China Accuses G7 Of ‘Malicious Defamation’
Following the G7’s criticism of China, Beijing accused these countries of “malicious defamation”. They should “give up thinking like in the Cold War” and not “contemptuously dictate the behavior of other states”.
China reacted with strong criticism to the decisions taken at the meeting of foreign ministers of the group of economically strong democracies (G7) in Japan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news conference in Beijing that the G7 countries had “severely interfered in China’s internal affairs, maliciously slandered and denigrated China”.
“The statements were full of arrogance, prejudice and bad intentions to suppress China.” His country had protested against G7 host Japan, the spokesman said. According to him, Taiwan is an “inalienable part” of the People’s Republic of China. To truly maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it is necessary to reject the island’s independence aspirations, he added.
“Stop Cold War Thinking”
Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang province are also only China’s “internal affairs” that do not allow any outside interference, Wang said. The current situation in the East and South China Seas is generally stable, he added. China respects the UN Charter and the basic norms of international law, he said. G7 countries should “give up Cold War thinking and ideological prejudices,” Wang said. Nor should they “dictate their behavior to other countries”.
Regarding the G7’s concerns about the expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal, Wang said China only possesses a “minimum number of nuclear weapons necessary for national security.” China is the only nuclear power that has pledged not to be the first to use nuclear weapons. The US has the largest arsenal, the spokesman said.
Condemnation of China’s military activities in the region
Earlier, the G7 countries had called on China to respect international rules. “We remind China of the need to adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and to refrain from using threats, coercion, intimidation or the use of force,” said the final statement of the meeting in Karuizawa, Japan.
The Foreign Ministers clearly criticized Chinese actions in the South China Sea. “There is no legal basis for China’s expansionist maritime claims in the South China Sea, and we condemn China’s militarizing activities in the region,” they said in the document. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after the meeting that a clear agreement had been reached, especially regarding Taiwan and China.
Concern over China’s nuclear arsenal
According to the statement, the G7 was also concerned about “the continued and accelerating expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal and the development of increasingly sophisticated delivery systems.” China was urged to “immediately begin discussions with the US on reducing strategic risks and promoting stability through greater transparency of China’s nuclear policy, plans and capabilities.” The U.S. attaches great importance to maintaining communication with China — despite the recent deadlock in talks, Blinken said. However, Beijing needs to reveal its intentions.
The G7 also took a stand on the human rights situation in China. Concern was expressed about human rights violations in Tibet and the western province of Xinjiang. China’s central government has long been accused of systematically oppressing Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang.
Despite the criticism, the G7 countries want to cooperate with China on global challenges such as climate change. They are willing to establish “constructive and sustainable relations through dialogue and promote global economic recovery and people-to-people exchanges in a mutually beneficial manner,” the statement said.
Preparations for the G7 summit in Hiroshima
The Group of Seven economically strong countries include, in addition to Germany and Japan, France, Italy, Canada, the United States and Great Britain. Japan currently holds the presidency. The meeting in the seaside resort of Karuizawa also served as preparation for the G7 summit of heads of state and government to be held in May in Hiroshima, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also go.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed satisfaction with the results of the G7 meeting. It was “a great success” because it “confirmed our strong opposition to efforts to change the status quo,” Hayashi said, against the backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine and China’s will for power.
