In recent years, Japan and the United States have been working together in countering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supporting Ukraine, and containing the expansion of Chinese influence. As the G7 summit in Italy took place, the two countries once again took coordinated action: signing cooperation agreements with Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Chinese entities aiding Russia.
On June 13, the three-day annual G7 Summit began in Italy. The main topic of the day was exchanging views on the situation in Ukraine and agreeing to use the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank, which have been sanctioned, to support Ukraine.
Senior U.S. officials confirmed that the G7 leaders have agreed to use approximately $50 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The plan is set to commence this year and will cover areas such as military support, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction. Additionally, the G7 leaders agreed to continue freezing Russian funds until Russia compensates Ukraine.
On the opening day, the contents of the leaders’ declaration were largely finalized. The declaration included necessary measures against third-country entities, including the Chinese regime, supporting Russia and imposed additional sanctions on individuals involved in transporting Russian oil to evade sanctions.
Furthermore, the leaders’ declaration strongly opposed China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo through force and coercion. It called on the Chinese regime to exert pressure on Russia, urged Russia to halt the invasion of Ukraine, withdraw from Ukraine, and cease the transfer of dual-use materials to Russia.
On June 13, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 Summit in Italy and signed a bilateral “Support Cooperation Agreement” to strengthen support for Ukraine.
The agreement specifies that if Russia launches another aggressive move after ending its invasion, Japan and Ukraine will engage in consultations within 24 hours. It also outlines Japan’s assistance to Ukraine within the scope permitted by its constitution, including non-lethal weapons equipment, demining, infrastructure development, improving humanitarian conditions for women and children, reconstruction of livelihoods, promoting agricultural development, treating injured Ukrainian soldiers, and intelligence cooperation. The Japan-Ukraine Agreement is valid for 10 years.
Last July, at the Hiroshima G7 Summit hosted by Japan, a joint declaration by the leaders was issued, and this agreement is based on that declaration. Currently, over 30 countries have joined the declaration, with 15 countries including the UK, Germany, France, and Italy signing bilateral agreements with Ukraine.
On June 12, prior to heading to the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Kishida stated at the Prime Minister’s Office that based on the outcomes of last year’s Hiroshima G7 Summit, this year’s summit will focus on discussions to uphold and strengthen a rules-based, free, and open international order and the importance of partnership with countries in the Southern Hemisphere. He also expressed the desire to demonstrate a proactive stance of G7 leadership in addressing various global challenges.
Regarding the meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Kishida expressed hope that through the meeting with President Zelenskyy and subsequent talks at the peace summit, international support for Ukraine’s peace process can be showcased.
After the G7 Summit, Zelenskyy will join other world leaders in Switzerland to participate in the Ukraine Peace Summit.
Among G7 members, all countries except the United States and Japan have signed agreements with Ukraine. The signing by the U.S. and Japan at the G7 Summit and the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland before the summit is seen as a demonstration of the synchronized international strategic cooperation between the two countries.
On the same day Kishida rushed to the G7 Summit, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) revealed that the Japanese government is considering imposing new sanctions on Chinese entities suspected of supplying military-related materials to Russia, including domestic Chinese companies.
Earlier, the U.S. pointed out that China provided Russia with nitrocellulose, a material used in making bombs, leading to the prolonged Ukraine war. Therefore, the Japanese government believes that pressure should be increased on entities supporting Russia, including Chinese domestic companies suspected of providing such materials to Russia, through new sanctions.
Japan is currently discussing sanction measures such as banning entities involved in supporting Russia from importing goods into Japan. Kishida will announce this at the G7 Summit.
If the sanction measures are implemented, it will be the first time Japan imposes sanctions on Chinese companies for aiding Russia. This is also seen as Japan urging the Chinese regime to take responsible action for the peace and stability of the international community.
On June 12, the U.S. also announced its decision to further weaken Russia’s military capabilities in waging war against Ukraine by imposing sanctions on over 300 entities and individuals globally supporting Russia, including suppliers and intermediaries from mainland China and Hong Kong selling semiconductors, IT products, and laser products to Russia, as well as individuals.
A news release from the U.S. Treasury Department stated that the new sanctions were in line with the G7 commitments and increased the risk of foreign financial institutions dealing with the Russian war economy facing secondary sanctions.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated in a release, “Today’s action cuts off their pathways to international materials and equipment, including their reliance on key materials from third countries.”
In matters involving sanctions on entities and individuals supporting Russia, including China, the U.S. and Japan have once again taken coordinated action, advancing together.
During his meeting with President Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that Japan would “deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance at all levels to contribute to global stability.”
The following day, the Nikkei Newspaper published an editorial stating that amid the Ukraine war, Middle East crisis, and the increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan, “strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance is indispensable.” This also places “Japan under an unprecedented important responsibility.”
Over the past decade, especially in recent years, China’s expansion in regions like the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea has intensified, attempting to unilaterally change the status quo with military force, breaking through the first island chain set up by the U.S., dominating the Pacific and the world, and replacing the U.S.’s leading position in maintaining the international order to establish its so-called “community of shared future for mankind.”
Faced with the threat from China, Japan has embarked on “diplomacy with a globe” since the era of Shinzo Abe, uniting with the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, the UK, the EU, ASEAN, as well as Vietnam, India, and others, striving to establish multiple alliances to jointly contain China’s hegemonic expansion and maintain regional and global peace.
Today, Japan has established multiple security cooperation frameworks with various countries, including the U.S., South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia, among others, to collectively counterbalance China.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara warned at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue that in response to China’s military actions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, the U.S. and Japan have been steadily taking steps to “prepare for contingencies.”
On June 10, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel stated that the United States needs Japan’s assistance; he also mentioned that U.S.-Japan defense cooperation sets an example for the world.