Japanese PM on tour with G7 allies
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Tokyo airport, January 8, 2023. AP - Kota Endo
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
Fumio Kishida begins this Monday by France a tour of the G7 countries of which Japan took the presidency this year within the framework of the preparation of its next summit which will be held in May in Hiroshima.
With Emmanuel Macron, he will discuss economic security, semiconductors, climate change and hot diplomatic topics like Ukraine, China and the threat to Taiwan and North Korea.
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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives in Paris on Monday January 9 after deciding to
double the annual defense budget
to 2% of GDP over the next five years, reports our correspondent in Tokyo,
Frédéric Charles
.
Japan has been involved in sanctions against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine and believes that this war is not a European issue but a challenge to the international community as a whole.
Because what happens in Ukraine can happen in Asia in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
Ahead of the next G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan wants to ensure that European countries remain united on the issue of support for Ukraine.
The Japanese press has been talking about the discordance of European countries since Emmanuel Macron mentioned the idea of providing "
security guarantees
" to Russia.
She also believes that the Ukrainian president's recent visit to Washington symbolizes Europe's dependence on the United States for its security.
China “
unprecedented strategic challenge
”
Japan will strengthen its alliance with the United States.
And will use the G7 summit in Hiroshima to brand China an “
unprecedented strategic challenge
” to its security and that of the region.
“
The background of all Japanese diplomacy since 2007 is really how to counterbalance China in the Indo-Pacific Ocean,
explains Guibourg Delamotte, author of
La democratie au Japon, singulière et universelle
, explains that China and its ambitions will be at the heart of the discussions with the leaders.
When it nurtures the partnerships it has with the G7 countries, it is bearing in mind that it needs everyone, all the efforts, that all the efforts must come together in order to be able to counterbalance China, to counterbalance it in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
»
► To read also: Japan: "We must be part of a balance of power with China"
Emmanuel Macron will take advantage of the presence in Paris of Fumio Kishida to discuss the partnership between France and Japan in the Indo-Pacific area where France has seven territories and intends to strengthen its strategic cooperation.
"
France is a leading European partner for Tokyo, particularly in the field of security
", emphasizes Guibourt Delamotte.
Multilateral exercises took place in Japan in May 2021. Discussions are also sustained on cybersecurity, cooperation, maritime security, nuclear issues, so all kinds of areas.
In Hiroshima, Japan will reaffirm the solidarity of the G7 towards Ukraine but also towards the countries of the South on fronts such as climate change, the food and energy crises.
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Japan
Fumio Kishida
G7
France
Diplomacy
China
Ukraine
United States