Prime Minister Kishida, who is visiting Germany to attend the G7 Summit = Summit of the Seven Major Countries, held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Schortz and agreed that security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable, and the situation in Ukraine We have confirmed that we will continue to cooperate in responding.
Prime Minister Kishida will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who chairs the G7 summit, from 11:30 pm on the 26th of Japan time, and will deal with the situation in Ukraine, climate change and energy at this summit. We exchanged opinions on the issues.
With Russia's military invasion protracted and China showing consideration for Russia, the two leaders agreed that security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific was inseparable, responding to the situation in Ukraine and being "free and open." We confirmed that we will continue to cooperate toward the realization of "Indo-Pacific".
In addition, we will further strengthen security cooperation between the two countries by coordinating for the holding of new intergovernmental talks in which the leaders of Japan and Germany participate and ministerial talks on foreign affairs and defense, the so-called "2 plus 2". I confirmed that.
We also agreed to work together for the G7 Summit to be held in Hiroshima next year.
Germany forced to correct from "decarbonization"
In Germany, Europe's largest economy, 55% of the natural gas imported is from Russia, but after Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, efforts have begun to break away from dependence on Russia.
In Germany, Russia's largest government-affiliated gas company announced in the middle of this month that it would significantly reduce the amount of natural gas it supplies through its main pipeline to Germany, Nord Stream, after which Russia's supply is 60%. It has decreased and the sense of caution has increased.
For this reason, the German government said on the 23rd of this month that it is necessary to store a sufficient amount of gas for the winter when the demand for heating increases, and on the 23rd of this month, the alert level for emergency gas supply will be raised from the top of the three levels. Announced that it will be raised second.
The German government is calling on citizens and businesses to help save gas, and has announced a policy to temporarily operate coal-fired power plants to supplement the energy required to reduce gas consumption. Did.
Germany has urged a departure from the use of coal with the aim of realizing a carbon-free society, but as uncertainty about the future of gas supply from Russia increases, it is forced to take a counter-measure. It is a form that has been driven into the situation.
At the meeting, Minister of Economy and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, who is in charge of energy policy, strongly accused Russia of attacking Germany with energy as a weapon, and said that the expansion of coal-fired power generation is a measure to protect the people and the economy. I asked for understanding.
However, Mr. Habeck is also the former leader of the "Green Party" that emphasizes environmental policy, so when he attended an event of an economic organization, he said, "It is extremely unpleasant because it will increase carbon dioxide emissions." He revealed the inside of his chest, which was forced to respond unwillingly.
Citizens said, "Expanding the use of coal is not good, but we must not give in to Russia's blackmail," and even if we go against decarbonization, we should contain Russia with sanctions to support Ukraine. Some criticized the policy so far, saying, "We knew this in advance and should have reduced our dependence on Russia even before the military invasion."