Japan and the UK have signed an agreement to collaborate in areas including semiconductors, defence, cybersecurity and clean energy. The two countries’ agreement includes the establishment of a semiconductors partnership aimed at strengthening the supply chain for the components that are essential for defence, cars and many modern consumer goods. Japanese companies have agreed to invest £17.7bn ($22bn) in clean energy projects in the UK, including funding for offshore wind, low carbon hydrogen and other projects. The UK is trying to forge closer trade relationships with Japan and other Asian countries as part of an effort to replace trade with the EU.
Leaders of the G7 nations, including the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany and Japan, have met to discuss tougher sanctions against Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Economic coercion by China was also on the agenda, with the group looking at ways to reduce strategic dependence on imports and diversify supply chains and markets. Discussions also centred on tighter regulation and a range of new measures on Moscow's roughly $5bn annual trade in diamonds. The three-day summit continues today and includes representatives of the European Union.
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have praised the progress of their countries' bilateral relations after discussions in Hiroshima ahead of the G7 summit. The two leaders spoke of the strength of their alliance in the face of challenges posed by Russia, Ukraine, and China, with Biden praising Japan's robust response to the increasingly complicated regional security situation. They discussed a range of issues, including the joint response to the conflict in Ukraine, bilateral ties with South Korea, and the importance of a solution regarding cross-Strait issues with Taiwan. Both parties expressed their commitment to building broader economic ties. Cooperation was pledged on sectors such as quantum computing, biotech, and energy. However, the senior Japanese official reporting on the talks stated they did not single out China, Tokyo's largest trading partner, in discussions surrounding supply chain resilience and the restriction of advanced technology exports to Beijing.
The Chinese government has signaled its keenness to improve trade relations between China and Australia, removing the ban on imported Australian timber worth $600m. Efforts to smooth over soured relations between the two nations came as US President Joe Biden traveled to Japan this week to meet with the world’s seven biggest economies for the G7 summit. Meanwhile, China’s ambassador to Australia implored President Xi Jinping to meet with Australian leader Anthony Albanese in Beijing and to "engage with each other" as soon as possible.
China is a key theme at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima with leaders discussing how to deal with Beijing. The symbolism of meeting in the city that was devastated by nuclear aggression was not lost on attendees, a visible reminder of how dangerous a world powered by weapons can become. Moreover, with China's constant displays of military prowess the location near Taiwan is significant as the fate of this country is a constant issue for China which "shows no sign of abating." However, the location is not the only reason for China's importance. The truth is, China and how to deal with the country would still be high on their agenda no matter where the world leaders assembled. As noted last week, Obama is to lift a decades-long American arms embargo against Vietnam, in order to support the country in its territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea. The move essentially represents the latest escalation of a proxy war between the United States and China.
World Leaders Land in Hiroshima for G7 Meeting, With Ukraine War High on Agenda
Diplomat
23-05-18 16:50
Leaders from the G7 countries have arrived in Hiroshima for a meeting where Russia's war in Ukraine is expected to be high on the agenda. Ahead of talks with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Thursday, US President Joe Biden remarked: "When our countries stand together, we stand stronger, and I believe the whole world is safer when we do.” Discussions regarding the battlefield in Ukraine and the state of play on sanctions are expected. Meanwhile, G7 leaders and guests from countries are also expected to discuss how to deal with the military buildup and growing assertiveness of China.
Akshata Murty, the wife of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has made her first major public appearance, travelling with her husband to the G7 summit. Murty, a multimillionaire with a share in childcare agency Koru Kids and other companies, has faced criticism for apparently taking advantage of tax loopholes, as well as her choice of fashion and owning a dog which was allowed to run free in a Royal Park. She joined other attendees’ partners, such as US first lady Jill Biden, in following a series of activities during the summit.
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak wore socks of the Japanese Prime Minister's favourite baseball team during a diplomatic dinner, held in celebration of the 'Hiroshima Accord'. The agreement seeks to build closer defence, cyber, and security ties. Sunak, who removed his shoes to comply with Japanese etiquette, joked about his poor football team while wearing the red and white colours of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
The leaders of the G7 industrialised nations have gathered in the Japanese city of Hiroshima for their annual summit. The meeting is expected to focus on the West's relationship with China, as well as Russia's war in Ukraine and the ongoing global economic uncertainties. To avoid possible “economic blackmail”, G7 leaders are expected to diversify their supply chains and markets, but are not aiming to “decouple” from China. In terms of military activity, discussions will include China’s behaviour in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, yet Robert Ward, director of geo-economics and strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, believes that the G7 nations are unlikely to agree on specific measures to counteract China's power in the Indo-Pacific.
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has signed an agreement with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, aimed at boosting defence, security, and cyber ties between the two countries. Key provisions include deploying a naval fleet to the Indo-Pacific, increasing UK troops in joint exercises, and partnering on semiconductors to reduce reliance on Beijing. The agreement reportedly signals understanding of the “systemic challenge China poses to our collective economic security and regional stability”. At a dinner at Mr Kishida’s favourite restaurant, Mr Sunak became the first British Prime Minister to visit Hiroshima, where he laid a wreath for those killed in the nuclear attack of 1945.
Global chipmakers including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, Intel and US chipmaker Micron, have agreed to invest billions of dollars in Japan as countries seek to reduce their dependence on Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, which is under threat of invasion by China. Rising tensions between the west and China have spurred on this shift towards reducing reliance on Taiwan. Semiconductors are an essential component to modern-day technology & electronic equipment, and Taiwan is home to 65% of the world’s semiconductors and almost 90% of the most advanced chips.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has insisted that regulations, or “guardrails,” will be put in place to safely advance artificial intelligence (AI) without harming society. BT Group recently announced its plans to cut up to 55,000 jobs by 2030 as part of a shift in focus towards AI and automation. Sunak has praised the benefits of AI for the economy and national security, but concerns have grown over ChatGPT, among other AI chatbots, and the impact AI could have on future jobs. Speaking to journalists in Japan, Sunak said discussions with world leaders on AI would take place at the G7 summit in Hiroshima.
As China, Russia, and Trump challenge the old rules of global politics, G7 aims to shore them up
CNN
23-05-18 20:47
This year’s G7 summit in Japan will focus on dealing with the war in Ukraine, the threat from China, climate change and international trade, all in an effort to solidify international rules and practices which are under serious threat. Similarly, although less prominently, the G7 will also deal with the struggle of many Western nations to resist populist, anti-democratic movements which may hinder their efforts to hold on to power that has become increasingly fragile. These problems are causing a new “Great Game” which could write new global rules over the course of decades.
As G7 leaders meet in Japan to discuss a range of subjects, it is thought that new sanctions against Russia could be on the cards to increase economic pressure on Moscow's war machine. Targets include ships, aircraft, individuals and Russia’s diamond exports, which still remain relatively unscathed by western sanctions. The initiative to curtail diamond imports seeks to implement a mechanism for tracking and tracing individual gems throughout the industry. The fall in Russia’s energy revenues, which fell more than 50% in the first quarter of this year, has increased the importance of other sources of funding for the Kremlin’s war machine with diamond exports contributing $4bn in 2015. The G7 has been grappling with how to trace Russian diamonds, and impose restrictions on the import thereof, but this summit manifestly aims to finally achieve progress.
The leaders of the G7 major economies are expected to unveil new sanctions and export controls targeting Russia at a summit in Japan. The move aims to support Ukraine and to restrict Russia's ability to get materials for the battlefield and to evade sanctions. The United States, along with its European Union and British allies, have been continuing to increase sanctions since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2014. The type of new sanctions to be announced include further restrictions on key goods for the battlefield, blacklisting 70 entities from Russia and third countries from receiving US exports and expanding the US sanctions authorities to more sectors of the Russian economy.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's stance on LGBTQ rights during a bilateral meeting at the G7 Leaders' Summit in Japan. Trudeau expressed Canada's concerns about Italy's position and noted that gay rights activists have seen moves by Meloni's far-right-led government as homophobic. The summit is expected to focus on geopolitical and economic threats posed by Russia and China.
Leaders of the world's seven most powerful democracies will attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima to discuss issues including economic policy, security, climate change, energy and gender. The G7 leaders will also host discussions with leaders outside the G7, such as Vietnamese Prime Minister Tan Dung, to address the rise of developing nations. Chinese military aggression from North Korea and Russia will be among the topics to be covered. Pledges of continuing support for Ukraine will see Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky join the session via the internet, and there will also be a focus on Beijing's increasing threats against Taiwan.
Leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies (G7) have discussed how to build support for a “strong response to economic coercion” by China. Ahead of a summit in Hiroshima, US officials predicted a joint response from all countries, which will involve protecting technologies in areas of national security. The EU has also been seeking to create support for a strategy against economic coercion, to “derisk” rather than disconnect from, China. However, all seven members of the G7 require a positive relationship with the world’s second-largest economy. The US imported goods amounting to $537bn from China last year, while its businesses invested nearly $120bn in China. EU investments in China over the course of two decades amounted to over $140bn. In the face of criticisms from the US, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin argued that the US was the chief culprit in the coercion of China.
Despite Japan’s aversion towards overseas assistance and immigrants, the 2,300 Ukrainian refugees in Japan demonstrate the country’s support for Ukraine, according to an article in the Japan Times. However the situation highlights Japan’s poor track record regarding asylum seekers, with officials almost certain to pass a bill making it easier to deport them. The article points out that Ukrainians in Japan are not unlike refugees in other countries who are struggling against anti-immigrant sentiment. The refugee issue is not on the agenda at the G7 summit taking place in Japan.
Hiroshima hosts this year’s Group of Seven summit as a symbol of the need to realise a world without nuclear weapons, says Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The city is a reminder to the international community of the devastating effects of using nuclear weapons. Kishida stated that it is important to “send out a strong message” against nuclear weapons, but faces an uphill battle as North Korea and Russia threaten to use nuclear weapons and have strengthened their nuclear weapons programmes, whilst other nuclear powers including the US, China, India, France, Pakistan and Israel have not indicated plans to reduce their nuclear arsenals. The leaders are expected to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum during the summit.
