Other G7 countries shouldn't blindly follow Japan, US agenda

TOKYO - With the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) leaders' summit to discuss a number of global issues, the rest of the G7 nations other than the United States and Japan, should be wary as the summit has been geared up to specifically manipulate the intentions of the host Japan and its supporter the US, rather than representing the common interests of the seven industrialized countries or the world.

Japan, as host of the Ise-Shima summit, to be held in Mie Prefecture for two days starting Thursday, has claimed that the G7 summit would focus on ways to boost coordinated action toward spurring world economic growth, fighting terrorism and "ensuring maritime security, especially in the South China Sea."

"With risks and vulnerability in the world economy rising, we would like to issue a clear and powerful message so the G7 can take the lead in achieving sustainable and robust growth of the global economy," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has claimed.

However, what Abe is actually aiming to achieve, as revealed by his tour in Europe recently and the G7 finance chiefs' meeting, which concluded here a few days back, is to sell his economic policies, or "Abenomics," which, however, have already been proven a failure by recent key Japanese economic data such as the price index and investment by big enterprises.

During the recent G7 financial ministers' meeting, Japan called again for boosting public spending to improve world economic growth, which was an important part of "Abenomics." But the policy was obviously not suited to other G7 nations, and given Abe's failure, lacked persuasive power.

"The most important are structural reforms ... there are more and more (in the G7) recognizing that structural reforms are crucial," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said at a briefing in Sendai.

Regarding economic problems that European countries are facing, including the aftermath of the debt crisis, the challenges brought by a potential exit of Britain from the European Union, more effective antidotes are needed.

Another goal for Japan at the G7 summit is to come out with a statement on the South China Sea issue. Japan has been sparing no efforts to foist the issue into the agenda of the G7 summit, apparently for its own purpose, including containing China and pursuing its own interests in the East China Sea.

The United States has sided with Japan on this issue. Meddling in the South China Sea issue has been considered by many as part of the "Pivot to Asia" strategy of the administration of US President Barack Obama, which, by increasing US involvement in the Pacific, also aims to contain China, among other purposes.

It's a global trend for the nations around the world to cooperate together and achieve win-win results. The G7 nations should recognize the hidden agenda of Japan and the Unite States behind the summit, and focus more on the issues that really matter to themselves and to the world, and boost development together with China and other countries in the world.