New ambitions in the Far East – G7 summit in Hiroshima with a new Japan – News


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Economically, Japan has been a major power for decades. But militarily it was a dwarf and extremely reserved in foreign policy. That is now changing – significantly. The change is not entirely voluntary.

There was a demonstration against the G7 summit after all. Most Japanese, on the other hand, are proud to host the top meeting. And they also understand that their country has to get involved in global politics. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has always spoken of the most important summit for Japan.

And with the topic of nuclear disarmament, it also sets an accent in terms of content. “The road to a world without nuclear weapons has become even more difficult because of geopolitical tensions.” Simply: Giving up is not an option.

Legend:

An image with symbolic value: Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida advances at the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

Keystone/AP/Kenny Holston

He is supported in Hiroshima by the Hibakusha, the survivors of the American atomic bombing of 1945. Hiroshima, the city of tragedy that today wants to be the city of peace, should, according to a representative of the Hibakusha, “not only call for remembrance, but rather on action against nuclear weapons”.

The now over 80-year-olds do not have high hopes for concrete decisions by the G7 heads of state and government. Even Prime Minister Kishida only speaks of “small, difficult steps”.

What happens in Ukraine today can happen in Asia tomorrow.

“Japan wants to work not only for nuclear disarmament, but also for peace and security in general and worldwide,” says Professor Kazuto Suzuki from the University of Tokyo and director of the Institute for Geoeconomics. “What happens in Ukraine today can happen in Asia tomorrow,” Noriyuki Shikata added in a video conference from the head of government’s staff.

And then Japan would be in immediate danger. So you are now looking for a close alliance with the G7 partners, also militarily, up to the development of fighter jets with Great Britain and Italy.

Rethinking of the Japanese population

“Because of the new, stronger sense of threat due to the proximity to the three dictatorships China, Russia and North Korea, the population is also rethinking,” emphasizes Professor Suzuki: “Finding new, influential friends and maintaining existing friendships is not only what Japan wants, but now also a necessity, especially since China is also arming itself enormously in the nuclear sector and is striving for dominance in Asia.”

Despite the planned doubling of its military budget, Japan will never be able to defend itself against China on its own. So you have to be able to rely on allies and friends in the future.

But those who need help must also be willing to help others when they need it. This explains, among other things, Tokyo’s clear stance on the Russian attack on Ukraine. Japan needs the West. But the West, for its part, benefits when it has a free and democratic ally in East Asia in Japan, which is increasingly making a name for itself and becoming involved on the world stage.

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