G7 ministers say China's moves east of Taiwan threaten regional stability
Beijing accused the Group of Seven of Cold War thinking after its foreign ministers criticised Chinese coast guard patrols off Taiwan's east coast.
Group of Seven foreign ministers have said China's increasingly assertive activities in the waters east of Taiwan "threaten regional stability, freedom of navigation and the safety of international shipping". The Straits Times and The Hindu reported that the ministers issued the joint declaration late on November 11 after talks in Paris.
"We reaffirmed our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, particularly by force or coercion, or the threat thereof," the statement said. According to The Hindu, the ministers also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The United States, Britain, France and Germany had each raised concerns about Chinese activity off Taiwan's east coast before. The Straits Times, carrying a Reuters report, called the G7 statement the strongest unified expression of concern about that activity so far.
China has stepped up its presence off the island's east coast since June with regular coast guard patrols. Taiwanese officials say they believe Beijing is practising for a possible maritime blockade using overlapping military, paramilitary and civilian assets. After the latest China Coast Guard patrol in October, Taipei accused China of harassing shipping and trying to exert a fictional jurisdiction. Taiwan regards the waters as critical to wartime supply routes from allies in the event of a blockade or conflict.
The two outlets differ on Beijing's response. The Hindu reported that China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Straits Times reported that the ministry said on November 12 that the statement "disregards objective facts... crudely interferes in China's internal affairs, and maliciously slanders and smears China". Spokesperson Mao Ning said it "once again proves that the G-7 is an ideological clique clinging to Cold War mentality and engaging in bloc politics".
Taiwan's presidential office welcomed the statement, The Straits Times reported. The office described peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific as core issues for global security and prosperity. Spokeswoman Karen Kuo said Taiwan would keep strengthening its self-defence capabilities and work closely with like-minded partners, including G7 members.
China views Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control, though it says it would prefer "peaceful reunification". Taipei rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. China's military operates around the island every day.
Taiwan's Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on November 10 that China was carrying out "area denial" drills in the Western Pacific involving one of its aircraft carriers and other naval formations. He made the comments after a reported rise in Chinese activity.
Sources: The Straits Times, G-7 foreign ministers say China’s actions east of Taiwan threaten stability; The Hindu, G7 Foreign Ministers say China's actions east of Taiwan threaten stability.
