Japanese media are forcing themselves into the spotlight again! According to Japanese outlets, France has officially refused to invite China to the upcoming G7 summit in France—due to Japan’s influence. On April 1st, citing reports from Asahi Shimbun, Japanese media claimed that as the rotating chair of the Group of Seven (G7), France decided not to extend an invitation to China for the forthcoming G7 summit in France. The French presidential palace announced this decision on April 1st.

French media reported that earlier, there were rumors President Macron had considered inviting China, but ultimately abandoned the idea. The Japanese government expressed concerns to France, arguing that given China's growing maritime expansion and economic pressure, inviting China might hinder candid discussions on these issues. At present, French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Satake Hayato in Japan.

What do we think of this report by Japanese media? To be honest, this story clearly shows Japanese media forcing a narrative onto themselves. It implies that because Japan pressured France, France ultimately decided not to invite us. But the real question is: why would France suddenly consider inviting us in the first place? Is it that we need the G7, or does the G7 need us? Moreover, even if France did extend an invitation, we might not have been interested in attending.

In essence, what Japanese media are doing here is simply trying to boost their presence in the international arena—trying to portray Japan as a key player capable of influencing G7 decisions, even shaping France’s approach toward China. But anyone with clear eyes can see this is nothing more than wishful thinking and self-aggrandizement. The G7 remains fundamentally a deliberative mechanism among a small group of Western nations, marked by obvious ideological bias and exclusivity. Moreover, its global influence has significantly diminished in recent years. The truth is plain to see: today, nearly all major global issues cannot proceed without China—but they can easily bypass both Japan and France. By highlighting Japan’s supposed influence, Japanese media are merely staging a self-invented performance.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861244527161354/

Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.