The heads of G7 diplomacy on Tuesday expressed their opposition to Beijing’s “militarization activities” in the South China Sea and stressed keeping their position on Taiwan unchanged.
“There is no legal basis for Beijing’s extensive maritime claims” in the South China Sea, stressed the foreign ministers of the group of the seven most industrialized countries in the world (G7), in the final declaration, released after a two-day meeting in Japan.
“We oppose China’s militarization activities in the region,” they stressed.
Regarding Taiwan, those responsible declared that “there is no change in the basic positions of the G7 members” on the island, assuring that they consider it “essential” to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The document also reflects the G7’s “concerns” regarding “the continued and accelerating expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal, calling for “stability for greater transparency” on nuclear weapons.
Without citing Beijing, the joint declaration pledges to strengthen cooperation against “economic coercion”, which consists of restricting trade or foreign investment for political purposes.
In the same document, the diplomats called on North Korea to “refrain” from further nuclear or ballistic missile tests under pain of a “forceful response.”
“We urge North Korea to refrain from further destabilizing or provocative actions,” they stated. Otherwise, there will be a “rapid, united and robust international response.”
If the debate was clearly dominated by the Russia-Ukraine war and Beijing’s ambitions in the South China Sea, the G7 ministers also addressed several other global political issues and crises, such as Sudan and Afghanistan.
“We urge all parties to immediately end the violence, defuse tensions and restore civilian rule in Sudan,” according to the same statement.
Clashes between the Sudanese regular army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and the paramilitary forces of former ally General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, known as “Hemedti”, have already caused at least 185 deaths and 1,800 wounded since Saturday, the UN said.
On the other hand, the heads of G7 diplomacy demanded “an immediate end” to the “unacceptable ban” on Afghan women working for non-governmental organizations and the United Nations, announced this month by the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
They also condemned the “systematic violations of the human rights of women and girls and discrimination against members of religious and ethnic minorities” by the Taliban authorities.
Japan was the host country for the two-day meeting as it holds the rotating presidency of the G7, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union also participates in the G7.
This ministerial meeting should prepare for a summit of G7 leaders, in May, in Hiroshima.
Source: TSF
