Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu on Tuesday laid out Japan’s plans for diplomacy in the new government of Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio.

“Japanese diplomacy is based on the Japan-US Alliance, the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific vision, and also new industrial areas in which we have to make new rules,” Motegi said at a press conference. “We will take some of the leadership on that.”

“At the same time, we need to deal with the pandemic as well as climate change, which are global challenges facing the entire world. We will cooperate with others and continue to make proactive contributions. That is Japan’s consistent position.”

Prime Minister Kishida has said that he will continue to make policies based on the trust Japan has built over the years. “That is a basic thing,” Motegi said. “Just look at the Middle East and other countries that trust Japan very much.”

“Based on that, three determinations have been expressed by Prime Minister Kishida: to protect democracy, to protect the peace and security of Japan and to lead the international community by making contributions to mankind. And with that in mind, Prime Minister Kishida said that he will move forward with diplomatic policies and security.”

Motegi also said that the global spread of the coronavirus had severely constrained face-to-face diplomacy for the past year and a half. However, he added, “I visited 52 countries/regions, such as Europe, America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South America, and built personal relationships of trust with foreign ministers, and developed diplomacy that has both tolerance and strength.”