Ishiba Highlights Japan’s Postwar Quest for Peace at U.N.

New York, Sept. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan has done all it can to achieve lasting peace in the world since the end of World War II 80 years ago, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday. Referring to the situation in the Middle East in his general debate speech at a U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York, Ishiba warned that Japan would take new measures if Israel shuts the door on a two-state solution with Palestine, calling for the exercise of self-restraint. The prime minister emphasized the need to confront history, apparently reflecting his intention to issue a statement on the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, possibly including a review of Japan’s actions leading up to it. He said that Japan has been committed to realizing lasting peace in the world, supported by the spirit of tolerance shown by Asian countries after the war, and that Japan wants to continue being a nation needed by the world. Ishiba said he condemns in the strongest possible terms Israeli military’s recent ground offensive into Gaza City. Although Japan has stopped short of recognizing Palestine as a state to coincide with the U.N. General Assembly meeting, the prime minister said that it is a matter of when, not whether, to recognize Palestinian statehood. He signaled that Japan could promptly recognize Palestine if Israel maintains its hardline stance. The prime minister proposed that the United Nations, which marks the 80th anniversary of its founding this year, adopt reforms. He said that the U.N. Security Council is dysfunctional, citing the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an example. Ishiba called for an expansion of both permanent and nonpermanent seats on the Security Council, criticizing the abuse of veto powers by its permanent members. On nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, he stressed the need to maintain a world free of nuclear war. In light of the security environment of Japan, located close to China, North Korea and Russia, he explained that Tokyo attaches importance to the United States’ nuclear deterrence. He also expressed Japan’s determination to continue conveying the horrors of nuclear weapons to the world, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings in war. Ishiba arrived in New York on Tuesday morning and will return to Japan on Thursday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]