Named the motives for Japan’s invitation Zelensky to the summit in Hiroshima

For Japan, the coming year has already become an occasion and a chance to express itself a little more. There are quite a few reasons: great hopes are pinned on the country as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and in May the G7 summit will be held in Hiroshima. Tokyo (in the person of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida) has already begun to prepare for it. By the way, Kishida didn’t even “walk off” his New Year holidays, impatiently plunging headlong into solving important political problems. Such zeal, I must say, corresponds to his New Year’s address.

Congratulating citizens on the coming year, Kishida promised in his speech that “Japan will play a leading role in diplomacy in 2023” just as the host of the G7 summit and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

It should be noted that on Sunday, January 1, the state joined the Security Council for a period of 2 years. This is the 12th time since Japan became a member of the UN in 1956, which the Japanese media called a record number. The previous term was back in 2016-2017. But now it was seen as something more than just membership.

Increasingly, from the stands of the United Nations there is a call to reform the UN, which was the reaction of the international community to the situation around Ukraine. Many representatives of the Organization have repeatedly lamented that they could not “handle Russia”, did not resist the numerous launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea (although the blame is again placed on Russia and China, since these countries are engaged in a constructive dialogue with the DPRK). And on such a wave, Japan again joined the Security Council.

By the way, Tokyo has long been talking about its desire and in fact the desire to become a permanent member of the reformed Security Council along with Germany, India and Brazil. In his speech to the General Assembly in New York in September, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that Japan, as a member of the Security Council, intends to “take steps to strengthen the rule of law in the international community” by listening “not only to loud voices, but also to to quiet voices.

But so far the country is content with only non-permanent membership. However, this is also a chance for Japan. But what? Probably, the answer is obvious, because even Japanese experts voice very clear meanings. For example, speaking to Kyodo News, Takahiro Shinyo, professor of international politics at Kwansei Gakuin University, noted that Japan’s ability to help stop the “despotism of Russia and China” will be tested after becoming a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

Takahiro Shinyo (who was also a member of Japan’s permanent mission to the UN and ambassador to Germany) added that Tokyo could speed up the discussion of Pyongyang’s security threats by calling emergency meetings.

In this context, let us return to the congratulatory speech of Kishida, who stated that “the Asian country will demonstrate a resolute readiness to reject attempts to change the status quo by force and fight nuclear threats.”

But further into the hidden meaning of the words of the Japanese premier, who promised to “resolutely” carry out his mission to protect the nation after Japan revised three of its key defense documents, including the National Security Strategy, in December, curious details are revealed.

The question arises, how does Kishida intend to “resolutely defend the nation”? The answer is given immediately. According to the Japan Times, according to the updated defense documents, Japan has gained the ability to strike enemy bases to deter attacks from outside forces, called “counterstrike capabilities,” a major shift in its defense policy in accordance with the Non-War Constitution. How this compares with the declared “peaceful course” and which bases will be recognized as enemy bases is not yet very clear.

There is another important point. We repeat that from May 19 to May 21, the G7 summit will be held in the notorious world city of Hiroshima. It was clear from all official statements that the so-called “nuclear issue” would be the centerpiece of the summit. Many media claimed that the choice of location was a rather symbolic step towards nuclear disarmament, even though the three developed countries of the G7 (USA, UK and France) possess such weapons.

“As the Prime Minister of Japan, the only country to have suffered from the atomic bombings, there is no better place than Hiroshima to demonstrate our commitment to peace,” Kishida said.

But other words sounded very strange: “I would like to confirm unity with other leaders of the G7, including President Biden, in protecting global peace, order and values ​​in front of the peace monument in Hiroshima.” All this was said in the presence of Joe Biden, the politician of the country that actually caused the terrible tragedy of 1945.

However, let’s leave the history of past years and return to the history of the present. In the context of the future summit, it is worth recalling a number of quite specific statements by Fumio Kishida regarding the future plans of the country. So, back in October 2022, speaking to reporters and answering a question about sanctions against Russia, the politician announced: “…I spoke about Japan’s recently introduced new measures to freeze the assets of 90 Russian individuals and legal entities, and also emphasized the importance of continuing to support Ukraine and tough sanctions against Russia.

It turns out that it is no coincidence that Japan set out to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the G7 summit.

According to the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, the authorities would like to create conditions for “intensive discussion” of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine during the G7 summit. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida believes that Vladimir Zelensky will be able to directly tell Western leaders about the situation in the country. But it happens every day, doesn’t it? Also, the publication adds, it is planned to discuss issues of food and energy security that arose as a result of the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine.

But here, too, the media trace Japan’s selfish interest. It is noted that for Tokyo, the coordination of the G7’s actions in Ukraine is an important step in preparing for a possible conflict over Taiwan, in which Japan could supposedly be drawn into. The plans of the Japanese authorities, together with the United States and Europe (again, in the event of a conflict in Taiwan), are to give a prompt and tough response to China. Then the algorithm of sanctions pressure, already tested in Moscow, can become quite a good help for the Land of the Rising Sun itself and its allies overseas. If, of course, in this sense it can be called successful.

Nevertheless, Japan still continues to coordinate Zelensky’s participation in the upcoming summit, offering him the most comfortable conditions. It is expected that the head of the Independent will take part in an online format. To the overall picture, it is worth recalling that Zelensky previously addressed the leaders of the G7 member states, naming “three steps” to bring peace closer to Ukraine. In his opinion, one of the conditions is to provide the Ukrainian side with modern tanks, artillery, shells, as well as long-range missiles and rocket artillery. Probably, the rhetoric of the future summit in Hiroshima (with the participation of Zelensky) is quite predictable.