Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walked a diplomatic tightrope at the first Group of Seven summit meeting without Russia in 16 years, as he tried to divert world leaders' eyes from the Ukrainian crisis and focus on China's maritime advance.
While the official dinner of the G-7 summit in Brussels on June 4 was dominated by the Ukrainian crisis, Abe brought up the issue of China's growing presence in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
In calling for support, Abe compared the expansion of China's activities in the region to Russia's ongoing violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.
"It must not be permitted for a country to challenge the status quo by force anywhere in the world," he told the G-7 leaders.
As a result, the leaders said in their joint statement that they are "deeply concerned by tensions in the East and South China Sea."
Abe also made it clear that Japan is distancing itself from the hard-line stance United States has taken toward Russia over the Ukrainian crisis and called for G-7 countries to continue dialogues with Moscow.
"It is important to pressure Russia to commit itself to the problems that the international community is now facing as a responsible stakeholder," Abe said.
The prime minister's statements reflect Japan's concern that further isolation of Russia from the G-7 nations might push Moscow to rekindle its ties with Beijing.
Such a scenario would be undesirable at a time when Japan needs to counter the rising military might of China. It could also further delay a settlement of the territorial dispute over the Northern Territories.
While the official dinner of the G-7 summit in Brussels on June 4 was dominated by the Ukrainian crisis, Abe brought up the issue of China's growing presence in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
In calling for support, Abe compared the expansion of China's activities in the region to Russia's ongoing violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.
"It must not be permitted for a country to challenge the status quo by force anywhere in the world," he told the G-7 leaders.
As a result, the leaders said in their joint statement that they are "deeply concerned by tensions in the East and South China Sea."
Abe also made it clear that Japan is distancing itself from the hard-line stance United States has taken toward Russia over the Ukrainian crisis and called for G-7 countries to continue dialogues with Moscow.
"It is important to pressure Russia to commit itself to the problems that the international community is now facing as a responsible stakeholder," Abe said.
The prime minister's statements reflect Japan's concern that further isolation of Russia from the G-7 nations might push Moscow to rekindle its ties with Beijing.
Such a scenario would be undesirable at a time when Japan needs to counter the rising military might of China. It could also further delay a settlement of the territorial dispute over the Northern Territories.
Source: News in Hindi
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