RE: Land of the rising sun da18 Jun 2024 12:21
Sasakawa Foundation
Japan looking to promote itself with the majority young Timor population for the future.
However, now that 20 years have passed since independence and other countries are more actively involved in Timor-Leste, Japan's presence is still significant among the generation that promoted independence, such as President Ramos Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, but less so among the younger generation. In a poll conducted in 2023 by the International Republican Institute in the US, only 1% of respondents chose Japan as “the country with the most influence in Timor-Leste”, far behind other neighbouring countries.
At the special summit held in Tokyo in December 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation, Japan also invited Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão of Timor-Leste, which has not yet joined ASEAN, clearly demonstrating Japan's strong commitment to supporting Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN. While welcome, Japan's support for Timor-Leste should not be limited to ASEAN accession. In order to consolidate the success of support for Timor-Leste over the past 20 years, and to strengthen Japan’s relationship with this important country, Japan should further strengthen its partnership with Timor-Leste.
Land of the rising sun, coming to give Timor and Sunda some international thunder.