HIROSHIMA: United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called China the “biggest challenge of our age”.
At the G7 summit in Hiroshima, he said China’s behaviour was increasingly “authoritarian” at home and “assertive” abroad.
He also said Ukraine must win the war against Russia and gain a lasting peace.
Today is the summit’s last day in Hiroshima, where leaders have discussed assisting Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, arrived on Saturday and took part in the crucial meetings on Sunday.
The US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan make up the G7. This year, eight other countries have been invited to the summit.
Sunak referred to the G7’s statement issued yesterday aimed at contesting economic coercion.
That communique didn’t name China, but Sunak directly named China.
“The UK completely aligns with our allies. This is all about derisking, not decoupling,” he said.
He referred to the weight of the combined G7 alliance to “prevent China from using economic coercion to interfere in the sovereign affairs of other countries”.
According to Sunak, the G7 was providing more tank and long-range missile assistance for Ukraine on the battlefield.
He asserts that Ukraine must win the war for a fair and long-lasting peace.
Sunak said President Zelensky’s presence was a “moment of historical significance”.
He said the picture of the G7 and “its allies standing shoulder to shoulder with President Zelensky conveys a strong message about their cohesion and resolve.”
“For as long as it takes, we will stand with Ukraine because their security is our security.”
