Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi says he will continue in his position despite the poor election results for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Sunday and would not be drawn on the position of Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru.

“As the ruling party, we received an extremely severe judgment from the public and I believe we must humbly and sincerely accept this result,” Iwaya said. “At the same time, amid numerous challenges both domestically and internationally, stagnation in politics cannot be permitted. With the sole focus on what we must do for the nation and the people, I intend to fulfill my responsibilities as Minister for Foreign Affairs.”

While many commentators in Japan have suggested that Ishiba’s position is untenable, Iwaya steered clear of taking a position on his boss, repeating his opinion that the LDP had received a “severe judgment” from the voters.

“I believe we must humbly reflect on this and recognize our need for introspection.” he said. “We are faced with numerous and significant challenges domestically and internationally. Therefore, it is essential to address these matters quickly and decisively.”

Iwaya said Japan was facing security challenges and there was a need for diplomatic solutions for various issues. “In such a context, we cannot allow stagnation in diplomatic and security matters. Stability and continuity are essential in diplomacy, as everyone knows.”

One of the issues facing Japan is the threat of tariffs imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump and Iwaya believes a resolution is still possible. He says politicians must work together in the spirit of national unity.

“I believe the most crucial point is to ensure that we do not allow stagnation in national politics during this critical phase,” he said. “Parliament must adequately fulfill its responsibilities to the public. We must move forward for the sake of the nation and its people, even in a situation where there may be uncertainties in every direction.”

“Solely relying on the ruling party for unity will not allow for the smooth running of parliament. Therefore, I believe it is necessary to humbly engage in discussions with opposition parties to create broader consensus and work on resolving these various challenges.”