Japan sticking by Myanmar foreign minister despite backlash
Japan has referred to Myanmar s military-appointed top diplomat as foreign minister, despite a backlash on social media for doing so, a Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday.
The ministry attaches importance to maintaining ties given Japan s connections to Myanmar s military government, but the Japanese move is largely interpreted by Myanmar citizens as endorsing military rule following last month s coup.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday night, the Japanese Embassy in Yangon said that at a meeting in the capital Naypyitaw earlier in the day, Ambassador Ichiro Maruyama conveyed Japan s position on Myanmar s situation to Foreign Minister U Wanna Maung Lwin.