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Mitoji Yabunaka

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Mitoji Yabunaka
Profile of a middle-aged Japanese man from the chest up wearing a dark suit, blue tie, and glasses. His hair is greying to a silver.
Mitoji Yabunaka in 2005
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
Assumed office
2007
Preceded byTsuneo Nishida
Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
In office
2002–2005
Preceded byHitoshi Tanaka

Mitoji Yabunaka (薮中 三十二, Yabunaka Mitoji, born January 23, 1948) is the current Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs[1] in charge of administration.[2] Prior to his current position, Yabunaka served as Ministry of Foreign Affair's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau [jp] Director-General.[3][4] He has been a diplomat for nearly forty years.[5]

Diplomacy

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Before entering government service, Yabunaka was a senior researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies from 1990 to 1991.[6] In 1998 Yabunaka became Consul General of Japan in Chicago US and visited the country on several occasions.[5]

Yabunaka has represented Japan on a number of occasions and has negotiated trade deals with the United States, Australia and Indonesia.[7] He has had contact with a number of United States diplomats, including hosting current United States Ambassador to Japan John Roos shortly following Roos' appointment.[8] During the first, second and third rounds of the Six-party talks, Yabunaka represented Japan as chief delegate.[9] The Japanese government also sent Yabanuka as a delegate to China to discuss issues of natural gas reserves under the East China Sea.[10]

He handled Myanmar relations during the Kenji Nagai shooting incident, demanding an investigation and challenging governmental claims.[11] Yabunaka replaced Toshiyuki Takano as Director General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau in 2002.[12] In 2008 Yabunaka held talks with South Korean Ambassador Kwon Chul Hyun over disputed islets in the Sea of Japan.[13]

Notes

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  1. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (2009).
  2. ^ The Mainichi Daily News (2009).
  3. ^ Funabashi (2007), 44.
  4. ^ Xinhua (2003).
  5. ^ a b Potter (2000).
  6. ^ IISS (2008).
  7. ^ Jakarta Post (2006).
  8. ^ Hongo (2009).
  9. ^ McDonald (2004).
  10. ^ The China Post (2008).
  11. ^ Kyodo News (2007).
  12. ^ Jiji (2002).
  13. ^ Xinhua (2008).

References

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