Japan’s Takaichi Vows Cooperation for Hormuz Safety: FT

London, June 13 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has vowed to boost international cooperation to ensure free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and resilient supply chains for vital goods including energy. In her contribution to the electronic version of the Financial Times on Friday, Takaichi also expressed her strong determination “to bring about the necessary transformation” to tackle emerging challenges as “Japan’s ‘Iron Lady,'” comparing herself to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Takaichi is slated to visit Britain, Italy and France, which hosts this year’s Group of Seven summit, from Saturday to Thursday. In the contribution to the British daily, she described the strait as “an international public good,” vowing that Japan will “continue to make persistent diplomatic efforts” toward the stabilization of the situation surrounding the strait. The de facto closure of the strait has reminded the world “of the importance of each nation playing its part in the global order by enhancing its own agency and resilience,” Takaichi said. On security, she referred to a joint project among Japan, Britain and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter jet and a revision of her country’s three principles of overseas defense equipment transfer in April. Takaichi said that cooperation “aimed at further enhancing interoperability” between Japan, Britain and Europe will ensue. Japan and Britain will “collaborate on economic security including energy issues, (and) advanced technology” as “enhanced global strategic partners,” she said. The contribution ended with Takaichi’s determination that Japan “will continue to devote all its efforts to maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]