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Japan does not view the current developments in the Strait of Hormuz as a situation that threatens the country’s survival, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Wednesday.
Kihara made the clarification following a report by a United States media outlet claiming that Iran had begun placing naval mines in the vital waterway.
He said the Japanese government continues to closely monitor developments in the region as tensions persist.
Officials are gathering information and assessing the situation while keeping a careful watch on events unfolding in the strait, he said during a press briefing.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes and any disruption there could affect global energy supply.
In previous discussions on Japan’s security legislation, authorities had cited a blockade of the strait through the use of mines as a theoretical example of a situation that could threaten the country’s survival.
Kihara said decisions on how to respond would depend on the specific circumstances should the situation escalate.
He added that Japan will continue pursuing diplomatic efforts and work with the international community to ease tensions in the region.
