Report of the ICAPP Mission to Japan

(April 10-11, 2023)

An ICAPP delegation visited Tokyo, Japan during April 10-11, 2023, prior to the 39^th Meeting of the ICAPP Standing Committee (SC) to be held in Busan in late April, 2023, to meet with the representatives of ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), and invite them to send their representatives to the SC meeting and discuss future cooperation between the ICAPP and the two parties. The ICAPP delegation was composed as follows:

-          Hon. Ha Tae-kyung, Member of the ICAPP SC representing the People Power Party of the Republic of Korea and Member of the National Assembly

-          Hon. Lee Dong-ju, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea from the Minjoo (Democratic) Party.

-          Hon. Ahn Myung-soo, Secretary General of the Secretariat

The meeting with the representatives of the LDP was held at the LDP Headquarters in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 11, and was attended by following representatives:

-          Hon. Shintaro Ito, Member of the House of Representatives and Director General of the International Bureau of the LDP

-          Hon. Ryuji Koizumi, Former Director General of the International Department of the LDP and Member of the House of Representatives.

The meeting with the representatives of the CDP was held at CDP Headquarters in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 11, and was attended by following representatives:

-          Hon. Masaharu Nakagawa, Member of the House of Representatives and Chairperson of Constitutional Research Committee of the CDP

-          Hon. Yoichiro Aoyagi, Senior Deputy Director General of the International Department of the CDP and Member of the House of Representatives

-          Hon. Hideshi Futori, Member of the House of Representatives.

Prior to the meeting at the CDP, Hon. Masaharu Nakagawa hosted a lunch for the ICAPP delegation.

The meetings with both LDP and CDP representatives were conducted in a very amicable and productive atmosphere. They all welcomed the ICAPP delegation and expressed their appreciation of the contributions made by the ICAPP and its Secretariat, in particular, to further promoting understanding among the political leaders in the region. The ICAPP delegation reminded that both LDP and CDP had participated in the ICAPP activities in the past, and conveyed the message that all Members of the ICAPP SC would like to have both parties represented in the Standing Committee and participate in the future ICAPP activities. They stressed that, as an advanced democracy, Japan could make further contributions to promoting the ICAPP vision and ideals.

At the meeting with LDP representatives, the ICAPP delegation reminded that the LDP had been an active member in the ICAPP SC during 2010-2014, and requested to send its representative to the forthcoming SC meeting in Busan. LDP representatives said that it would be difficult to nominate a representative to the ICAPP SC, unless the LDP could be more confident to send the representative on a regular basis. They said, however, that, considering the current duration of the Diet (Japanese Parliament) which starts in January and usually closes in late January, and also strict restriction on overseas travel of the Diet members during the parliamentary sessions, it would be difficult to do so for a time being. They said, nevertheless, would discuss the ICAPP’s suggestions within the party. They also pointed out that the LDP is actively seeking bilateral cooperation with other political parties in the region during their parliamentary recess.

At the meeting with CDP representatives. The ICAPP delegation reminded that out that the CDP had maintained close partnership with the ICAPP during 2010-2018, and requested to send its representative to the ICAPP SC as member. CDP representatives noted the significance of cooperation among political parties with diverse ideological backgrounds in the region, and said that the party would give positive consideration to the ICAPP’s suggestion, and expressed its interest in the procedural requirements to become a member in ICAPP SC. The ICAPP delegation confirmed that the CDP was already eligible to participate in the ICAPP SC as one of the two major political parties, and, in fact, it had been on the list. CDP representatives agreed to keep in close contact with the ICAPP Secretariat.