World leaders met in Hiroshima for the annual G7 summit. Four main themes were being watched—support for Ukraine, responding to the China challenge, outreach to the global south, and nuclear disarmament. Critical Quote: “I see the path that we can come to an agreement”, said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Next week, CSIS will explore ways to counter AAPI discrimination and its intersections with US foreign policy in Asia, former National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley will discuss the evolution of US foreign policy in Asia, and the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development discusses the impact of the war on Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure. Finally, CSIS expert Gregory B. Poling joined Asked & Answered to unpack the 2023 Thai Elections, which show that opposition parties Move Forward and Pheu Thai won by a significant margin.
The Evening: Biden Meets Kishida, Explosions Rock Kyiv, Ivan Neville, and More
CSIS
23-05-19 13:46
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met ahead of the G7 summit to showcase the strength of their alliance, as leading democracies tackle the challenges of Russia's war in Ukraine, North Korea's ballistic nuclear threats and an increasingly forceful China. The world's oceans and atmosphere are simmering, both on land and at sea, and that could signal more record temperatures for the remainder of 2023, warns the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Meanwhile, explosions rocked Kyiv on Thursday as Russia continued its strikes on the Ukrainian capital and the Patriot air-defence system damaged in Ukraine by a Russian strike on Tuesday has now been fixed and is operational.
How Japan got its swagger back
Financial Times
23-05-19 18:19
Investors are turning their attention to Japan, which is experiencing accelerating governance reform, strong economic momentum, and sustained inflation, leading some analysts to question whether “Japan’s Rising Sun” will finally live up to its promises. Foreign institutions have purchased the country’s Topix index, which has hit a fresh 33-year high, and the Bank of America has said the Topix could increase by a further 33% to exceed its previous peak.
The change is arguably the biggest practical and psychological shift in the Japanese economy in decades. After years of stagnation, wages are now increasing, and Japan is experiencing sustained inflation with core inflation running at 3.4% annually.
Several geopolitical factors, such as Japan’s hosting of the G7 summit, China-US decoupling, military tensions, bloc formation for a new cold war, and the country’s positioning as a stable and supply-chain friendly partner of the west, as well as its presence as the fourth-largest economy in the world, are contributing to investors’ renewed interest in the country.
South Korea delegation to visit Fukushima nuclear plant next week
Japan Times
23-05-20 01:07
A South Korean delegation of 21 members will visit the Fukushima nuclear plant to assess the safety of Japan’s planned release of treated radioactive water into the sea. They will inspect relevant facilities at the plant for two days and hold a meeting based on their inspection results on Thursday. A six-day visit starting on Sunday has been scheduled and comes under President Yoon Suk-yeol's instructions amid improving relations with Japan. This and other measures are planned to be used to ensure the safety of South Korean citizens.
G-7 latest: Kishida meets Modi, Widodo; Zelenskyy visit announced
Nikkei Asia
23-05-20 00:43
The G7 summit in the city of Hiroshima in Japan may feature debates on the Ukraine conflict, China’s economic power and the domination of Taiwan. Issues of global energy and economic security are also expected to be discussed. The presence of India, a country that is currently chairing G-20, is likely to bring a focus to global developing nations and the concerns of the so-called Global South. Significant Asia-Pacific nations including India, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia are participating alongside the seven member states of the G7 and the European Union. Gambia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Senegal and Vietnam have been invited to send representatives to a meeting on tropical diseases.
Zelenskyy to attend G7 Hiroshima summit for talks with Kishida on Sunday
Japan Times
23-05-20 00:29
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will be attending the Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where he is expected to hold talks with the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida. Zelenskyy was previously expected to participate via videoconference but will now attend in person.
Africa seeks new role at G7 as others eye its resources
BBC
23-05-19 23:36
The African Union wants to establish "mutually beneficial relationships" with its trade partners, rather than just being seen as a source of raw materials, its Trade Commissioner said. Speaking ahead of the G7 summit, Albert Muchanga said Africa has a growing population that wants opportunities for "decent jobs" and this requires industrial investment. He welcomed recent visits by foreign leaders, including from France, Germany and Japan, to African nations to build trade links, saying the disruptions of the past year had made for closer trade partnerships globally.
Japan’s 75-year pacifism hangs in balance as new threats loom
BBC
23-05-19 22:02
Japan is at a crossroads as a fear of encirclement due to an assertive China, North Korea's nuclear threat and Russia's unpredictable behaviour has sparked calls for greater militarisation among the country's public. The government is embarking on its biggest military spending spree in decades and is seeking to expand its armed forces. Public opinion polls show a wider acceptance for expanding the country’s military capabilities despite Japan turning away from militarisation after the use of atomic bombs against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Pacifism is considered by many to be an idée fixe of the Japanese public and its anti-nuclear and anti-war sentiments are seen as being very much alive despite the country's push towards greater militarisation in recent years.
The LDP is making its move at a time when Japan’s post-war miracle economy has sputtered, dwarfed by China’s market and might while its population has aged. The government’s moves towards further militarisation are also gradually raising questions over its pacifist ideals as some believe the law has weakened Japan. Nevertheless, some experts argue that Japan’s ideals are still intact and that the country is simply changing its security policy to respond to the changing strategic environment. There is the possibility that Japan will host US nuclear weapons or even develop its own nuclear arsenal at some point in the future. However, pacifism remains a defining feature of Japan’s political landscape. To change the constitution would be to relinquish pacifism and forget the painful lessons of history.
Although Japan is moving towards greater militarisation, none is advocating building a nuclear arsenal. Japan’s drive to militarise doesn’t mean it has abandoned its pacifist ideals or the country’s anti-nuclear and anti-war sentiments, which have remained alive. There is simply a process of reinterpretation of what pacifism means as unprecedented challenges dot the landscape, with almost half of Japan now wanting a larger, more robust SDF.
G-7 latest: Biden's, other leaders' Hiroshima memorial messages released
Nikkei Asia
23-05-20 03:05
Leaders of the G7 countries and their invited guests, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia, are meeting in Hiroshima over the next few days. The likely topics for discussion include the Ukraine conflict, growing Chinese dominance and the threat to Taiwan as well as issues surrounding supply chains and economic and energy security. The prominent attendance of India, a country that chairs the G20 this year, is highlighted as likely to shine a spotlight on the developing world. However, many have asked why the focus of the summit is background noise, rather than on the nuclear threat signaled by North Korea's recent nuclear tests and missile launches.
Atomic bomb survivors mixed on G7 Hiroshima summit museum visit
Japan Times
23-05-20 02:13
The leaders of the G7 group visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum on Friday, offering flowers in honour of those who perished when the US dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945. For some the visit was a turning point in attempts to rid the world of nuclear arms. However, a survey of atomic bomb survivors conducted by Kyodo News this year revealed that 68% did not expect the summit to produce significant progress towards that aim. Campaigners had asked the Japanese government to ensure that leaders met survivors during their visit.
G7 adopts common economic security approach to de-risk ties with China and Russia
Japan Times
23-05-20 08:57
The G7 has agreed on a new set of measures to improve economic security and strengthen supply chains in order to adopt a common approach to de-risk and diversify economic ties with China and Moscow. The group emphasized the need to increase cooperation with emerging economies specifically in the areas of infrastructure, digitisation and trade as they attempt to find new markets and sources of investment. A new coordination platform against economic coercion will be created, along with steps to counter market-distortive practices, protect technology in critical areas and secure critical goods through global partnerships. The group refrained from mentioning China or Russia, even though most of the steps announced seemed to be aimed at dealing with alleged “coercive” actions taken by the two countries. The G7 countries have stood united in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and what they view as Beijing’s unfair and retaliatory measures in various areas.
G7 summit: Leaders talk China, Zelenskyy arrives in Japan
Deutsche Welle
23-05-20 06:50
Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) democracies who met in Japan agreed to create a "Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion" to mitigate risks associated with China while maintaining economic ties. The move comes against the backdrop of China attempting to use economic power in diplomatic disputes, as in Australia and Lithuania. G7 leaders stated that they want to "de-risk, not decouple from" China, and are envisaging building resilient supply chains and safeguarding sensitive technologies. Meanwhile, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for early cooperation between developing countries in the global south and western nations and recommended more win-win partnerships to create concrete, fast and positive results.
Biden and Kishida use Hiroshima museum guestbook to push for nuke-free world
Japan Times
23-05-20 06:07
US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have called for a nuclear weapons-free world following their visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum earlier this week. The G7 leaders also visited with Keiko Ogura, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bomb attack, and saw exhibits including burnt and tattered clothing, charred lunch boxes and other items. Japan’s top security ally is the US, and this may be why few other details of the trip have been disclosed, and why some consider it controversial. Over 200,000 people – mostly civilians – are believed to have died as a result of the bombs.
Amid Ukraine war and economic concerns, LGBTQ issues struggle to get G7 spotlight
Japan Times
23-05-20 13:14
As seen at the G7 summit in Hiroshima last weekend, LGBTQ rights are being increasingly recognised by governments as an important issue. Although there was little said during the Weekend as to LGBTQ concerns, it was notable that the G7 communique stressed the need to “work toward creating a ‘world free from violence and discrimination regardless of gender identity or expression or sexual orientation,’” with a commitment to work with all parts of society, to bring about “ full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in all their diversity as well as LGBTQIA+ persons in politics, economics, education and all other spheres of society.” However, given host nation Japan is the only nation of the seven that does not recognise same-sex marriage, actual change in the short term is likely to be slow. The Japanese government has not made legalisation of same-sex marriage a priority with the public remaining split: 44% of respondents saying in an NHK poll released in May that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry; 15% saying they should not; while 37% were undecided.
Women take on Japan’s political gender gap for ‘true democracy’
Japan Times
23-05-20 11:09
Japanese women are being offered mentoring and grant money by the Murakami Family Foundation to help address the gender imbalance in politics. Just two of Fumio Kishida’s 19-member cabinet are women, while the 465-member lower chamber of parliament is 90% male. Part-time seminars given by leading politicians have been held on the course, which is open to women under 40. A ¥1m ($7,400) grant is also awarded. A record 489 women stood in last month’s local elections, but this was still only 16% of all candidates.
G7 calls for developing global technical standards for AI
Reuters
23-05-20 10:25
The Group of Seven (G7) leaders have called for technical standards to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) is "trustworthy". Meeting in Hiroshima, they called for governance of the technology to keep pace with its growth. The G7 leaders said that although the approaches to achieving the "common vision and goal of trustworthy AI may vary", rules should be in line with democratic values. This follows the EU, which participated in the G7 underwriting legislation to regulate AI.
‘Peace will become closer today’: Zelensky arrives for G7 summit
The Independent
23-05-20 10:14
Leaders of the G7 have shown support for Ukraine, condemning Russia’s “brutal” war on the country. The group’s leaders also called on Russia to cease its aggression against Ukraine and adhere to the rules of the international community. The statement also offered Ukraine “unwavering support” in absence of lasting peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Japan for the summit and is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil’s ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Neither figure has supported Ukraine in the past, but they will participate in the summit.
G-7 latest: Zelenskyy and Modi meet on summit sidelines
Nikkei Asia
23-05-20 10:00
Leaders at the G7 summit in Japan have held talks focusing on the deepening dominance of China and political tensions on the Korean peninsula. The likely impact on the Japanese economy of the UK's Brexit decision is also a significant concern. Top of the agenda was the situation in the Ukraine and issues related to economic security and supply chains. India's attendance, as chair of the G20, has highlighted the importance of the developing world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made several contributions to the talks, arguing for inclusive food systems to be created across the world. At a separate meeting, involving the leaders of Japan and Brazil, mention was made of the need for security council reform. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, where he laid a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
‘Quad’ urges Indo-Pacific ‘free of coercion’ as it unveils new measures
Japan Times
23-05-20 15:37
Japan, India, Australia and the US have pledged to create a resilient and well-connected Indo-Pacific, launching a series of initiatives while looking to establish an area “free from coercion” on the sidelines of the Hiroshima Group of Seven summit. The announcements, which came amid growing concerns over China’s influence in the region, include support for their own undersea network of cables for what the group called “trusted and secure” communications services, and scholarships aimed at bolstering infrastructure. In addition, the new initiatives include a health security partnership, while the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness will be expanded. While Beijing has derided the grouping as an Asian version of Nato, it is a broader partnership that includes infrastructure, health and climate cooperation.
Endless posing: the constant, awkward photos at world summits
Washington Post
23-05-20 15:26
The Group of Seven summit has witnessed the world's most powerful leaders in front of the world's cameras, frequently posing in arrangements with one another in various settings and against sober backdrop of bombed-out Hirsohima. The photo sessions act as one of the few windows into global discussion around which leaders habits are scrutinised and body language can be assessed. At such summits there is also little room for the staging of "silly shirts" pictures, a common feature of the colourful Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits.
G-7 latest: Zelenskyy commands spotlight on summit's last day
Nikkei Asia
23-05-21 05:02
The final day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit has passed in Hiroshima, with delegates including Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskyy discussing the war, China’s dominance and the issues faced by the Global South. Joining the leaders were a number of key Asia-Pacific figures such as the Indian, South Korean, Indonesian and Australian prime ministers. The triennial met throughout the summit, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took some time off to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Museum. President Joe Biden met with Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister for talks. The G7 laid out a common de-risking path on China, while India's Narendra Modi commented that he would “amplify concerns of the Global South” at the summit.