Leaders of the G7 warned China against engaging in “militarization activities” in the Asia-Pacific area, but they also said that they want to maintain “constructive and stable relations” with Beijing.
The nations expressed a number of worries about China’s military and economic operations in a final communiqué that was released on Saturday as they arrived in Hiroshima for the G7 meeting.
The leaders also urged Beijing to “press Russia to stop its military aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukraine immediately, completely, and unconditionally.”
The world’s second-largest economy, the group of main Western nations, as well as Japan, were urged to cooperate while also avoiding any escalation in tensions by the leaders. We recognize the necessity of interacting frankly with and immediately voicing our concerns to China, and we stand ready to develop positive and stable ties with China, the group said.
The statement went on to say that the G7 nations are not “decoupling or turning inwards” and that neither their policy approaches nor their desire to obstruct China’s economic growth and advancement.
However, the communique’s wording made plain the bloc’s broad worries about Beijing’s inclination to use trade sanctions in diplomatic disputes and the G7’s resolve to disentangle delicate supply lines with Chinese influence.
The communiqué promised to “reduce excessive dependencies in our critical supply chains” and emphasized that “de-risking and diversification are necessary for economic resilience.”
The leaders of the bloc warned against China’s “militarization” of the South China Sea and reaffirmed the “indispensability” of “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait to international security.
WATCH | G7: Modi and Zelensky will engage in person for the first time since the Russian invasion in Hiroshima
G7 demands that Russia’s military aggressiveness halt
The leaders also urged China to utilize its clout to put pressure on Russia, China’s strategic ally, to “stop its military aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine.”
The leaders pledged unwavering support for Ukraine in the statement after the continued conflict. In response to Russia’s unlawful war of aggression, the communiqué said, “We are taking concrete steps to support Ukraine for as long as it takes and to strengthen disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, towards the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all.”
“We once more denounce with the utmost vehemence Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which represents a grave breach of international law, including the UN Charter,” the statement said.