New Japanese govt seeks political, security cooperation with RI

Indonesia will remain a priority for Japan under its first new government after almost five decades of uninterrupted Liberal Democrats’ rule, an envoy says, citing Tokyo’s new interest in enhancing political and security ties with Jakarta, which has growing political clout.
 
“Relations between Japan and Indonesia will not be affected, whoever is in power,” Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Kojiro Shiojiri told The Jakarta Post in an interview recently. “Indonesia is a very important country for Japan, and establishing good relations is not only for the benefit of both countries but also for the whole region.”
 
The next Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, of the newly elected Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will be inaugurated Wednesday, after a landslide victory that broke the Liberal Democratic Party's (LPJ) grip on power. During his electoral campaign, Hatoyama said he intended to move closer to Asia while seeking an overhaul of military relations with long-time ally, the United States.
 
Although Japan has focused mostly on economic ties with Indonesia during their 51-year relationship, Shiojiri said Tokyo was already mulling building closer political and security ties with the world’s third largest democracy, also home to the world’s largest Muslim population.
 
“Indonesia is now a global player, not only in Asia but also in the world. We see an opportunity in the future to enhance political cooperation and security ties for the welfare of the people,” he said.