Abe Avoids Iran, N. Territories Issues in Campaign Speeches

July 14, 2019

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to be avoiding discussing tensions over Iran and a territorial dispute with Russia in his campaign speeches for the July 21 House of Councillors election, after he failed to achieve tangible progress on the issues in recent opportunities.

"Maintaining a relationship of trust with President (Donald) Trump is my minimum duty," Abe said in a speech in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Friday, claiming that the Japan-U.S. alliance remains strong under him and Trump.

Abe also highlighted his chairmanship of the Group of 20 summit in the western city of Osaka late last month.

But the prime minister made no mention of Iran as well as Tokyo-Moscow negotiations to resolve their territorial dispute over four Russian-held islands called the Northern Territories in Japan.

In mid-June, Abe visited Iran, in a bid to mediate between Washington and Tehran. Tensions between the two rivals did not ease, however, and are escalating even further now.

Later in June, Abe held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G-20 summit, but there was no specific progress on the Northern Territories issue.

Initially, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party expected to highlight Abe's initiatives on the two issues during the Upper House campaign.

But one Abe aide now says, "With only limited time for speeches, it's all right to cover at least the G-20 summit among diplomatic topics."

"People pay attention to pensions, the consumption tax (hike) and the economy," the aide suggested.

Diplomatic issues have also been marginalized in opposition parties' campaigns.

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan chief Yukio Edano and Democratic Party for the People head Yuichiro Tamaki, in their speeches on Friday in Matsumoto and Chiba, respectively, focused on domestic issues including the public pension system, and neither of them touched on diplomatic issues.

But after a move by the Trump administration to form a coalition of allies to protect civilian ships in the Middle East, the Japanese government's response could become a major issue in the Upper House poll, observers say.

"It's an unwanted initiative, as we are campaigning," another source close to Abe said. Jiji Press