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On August 19, DPJ International Department Director-General Yukihisa Fujita took to the floor on behalf of the DPJ in the Special Committee on Legislation for the Peace and Security of Japan and the International Community.
Fujita questioned the government’s recognition with regard to diplomatic issues relating to “minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz,” which is cited by the government as an example of the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. Fujita noted that on August 13 he had met with H.E. Mr. Reza Nazarahari, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Japan. In the meeting the ambassador had expressed concerns about the example of “minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz,” noting that in Iran, whose territorial waters cover the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz, it is perceived that Iran could be a country that is subjected to the exercise of the right of collective self-defense by Japan.
In November 2013 Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida had visited Iran and had issued a Joint Communiqué, which included such statements as “(the foreign ministers) stressed the significance of respect for the rule of law, as well as unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation, on the sea-lanes spanning between the Persian Gulf and the Pacific Ocean….” Fujita criticized the use of the example, noting, “If this is a communiqué that has been issued jointly by both countries, then it would be a breach of diplomatic etiquette to identify the territorial waters of the counterpart country as the target for the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. The citing of this example is in itself inappropriate.” Foreign Minister Kishida had difficulty in responding persuasively to this point, noting, “There are many countries with a relationship to the Strait of Hormuz and discussions on this issue are not being advanced with a specific country in mind.” Fujita rebuffed this argument, noting that on July 10 Prime Minister Abe had specifically mentioned Iran in a response to Diet questions, stating, for example, that “In the case that Iran were at the stage of laying mines.…” Fujita followed up with a stinging attack on the government, stating, “Regardless of the fact that Iran, whose territorial waters include the Strait of Hormuz, has stated that it ‘will not lay mines,’ and that a formal joint communiqué on safe navigation was issued by the foreign ministers of Japan and Iran, the fact that the Prime Minister, the head of government, has specifically mentioned Iran in responses to the Diet would seem to me to be, in diplomatic terms, very close to the severance of diplomatic relations.”
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