Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed his opposition Friday to the nullification of the November general election results by Myanmar's military government reported by a state media.
"The development is not preferable because it goes against the realization of a swift return to the democratic process that Japan has been demanding," Motegi said at a regular press conference in Tokyo.
Motegi maintained the latest general election, which resulted in a resounding win for the formerly ruling National League for Democracy, was conducted in a fair manner under the eyes of domestic and foreign election monitoring teams. The military ousted the NLD from power in a February coup.
"I think it is important to promote dialogues between people of different political stances" in the Southeastern Asian country, he said.
The nullification of the poll results by a military-appointed election commission, reported earlier this week, came as the military alleged there was widespread fraud by the NLD during the election process and called for an investigation.
It could be the prelude to a dissolution order for the NLD, whose civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was also ousted in the February coup.
Japan has condemned the Myanmar military's violent crackdown on peaceful protesters and called for a halt to violence, the release of Suu Kyi and other detainees and a return to the democratic process.
Tokyo has put on hold new official development assistance for the Southeast Asian country in response to the coup, though it has not joined the United States and other democracies in imposing sanctions on individuals and groups involved.
Related coverage:
Japan to hold meeting with Mekong states including Myanmar on Aug. 6
Myanmar military-appointed commission officially nullifies Nov. poll
Asylum-seeking Myanmar soccer player to join Japanese club as trainee
