Japan has long established itself as a pioneer of mediation in Southeast Asia. In 1990, for example, its officials helped broker talks between Cambodia’s warring factions, supplementing international efforts to end conflict in the country.
Now, Tokyo is seeking to upgrade its diplomatic toolkit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Peace Mediation Unit was set up in March, followed by the launch of the Parliamentary Association for Peace Mediation in May.
Around the same time, the Tokyo-based Sasakawa Peace Foundation separately opened a Centre for Mediation Support, providing another channel for Japanese actors to engage in peacemaking efforts.