China has strongly rebuked accusations from the Group of 7 (G7) industrialized democracies, which claimed that China is jeopardising maritime security.
In response to a joint statement from G7 diplomats, China labelled the members as “arrogant, prejudiced, and malicious.
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Despite China’s typical diplomatic rhetoric, the response issued on Saturday was particularly harsh, though it did not threaten retaliation. The G7’s statement, which led to China’s fury, condemned China’s “illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions” that aim to unilaterally alter the regional status quo. It highlighted China’s land reclamations and construction of outposts for military purposes, which the G7 argued risked destabilising the region.
The G7 also reaffirmed its stance on Taiwan, emphasising the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for international security and prosperity. The Taiwan Strait is a vital waterway that separates China from Taiwan, the self-governing island republic China considers its own territory.
In its response, China, through its embassy in Canada, where the G7 meeting took place, accused the G7 of repeating “old rhetoric” and ignoring the facts and China’s position. The statement further condemned the G7 for “grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs” and “blatantly smearing China.”
China’s claims to the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in global trade flows annually, encompass almost the entire area. China has dismissed the claims of other countries in the region, including the Philippines, which is a U.S. treaty ally, and has even clashed with them over territorial disputes.
Although not a member of the G7, China closely monitors statements by international organisations and foreign nations, often responding sharply to criticism. China has rejected a U.N.-affiliated court’s ruling that invalidated most of its claims to the South China Sea and maintains its position on Taiwan, asserting that its claim is non-negotiable, even at the risk of using force.
China regularly sends ships and warplanes near Taiwan, operates military bases on artificial islands in the South China Sea, and recently conducted surprise live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand, without prior notification. Australia’s aviation authority learned of the exercises only 30 minutes before they began, not from Beijing but from a pilot in the area, forcing 49 commercial flights to change their routes.
The G7’s statement did not mention the live-fire drills, but it did express concern about efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and expand territorial claims through force and coercion, including in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, Red Sea, and Black Sea.
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China possesses the world’s largest navy, including three aircraft carriers and a fourth under construction. It also has a base in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, and continues to extend its military presence globally.