#30. G7 meet, Trilateral cooperation to build 5G network in Pacific, Beijing Olympics, 2+2 Japan-US leaders meet.
Here is a brief on the biweekly (16th- 31st, Dec.).
The finance chiefs of the G7 nations vowed vigilance over key issues stemming up due to pandemic in an online meeting
South Korea expresses willingness to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Japan and the US are to hold a 2+2 foreign and defence ministerial meeting
Japan, the US and Australia to build a 5G network in the Pacific region
Japan might end up joining the diplomatic boycott of the Bejing Olympics
Foreign Affairs.
1. G-7 meet:
The Group of Seven nations' finance ministers and Central Bank Governors participated in the last Online meeting in 2021, chaired by Britain. Germany will take over in 2022. Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda participated from the Japanese side. The G-7 nations include Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the European Union. According to the British government officials, the representatives from the G7 nations have pledged to work closely addressing critical issues such as economic impacts concerning the Omicron variant, global supply chain issues spurred by the pandemic, and fatalities triggered by antibiotic-resistant infections.
2. South Korea’s application to enter TPP:
South Korea expressed its willingness to join the 11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership. Speaking of South Korea's interest in joining the group, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that it requires to carefully observe that the economy willing to join the group is prepared to reach the high levels of the TPP-11. The remark is indicative of the souring relationship between the South Korea-Japan ties over the last few years. Japan has welcomed the application of Britain and Taiwan in the TPP, while it has been cautious about China's entry. The Trans-Pacific Partnership entered force in 2018, ensures tariff reduction, setting high-standard rules for e-commerce, state-owned enterprises, and intellectual property. The TPP include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
3. Japan-US 2+2 talks:
Japan and the United States are about to hold a 2+2 foreign and defence ministerial meeting focussing on addressing the security issues arising due to developments on the Chinese side. The 2+2 meeting is one of the first such meetings since Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida entered office. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and their US counterparts Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin will be discussing security issues ranging over space and cybersecurity and bilateral negotiations over Japan's host nation support.
4. Japan might diplomatically boycott China Olympics :
Regarding participation in China's Winter Olympics, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, "At the moment, I have no plans to attend." However, he also added, "It is important to make a judgment by myself at an appropriate time after comprehensively taking into account various issues in consideration of the national interest." However, a close ally of the US, Japan relies economically heavily on China.
Following Kishida's remarks, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Kong Xuanyou, asked "Japan to be "strongly cautious about and block such a dangerous" move so as not to damage bilateral diplomatic ties, which will mark next year the 50th anniversary of their normalization". Besides cautioning Japan not to be involved in diplomatic boycotts of the Bejing Winter Olympics, Kong also warned Japan not to get involved in Taiwan, quoting the recent remarks of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In addition, the US, Australia, Britain and Canada have announced that they will not be sending officials to the games related to China's suspected involvements in human rights violations.
5. Japan assures military support to Taiwan in case of contingency:
Speaking at the Taiwan think-tank event, Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said a Taiwan contingency would also imply an emergency for Japan and the Japan-US Security alliance. Abe's remarks have drawn criticism from the Chinese side, which considers Taiwan, the self-ruled island, as its renegade province to be reunified by force when a situation arises. Since the end of the 1949 Civil war, Taiwan and China have governed themselves separately.
Defence.
1. Military base relocation in Okinawa:
As per the 1996 Japan-US accord, a relocation of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the Henoko coastal area of Nago in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, was planned. However, the reclamation work for the planned relocation began recently, which was opposed by the Okinawan public. The reason is environmental concerns due to reclaiming land in the sea and public anger fuelled by the misbehaviour of a US serviceman towards an Okinawan girl dating back to 1995. The Central and State governments have been at odds over the Futenma base relocation to Henoko. The Center supports the plan while the state is troubled over the idea for many reasons.
2. Japan-South Korea disputed islands:
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, the country conducted its regular military drill exhibiting defence over the pair of islets called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, in the Sea of Japan. The exercise involved the navy, maritime police and the air force. The disputed islands have been claimed as their own by Japan and South Korea. At the same time, South Korea has stationed its security personnel since 1954 in the Dokdo islands. However, Takehiro Funakoshi, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, said, "the islets are an inherent part of Japanese territory in light of historical facts and based on international law".
Technology.
1. A trilateral cooperation to develop 5G in pacific island nations:
Japan, the US, and Australia have inked trilateral cooperation towards developing the 5G network in the Pacific region. The move comes from the countries' efforts to address insecurities over information theft posed by China, which could result in socio-economic disruptions. By the agreement, the nations will construct undersea cables to improve internet connectivity in Micronesia, Nauru and Kiribati, islands in the Pacific region.
2. World's first wooden satellite
In yet another extraordinary thought process, a wood-panelled satellite is in the process of development by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry members. Astronaut Takao Doi from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, who is leading the project, said if the plan materializes, "it will lead the way to allow even children who are interested in space to make a satellite." Moreover, this satellite will be environmentally friendly and cheaper than the current satellites, usually made of aluminium. The satellite is targeted to be launched in 2023.
3. Cloud computing
Cloud computing is becoming an enabler for adopting Artificial intelligence and Data mining. As more and more businesses navigate digital transformation, countries are stepping forward in their cloud technology investment. The below graph depicts