The Group of Seven (G7) leaders from different parts of the world released a very strong message against China over territory in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The world’s most advanced democracies and members of the G7 nations, shows concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas, and emphasize the fundamental importance of peaceful management and settlement of disputes.
The G7 Summit in Japan was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Commission Pres. Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk.
According to the G7 Summit Leaders, claims in the East and South China Seas should be made based on international law and countries should refrain from “unilateral actions that could increase tensions,”while also avoiding “force or coercion in trying to drive their claims.”
G7 Leaders also stressed that judicial means, “including arbitration,” should be used by concerned parties in the hotly disputed South and East China Sea.
The call of the G7 member economies came ahead of a ruling expected within weeks on China’s claim brought by the Philippines to the United Nationsl Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, despite the fact that the more powerful Chinese government does not recognize the case.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also stressed the importance of the rule of law and mentioned the Philippine case as a focal point. Before Friday’s declaration, the G7 leaders said they should pay close attention to the Philippine case, with some of them stating they should “raise their voice on this,” if necessary.
