THE ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday urged Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to consider dispatching Japan’s Self-Defence Forces to the Strait of Hormuz for minesweeping if a formal ceasefire is reached in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
In a proposal on the government’s response to the Middle East situation, the LDP said sending minesweepers should be considered if there remain “obstacles to safe navigation” through the strait, a key artery for Japan’s oil supplies, even after a formal ceasefire. The LDP also said Japan should make efforts to diversify energy resource suppliers and flexibly consider “continuous support” to help households cope with higher utility bills amid global oil price surges caused by supply disruptions. “Securing sea lanes is a key challenge directly linked to our national interests,” LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi told reporters after handing the proposal to Takaichi, who heads the LDP.
Kobayashi said Takaichi told him, “The situation is severe but we will firmly keep the Japanese economy running to protect people’s livelihoods,” adding that the government shares the party’s overall recognition as reflected in the proposal.
Kyodo
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