Political violence in Japan tends to refract on its international reputation: Former ambassador

Foreign policy expert in India is of the view that Japan has unfortunately seen and suffered political violence, which tends to refract on its international reputation as well. This is the second such incident after the assassination of the former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, which shook the whole nation and the world, writes ETV Bharat's Chandrakala Choudhury.

New Delhi: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday was evacuated unharmed after a smoke bomb was thrown at him in the city of Wakayama. In video footage telecasted by NHK, police and security officers were seen detaining an individual while the crowd scattered at the site of the incident. Foreign policy expert in India is of the view that Japan has unfortunately seen and suffered political violence, which tends to refract on its international reputation as well. This is the second such incident after the assassination of the former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, which shook the whole nation and the world.

Abe, the longest-serving PM of Japan, was assassinated by a gunman last year, while he was campaigning for a Parliamentary election. According to reports, the attack on the current Japanese PM Kishida took place while he was about to deliver a speech in a Western-Japanese city. Commenting on the development, India's former ambassador Anil Trigunayat said, "Japan has unfortunately seen and suffered political violence, which tends to refract on its international reputation as well. This also confirms that there are some deeply disenchanted groups from diverse areas of society, including politico-cult and religious domain, which might spill over into a larger and more serious domestic disturbance".

The incident comes at a time when Japan is all geared up and preparing for the G7 leaders summit in May and is hosting ministerial talks all across the nation, including northern Sapporo and the Nagano city of Karuizawa. Meanwhile, as India is the chair of G20 and Japan is chairing the G7, it is expected both countries can collaborate and can shape the global order.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is on an official visit to Washington DC, said that India and Japan can work together to achieve greater synergy and cooperation between the G-7 and G-20 member countries. Furthermore, former ambassador Trigunayat told ETV Bharat that India and Japan are working very closely in a comprehensive strategic manner from bilateral to the regional and global level that includes the Indo-Pacific, G20, and G7, adding "both have tremendous potential to help chart a new and more credible course especially when global order remains turbulent and in transition".

It is pertinent to note that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited New Delhi in March to outline a new plan for a free and open Indo-Pacific. During his visit, the Japanese PM held bilateral talks with PM Modi on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the role of the India-Japan partnership in fostering peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Kishida’s visit was an attempt to help synchronise Japan-India ties and possibly have the G7 presidency play a strategic role in ensuring that the set goals of India’s G20 Presidency are achieved.