(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Byeong-gyu = Criticism is spreading over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's absence from the G7 online summit.
In a situation where controversy is growing due to a series of inconsistent statements regarding the reason for his absence from the regular National Assembly, there is strong criticism from the media and opposition parties, such as "his qualifications are questionable" and "he is irresponsible."
According to the Tokyo Shimbun and Kyodo News on the 28th, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi explained at the Budget Committee of the House of Councilors on the 16th that "large displays for international conferences are not ready" in relation to his absence from the G7 online summit held on the 2nd of this month.
However, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi gave a different reason at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the House of Councilors on the 27th, saying, "(The number of times the Prime Minister's remarks) were limited to one dose."
He explained, “The soaring price of diesel fuel in Europe was the focus, there was little opportunity for the Prime Minister to speak, and the decision was made to hold the meeting just before the meeting began.”
As the answer differed from the Prime Minister's past remarks, the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party asked again, "It is contradictory. Which one is true?", and Foreign Minister Motegi equivocated, saying, "I am not aware of the display issue (as mentioned by the Prime Minister)."
In addition, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yusuke Nakanishi's statement that "diplomacy is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" was intertwined, leading to controversy over who was responsible.
Regarding this, Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party, asked, "It is irresponsible. Where is the control tower for the Takaichi administration's diplomacy?"
At that time, Foreign Minister Kazuya Endo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the G7 online summit instead of Prime Minister Takaichi. It is unusual for the prime minister to not attend the G7 summit in person. Since the first meeting in March 2020, the same meeting has been held 17 times, and this is the first time that the Japanese prime minister has been absent.
The reason the opposition party is raising its voice of criticism is because it was revealed that Prime Minister Takaichi had a dinner with Vice President Taro Aso of the Liberal Democratic Party, a powerful figure behind the scenes, right before the meeting.
According to the media outlet Joseijishin (女性自身), Rep. Sujimoto also raised suspicions, saying, "I am of the opinion that the only explanation that makes sense is that Prime Minister Takaichi was drinking and having a banquet with Deputy Governor Aso at his official residence and then did a 'dotacan' (cancelled an appointment at the last minute) during a meeting."
The media is also raising its voice of criticism.
Kyodo News strongly criticized in a commentary, saying, “There are strong doubts about the Prime Minister’s qualifications,” and “An explanation that the public can understand must be provided.”
The news agency emphasized, "Even if you believe the Prime Minister's remarks, Japan, unlike other countries, is a country that has not even prepared online equipment. In the case of France, it announced its plan to hold a meeting two weeks ago," and added, "If the Prime Minister is aware that he is the top person in charge of the country, he should not make excuses."
At the same time, he said, "While the meeting was taking place, the Prime Minister said, 'I was writing a speech expressing my convictions (to be held three days later)' at the official residence. It is natural that the G7 meeting took priority over the speech three days later," and added, "It is like a child making an excuse by saying 'I was doing homework at home' when asked why he was absent from school."
Regarding this issue, Keiichiro Hirano, a writer who won the Akutagawa Prize, a prestigious literary award, wrote on his
