Japan's Foreign Minister Calls for Unity After Election Defeat

(MENAFN) Japan's Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi on Tuesday sounded the alarm over a looming political stalemate, following what he acknowledged as a “harsh judgement for the ruling parties” in Sunday’s elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Takeshi emphasized the growing threats facing the nation: “The security environment surrounding our country is very challenging and more complex than ever. There are also numerous challenges in diplomatic affairs as well.”

His remarks followed significant losses in the Upper House elections by the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The defeat has intensified pressure on Ishiba, with renewed calls for his resignation.

The ruling bloc, already weakened after losing last year’s general election, has since governed as a minority under Ishiba’s leadership.

“For diplomacy, stability and continuity are a must,” Takeshi underscored, pointing to the “numerous challenges in and outside of Japan.”

He further warned that the escalating domestic and international pressures could not be handled by the ruling alliance alone. “The situation is so challenging that even the ruling parties alone will not be able to address (it) and bringing all the opposition parties together will be difficult; therefore, since we are facing such a challenging situation, we must collaborate across the party lines to address the challenging times in a united manner for the interest of Japanese people,” he said.

The electoral setback comes at a critical time for Japan, as the country negotiates key trade terms with the United States. Washington has levied unilateral tariffs against Japan, the world’s fifth-largest economy, placing additional strain on its export sector.

Despite these tensions, Takeshi reaffirmed Tokyo’s resolve to reach a fair deal with Washington. Japan, he said, is "committed" to achieving an agreement that is beneficial for both Japan and the United States.

“This is indeed a national crisis, but in order to overcome the situation, the entire government is supporting the negotiations,” he stated, urging for “good and deep discussions” to reflect the concerns of local officials and lawmakers.

“In the meantime, what is extremely important is for us to prevent the political deadlock at this juncture.”

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