Press Releases
The Situation in Myanmar Following the Lifting of the State of Emergency
(Statement by Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi)
August 1, 2025
- I express serious concern and deplore the continuing situation in Myanmar, even after four and a half years since the coup d’état in Myanmar in February 2021. Many individuals, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, remain detained, and the situation continues to show no signs of improvement, with air strikes and other acts of violence continuing.
- Under such circumstances, yesterday, July 31, the current Myanmar “regime” lifted the state of emergency and announced that it would hold general elections between December 2025 and January 2026. Japan believes that general elections should be positioned as a process toward the restoration of the democratic political system. Japan is seriously concerned that if general elections are held without seeing any moves toward political progress, such as the release of those who are detained and sincere dialogue among parties concerned, it could only provoke further strong backlash from the people of Myanmar and make a peaceful resolution more difficult.
- Based on this view, Japan once again strongly urges the Myanmar military to take concrete actions to (1) immediately stop the violence, (2) release those who are detained, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and (3) swiftly restore Myanmar’s democratic political system. Now that the state of emergency has been lifted, Japan earnestly hopes that the Myanmar military will act sincerely. At the same time Japan strongly hopes that a ceasefire throughout Myanmar and its credible implementation will be achieved, and that all parties will make sincere efforts toward a peaceful resolution. Furthermore, Japan will continue to provide maximum support for the efforts of ASEAN, including the implementation of the “Five-Point Consensus,” such as humanitarian assistance, to resolve the situation.
- Moreover, Japan will continue to listen carefully to the voices of the people of Myanmar and further engage in dialogue with various stakeholders. Given that the livelihoods of the people of Myanmar have been affected by the earthquake this March as well as by the prolonged conflict, Japan will actively provide humanitarian assistance and support for improving people’s lives in a manner that directly benefits the people of Myanmar.