Japan present at APEC, a forum for free trade, and what were the reactions of the participating countries and regions? Do you think that the trade friction between the U.S. and China had any impact on the discussions at APEC?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: At the APEC meeting, I emphasized the importance of reforming the WTO, as well as advancing and expanding high-quality economic partnerships, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), in maintaining and strengthening a free and fair international economic order. In response, many countries and economies pointed out the importance of a multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, under a free, open, and fair trade and investment environment. I understand that naturally, all economies made their remarks in view of the current situation surrounding the international economic order, including U.S.-China relations.

Reporter: I would like to ask about relations with the ROK and with China. As you mentioned at the outset, you held your first bilateral Foreign Ministers’ meeting with the ROK. I understand that Prime Minister TAKAICHI’s first Summit meeting with the ROK will be held later today. Earlier, you mentioned that the two countries will manage issues on which their positions differ due to their proximity as neighboring countries. Can you tell us specifically what this refers to? Please also share your thoughts on how shuttle diplomacy between the leaders should be leveraged to promote bilateral relations.

Second, as for relations with China, I understand that a Japan-China Summit meeting is being coordinated and may be held. I believe you recently held a telephone meeting with Mr. Wang Yi, with whom you share a long-standing friendship. On the need to strengthen high-level communication, could you tell us how your discussion contributed to paving the way for a summit meeting?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: First, regarding the Japan-ROK relations, Japan and the ROK are important neighbors which should work as partners on the challenges facing the international community, and I believe the importance of the Japan-ROK relations is increasing even more in the current strategic environment.

At the meeting yesterday between myself and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, we reaffirmed that we would continue to communicate closely with one another at all levels to develop the Japan-ROK relations in a future-oriented and stable manner. While there are issues due to our proximity as neighboring countries, as you are aware, we believe it is important to communicate closely with one another to resolve these issues one by one.

Regarding relations with China, as I stated the other day, it is true that there are various issues and concerns between the two countries. However, precisely because there are such issues and concerns, I believe it is necessary to coordinate closely with China. Through dialogues, Japan will maintain and assert its position and call for responsible actions by China. At the same time, we will promote cooperation in areas where it is possible. In this process, we intend to minimize concerns and issues as much as possible and broaden understanding and cooperation.

It is naturally desirable to have communication between Japan and China going forward, including at high levels. However, nothing specific has been decided at this stage.

Reporter: I have several questions about Japan’s relations with the Korean Peninsula. This was your first visit to the ROK since reassuming office as Foreign Minister. Public opinion polls indicate that Japanese society has an increasingly favorable sentiment toward the ROK in recent years. Prime Minister TAKAICHI herself expressed a favorable impression of the ROK at her inaugural press conference, noting, for example, that she watches Korean dramas. What are your feelings toward the ROK and your thoughts on the bilateral relationship?

Furthermore, heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula pose direct security risks for Japan. What do you consider as Japan’s potential security risks if solidarity among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK weakens or if the Japan-ROK relationship is fractured? Lastly, while I believe Japan-ROK and Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation are being promoted with North Korea in mind, what message do you think the recent Japan-ROK and Japan-U.S.-ROK meetings conveyed to North Korea? Thank you.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: Since watching “Winter Sonata” more than 20 years ago, I myself have been watching various Korean dramas, including “Crash Landing on You” and “Itaewon Class.” In recent years, amid the continued amicable Japan-ROK relations, various exchanges are also taking place in cultural and other areas. Last year the number of travelers between the two countries surpassed 12 million for the first time and is increasing at an even faster pace this year. Taking these into consideration, it is true that Japan-ROK people to people exchanges have become very active, and I am very pleased that the citizens of both countries have favorable views of each other.

I myself believe it is important to develop the Japan-ROK relations in a future-oriented manner, based on the foundation of the Japan-ROK relations which has been established since the normalization of the Japan-ROK relations. I also believe it is essential to work closely with the U.S., the ROK, and the international community in realizing FOIP, including coordination on issues related to North Korea, such as the nuclear, missile and the abductions issues. At yesterday’s Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers’ meeting, the three countries reaffirmed their intention to further strengthen communication at all levels on North Korea, as well as their commitment toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea and the continued cooperation from the Governments of the U.S. and the ROK regarding the abductions issue. I believe this was meaningful. As for the Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ meeting, it is as I mentioned earlier.

Reporter: President Trump of the U.S. and President Xi Jinping of China held a meeting in the ROK today, coinciding with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. How does the Government of Japan assess this meeting, and what potential impacts do you foresee from its outcomes on Japanese and world supply chains? President Trump reportedly stated that the Taiwan issue was not discussed. Please share your thoughts on this point as well.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: First, our basic recognition is that stable U.S.-China relations are critical for the entire international community, both on security and economic fronts, given that they are the world’s No.1 and No.2 economies. I was not present at today’s U.S.-China Summit meeting, and I do not know the details firsthand. However, according to President Trump, the following measures have been agreed upon: a one-year postponement of China’s export controls on rare earths, China’s purchase of a large quantity of U.S. soybeans, the strengthening of cooperation on curbing the flow of fentanyl, the reduction of additional illegal drug-related tariffs on China to 10%, and cancellation of the additional tariff hikes on China that the U.S. said it would impose. I do not have any further details about this meeting beyond what President Trump has announced. In any case, Japan will continue to coordinate and gather information on the rare earths and various tariff issues.