Abe's Diplomacy Fails to Fully Pay Off at G-7 Summit

Elmau, Germany, June 8 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led Group of Seven discussions on applying pressure on China over the country's growing maritime assertiveness, during the seven major industrial nations' summit in the southern German resort of Elmau. Meanwhile, Abe tried to leave room for dialogue with Russia because Japan has a longstanding territorial dispute with the country. Still, his diplomatic efforts were not totally successful, as the gap remained between Japan and the European members of the G-7 forum over the planned Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, to be led by China, and the United States adhered to its tough stance against Russia over the Ukraine crisis. At a dinner session on Sunday, the first day of the two-day G-7 summit, Abe stressed that attempts to unilaterally change the status quo should not be left unattended, referring to China's continuing work to build artificial islands in the South China Sea. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the chair of the summit, expressed support, and it was decided that the G-7 countries would express their opposition to such unilateral actions in a joint statement to wrap up the leaders' discussions. "Japan showed its leadership" in uniting the G-7 to apply pressure on China, a source accompanying Abe on the German trip said. While stopping short of naming China, the G-7 statement released Monday after the end of the summit said, "We strongly oppose the use of intimidation, coercion or force, as well as any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo, such as large-scale land reclamation." In the leaders' discussions on economic issues, Abe expressed anxieties over the AIIB, saying that money should not be spent on something that may not be sustainable. But Britain, France, Germany and Italy, which have decided to join the planned new development bank, did not share such concerns. A German government official noted that it is advisable to take part in the AIIB in light of expanding economic exchanges with China. If Japan is worried about the AIIB's management, the country should join the bank and improve it, the official added. Japan, the United States and Canada have so far chosen not to join the AIIB out of concern over the transparency of its management. In his bilateral talks with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy, held on the sidelines of the G-7 summit, Abe obtained certain understanding for Japan-Russia dialogue. He told them that the two countries' territorial issue has still not been resolved 70 years after the end of World War II and that a direct dialogue between their leaders is therefore necessary. During his visit to Ukraine just before the G-7 summit, Abe stressed that attempts to change the status quo by force cannot be tolerated, suggesting that Japan will remain tough against Russia as the G-7 nations have imposed sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. At the same time, however, he said that continued dialogue with Russia is important, apparently trying to prevent the rift with the country from deepening. Abe is eager to realize Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan by the end of this year to help promote bilateral territorial talks over four Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands, which were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II and have long been claimed by Tokyo. But the United States is worried that the G-7 unity against Russia could be undermined if Japan approaches Moscow for dialogue. In a meeting with Abe at the White House in late April, U.S. President Barack Obama urged Japan to be careful in dealing with Russia. With the U.S. stance unlikely to change amid the continuing turmoil in Ukraine, Japan could be in a difficult position, political analysts say. END