- reporter, Tessa Wong
- reporter, BBC News, Hiroshima
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared as a ‘scene stealer’ at the ‘G7 Summit’ held in Japan on the 20th (local time).
World leaders at the G7 summit were sending a secret warning to China until President Zelensky arrived in Japan.
After visiting Saudi Arabia, President Zelensky arrived in Hiroshima, Japan, on a private jet from the French government.
The hastily decided visit prompted the G7 leaders to issue a statement condemning Russia earlier.
The G7 leaders also warned against the “economic coercion” China is accused of acting against many countries.
India and Australia as well as some emerging economies included in the ‘Global South’ were invited to this year’s G7 summit, attended by seven of the world’s wealthiest democracies.
The top priority of the meeting is the war in Ukraine.
The importance and urgency of this discussion was once again emphasized when President Zelensky appeared in person at the last minute. It also showed that he has a high influence on attracting people’s attention.
Zelensky arrived in Hiroshima, Japan, hours after a US announcement that Western allies would allow Ukraine to supply advanced fighter jets, including American-made F-16s, and train Ukrainian pilots to use them. President Zelensky welcomed the US move as a “historic decision.”
Over the past 24 hours, the world’s media has been keen on whether or not President Zelensky will “visit Japan in person.”
As soon as breaking news broke on Friday that President Zelensky, who had originally been scheduled to attend the G7 via video conference, might visit Japan in person, it immediately grabbed the attention of the heads of state who were visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park at the time.
But while various media outlets rushed to confirm the news, Ukrainian authorities continued to be unsure. A few weeks ago, during a conversation between President Zelensky and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, it was reported that an opinion was raised that President Zelensky’s visit to Japan was discussed, but the final decision seems to have been made abruptly.
The exact time of Zelensky’s arrival was shrouded in secrecy until Japanese TV media suddenly broadcast live footage of Zelensky’s arrival at Hiroshima airport on a private plane provided by French President Emmanuel Macron, a close ally of Ukraine.
Right after landing, President Zelensky took a wild step. He quickly descended the plane stairs, climbed into a waiting car, and immediately held a solo meeting with world leaders. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted President Zelensky with a friendly remark, “You did it!”
The appearance of President Zelensky not only adds an interesting element to the calm diplomatic process, but rather seems to dominate the G7 summit.
photo source, Getty Images
However, the G7 leaders are not expected to care much about this.
So far, their sanctions have not stopped the Russian invasion. The promise announced on the 19th to “starve” by cutting off resources for Russia’s “war machine” remains vague.
But with world leaders “literally” standing shoulder to shoulder with President Zelensky, this could be a hard-line warning to Russia that the sanctions could be taken seriously.
In addition to addressing key issues such as nuclear non-proliferation and climate change, their final joint statement also included commitments to the Indo-Pacific region. It showed its will by inviting Indonesia, India, and the Cook Islands to the G7 summit.
The G7 leaders also emphasized the need for a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and support for Southeast Asian and Pacific countries, which had been actively “wooed” by China so far. This is a rhetorical expression used in response to China’s claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea in the past.
More importantly, the G7 leaders took a tougher stance against China’s ‘economic coercion’. It also demanded that China “act in accordance with international norms”. ‘Economic coercion’ refers to actions that China retaliates in the form of economics against countries it does not like.
The G7 leaders underscored the importance of “economic resilience” and promised to take action to reduce “overdependency in critical supply chains”. This shows that the G7 countries still have inseparable trade ties with China.
But they also stated that they want a “constructive and stable relationship” with China, adding that their policies are “not designed to harm China or impede its economic development and growth.”
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the 20th that it expressed “strong dissatisfaction” with the joint statement of the G7 summit and had raised “stern negotiations” with Japan, the host country of the summit. ‘Strict bargaining’ is an expression China uses when making diplomatic protests to its counterparts.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, “The G7 manipulates China-related issues, slanders and seeks to attack China.”
The Hiroshima G7 Summit is scheduled to conclude with speeches by President Zelensky, US President Joe Biden, and Prime Minister Kishida on the 21st (local time).
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2023-05-21 05:38:55
