Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: My visit to India kicked off with a meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar last evening. It has been a pretty tight, or rather hectic schedule, but I would like to thank you all for your dedicated support.

First, the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) Foreign Ministers’ meeting. I believe the meeting provided an excellent opportunity for the foreign ministers of the four countries, which share common values and possess the will and capability to resolve regional issues, to reaffirm our commitment to advancing practical cooperation toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).” I explained the updated FOIP recently announced by Prime Minister TAKAICHI, particularly the importance of strengthening the autonomy and resilience of countries in the region. The four ministers aligned their strategic perspectives on the regional and international situation, including the situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and confirmed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. We also shared grave concerns about export restrictions on critical minerals. In addition, we held broad discussions ranging from responses to North Korea, including the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, to the situation in the Middle East.

I believe the “Indo-Pacific Energy Security Initiative” launched today is especially timely, bearing in mind the significant impact of the situation in Iran on the Indo-Pacific, including from the perspective of energy supply. Japan intends to link this initiative with “Partnership On Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (POWERR Asia).” At the same time, the “Critical Minerals Initiative Framework,” which was also launched today, is an extremely important initiative in terms of strengthening the resilience of critical mineral supply chains, a pressing issue. These initiatives demonstrate that the Quad is not merely a forum for discussion, but a framework for advancing concrete initiatives that contribute to the realization of FOIP and the strengthening of the region’s resilience and capacity to determine its own path. I believe the cooperation forged since the previous meeting last July has been successfully converted into tangible outcomes. Going forward, we will continue to steadily promote concrete initiatives.

During my visit to India, on the margins of the Quad meeting, I held bilateral meetings with the respective foreign ministers of India, the U.S., and Australia. The outcomes of the bilateral meetings have already been announced, so please refer to the press releases for details. That concludes my opening remarks.

Reporter: Could you please explain again the significance of holding the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting at this time? I believe the meeting achieved positive results, such as the initiatives on critical minerals and energy you just explained. Could you once again share your thoughts on these achievements? Please also tell us whether any progress was made during the discussions on holding a Quad Leaders’ Meeting.

Minister MOTEGI: First of all, with regard to the timing, I believe it was meaningful for two reasons. First, amid the structural change in the international order, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting provided an opportunity to align our strategic perspectives on the regional and international situation, including the situations in the East China Sea, the South China Sea, North Korea, and the Middle East. Second, I believe the meeting served as an opportunity to confirm the outcomes of the initiatives steadily advanced by the four countries toward the realization of an updated FOIP, which Japan announced at the beginning of this month, as well as to discuss concrete measures for cooperation that should be pursued going forward.

Specifically, as announced in the press release just moment ago, the Quad issued four outcome documents: first, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint Statement; second, the Factsheet; third, the Quad Statement on Indo-Pacific Energy Security; and fourth, the Critical Minerals Initiative Framework, all of which summarize past initiatives and the direction of future initiatives.

The dates and other details of the next Leaders’ Meeting have not yet been decided at this stage. However, at today’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the four ministers expressed their hope of convening a Leaders’ Meeting. The foreign ministers have maintained close communication with a view to a potential Leaders’ Meeting. We intend to continue working closely among the four countries.

Reporter: I believe cooperation among like-minded countries is essential for realizing FOIP advocated by the Government of Japan. Please tell us how Japan intends to lead within the Quad framework and what role Japan is expected to play.

Minister MOTEGI: As I stated at the outset, the Quad consists of four countries that share fundamental values and possess the will and capability to resolve regional issues. As I have emphasized repeatedly, I believe the Quad is a framework through which the four countries work together to promote practical cooperation across a range of areas, with a view to realizing FOIP. From this perspective, at today’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the four ministers concurred not merely to engage in discussions, but to press forward with tangible initiatives.

Considering the regional circumstances, I believe the Quad also needs to play a central role in providing options that offer greater reassurances to every nation and that also bring　tangible benefits to each of them. Notably, the updated FOIP and the importance of strengthening the autonomy and resilience of countries in the region, as I explained at the meeting, are explicitly stated in the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint Statement released today. In this regard, I believe Japan has made a substantial contribution in presenting the future direction of the Quad initiatives. The Quad will continue to coordinate and steadily promote concrete initiatives that contribute to strengthening the region’s resilience and capacity to determine its own path. At the same time, Japan will make proactive efforts toward the realization of FOIP.

Reporter: I have a question regarding the Japan-U.S. bilateral meeting. During your meeting with State Secretary Rubio, was there any explanation about the results of the recent U.S.-China Summit meeting? I would also like to ask if the Taiwan issue was raised during the meeting.

Minister MOTEGI: There was an explanation, but as this was a matter of diplomatic exchange, I would like to refrain from going into details. That being said, we exchanged views on the regional situation in the Indo-Pacific and the security environment, covering issues related to China. In this context, Secretary Rubio and I reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Building on the Japan-U.S. Summit telephone talk held immediately following President Trump’s visit to China and my meeting today with Secretary Rubio, Japan will continue to coordinate closely with the U.S. toward achieving peace and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.

Reporter: I would like to ask about Japan-India relations. This was your second visit to India and your third meeting, including a telephone call, with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar this year. This is also the year Prime Minister TAKAICHI will visit India as part of the “shuttle diplomacy” between the two leaders. I would like to ask your thoughts on the future direction of Japan-India relations. Additionally, could you please share any concrete plans you may have for bilateral cooperation regarding energy security in light of the situation in the Middle East?

Minister MOTEGI: This was my third meeting this year with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, whom I call “J,” and have held meetings numerous times in prior years. I believe we have a relationship of trust and share the same perspectives to a large extent.

India is an extremely important partner for the realization of FOIP, and Japan intends to strengthen its strategic relationship with India based on our Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

As announced in the press release following my meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, we discussed building a mutually complementary relationship based on the “Japan-India Joint Vision,” under the three pillars: security; economy, investment, and innovation; and people-to-people exchanges. We also discussed specific measures in various sectors, such as semiconductors. We concurred to accelerate cooperation, particularly in the field of economic security, which is a pressing issue, as well as to promote economic growth through investment and innovation, and we intend to further deepen bilateral cooperation in this direction.

India has vast population and market. It also possesses outstanding technologies, including in the digital sector. At the same time, there are a variety of technologies, know-how, and products which India does not have but Japan does. In that sense, I think Japan and India can build a win-win cooperative relationship, and we concurred to advance efforts to this end. Regarding energy security cooperation in light of the situation in the Middle East, building on “POWERR Asia,” Japan and India intend to cooperate to ensure the stable supply of energy and critical resources in the Asia region.

I believe reciprocal visits between the leaders are extremely important for strengthening the Japan-India relationship. It is Prime Minister TAKAICHI’s turn to visit India next. While no specific dates have been set at this stage, we intend to coordinate closely with the Indian side.