Insisting on China Factor

For Japan, the Group of Seven summit meeting in Brussels has long been an automatic reminder of its identity as an only Asian nation categorized in developed countries. Although the framework had ended its role for leading the whole world, Japan insisted on acting as one of the top leaders that would control the world order. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this time behaved as if he had conducted in laying containment policy against China.

Main issue for G7 meeting was inevitably how to deal with Russia, that had dropped its membership in G8 and its status of hosting country this year after unilateral annexation of Crimea earlier this year. The Summit Declaration expressed its united denouncement against consecutive invasion of Russia into integration of sovereignty and territory of Ukraine.

The position of Japan was not clear in that context. While showing cooperation with Western nations, Abe had been keeping an option to deal unilaterally with Putin to settle bilateral peace treaty issue including territorial dispute. To disguise it, Abe insisted on inserting China factor in the agreement. “I led the discussion on East Asia. My proposal for intolerance of aggression with power was strongly supported by others,” Abe told the reporters after the summit meeting.

So, what exactly was the result? The declaration has no direct accusation against China. On maritime navigation and aviation, it generally stated “We reaffirm the importance of maintaining order based upon the universally agreed principles of international law.” The only description reminding China was “We are deeply concerned by tensions in the East and South China Sea.” Nevertheless, it seemed to be a great achievement for Abe, as far as his convinced statements in the press conference was listened.

Abe tried to connect Ukraine issue with Chinese assertion in Asia-Pacific region by drawing a concept of protesting against unilateral change of status quo by exercise of power. But for all G7 nations except Japan, unilateral change of status quo meant Russian invasion into Ukraine. European nations were reluctant to complicate their relationship with China, which apparently had been a great buyer of European products.

It was undeniable that Abe thought to take advantage of G7 consensus on China in his domestic personal agenda. If the world recognize potential threat of China, it will be easier for him to promote his major policy to exercise collective self-defense right, which the Constitution of Japan has prohibited. As the matter of fact, his explanation on necessity of his policy has been too trivial, unrealistic or nonsense to persuade the public.