G7 urges China to press Russia to end war in Ukraine

• The G7 group of wealthy democracies has issued a joint statement urging China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine and resolve territorial disputes peacefully.

• The statement emphasizes the desire for constructive relations with China and highlights the importance of engaging directly with China to express concerns.

• The G7 also expresses concerns about human rights in China and opposes China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea.

The Group of Seven (G7) wealthy democracies has issued a joint statement calling on China to utilize its influence over Russia to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and seek peaceful resolutions to territorial disputes.

The G7 leaders emphasized their commitment to maintaining constructive and stable relations with China while expressing their concerns directly to the Chinese government.

The statement released on Saturday stated that China should exert pressure on Russia to immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

The G7 leaders also encouraged China to support a comprehensive and just peace based on territorial integrity, as well as engage in direct talks with Ukraine.

Acknowledging China’s global role and economic size, the G7 highlighted the importance of cooperation with China on various challenges, including climate change, biodiversity, debt and financing needs of vulnerable countries, global health concerns, and economic stability.

The G7 statement further expressed opposition to China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, emphasizing that there is no legal basis for such claims. The leaders voiced their disapproval of China’s militarization activities in the region and stated that a growing China adhering to international rules would be of global interest, alluding to concerns about Beijing’s impact on the rules-based international order.

The G7 leaders also raised concerns about human rights in China, including the situations in Tibet, Hong Kong, and the far western region of Xinjiang, where forced labor has been a longstanding issue.

However, the joint statement aimed to counter accusations that the G7 seeks to impede China’s rise as a global power. It clarified that their policy approaches are not intended to harm China or hinder its economic progress and development.

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The G7 emphasized the importance of economic resilience, which includes diversifying manufacturing supply chains and ensuring stable access to strategically vital resources, without unraveling trade ties with China.

While the G7 members pledged to take a stand against economic coercion and malign practices such as illegitimate technology transfer or data disclosure, they also stated their commitment to avoiding undue limitations on trade and investment.

In response to the G7’s statements on economic coercion and other issues, Chinese officials expressed outrage.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the G7 of smearing and attacking China, interfering in its internal affairs, and urged the G7 to reflect on their own history and human rights records.

Meanwhile, Taiwan expressed gratitude for the G7’s support, with President Tsai Ing-wen stating that Taiwan will stand alongside democracies and cooperate to defuse risks. She emphasized that cross-strait issues should be resolved peacefully and that war is not an option.

The G7 consists of Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, and the European Union.

The joint statement was released on the second day of the three-day summit, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also participating in planned meetings.

(Curled from AP NEWS)