Top diplomats from the Group of Seven (G-7) nations are set to meet in Japan to discuss geopolitical challenges in Asia, with tensions over China high on the agenda, according to a senior State Department official. The talks come ahead of the annual leaders summit, which will be held in Hiroshima next month.
The recent military drills held by China around Taiwan, following President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have highlighted the need for attention to be paid to the tensions in the region. Meanwhile, divisions within the European Union have also come to light after French President Emmanuel Macron called for the bloc to avoid being dragged into disputes with China by the US.
The foreign ministers in Japan will compare notes and seek to find a common approach to dealing with China on issues such as Taiwan, human rights, economic coercion, and US moves to restrict China's access to advanced technology like computer chips. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who cancelled a planned visit to Beijing after an alleged Chinese spy balloon flew over the US, downplayed concerns that leaks of highly classified information will stir distrust within the G-7.
The G-7 foreign ministers will also discuss how to ensure Ukraine has the weapons and other defensive equipment it needs over the long term, as Russian war efforts stall and ahead of a reported Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Other topics on the agenda include North Korea, ways to deepen ties with Southeast Asian nations, the Quad (which includes the US, India, Japan, and Australia), and global infrastructure building in developing nations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Overall, the G-7 meeting will be an important opportunity for top diplomats to address some of the most pressing issues facing the world today, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.