The Algerian-Moroccan Altercation in Tokyo as Seen by the Japanese
Algerians and Moroccans can tell whatever they want about the altercation that occurred at the Tokyo conference center between two members of the delegations from both countries. The sole cause of the altercation was the presence of a member of the Polisario Front. Without this element, there would never have been an incident.
To understand what happened, there’s no better way than to hear the perspective of a neutral party whose objectivity is beyond reproach. It is the Japanese press that informs us of what the Japanese authorities think. What does the Japanese press say about this unfortunate spectacle whose images have traveled around the world?
Nikkei Asia (a Japanese economic daily founded in 1876. A major global media player, it is undoubtedly the most important economic daily in the world according to Wikipedia) mentioned “the importance of respecting international protocols in the context of the TICAD summit. The newspaper emphasized that the participation of entities not recognized by the UN could damage the credibility of the event and noted Japan’s firm reaction in favor of respecting the rules.” It is legitimate to ask: who violated these rules? Who clandestinely entered a conference where they were not welcome? Who assisted this intruder in gaining entry and by what means?
The Japan Times (one of the few independent English-language newspapers in Japan) reported that “the Japanese government quickly clarified its position, reiterating that only UN member states were allowed to participate in the summit. The article also highlighted the potential diplomatic repercussions of this attempt on relations between Japan and African countries, notably Morocco.” As a result, Algeria once again tarnished its image on the international stage, as if its previous failures were not enough.
NHK World (the international branch of the Japanese public broadcaster NHK) covered the diplomatic reactions surrounding the summit, explaining that the attempt to include a member of the Polisario Front provoked a strong reaction from Morocco, which has always defended the sovereignty of Western Sahara. NHK also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced dialogue among all participating nations while respecting established rules.
These reactions from Japanese media show a general position supporting TICAD rules and concern about the potential impact of such attempts on international relations within the summit framework.
