Wrapping Up G7 Chairmanship

The leaders of Group of Seven issued a statement after a telephone meeting on Wednesday, which reconfirmed its support for Ukraine, encouraged further humanitarian pauses between Israel and Hamas, and opposed China’s any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in Indo-Pacific region. As the chairman of G7 this year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrapped up the meetings this year with saying that G7 could show an attitude to take steps on food, health, climate and energy, and artificial intelligence with the Global Souths. However, most issues were handed over to next chair country, Italy, without being settled.

G7 Leader’s Statement on December 6th, concurred in the meeting with attendance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, paid tribute to the sacrifices made by Ukraine to preserve its freedom and shared values. “Our steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine’s fight for its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity will never waver,” it said.

 

But it was reported that the Ukraine’s counteroffensive had been marred by division between the commanders of Ukraine and United States. There is a doubt in U.S. on  continuing further assistance for Ukraine with financial restriction. While the statement made clear to put pressure on Russia, with introduction of import ban on Russian diamonds, G7 saw any clear view for Ukraine to join European Union this year.

 

On Middle East, the statement unequivocally condemned the terror attacks of Hamas and others, requiring more urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza without referring to Israel. The contribution of G7 to the cease fire or pause has been obscure these two months, regardless the chair country’s efforts to approach both sides of the attacks.

 

Kishida stressed that G7 could make meaningful discussion on the issues in Indo-Pacific region, including China and North Korea. The statement expressed G7’s anxiety on China’s advance in South China Sea as well as Taiwan. “We reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community,” said the statement. While G7 stands “prepared to build constructive and stable relations with China,” China keeps on taking distance from G7 without shared values. Italy, as only country in G7 that joined China’s international economic strategy One-Belt-One-Road initiative, decided to leave that framework.

 

The only obvious achievement can be on digital. The leaders noted that the Hiroshima AI Process Comprehensive Policy Framework represented the first successful international framework to address the impact of advanced AI systems on our societies and economies. The statement welcomed establishment of the Institutional Arrangement for Partnership in cooperation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The main body for further discussion on AI will be OECD.

 

It was the last G7 leaders’ meeting this year. Kishida hoped his leadership in G7 to enhance his domestic political basis. But his approval rate declined in the second half of this year, because of his ambiguity on economic policy and consecutive scandals in his administration. Suffering from the money scandals of the factions in Liberal Democratic Party, Kishida may not have a good time to remember himself on the stage of international politics at G7 Hiroshima Summit in May.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Amendment of Local Autonomy Law

The House of Representatives started discussion on revision of the Local Autonomy Law, which would vest the national government a power to instruct local government in an emergency. It may change the relationship between the national and local government, which has been recognized as equal. The opposition parties oppose the amendment, arguing that it would give the national government an excessive power.   With the Meiji Restoration, the national government abolished the feudal system, introducing modern governance. However, its autonomy was not sufficient. The governor of each prefecture was appointed by the national government. The local governments subordinated to the national government. It was as late as 2000 when  the Comprehensive Decentralization Law  was enacted and the relationship between the national and local government was defined as equal.   The national government found inconvenience in the relationship between the national and local government, when ...
Read more

Request for Final Nuclear Disposal Site

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry requested Genkai Town, Saga, to accept “literature survey” for building a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste. Genkai is going to answer within this month. If it accepts, it will be the third place to accept that survey, following two places in Hokkaido. Main reason to accept the survey is supposed to be subsidy from the national government.   Japan has no final disposal site. Among all 54 reactors in 17 nuclear power generation plant, 12 reactors of 6 plants are operating. The rest of them are not in operation, some of which are determined to be decommissioned. Used nuclear fuels are stocked in each plant, 　 or have sent to a reprocessing plant in Rokkasho, Aomori. There are two plans to stock nuclear wastes in the intermediate facility for disposal, one is already built and another is still in negotiation.   Nuclear Fuel Final Disposal Act in 2000 determines to bury nuclear waste in the underground. Literature survey, ...
Read more

Not A Royal Wedding

The bride called her husband an indispensable existence and their marriage was necessary choice to protect their mind. The groom insisted on his life as only once and his right to be with his loved one. Her father wanted his daughter’s marriage to be celebrated by the people. The people were not sure whether the family was happy as a whole. Is this the traditional Japanese social system that makes no one happy? Mako Komuro, as known as Princess Mako during her life in one of the royal family Akishino, held on Tuesday a press conference with her husband Kei Komuro, right after submitting marriage report to local government. It was something different from ordinary Q&A session, because Mako was afraid of her mental uneasiness brought by some questions not based on truth. So, the event was actually one-sided speech to the reporters. Mako emphasized that the Kei’s decision of studying abroad five years ago had not been his original idea, but a result of her request to establish an over...
Read more