“demonstrate determination”
G7 want to put China in its place
04/17/2023, 06:50 am
China is also trying to expand its power in the Indo-Pacific militarily. At their meeting in Karuizawa, Japan, the G7 want to position themselves clearly against Beijing’s ambitions. However, the Japanese foreign minister also makes it clear that despite all the tensions, one must come to terms with China.
The G7 group of economically strong democracies has warned against any attempt to violently change the international order in view of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and China’s increasing thirst for power. “We will reject any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through violence,” Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said at the start of the G7 foreign ministers’ deliberations on the situation in the Indo-Pacific. In the region, China is also trying to expand its position of power militarily.
Hayashi said at the meeting in central Japan’s Karuizawa that “the world will demonstrate the firm determination of the G7 to uphold the international order based on the rule of law”. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is taking part in the talks in the holiday resort, which is 175 kilometers from the capital Tokyo, and will last until Tuesday. In addition to Germany and Japan, the G7 group also includes France, Italy, Canada, the USA and Great Britain. Japan currently holds the G7 presidency.
At the start of the meeting on Sunday evening, Hayashi said that in order to tackle global challenges, it was important to build “constructive and stable” relations with China. According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the G7 ministers emphasized that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is an “indispensable element for the security and prosperity of the international community”. China views Taiwan as a breakaway territory to be reunited with the mainland, if necessary using military force.
Baerbock for rapid USA-China meeting
Baerbock urges her US and Chinese colleagues Antony Blinken and Qin Gang to meet quickly. “In my view, it would be important for this meeting to take place in a timely manner,” she said in a switchover on the ZDF program “Berlin direct”. For Baerbock, the G7 meeting marks the end of a six-day trip to Asia that she began on Thursday. First she had visited China and then South Korea.
When asked about possible support for Taiwan by the G7 in the event of an escalation of the conflict with China, Baerbock said on ZDF: “For us, it’s about de-escalating. And that’s why speculating about ‘What if…’ is that Wrong. But you also have to make it clear that we would not tolerate a military escalation.” The G7 also discussed the importance of Sino-US dialogue formats, she added.
Blinken canceled a visit to China at short notice in early February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was discovered in US airspace. The incident put additional strain on the relationship. In addition to dealing with China, the G7 conference will also deal with the nuclear deal with Iran that is on hold and the dramatic situation of women’s rights in Afghanistan.