Editor's note: Yan Zeyang is an assistant researcher at the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

On March 21, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit to Ukraine, held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and gave a press conference. Kishida's visit aimed to achieve his own multiple goals, but it is not conducive to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis, and instead makes the regional situation more tense.

Lightning visit to show support for Ukraine

This is the first time for a Japanese leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the Ukraine crisis, and it is also the first time for a Japanese leader to visit a wartime region since World War II. Before going to Ukraine, Kishida had just finished his visit to India. On the eve of his visit there, Kishida denied a rumor that he would visit Kyiv at the end of March in an interview with reporters, and said that no specific plans had been made. According to the public plan, Kishida was originally scheduled to leave India and return to Japan on the afternoon of March 21. But under strict secrecy, he flew from India to Poland and then took a train from the Polish border to Ukraine.

Kishida held talks with Zelenskyy and attended the press conference, during which Japan promised to continue to strengthen its aid to Ukraine. Japan and Ukraine agreed to upgrade the relationship between the two countries to a "special global partnership." Japan promised to further assist Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia, provide Ukraine with non-lethal weapons and equipment through NATO funds, provide $470 million assistance for Ukraine's energy sector and other industries; and it also reiterated its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons.

Realizing Kishida's own political goals through visiting Ukraine

First of all, by visiting Ukraine, Kishida hoped to increase his own support rate through diplomacy. Early this year, the support rate of the Kishida cabinet once fell below 30 percent, but thanks to the recent Kishida government's diplomatic "achievements," support for the Kishida cabinet is recovering. According to the survey results of the Mainichi Shimbun on March 19, the Kishida cabinet's support rate was 33 percent, an increase of 7 percentage points from the previous month. During this surprise visit to Ukraine, Kishida intended to package it as a highlight of his governance, demonstrate his diplomatic ability, and increase domestic support.

Second, the visit to Ukraine will strengthen Japan's voice at the G7 summit. The 2023 G7 summit will be held in Hiroshima in May. Before the G7 summit, all G7 leaders except Japan had visited Ukraine. As the only G7 leader who had not been there, Kishida was under great pressure at home and abroad. Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, said that the situation in Ukraine is expected to become the main topic of the seven-nation summit meeting. It is of great significance for the prime minister to meet with Zelenskyy and directly understand the situation on the ground. Kishida said the summit should demonstrate a strong will to "oppose Russian aggression" and maintain international order and the rule of law. This visit to Ukraine will strengthen Japan's right to speak on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine at the G7 summit.

Third, the visit highlighted Japan's aid to Ukraine and emphasized Japan's international role. The Japanese government used Kishida's visit to underline its key role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing that Japan has provided over $7 billion in aid to Ukraine, and has taken in more than 2,000 displaced Ukrainians, resettled them, provided them with employment and education, and will further expand its assistance in the future. Kishida no doubt wanted to use the visit to promote Japan's past efforts and its key role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Kishida's visit exacerbates regional tensions

Kishida's visit to Ukraine will intensify the confrontation between Japan and Russia. Japan-Russia relations will become more tense. During the visit, Kishida condemned Russia's "aggressive behavior" and planned to implement a new round of sanctions against Russia, including freezing the assets of more than 120 individuals and groups. Russia stated that it would take major anti-sanction measures against Japan. On March 21, two Russian strategic bombers flew over the Sea of Japan for more than seven hours, intended as a warning against Kishida's visit.

The increase of G7 military aid to Ukraine is not conducive to the resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On March 20, the United States announced it would provide U.S. equipment and ammunition worth $350 million to Ukraine. At the same time, the foreign ministers and defense ministers of the European Union finalized plans to provide ammunition to Ukraine while supplementing their own ammunition stocks. With increasing support for Ukraine in the future, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine may continue or even escalate.

After World War II, Japan pursued a peaceful path. Fumio Kishida was the first leader to go to a conflict area, which shows that the Kishida government is trying to change Japan's post-war peace system. If there are other geopolitical conflicts or wars in the future, Japan may take the opportunity to further break through the bottom-line of peace and pose a threat to global security.

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