Japan warns France that inviting China to next year's G7 summit could affect group’s unity

ANKARA

Japan has raised concern with France over a possible invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for next year’s Group of Seven (G7) summit in Evian, Kyodo News reported on Wednesday, citing government sources.

Tokyo has asked Paris to carefully assess any outreach to Beijing, amid fears that China’s participation could complicate discussions among G7 members. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, responding on Friday to questions about whether China may be invited, said Tokyo “places importance on the unity of the G7, which shares fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law.”

France assumes the rotating G7 presidency in January and will host the summit in June next year at the Alpine spa resort town of Evian-les-Bains and the host nation has the right to invite countries to the expanded G7 summit.

The group comprises seven permanent members: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US. The European Union participates as a non-enumerated member. Russia was suspended in 2014 after it annexed Crimea.

Last week in Beijing, French President Emmanuel Macron met Xi and said France was even “more determined” to work with China and partner countries as it prepares to take over the G7 presidency. “Together we can change things,” he said in a statement on the US social media company X.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have been strained in recent weeks. On Nov. 7, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could legally constitute a “survival-threatening situation,” potentially allowing Japan to “exercise the right of collective self-defense.”

China sharply criticized the remarks, advised its citizens against travel to Japan, suspended seafood imports and postponed a trilateral culture ministers’ meeting with Japan and South Korea.

Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing, lies close to Japan’s Yonaguni Island.