Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: At the outset, I have three brief announcements.

The first announcement concerns assistance for the departure of Japanese nationals in light of the situation in the Middle East.

This morning, the fifth government-chartered plane overall, departing from Muscat, arrived at Haneda Airport. With this arrival, a total of 882 people have now returned to Tokyo. Furthermore, the sixth flight is scheduled to depart from Riyadh tonight. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will continue to monitor the situation on the ground, which is changing day by day, with a sense of urgency, and will take all necessary measures, including ensuring the protection of Japanese nationals and addressing their needs.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: The second announcement concerns the White Paper on Development Cooperation.

At today’s Cabinet meeting, I made a statement regarding the publication of the “White Paper on Development Cooperation 2025.” I hope that this White Paper will help foster broader understanding among the Japanese public of Japan’s efforts through Official Development Assistance (ODA), one of our key diplomatic tools.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: The third announcement is also related to ODA. Under my authority, an “Expert Panel on the Implementation Framework for Strategic Development Cooperation” was established and its inaugural meeting will be held on Monday, March 16, next week.

In recent years, the international environment surrounding development cooperation has undergone significant changes, and private investment directed at developing countries has increased. Furthermore, development needs have become increasingly diverse. In line with these developments, the scope of work carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has expanded. Against this backdrop, I would like to ask the panel of experts to compile recommendations on strengthening the implementation framework for development cooperation.

That concludes my opening remarks.

Kyodo News, ONDA: I would like to ask about the strikes carried out by the U.S. and Israel on Iran. The New York Times has reported that the U.S. military has determined that a missile strike on an elementary school in southern Iran that killed more than 160 people, including children, was the result of an errant strike. It is highly likely that a large number of children became victims as a result of target selection based on outdated data, and criticism of the Trump Administration is mounting. How does the Government of Japan view this incident?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: I am aware of the report you mentioned, but as has been the case in the past, I would like to refrain from commenting on individual media reports.

As I have repeatedly stated, what is of utmost importance is to work toward the early de-escalation of the situation. Japan will continue to make all diplomatic efforts to this end, in close coordination with the international community.