Takaichi Actively Engages in Summit Diplomacy over Iran Crisis

Tokyo, April 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is actively engaging in summit diplomacy with leaders of other Asian nations and countries in Europe and the Middle East amid the prolonged crisis over Iran. She apparently aims to demonstrate Japan’s presence with its unique diplomatic approach capitalizing on relations with many countries it has developed since the end of World War II. Some are calling on Takaichi to play a greater role, however, as she looks reluctant to mediate between the United States and Iran although Tokyo has strong ties with both Washington and Tehran. “Rather than simply providing oil to countries in difficulties, Japan is resolved to follow a path that will make the whole of Asia strong and affluent,” Takaichi told reporters after hosting an online summit of the Japan-led Asia Zero Emission Community framework on Wednesday. At the AZEC summit, attended by the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, East Timor, Bangladesh and South Korea, Takaichi announced Japan’s financial assistance worth 10 billion dollars to support their crude oil procurement. Takaichi is also actively holding bilateral talks with foreign leaders in person or over the phone. She had summit talks with France, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Oman and Poland earlier this month after holding talks with leaders of the Marshall Islands, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia in March. She held phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on April 8, urging Tehran to calm the situation as soon as possible. In phone conversation five days later, she and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed to work together on easing the tensions in the Middle East. Pakistan is playing a role as mediator between the United States and Iran. A senior Foreign Ministry official said the series of summit talks were intended to show that Japan is working hard, after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Takaichi to make contributions during their meeting in Washington last month. However, Trump has recently complained about a lack of support from Japan as well as other nations. Takaichi is unlikely to have talked with Trump after the Washington meeting. Some are calling on Japan to step up its efforts over the Middle East crisis. As Trump has claimed that China helped Iran come to the negotiating table, a former senior official of Japan’s Foreign Ministry said, “Japan should have mediated (between the United States and Iran).” Japan will “support the mediation efforts by relevant countries,” Takaichi said in a message sent Friday to a meeting of world leaders held the same day with the aim of ensuring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In the message to the meeting hosted by Britain and France, she also said that “Japan has been making necessary diplomatic efforts” for the safety of the key oil transport waterway. Still, Japan may need to make further diplomatic efforts ahead of the end of the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on Tuesday, analysts said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]