HIROSHIMA: G7 leaders concluded their summit in Hiroshima on Saturday, issuing a final communique that highlighted concerns over China’s “militarisation activities” in the Asia-Pacific region.
While expressing a desire for “constructive and stable relations” with Beijing, the bloc also raised a range of economic and military issues.
The communique emphasized the importance of engaging with China openly and directly, while reaffirming that the G7’s policy approaches are not intended to harm China or impede its economic progress.
However, the statement underscored the bloc’s apprehensions about China’s use of trade measures in diplomatic disputes and emphasized the G7’s determination to reduce dependency on Chinese influence in critical supply chains.
G7 pledges to diversify supply chains
To enhance economic resilience, the G7 pledged to de-risk and diversify supply chains, aiming to reduce excessive dependencies. The leaders also expressed concerns about China’s “militarisation” in the South China Sea and reiterated the crucial role of maintaining “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait for global security.
Furthermore, the G7 urged China to leverage its influence with Russia to address the ongoing military aggression in Ukraine. The bloc called for an immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from the region.
The G7’s communique highlighted both the willingness to engage with China and the necessity to address various issues of concern, including trade, military activities, and regional stability.
The bloc sought to strike a delicate balance by emphasizing the importance of constructive relations while expressing clear expectations for responsible behavior from Beijing.
