Japan’s diplomatic documents worked out three decades ago during the Persian Gulf crisis, triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in the year after the Cold War ended, were recently declassified and released.   We should closely study the thoughts and actions of politicians and diplomats during that turbulent period, which became a turning point for Japan’s diplomacy.   We should….Read more

Tokyo, Dec. 24 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government decided Friday to withdraw a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer engaged in intelligence-gathering activities the Middle East to ensure the safe navigation of Japanese vessels.   The government aims to ease the burden on MSDF members as Japan is alert to issues including China’s behavior around Nansei islands in southwestern Japan.     The destroyer dispatch started in February last year based on a request from the United….Read more

Nikkei and Asahi wrote that Prime Minister Kishida said at a Lower House Budget Committee session on Monday that he will consider revising the SDF law to improve Japan’s rescue operations overseas following the SDF operation in Afghanistan in August that was aimed at evacuating around 500 people wishing to leave Afghanistan, including local citizens who worked for the Japanese….Read more

TOKYO – Afghan staff of Japanese organizations who wish to evacuate from Afghanistan will be granted special permission to enter Japan in an exemption from current COVID-19 border restrictions, government sources said Wednesday.   The decision, which applies to staff at the now-closed Japanese Embassy in Kabul and workers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency as well as their families,….Read more

Tokyo, Dec. 3 (Jiji Press)–Kenji Wakamiya, Japanese minister for the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osaka, on Friday announced the cancellation of his plan to visit the United Arab Emirates for upcoming “Japan Day” during the ongoing Dubai Expo.   He made the decision as the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is starting to spread….Read more

Yomiuri and Mainichi wrote that Foreign Minister Hayashi spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian for about 35 minutes on Thursday. The two officials exchanged views about Iran’s indirect talks with the United States on the Iran nuclear deal and agreed to maintain close communications. According to a briefing by the Foreign Ministry, Hayashi urged Iran to return to the nuclear accord soon and address….Read more

Mainichi reported on the disclosure by a GOJ source that the current deployment of an MSDF destroyer to escort Japanese commercial vessels in the Middle East will be terminated by the end of this month so the warship can be called home to counter China’s robust naval operations around Japan.