Japan supports anti-Russian sanctions, but maintaining ties is important — senior diplomat

Lead

Tokyo has reiterated its support for the Group of Seven's sanctions policy against Russia while stressing the importance of maintaining bilateral ties with its neighbor, according to recent statements from Japanese officials reported by TASS.

At a briefing discussing the results of the G7 summit in France, Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Akahori said that Japan "will continue to closely cooperate with the international community, primarily the G7, to support Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia." He added that "Russia is a neighbor of Japan, and maintaining appropriate bilateral relations is important," and that Tokyo "will act accordingly, based on what serves its national interests."

Earlier, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara made similar remarks, saying that Japan's actions regarding Russia would involve a policy of sanctions "in cooperation with the international community, including G7 nations." He also noted that Tokyo would continue to promote "support for recovery and reconstruction to strengthen Ukraine’s socio-economic [system]." At the same time, Kihara emphasized that "given that Russia is a neighboring country and maintaining bilateral relations is important, we will continue to act accordingly within the framework of our foreign policy, based on what serves our country’s national interests."

Coverage Comparison

All three reports from TASS — English present the same core facts: Japan supports the G7's sanctions on Russia, while simultaneously considering maintaining relations with Russia important. The statements from both Kihara and Akahori are framed as Japan's cooperation with the international community, with a neutral tone. The reports also note that since 2022, Japan has imposed several packages of sanctions on Russia, leading to a significant curtailment of bilateral ties.

One report includes a message from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, read at the opening of an exhibition in Tokyo dedicated to Iosif Goshkevich, the first diplomatic representative of the Russian Empire to Japan. Lavrov said that there are "steadfast supporters of constructive dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia in Japan" despite the current political climate, expressing confidence that "no political circumstances can shake that." The same report also quotes Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, who praised Goshkevich's contributions to diplomacy, and Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev, who noted the exhibition coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and the 150th anniversary of Goshkevich’s death.

Key Claims

• Japan supports the G7's sanctions policy on Russia, as stated by Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara and Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Akahori (as reported by TASS).
• Japan considers it important to maintain relations with Russia as a neighboring country, according to both officials.
• Japan has imposed several packages of sanctions on Russia since 2022, leading to a significant curtailment of bilateral ties (as reported by TASS).
• Russian Ambassador to Tokyo Nikolay Nozdrev said relations had hit an unprecedented low due to Japan's hostile policy course (as reported by TASS).
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there are steadfast supporters of constructive dialogue with Russia in Japan, despite the current political climate (as reported by TASS).