Japan’s foreign minister wants US$68 million Gulfstream jet to compete with China’s diplomatic clout

Foreign minister and his staff travel on commercial flights, while the prime minister and members of the imperial family use government aircraft for overseas trips

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Japan's foreign minister Taro Kano said he would not mind a small or used aircraft, and suggested Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s G650ER due to its long range without needing to refuel despite its small passenger capacity. Photo: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp

Published: 2:18pm, 19 Dec 2017Updated: 4:29pm, 19 Dec 2017

Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Tuesday he needs a better way to travel overseas to compete with China’s diplomatic clout, including potentially the purchase of a dedicated jet.

At present, the foreign minister and his staff travel on commercial flights, while the prime minister and members of the imperial family use government aircraft for overseas trips.

Kono said that since early 2013, he and his predecessor Fumio Kishida have made only about a third of the number of overseas trips that Chinese counterpart Wang Yi has made during the same period.

While noting that Wang is free from the parliamentary obligations demanded of a Japanese foreign minister, Kono said the government “needs to think carefully about how to close that gap”.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono with Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera at the National Maritime Museum in London. Photo: Reuters

“Having to use commercial flights … is quite a big handicap when thinking of Japan’s national interest,” Kono said.

“We could buy a dedicated plane, rent or lease one, or borrow private-sector business jets when not in use; there are various different options to consider,” he said.