Japan Bluebook Draft Calls for Middle East De-Escalation

Tokyo, March 24 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government stresses the need for an early de-escalation of the situation over military clashes between the U.S.-Israeli side and Iran in a draft of its planned Diplomatic Bluebook 2026 released Tuesday. “The peace and stability of the Middle East region is extremely important to Japan,” says the draft of the annual report, compiled by the Foreign Ministry. Japan will “make every diplomatic effort, collaborating with the international community,” it says. The draft was approved at a joint meeting of Liberal Democratic Party organizations, including the Foreign Affairs Division, on Tuesday. The 2026 report will be submitted to a cabinet meeting as early as the first half of April. In the draft, the government says that Iran’s nuclear development is totally unacceptable, criticizing the country’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transport waterway, and its strikes against Gulf countries. But the draft does not spell out the government’s stance on the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran or give a legal assessment of the attacks. The draft calls China an important neighbor of Japan, much weaker than the language in last year’s report, which referred to their ties as the “most important bilateral relations” for Tokyo. Beijing is increasing its coercive moves and one-sided criticism of Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s parliamentary remarks in November last year on a possible Taiwan contingency, the draft states. Stressing the importance of communication with China, which has pending issues and challenges with Japan, the draft says that the government will “respond calmly and appropriately from the perspective of the national interest.” Regarding the United States, the draft says that Tokyo will deepen the bilateral ties, enhancing their strong relationship of trust. Also mentioned is a policy of pursuing the two countries’ further growth and economic security through the steady implementation of their tariff deal. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]