Japan Formally Recognizes Noriega’s Regime

Japan has given its official backing to the Panamanian government of military strongman Manuel A. Noriega, and the United States has quietly accepted the decision, Japanese officials said Friday.

Japan’s support could give Noriega a needed financial boost in his battle to survive pressure from President Reagan to leave office.

In Washington, Deputy White House press secretary Roman Popadiuk said the United States has not been officially notified of Japanese recognition of the Panamanian government. He had no immediate comment.

Japan’s decision is significant because Japan is Panama’s second largest trading partner and has invested $8.8 billion in that Central American nation.

On Thursday, Japan’s ambassador to Panama, Akiyuki Sawai, met with Foreign Minister Jorge Eduardo Ritter in Panama City to convey Tokyo’s recognition of Panama’s government, a Foreign Ministry spokesman here said.

“We notified the U.S. government before the ambassador made the visit,” the spokesman said. “And there was no particular reaction.”

A high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said that Washington had changed its stance since March when U.S. officials reportedly stopped Japan from recognizing the government.

“There is a difference in the U.S. reaction,” the official said.

Now that several European and Latin American countries have recognized the government, Japan felt it could follow suit, he said.

“We can recognize the legitimacy of the government,” he said. “We understand life in Panama City is very normal.”