From left clockwise, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Bierbock, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Deputy Secretary- General Enrique Mora of the European External Action Service (EEAS) poses for photographs at the beginning of the fifth working session of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Prince Karuizawa Hotel in Karuizawa, Japan on April 18, 2023. Photo Credit: AP
Top diplomats from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies vow to take a tough stand on China’s growing influence danger to taiwan and on North Korea Uncontrolled tests of long-range missilesBuilding momentum on ways to boost support for Ukraine and punish Russia for its aggression.
Russia’s war in Ukraine Much of the agenda for envoys who gathered for talks in this Japanese hot spring resort town on April 17 was used by G-7 leaders to pave the way for action when they meet next month in Hiroshima.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said the world is at a “turning point” of the fighting in Ukraine and should “firmly reject” unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its threats to use nuclear weapons . His colleagues, according to a Japanese summary.
For the US delegation, the meeting comes at a critical moment in the world’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and efforts to deal with China, two issues that Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, G-7 ministers are from Canada, Italy and the European Union are regarded as powerful challenges to the post-World War II rules-based international order.
A senior US official traveling with Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the Biden administration’s goal for the talks is to garner support for Ukraine, including a major initiative on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that Germany won last year. It was launched in the G-7 meeting. To ensure the continuous provision of military assistance to Kiev.
The official said sanctions against Russia, particularly through economic and financial sanctions threatened in December 2021 ahead of the invasion in December 2021, would also be a priority.
Ukraine faces a critical moment in the coming weeks as Russia’s current offensive has largely stalled and Ukraine prepares to retaliate. The closed-door meetings will discuss ways to deepen support for Ukraine’s long-term defense and deterrence capabilities, said the US official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Blinken’s priorities. Kiev could also improve its position for possible negotiations that could end the conflict on its own terms.
Japan’s role as chair of this year’s talks, the only Asian member of the G-7, provides an opportunity to discuss coordinated action on China. Leaders and foreign ministers of G-7 countries, most recently France and Germany, have recently completed visits to China, and diplomats in Karuizawa are expected to hold discussions with China on a range of issues, including Ukraine, the war in the North Will discuss his views on the attitude of Korea, and Taiwan, which is a particular sore point in US-Chinese relations.
At a private working dinner on Sunday night, which was the diplomats’ first formal meeting, Hayashi urged continued dialogue with China on a number of global challenges, where participation from Beijing is seen as crucial. Chinese interests aligned with those of wealthy democracies include global trade, finance and climate efforts.
But diplomats are also looking to address China’s more aggressive stance in the region, particularly toward Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its own.
Mr. Hayashi told the ministers that outside nations “should continue to build a constructive and stable relationship, as well as express their concerns directly and call on China to act as a responsible member of the international community,” According to the closed door dinner summary.
China recently Sent planes and ships to surround Taiwan, Beijing is also rapidly adding nuclear weapons, toughening its claims on the South China Sea and presenting a scenario of imminent conflict.
The concern in Japan working to acquire preemptive strike capabilities and cruise missiles to counter growing threats can be seen as efforts to make a major break from its post-World War II self-defense-only doctrines. .
Mr. Blinken was due to go to Beijing in February, but trip postponed The incident was caused by a Chinese spy balloon over US airspace and has not yet been rescheduled.
Mr. Blinken met briefly with Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Forum, but high-level contacts between Washington and Beijing have become rare. Thus, Blinken will seek information from his French and German counterparts on talks with the Chinese, the senior US official said.
Despite indications, notably comments by French President Emmanuel Macron, that the G-7 is divided on China, the official said there is a shared concern among G-7 countries over China’s actions. The official said the foreign ministers would discuss how to continue the coordinated approach to China.
Another senior State Department official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door meetings, said the G-7 would issue a communiqué on Tuesday that would discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine, China and wider India. But will explain the strong unity of the group. There is a need to maintain the status quo in the Pacific, especially North Korea, the Taiwan Strait and improve relations with Pacific island nations.
Officials played down suggestions that rifts were emerging over China. The official said the G-7 members want to work with China on common challenges, but will stand up to China’s coercion and attempts to undermine or circumvent international rules regarding trade and commerce.
The official said that in several recent diplomatic meetings with Chinese officials, G-7 members had stressed to Beijing that any supply of weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine would have serious consequences, as Taiwan would seek to change the status quo. will be attempted. The official said European members now have a better understanding of how the “rolling back” of the status quo will affect their interests, particularly their economies.
North Korea is also a major area of concern for Japan and other neighbors in the region.
Since last year, Pyongyang has tested nearly 100 missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that show the ability to reach the US mainland and several other short-range weapons that threaten South Korea and Japan.
Mr. Hayashi expressed “serious concern over the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea with unprecedented frequency and in an unprecedented manner, including in the past week, and the G-7 foreign ministers noted the repeated launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea.” strongly condemned the launch,” according to the summary.