The Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima is expected to highlight the Ukraine war, the growing power of China and the threat to Taiwan. Leaders from India, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia will also be attending the summit, which opens today. Discussions will also focus on matters involving supply chains, economic and energy security. The Indian presence at the summit is expected to create a focus on the developing world within the G7, while the recent overtures of Russia and China towards Central Asia are also set to feature prominently. Yesterday, the G7 leaders released a statement ahead of the summit stressing their support for Ukraine which “will not waver”, and detailing “new steps” to be taken to ensure Russia's aggression fails. Sanctions imposed on Russia are also likely to be discussed, as well as their impact on trade of agricultural, medical and humanitarian products.
Hong Kong's Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem have been handed a “decent” mixed doubles draw for the World Table Tennis Championships in Durban. The No 6 seeds will avoid facing a pairing from China, Japan, South Korea or Taiwan before the semi-finals, if they make it that far. Hong Kong’s men’s team coach Liu Guodong believes “a top-eight spot or even a medal is achievable.” Wong and Doo are expected to face Indian pair Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra, the world No 5, in the quarter-finals, before a potential face-off with the tournament’s top seeds Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha in the last four.
The G7 is holding its annual summit in the Japanese shrine city of Hiroshima where the talks are set to focus on the growing influence of China, the Ukraine crisis and the ongoing threat to Taiwan. G7 leaders, however, are keen to avoid confrontation with China over the issue of its territorial claims that are threatening the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Instead, the leaders are set to extend the promise of G7 cooperation. Alongside the G7 nations, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines have been invited as guests, symbolising Japan's ongoing interest and focus on Southeast Asia. In addition, India and South Korea, which have previously pressed Japan to address issues related to Japanese Imperial Army’s conscripting of sex slaves for the military during World War II, will also take part, together with the EU.
Former UK Conservative MP Liz Truss's recent visit to Taiwan risks turning Taipei's quest for visibility into a Dutch auction as it attempts to counter Beijing’s intimidation and haemorrhaging of formal diplomatic support, said James Lee in The Diplomat. Taiwan risks coming across as a circus act by upstaging and obscuring officials from official diplomatic relations. Truss's visit called for "hard-power" support for Taiwan in the face of China's "authoritarianism" and provoked criticism from the UK's Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Alicia Kearns, calling it "the worst example of Instagram diplomacy". The UK's official Taiwan policy should not be confused with informal links, as it has walked a fine line on Taiwan since switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1950.
Zelensky to travel to G7 summit in Japan - reports
BBC
23-05-19 12:10
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly planning to attend the G7 summit in Japan in order to gain strengthened support ahead of a planned counter-offensive in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelensky is expected to arrive in Hiroshima on Sunday, although his office has not yet confirmed the visit. The leaders of the G7 nations have renewed their condemnation of Russia and announced further sanctions. Zelensky has recently visited several European countries and made an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia, where he urged Arab leaders to help facilitate the return of political prisoners in Russian-occupied territories.
Leaders from the Group of Seven countries have begun a three-day summit in Japan's Hiroshima, with topics including providing Ukraine with financial support and dealing with China's growing military build-up. Additionally, climate-related action will take centre stage during the meeting, as a result of increasing global concern about the climate crisis. The G7, which comprises no permanent secretariat or legal status, has vowed to isolate Russia and impede its defence industry production, with around 70 entities expected to be blacklisted while over 300 individuals, entities and aircraft will be sanctioned.
Chinese ambitions to dominate the world put all nations who challenge its rule at risk, according to The Telegraph. The Chinese Communist Party’s support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine distracts leaders from subversive efforts to actively undermine global democracies, free trade, and liberal order. Xi Jinping is reportedly preparing his military to forcibly annex Taiwan if necessary, although there is no credible model to achieve this without violence. The CCP’s actions during the pandemic have damaged trust at home, while parties such as Germany remain reliant on China’s market. The West must forge new alliances, strengthen supply chains, and impose sanctions to achieve credible economic deterrence and resist global tyranny.
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.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent visit to South Korea included several significant deals and meetings, but a photo of the PM posing in the "manner legs" stance with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo has gone viral in the country. The sign of respect for height difference is popularised by South Korean celebrities, and delighted commentators who believe Trudeau was showing cultural sensitivity. However, the visit was also criticised by some who believed Trudeau should have visited Korea earlier, to more fully develop bilateral relations.
The government of Ontario has pledged to offer more financial assistance to Stellantis, following the car manufacturer's decision to halt construction at its CA$5bn ($3.7bn) EV battery factory in Canada. Stellantis claimed that Canada had not followed through on its promises, endangering the factory's construction. The factory is being built in partnership with LG Energy Solution, a South Korean firm.
Some of the world's largest chip makers, including Intel, Micron Technology, Samsung Electronics and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), have agreed to invest billions of dollars in Japan in a move that will boost the country's importance in the global chip industry. Washington has been the most aggressive in its attempt to reorganise the global semiconductor supply chain, and recipient companies of the funding will be barred from building “leading-edge” chip factories in China for 10 years, a move seen as designed to counter the country’s technological advancement.
Entegris, a top supplier of chip-making materials, has invested in a $500m manufacturing centre in Taiwan. The facility in Kaohsiung will house the company's most advanced manufacturing operations and produce the latest chip-making materials including filters and containers. President and CEO of Entegris Bertrand Loy stated that the investment was a "sign of the conviction we have in the future of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan." The chip manufacturing industry has been highly competitive, with leading chipmakers TSMC, Samsung Electronics and Intel racing to produce cutting-edge chips of 3nm and below.
US airman Jack Teixeira, 21, accused of leaking classified documents online and exhibiting "wilful disregard" for security, must remain in custody until trial, according to a federal judge. FBI agents arrested Teixeira in April and prosecutors argued that he could pose a flight risk and a danger to national security. His defence team claimed he should be released to stay with relatives, at his home with Air Force personnel or lawyers. Teixeira faces decades in prison if convicted of the charges, including leaking US assessments of the war in Ukraine and secrets related to American allies.
Former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira has been detained ahead of trial on charges under the Espionage Act, relating to the sharing of military documents. The information, which was allegedly leaked on social media platform Discord, included US assessments of Russia's war in Ukraine and other national security issues. The leak caused controversy over why a low-ranking state official had access to classified data. Teixeira had also been caught accessing and making notes on classified information by his superiors before his April arrest. The former Guardsman has yet to enter a plea concerning the allegations.
The remains of a Medal of Honor recipient who went missing in action during the Korean War have been identified almost 73 years later and will be buried on 29 May, Memorial Day. The body of Cpl. Luther H. Story will be interred at Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia. Story was last seen fighting off North Korean attackers so that his fellow soldiers could escape. Unable to flee himself due to his wounds, Story remained behind, using every weapon available to fend off more attackers. He was posthumously awarded the highest military honor for his bravery.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is making the 9,000 km journey to Hiroshima to attend the G7, while also seeking support from leaders who have taken a neutral stance over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He hopes to reach out to India's PM, Narendra Modi, and Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, two countries that have continued to trade with Russia despite sanctions imposed by the EU and G-7. Zelenskiy is keen to help Ukraine become influential in nations that the country has rarely connected with on a diplomatic level, described as "a significant diplomatic opportunity".
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.
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.
The Japanese tourism industry is hoping to attract fans of anime box office hits such as "The First Slam Dunk" and "Suzume" to real-life locations associated with the movies. Chinese online travel agency Trip.com has launched a promotional campaign timed with the release of "The First Slam Dunk" with the hope of attracting inbound tourism. One location is a picturesque railway crossing in Kamakura overlooking the ocean, associated with the opening scene in the Slam Dunk TV anime. Fans of anime movies are known to embark on "holy pilgrimages" to visit places made famous by the genre.
The focus on sustainability and biodiversity in the gardening world is causing an identity crisis surrounding traditional gardening. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the primary gardening adjudicator, is trying to balance environmental concerns with the demands of its members. With the Chelsea Flower Show coming up, weeds are in the spotlight as the RHS aims to encourage gardeners to embrace them to help with sustainability. Weeds are the latest battleground in horticulture as gardeners look to reconcile the interventionist nature of their pursuit with the pressure to let things be. In addition to weeds, lawns and the use of pesticides are under scrutiny, as gardeners and the RHS look to address the environmental influences behind gardening. As each garden is increasingly dedicated to a cause, the environmental messaging promoted by the RHS risks Chelsea’s reputation among visitors to the show and the wider gardening world.
