The G7 group comprising the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan plus the European Union have expressed to China their desire to maintain a «constructive» relationship to resolve frictions over open crises over the status of Taiwan, abuses of minorities in Xinjiang or allegations of anti-democratic repression in the territory of Hong Kong.
In a communiqué at the end of the meeting held by the G7 ministers in the German city of Muenster, the members of the world’s seven leading economies reached out to Beijing «wherever possible and in their mutual interest, in particular with regard to global challenges to peace and security, health or the climate crisis».
«These challenges can only be successfully resolved through cooperation within the rules based on the international order,» the final communiqué of the meeting adds.
On the crisis in Taiwan and China’s sovereignty claims, the G7 reiterates its basic pro-island stance and reaffirms «the importance of peace and stability» across the strait. «We oppose any unilateral attempts to change the ‘status quo’ through force,» it has indicated.
The G7 also reiterated its commitment to continue to state its concerns to China about reports of human rights violations against minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as the «continued erosion of Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and autonomy.»
«We remind China of the need to uphold the principles of the UN Charter on the peaceful settlement of disputes and to refrain from threats, coercion, intimidation or use of force,» the group states before once again calling on the Beijing government to «act in accordance with its international commitments and legal obligations.»
