Japan’s Ministry of Finance has denied pushing for Myanmar to be removed from a global financial watchdog’s blacklist after a report said last week that it was among countries supporting the removal.

Myanmar was added to the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) blacklist in 2022 as the country was plunged into turmoil and widespread civil war following a military coup. The blacklist requires countries to apply enhanced screening to financial transactions with Myanmar to avoid money laundering and terrorist financing.

“There is no fact that the Japanese government sought to have Myanmar removed from the FATF blacklist,“ the ministry said in a statement to reporters. “Japan hopes that Myanmar will make the necessary improvements to strengthen its measures against money laundering and related illicit activities.”

Myanmar remained on the blacklist following a closed-door meeting of the 40-member global body in Paris on Oct. 30.…