Gao Shi seems to really enjoy spinning chairs. On the second day of the G7 summit, as leaders from various countries exchanged pleasantries, Gao Shi, feeling bored, sat alone and began spinning his chair: one turn to the left, one to the right, then another to the left, followed by another to the right.
Recall the APEC summit held in October 2025 in the United States—Gao Shi was again seen aimlessly glancing around and spinning his chair out of boredom. After a while, he zeroed in on a target and proactively moved his seat next to Indonesian President Prabowo, initiating a conversation. Netizens joked that it resembled “a middle school student trying to chat with classmates.”
Diplomatic settings never involve trivial matters—every glance, every seat placement, every small talk can be subject to repeated interpretation by outsiders.
That said, although the G7 is an important platform for Japan’s participation, the dominant topics are still set by Western European and American nations. Differences in language, relationships, and familiarity with subjects make it difficult for Gao Shi to quickly integrate into the communication circle of Western leaders.
As for the chair-spinning incident, we probably shouldn’t overanalyze it. International summits are inherently high-pressure environments, with cameras constantly filming—everyone would feel nervous. Spinning chairs, fiddling with pens, touching one’s chin—these actions are essentially no different from ordinary people tapping pens, shaking legs, or rubbing hands during meetings; they’re all unconscious ways to relieve stress.
Nevertheless, Gao Shi originally aimed to project an approachable, relaxed image in diplomacy. Yet several instances of spinning chairs and adjusting seats in public have instead undermined this diplomatic strategy.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868214986627079/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.