The G7 members called on China to act in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular RelationsThe G7 members reiterated that China has a responsibility to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They remained seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. They strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion,” the statement readIt added, “They reemphasized the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirmed that UNCLOS sets out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas. They reiterated that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea and opposed China’s militarization and other provocative activities in the region
The G7 members also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The members called peace across Taiwan, indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issuesHowever, the G7 members further reiterated that there is no change in the “basic position of the G7 members on Taiwan”, including stated ‘One China’ policies. They also reiterated their support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizationsThe G7 members called on China to press Russia to stop its military aggression, and immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. They welcomed China’s participation in the Ukraine-led meeting in Jeddah and further encouraged China to support a just and lasting peace, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine,” the statement added
The G7 members also expressed concern about the human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang and TibetThey also called on China to honour its commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, which enshrine rights, freedoms, and a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong,” it addedwever, the G7 members also reaffirmed the importance of engaging candidly with China and expressing their concerns directly to it, acknowledging the need to work together with China on global challenges as well as areas of common interest. The members continue to be prepared to build constructive and stable relations with China.The G7 members called on China to engage with them, including in international fora, on areas such as the climate, biodiversity crises, vulnerable countries’ debt sustainability and financing needs, global health, and macroeconomic stability
The G-7 joint statement comes in the wake of French President Emmanual Macron’s remarks during his recent visit to China where he said that Europe should not become a “follower” of either Beijing or Washington and avoid getting involved in any conflict between the two countries over Taiwanhe Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers on Tuesday declared that peace and stability were an “indispensable element” of global security, while reiterating their call to China to behave responsibly as a member of the international community. In a joint statement issued after a three-day meeting at Karuizawa in central Japan, the foreign ministers emphasized “there is no change in the basic positions of the G-7 members on Taiwan
Expressing concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas the ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union, opposed China’s “militarization activities” in the region. The G-7 joint statement comes in the wake of French President Emmanual Macron’s remarks during his recent visit to China where he said that Europe should not become a “follower” of either Beijing or Washington and avoid getting involved in any conflict between the two countries over TaiwanThe comminique issued by the G-17 ministers after the meeting in Japan read, “We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.
There is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and we oppose China’s militarization activities in the region.” “We emphasize the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirm UNCLOS’ important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas,” the statement addedThe G7 reiterated the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, as a significant milestone. According to the US State Department, the Arbitral Tribunal was constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and delivered a unanimous and enduring decision firmly rejecting the PRC’s expansive South China Sea maritime claims as having no basis in international law.