Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda and 12 other high figures in Japanese business have been banned from entering Japan for an indefinite period in response to Japan’s sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s decision has caused a fierce protest from Tokyo yesterday, July 24, VisaGuide.World reports.
Based on the list published by Russia’s Foreign Ministry, in addition to Chairman Toyoda, the head of Rakuten, Hiroshi Mikitani, and Akihiko Tanaka, president of the government-backed Japan International Cooperation Agency, were also included in the entry ban.
Criticizing the Russian ban, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi defended his country’s sanctions, saying they came in response to the invasion of Ukraine in clear violation of international law.
Measures announced by Russia this time will restrict fair activity by Japanese companies and are absolutely unacceptable. Tokyo has lodged a formal protest, reiterating that its sanctions are a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a “clear violation of international law.
Toyota Ended Its Activity in Moscow After Its Invasion of Ukraine in 2022
Toyota began making cars in St Petersburg in 2007 but has ended operations there since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. After Toyota stopped production at a plant in St. Petersburg, the plant was handed over to a Russian car manufacturer after being nationalized.
In May 2022, Moscow announced an entry ban on 63 Japanese, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and lawmakers. Shortly after the invasion began, 384 Japanese House of Representatives lawmakers were added to the no-entry list in July of the same year.
Japan has strongly supported the Western stance towards Ukraine. The latter has provided financial and material support to Kyiv by sanctioning Russian individuals and organizations.
Tokyo has provided Kyiv with significant financial and material support, sanctioning Russian entities and individuals. Although Japan’s pacifist constitution limits its ability to export weapons, the government eased arms export controls in December to allow the sale of domestically produced Patriot missiles to the US to replenish inventories depleted by supply shortages sent to Ukraine.
Japan has been closely aligned with the Group of Seven industrialized countries to impose sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine. This cooperation stems from growing regional concerns about the impact of the conflict, particularly China’s increased military assertiveness and threats to Taiwan.