Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement draws royals and leaders from 170 countries

Prince Charles, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohmmad bin Salman, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan are expected to attend the Oct 22 ceremony
But South Korean President Moon Jae-in is likely to give it a miss, as Seoul and Tokyo are locked in a trade dispute fuelled by historical and territorial disagreements

Japan

Julian Ryall

Published: 3:42pm, 8 Oct 2019

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The list of foreign dignitaries confirmed to attend the enthronement ceremony of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito on October 22 is growing, although South Korean President Moon Jae-in will be conspicuously absent.

Seoul has decided to send Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon to the ceremony in the place of Moon, diplomatic sources told Japanese media.

“It’s not really a shock given the bad feeling between the two countries at present,” said Robert Dujarric, a professor of international relations at the Tokyo campus of Temple University. “It would have been, at the very least, awkward for him to have to smile and shake hands with Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe and there would have been questions about just where to put him and questions about security.”

South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Photo: dpa

Attending a ceremony in honour of the grandson of emperor Hirohito – who many South Koreans hold responsible for the invasion and brutal subjugation of the Korean peninsula from 1910-45 – would not have played well with many of Moon’s supporters, Dujarric said.

Deep divisions remain between Seoul and Tokyo dating to the period of Japanese colonial rule, exacerbated last year when South Korean courts ruled victims of forced labour were entitled to compensation. Tokyo insists all claims were settled under the 1965 treaty that normalised relations.

Relations soured further when, earlier this year, Japan restricted exports to South Korea of hi-tech materials used in the country’s semiconductor industry, prompting a boycott of Japanese products and complaints to the World Trade Organisation.

Explained: what’s driving Japan’s escalating feud with South Korea?

Nevertheless, global political leaders and international royalty from an estimated 170 countries are expected to attend the ceremony, which would make it the most well-attended imperial enthronement ever. Invitations were sent to all 195 nations Tokyo officially recognises.

Prince Charles of the UK will be present, along with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Jordanian King Abdullah II. Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan will also be there.

US Vice-President Mike Pence was expected to attend before Washington blamed “scheduling issues” for replacing him with Elaine Chao, the US transport secretary.

Abe will also hold meetings with about 50 foreign leaders while they are in Tokyo. One of the most important meetings will be with Wang, and could lead to confirmation of a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“An occasion like this will help to lay the groundwork for that visit, although I would suggest that there are limits to how much further the Sino-Japanese relationship can improve,” Dujarric said. “There is unlikely to be any change on the question of the Senkaku islands [known in China as the Diaoyus], Hong Kong remains a difficult topic and Beijing’s primary interest revolves around the US and trade.”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: President of S Korea to miss key Japan event

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