TOKYO: Japan’s diplomacy “has been ambiguous from start to finish, and lacks influence regarding the war in Gaza,” SHINODA Hideaki, a professor at the Tokyo University of Foreign Languages, said.

In a commentary in Gendai Business, Shinoda severely criticized Japan’s diplomacy, accusing it of being in “a state of panic.”

“The Japanese government’s attitude toward the Gaza crisis is completely vague and unclear compared to, for example, its attitude toward Russia regarding the situation in Ukraine and its clear attitude toward China,” Shinoda said. “If we remain silent, there is no point in diplomacy.”

Shinoda noted the concern other countries express for the people of Gaza and suggested that Japan lacks true empathy. “If Japan is not willing to empathize with these feelings, it will be like forgetting basic human values. If we continue to lack the expression of basic human feelings, no matter what we say, our diplomacy will remain empty.”

Shinoda said Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko’s statements are “coldly scripted” to avoid damaging relations with any side in the conflict. “Japan should at least express its love for the people of Gaza,” he said. “It should show, even if just a little, a willingness to stand in solidarity with the leaders and citizens of other countries who are speaking out and taking action in solidarity with the people of Gaza.”

While criticizing Japan’s diplomacy, Shinoda also expressed his thoughts on the United States for its inability to exert any restraining influence over Israel.

“America’s influence has greatly declined, and its prestige has been lost,” Shinoda wrote. “Despite providing large-scale military support, they are unable to exert any influence over Israel. For Prime Minister Netanyahu, who wants to welcome Trump’s re-election, President Biden is not someone he needs to be concerned about.”

Shinoda suggested Japan might try to ride America’s diplomatic coattails to avoid having to take a position on any settlement in the war: “In short, it would be most pleasing if the situation were to move toward a resolution without Japan having to worry about anything.” 

However, he warned that the United States might be on the wrong side of history, in which case, “Japan would be better off keeping a certain distance from the US rather than being ready to continue to bear the stigma of being a vassal state of the US.”

Shinoda signs off with more criticism of Japan’s diplomacy: “Japan only discusses the Gaza crisis with America or, at most, with America’s allies such as the G7 countries, and avoids cooperating with other countries. Countries around the world are closely watching this opportunistic attitude of Japan. Merely praying for a miraculous success of the US-Israel approach does not deserve to be called diplomacy.”