Japanese foreign minister to attend Trump swearing-in, sources say

WASHINGTON – Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will attend Donald Trump’s Jan 20 inauguration for his second term as president, ensuring that a high-ranking official from a key Asian ally is on hand for the event, two people familiar with the matter said.

Mr Iwaya was invited by Trump’s camp and has accepted, the two people said, confirming earlier Japanese media reports.

The Nikkei newspaper said that Mr Iwaya would be the first Japanese Cabinet member to attend the swearing-in of a US president. Japan’s embassy in Washington and officials with Trump’s inauguration team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mr Iwaya is hoping to arrange a meeting with Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, during his visit to the United States, one of the people familiar with the matter said.

Ms Satsuki Katayama, a lawmaker and member of Japan’s main governing Liberal Democratic Party, has also said she plans to attend the inauguration. She said she was invited by US Senator Bill Hagerty.

It will be Mr Iwaya's first visit to the US since he became foreign minister in October, and Japan, a long-time US ally that enjoyed good relations with Trump during his first administration, will be keen to get off to a good start in his second.

Mr Iwaya will visit South Korea on Jan 14 to shore up security cooperation between the East Asian neighbours and their mutual US ally meant to counter China's growing regional power.

Deepening trilateral security cooperation promoted by the outgoing Biden administration could be more difficult given the political turmoil in South Korea prompted by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Mr Iwaya will also travel to the Philippines, another US treaty ally, and then to the Pacific island nation of Palau, which relies on Washington for economic support and defence.

The Financial Times reported on Jan 9 that Chinese President Xi Jinping would send a high-level envoy to Trump’s inauguration. It said Mr Xi could send Vice-President Han Zheng, who sometimes stands in for him in ceremonial roles, while another option was Foreign Minister Wang Yi. REUTERS