Japan shocks Trump by refusing to join South Korea in Iran row

JAPAN has reportedly decided that they will rebuff US pressure to send warships into the Strait of Hormuz in a bold move that comes just days after rivals South Korea buckled to Trump’s demands.

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Tokyo has decided to shelve the dispatch of Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) to the crucial Strait despite intense pressure from the Trump administration, according to sources close to the government. Both the US and EU have called for an international military coalition to protect commercial oil shipping through the region after several vessel attacks in the channel. Japan’s refusal is likely to spark further tensions with both the US and South Korea, who sent a deadly 4,500 ton warship to the Strait as part of a 302-strong protection unit.

Washington’s demand came after several ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and oil shipping companies were left worried over their vessels’ safety.

A source connected to the Japanese Foreign Ministry claimed that sending more ships would simply ramp up the chance of conflict.

The source added: "The most important thing is to not allow the route for crude oil transport to Japan to be cut off.

"Dispatching (SDF) vessels would not reduce tensions, but rather has the potential for increasing them."

Trump is likely to pressure Abe after this decision

Trump is likely to pressure Abe after this decision (Image: GETTY)

Abe and Trump's relationship may cool following the decision

Abe and Trump's relationship may cool following the decision (Image: GETTY)

Another source claimed that Japan did not want to ruin its growing diplomatic relationship with Iran.

It said: "It's Japan's priority to make use of its friendly ties with Iran as a special bargaining card in efforts to secure the safety of the strait."

The move is likely to be coldly received by Washington officials, who have been trying to build up a relationship with Tokyo amid heightening tensions with China.

President Donald Trump and Japanese leader Shinzo Abe have sought closer relations since the US President entered the White House in January 2017.

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The US are scared that Iran may attack ships in the Strait

The US are scared that Iran may attack ships in the Strait (Image: GETTY)

Today, the two leaders announced they would speed up talks over a trade deal between the US and Japan.

However, Tokyo’s abrupt refusal is unlikely to endear Abe to Trump – though the former said Washington will empathise with Japan’s decision, according to another government source.

It said: "The US also understands that it is difficult for Japan to participate (in the coalition).

“So it is probably thinking of alternative ways for Japan to make up for the shortfall, such as forcing Japan to compromise in trade negotiations."

80 percent of Japan’s crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz – alongside one-fifth of the world’s total oil – meaning this decision was not taken lightly for material as well as diplomatic reasons.

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Iran seized a British oil tanker last month

Iran seized a British oil tanker last month (Image: GETTY)

Japan-South Korea tensions have been rising

Japan-South Korea tensions have been rising (Image: GETTY)

Executive acting-secretary general of Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said last month: “We can’t behave as if we are not an interested party.

“Cooperation with the international community is important. Some 80 percent of vessels transporting (oil) to Japan pass through the strait.”

International relations expert Garren Mulloy suggested that Abe was scared of defying Trump, making today’s decision ever more significant.

He said: "Abe is frightened of public opinion on security issues and is frightened of angering Trump.

"This is primarily about Abe and cabinet indecision."

The Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz (Image: GETTY)

It is also thought that Japan’s growing animosity with South Korea stopped them from joining the coalition.

Tokyo dropped South Korea as a ‘preferred trading partner’ – a decision South Korean President Moon Jae-in labelled as “reckless”.

It follows months of tension stemming from a South Korean court ruling which ordered Japanese firms to pay compensation to Koreans over forced wartime labour.

Japan has also been thrown into a diplomatic crisis with Moscow after Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev paid a visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.

Known as Iturup in Russian and Etorofu in Japanese, the island was occupied by the Soviet Union after World War 2.

Japan was a useful ally for the US against China

Japan was a useful ally for the US against China (Image: GETTY)

It has been a source of dispute between Moscow and Tokyo for the last three-quarters of a century.

Tensions between Iran and the West rose earlier this month due to Tehran’s announcement that they would reduce their commitments to the nuclear deal in response to the Trump administration pulling out of the agreement last May.

Attacks on vessels sailing through the Strait were compounded with Iran’s reciprocal seizure of a British ship after its own oil tanker was detained off the coast of Gibraltar.

This led to the initial calls for a protective naval coalition.

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