Soleimani killing: Japan sticks to warship deployment, as Shinzo Abe calls for diplomacy

Japanese leader uses first press conference of year to voice fears over rising tensions in the Middle East after the killing of the Iranian general

But he makes no move to reverse decision to send a destroyer to the region

Reading Time:3 minutes

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers JS Murasame and JS Akebono. Photo: AP

Published: 1:05pm, 7 Jan 2020Updated: 12:02pm, 8 Jan 2020

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on all sides jostling in the tense Middle East to increase diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the crisis, but made no indication that Japan will cancel the dispatch of a warship and reconnaissance aircraft to the region in the coming weeks.

In his first press conference of the year on Monday, Abe expressed deep concern about the worsening violence in the region and the possibility it might spiral out of control.

Speaking after a visit to Ise Jingu shrine, in Mie Prefecture, to mark the New Year, Abe said, “With heightened tensions in the Middle East, I am deeply concerned about the current situation.

“A further escalation of the situation should be avoided and I ask all parties involved to exhaust all diplomatic efforts to ease tensions,” he said.

Abe was speaking three days after Qassim Soleimani, the most senior Iranian military commander, was killed in a US drone strike at Baghdad airport. Tehran was quick to vow revenge on the United States and its allies, with President Donald Trump further upping the ante in a series of Twitter messages in which he said that any retaliatory attacks against US interests would meet overwhelming force. Trump said that 52 locations in Iran are being targeted, including sites of cultural and historic importance.

Abe made no mention of reversing the decision to send a Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) destroyer to the Middle East next month, followed by the deployment of long-range surveillance aircraft, with analysts saying the prime minister is unable to reverse course on a strategy only announced on December 27.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x