Ukraine's foreign minister expected to visit Japan seeking cooperation
Diplomatic sources in Japan and Ukraine say Sybiha will meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and others. It is his first visit to Japan since he assumed office as foreign minister.
The sources say Sybiha will accompany a Ukrainian delegation to the Ukrainian National Day event to be held at the World Expo in Osaka on Tuesday. The delegation includes First Lady Olena Zelenska and the deputy prime minister.
Ukraine's decision to send its foreign minister is apparently aimed at highlighting the importance of relations between the two countries.
Ukrainian officials are likely to call on Japan to ramp up its sanctions against Russia and help in Ukraine's reconstruction.
The head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, wrote in a social media post on Friday that he had held a video conference with Okano Masataka, Secretary General of Japan's National Security Secretariat.
Yermak noted that Russia is working with North Korea in the development and production of drones.
He said that Ukraine and Japan had agreed to launch a regular mechanism for defense consultations.
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Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Japan Times
Ishiba unlikely to make personal statement on WWII anniversary
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided not to make a personal statement on the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, sources have said. Ishiba had also considered making such a statement on Sept. 2, the date when Japan formally signed the surrender document in 1945, but no such announcement is likely to be made that day either, senior government officials and lawmakers in Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Saturday. Ishiba is still looking for an appropriate time to make a statement, which would be based on the results of a review of the war. But some believe that it would be difficult to do so any time soon. A personal statement by Ishiba, who is viewed as relatively dovish, could intensify the calls for his resignation that have emerged inside the LDP — especially among the party's more hawkish wing — following its rout in the July 20 Upper House election. Japan has issued a prime minister's statement to mark each of the 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries of the country's surrender in the war. But this tradition of marking key anniversaries could be broken by Ishiba. The prime minister has already given up on the idea of releasing a prime minister's statement on the war that requires Cabinet approval. He is instead considering working on a document to present his view, based on the results of experts' examination of the circumstances that led Japan to enter the war. But preparations for such a document did not progress because he was busy with the Upper House election and the Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations. A source close to the prime minister said Ishiba would not be able to announce his views by Sept. 2. In a statement issued 10 years ago, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the deep remorse and heartfelt apology expressed by past Cabinets "will remain unshakable." However, Abe also said: "We must not let our children, grandchildren, and even further generations to come, who have nothing to do with that war, be predestined to apologize." Supporting this view, many LDP lawmakers who belonged to the now-defunct faction that had been led by Abe think that no further war statements are necessary. Ishiba appears to believe that releasing a personal statement would further fuel the moves to oust him that are already simmering within the party. "It's better not to release anything," a source close to the prime minister said. Ishiba has not entirely scrapped the idea of compiling a paper to show his view. Sources said that he is looking for the appropriate time, while monitoring the situation inside the party. But he may be forced to abandon the idea if LDP turmoil continues. With the LDP having suffered three consecutive election setbacks, following last October's Lower House election and the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election last month, long-standing dissatisfaction with Ishiba's leadership has boiled over among his rivals. A number of LDP members are calling on him to resign, but Ishiba has vowed to stay on in order to deal with pressing issues, including the matter of U.S. tariffs on Japanese goods, and in the belief that stepping down would lead to more political uncertainty. The LDP is planning to hold a joint plenary meeting of all its parliamentary members on Friday, during which Ishiba will likely face pressure to quit. An LDP panel is also formally assessing the results of the Upper House election and will release its report this month. Depending on the content of the report, calls for Ishiba to take responsibility may further intensify.
The Mainichi
4 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Ukraine foreign minister eyes visit to Japan in coming days, expected to seek more support
KYIV (Kyodo) -- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha plans to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya in the coming days, government sources said Saturday, as Kyiv seeks Tokyo's support for its reconstruction after Russia's invasion. During his first visit to Japan as foreign minister, Sybiha is also likely to meet with other high-ranking officials and ask Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government to strengthen economic sanctions on Russia, the sources said. Sybiha, who became foreign minister in September, is also expected to exchange views with Japanese officials on North Korea, which has recently been boosting military cooperation with Russia. The Ukrainian government had initially planned a visit to Japan by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to coincide with the country's "national day" at the World Exposition in Osaka on Tuesday, but the trip was canceled due to developments in the ongoing conflict. Kyiv's decision to send Sybiha instead is seen as a signal of Ukraine's continued emphasis on ties with Japan. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wife, Olena Zelenska, and some ministers are also scheduled to visit Japan. Sybiha previously served as Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey and deputy head of the office of the president. Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Mainichi
7 hours ago
- The Mainichi
City in Kyoto Pref. calls for probe into Japan-US military drill held without prior notice
KYOTANGO, Kyoto -- The Kyoto Prefecture city of Kyotango on July 31 called for confirmation of the facts surrounding a joint Japan-U.S. military exercise that went ahead at a U.S. base in the city without prior notification to local officials. The Kinki-Chubu Defense Bureau of the Ministry of Defense admitted that it was also unaware of the joint exercise and stated, "We will investigate the facts and provide a response." The Kyotango Municipal Government raised the issue at a Defense Ministry-hosted liaison conference on safety and security measures related to the Kyogamisaki Communications Site in Kyotango, which is equipped with an X-band radar for detecting and tracking ballistic missiles. One local resident voiced concerns about the failure to notify the city, stating, "Civilian control is being ignored. Japanese and U.S. military organizations are acting independently on the front lines, which is extremely dangerous." Joint Japan-U.S. training exercises have often been held at the Kyoto Prefecture site in the past, but the Ministry of Defense has usually informed the city and local districts about the content of the drills in advance. This time however, even the Kinki-Chubu Defense Bureau, which has jurisdiction over the area, was unaware of the exercise -- an unusual state of affairs. Kyotango Deputy Mayor Kazuyoshi Nakanishi pointed out during the meeting that a post on the communications site's Facebook page on July 16 showcased the joint training between the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's 7th Infantry Regiment from the Kyoto Prefecture city of Fukuchiyama and the U.S. military. He urged the Defense Ministry to "properly inform the city and local residents about training exercises without fail." In response, the Kinki-Chubu Defense Bureau apologized, stating, "We deeply regret the inconvenience caused. We will ensure that information is provided to the city and local districts in the future." However, it also stated, "We do not have any information that we can explain." The Facebook post stated that U.S. soldiers and SDF members "conducted a comprehensive exercise as a part of a FTX (Field Training Exercise)," which "consisted of various scenarios, which contributes to our bilateral success as a combined military force." One resident near the communications site expressed their concerns, stating, "The most serious issue is that the joint Japan-U.S. exercise was conducted on the front lines without (Japanese) defense authorities being informed. This is a grave situation. Conducting drills without defense authorities' knowledge is unacceptable under civilian control. I want the facts to be thoroughly investigated and publicly released." According to a resident who witnessed the training near the site, the exercise was conducted July 10. (Japanese original by Toshio Shioda, Maizuru Local Bureau)
