Tokyo: Japan has reiterated its stance on not recognizing a separatist entity during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). The head of the Japanese delegation emphasized that the presence of the entity at the conference does not alter Japan’s consistent position of non-recognition.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the Japanese official stated that the entity’s presence would not impact Japan’s stance regarding its status. The diplomat expressed reservations about the entity’s invitation, clarifying that Japan did not extend an invitation and only invited countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations. The African Union Commission, as noted by the Japanese representative, was responsible for inviting all its members.

This declaration follows a statement by Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwaya, who reiterated Japan’s unchanged position on the matter a day before the conference commenced. In an interview with PanOrient News, Iwaya emphasized that Japan does not recognize the separatist militia known as ‘polisario’ or its self-proclaimed republic, which lacks recognition from Japan and most UN members.

Iwaya stressed that Japan’s policy of not inviting the entity to TICAD remains firm, recalling that the African Union, a co-organizer of the event, insisted on inviting all its members. These clarifications during both the meeting of high officials and the minister’s remarks highlight Japan’s alignment with international law and United Nations practices.