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Karuizawa, Japan (AP) — Top G7 Diplomats Wealthy democracies have vowed to put up a united front against China’s threat to Taiwan and Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, and will step up and implement tougher sanctions against Russia at the conclusion of Tuesday’s meeting. said it was committed to
The G-7 communiqué also contained strong language against North Korea carrying out an unprecedented missile test. But it was China’s growing assertiveness in Asia and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that marked his three-day summit, hosted by Japan at the hot spring resort.
“There can be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities, such as Russian attacks on civilians and critical civilian infrastructure,” the minister said.
“We remain committed to tightening, coordinating and fully enforcing sanctions against Russia,” the communiqué said, adding that it would support a self-defending Ukraine “as long as necessary.”
The foreign ministers’ communiqué, designed as a template to be used by world leaders at the G-7 summit in Hiroshima next month, includes language on Iran, Myanmar, Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation and other “serious threats.” It was
But there were two crises that stood out. China’s growing threat to Taiwan and its military actions around it., the autonomous democracy that Beijing claims as its own, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Russia’s current offensive has largely stalled, Ukraine prepares to counterattackbut there is widespread global concern about Russia’s leadership’s repeated threats to use tactical nuclear weapons.
“Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and threat of deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus is unacceptable,” the minister said.
The G-7 delegations from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the EU see their meeting in Karuizawa as a pivotal moment in the world’s response to the two crises of Russian and Chinese aggression. emphasized. This is seen as a challenge to the post-World War II rules-based international order. Global efforts to confront the issue at the United Nations have been hampered by China and Russia’s intransigence to the Security Council.
Leaders and foreign ministers of the G-7 countries, most recently France and Germany, recently completed visits to China, raising concerns after China recently sent planes and ships to simulate a siege of Taiwan. . Beijing is also rapidly adding nuclear warheads and taking its territorial claims in the South China Sea more forcefully, painting a scenario of imminent confrontation.
The G7 ministers said that peace and stability between China and Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait is “an essential element for security and prosperity in the international community” and called for “peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.”
As for Taiwan, “there is clear unanimity in the approach we are taking,” Secretary of State Anthony Brinken told reporters about a meeting with other cabinet ministers in Karuizawa.
“What I have heard is that there has been an amazing convergence of concerns related to (China) and what we are doing to address those concerns,” he said.
Talking about the deadlock in negotiations with China, Blinken said the U.S. is focused on keeping communication channels open, as agreed last year by President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Stated.
“I hope we can make progress, but that will require clarity on China’s own intentions,” said Mr. Blinken.
The communiqué also urged China to “refrain from threats, coercion, intimidation or the use of force. We continue to have serious concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas… China’s vast oceans in the South China Sea. The claims have no legal basis and we oppose China’s militarization activities in the region.”
Despite signs that the G-7 are divided over China, such as remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. officials in Karuizawa expressed common concerns among the G-7 about China’s actions. and a desire to continue a collaborative approach, he said in Karuizawa. We are working with Beijing even as countries face Chinese coercion and seek to undermine or circumvent international rules of trade and commerce.
Japan’s concerns about China are reflected in its move away from post-World War II self-defense-only doctrines, such as acquiring first-strike capabilities and cruise missiles.
“For the first time as the G-7, in a statement we expressed our commitment to a rules-based, free and open international order and our strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo anywhere in the world. Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.
He said Japan, as the only Asian G7 member, focused on the Indo-Pacific region.
Besides China, the main concern is North Korea, which has around 100 missiles since the beginning of last year, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that showed potential to reach the U.S. mainland and various short-range weapons that threaten the South. fired. Korea and Japan.
“We urge North Korea to refrain from further destabilizing or provocative actions, including further nuclear tests and launches using ballistic missile technology,” the communiqué said. It must be met with a strong and united international response, including further important steps for the UN Security Council to take.”
“As long as North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs exist, it is important that sanctions are fully and rigorously implemented by all countries and remain in place,” the minister said.
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Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.
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