"Difficult to Discuss China-Related Issues with Other Member States"
On December 3, the Sankei Shimbun reported that the Japanese government has called for a cautious approach regarding France, the chair country of next year’s Group of Seven (G7) summit, considering inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping.
French President Emmanuel Macron is paying a state visit to China from today through the 5th, during which he will hold a summit meeting with President Xi. Sankei anticipated that Macron may explore the possibility of inviting Xi to the G7 during this visit. According to a Japanese government official, President Macron has previously been positive about inviting Xi to the summit.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported last month that France had informally proposed the idea of inviting President Xi to Germany, and that Germany had expressed its support. France also invited then-Chinese President Hu Jintao when it hosted the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Evian in 2003.
Japan has consistently raised concerns over China’s maritime expansion and economic coercion. According to Sankei, there are worries within the Japanese government that if President Xi participates in the G7 summit in June next year, it would be difficult to share issues related to China with other member states. Sankei stated, “Japan has expressed its concerns, considering that China does not share the values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law advocated by the G7.”
Although not mentioned separately by Sankei, it appears that ongoing tensions between China and Japan-exacerbated by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks suggesting potential intervention in the event of a Taiwan contingency-have also influenced Japan’s current response.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government announced that Keiichi Ichikawa, Director-General of Japan’s National Security Secretariat, held a phone call the previous day with Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to the French President at the ?lys?e Palace. According to Kyodo News, both sides agreed to promote cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific, keeping in mind China’s increasing assertiveness in the East China Sea and South China Sea. However, a Japanese government official did not disclose whether the Taiwan issue was discussed during the call.
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