March 28, 2021

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Inoue Satoshi on March 26 at a House of Councilors Foreign Affairs Committee meeting raised the subject of the Myanmar coup and said that the Japanese government should declare its position of denying the legitimacy of the Myanmar military junta and should play a proactive role in the international community’s efforts to resolve the situation.

Inoue also said that Japan should demand an immediate stop to the Myanmar military’s brutal suppression of protesters and the restoration of the democratic government led by the National League for Democracy.

JCP Inoue pointed out that during the military dictatorship between 1962 and 2011 in Myanmar cracking down on democratic movements, the Japanese government provided financial support to the military government under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) framework. Inoue urged the government to promise that considering the current situation in Myanmar, Japan will not provide assistance that goes against its basic policy of economic cooperation with Myanmar. With this basic policy, Japan aims to give a good push to efforts in Myanmar toward achieving democracy, national reconciliation, and sustainable development.

Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu merely said, “After the coup d’etat occurred in Myanmar, no ODA project has been applied. The Japanese government will extend necessary cooperation toward restoring democratic rule in the nation.”

Inoue pointed out that the U.S. and European nations, as a form of protest, call for sanctions. He said, “Japan, as a nation with strong economic ties with Myanmar, has enormous influence and thus should clearly state its position on the Myanmar coup.”

Inoue referred to the participation of Myanmar in the Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia free-trade pact which the Suga government seeks to obtain a Diet approval of in the current Diet session. Asked by the JCP lawmaker if the entry into force of the CEPEA is acceptable though the military dictatorship remains in the pact, the foreign minister only said that Japan will closely communicate with other CEPEA member countries and consider what actions should be taken.

Past related article:
> Shii calls for international community to unite against 2021 Maynmar coup d’etat [March 17, 2021]