Tokyo, Aug. 4 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi welcomed on Wednesday ASEAN’s appointment of a special envoy to Myanmar, which has been in turmoil since the military coup in February.

“We welcome it and will provide full support for the (envoy’s) activities,” Motegi said in a videoconference of East Asia Summit foreign ministers. The EAS members include the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United States, China and Japan.

Earlier in the day, ASEAN foreign ministers appointed Brunei’s second foreign minister, Erywan Yusof, as the group’s special envoy to Myanmar, a member country.
Motegi expressed worries about the Myanmar military’s recent announcement that a provisional government has been launched in the country.

It cannot be said that the situation in Myanmar has improved from the viewpoint of the need for an early restoration of a democratic political system, he said.

Speaking to reporters later, Motegi said it is important that the special envoy is actually dispatched and that dialogue makes progress among all parties concerned.

He also urged Myanmar to make a constructive response.

At the EAS foreign ministers’ meeting, Motegi mentioned China’s increasing military pressure in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

“We strongly oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force,” Motegi said.

He also expressed grave concern over the human right situation in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region.