Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is unlikely to attend a meeting of G-20 foreign ministers in India from Wednesday as the country’s position on who to support remains unclear, reported Reuters. reportedly, Japan is unclear about its position and who to extend support to and is prioritizing parliamentary business.Japan has not decided who to represent at the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers’ meeting in India starting Wednesday, Reuters reported quoting Hayashi.
While an official confirmation is awaiting from India, Japan’s move to skip the significant meet can irk the India-Japan relationship, especially at a time when the country seeks to bolster security and other ties with Narendra Modi’s government amid growing concerns about China’s assertive behaviour in the region, as well as Russia’s war in Ukraine.
However, it still remains unclear whether Japan will be in attendance at the meeting of the Quad nations to be held on Friday. The Quad consists of the US and Australia, India and Japan.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government’s decision to pull back from the G-20 meeting in India has sparked criticism in Japan from its opposition as well. The lawmakers and media say it was a lost opportunity to show leadership as Japan prepares to host the Group of Seven summits in May.Modi made a trip to Tokyo in September to attend the state funeral for former Prime Minster Shinzo Abe and held talks with current premier, Fumio Kishida.