Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi Declares Shift: Recognition of Palestinian State is No Longer "If" But "When"

In a statement signalling a tangible shift in Japan's foreign policy toward the Middle East, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed that the country has entered a serious and detailed phase of studying the precise timing for the official recognition of a Palestinian state. This declaration was made during a parliamentary session, as reported by Bloomberg News on Wednesday.

Responding to a direct question on whether Japan would follow the lead of other nations that recently recognized Palestine as a state, Takaichi clarified that the Japanese focus is now on execution. She stated: "We will comprehensively study the most impactful timing and the appropriate mechanism for recognition."

The Japanese Prime Minister stressed that the core of the political discussion in Tokyo is no longer about the possibility of recognition but has transitioned into a question of timing. She added: "The debate is no longer about whether Japan will recognize a Palestinian state, but rather about when it will happen."

Alongside this development, Takaichi reaffirmed Japan's firm commitment to the two-state solution as the sole sustainable path to resolving the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis.

This new Japanese stance comes amid a growing wave of international recognition, with approximately 80 percent of UN member states having already recognized the State of Palestine. A number of major nations, including the UK, Canada, and France, have recently been added to the list of recognizing states, following nearly two years of war in the Gaza Strip.