Beijing dismisses G7 ’s remarks

Nation ‘clear and consistent’ on regional sea issues, is ‘strongly dissatisfied’ with summit statement

Beijing expressed strong disapproval with the G7 Summit statement’s comments on the East and South China seas, and it has asked the group to “stop making irresponsible remarks”.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang expressed dissatisfaction with the leaders’ statement, which said they “remain concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas”. The two-day summit in southern Italy ended on Saturday.

“We are strongly dissatisfied at the G7 Summit gesticulating over the issues of the East and South China seas under the guise of international law,” Lu said in a statement issued on Sunday.

He said China’s position over the East and South China seas issues is “clear and consistent”. It has always been committed to properly managing and solving disputes through negotiations with countries directly involved, and to promoting cooperation with them in various fields, he said.

It is also committed to working with these countries to maintain peace and stability in the East and South China seas and freedom of navigation and overflight in these regions, as well as the safety of regional seaways, he said.

“We hope the G7 and countries outside the regions will clearly understand the situation, observe their promises of not taking positions on the disputes, fully respect regional countries’ efforts to manage disputes, stop making irresponsible remarks and play a constructive role for regional peace and stability.”

The G7 Summit, in Taormina, Sicily, drew the leaders of the seven most industrialized countries as well as of the European Union.

The seven countries are the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

Earlier in the week, the US Navy guided missile destroyer Dewey entered the waters adjacent to the islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands without the permission of the Chinese government.

China dispatched two missile frigates to identify and warn the US naval ship to leave, and it condemned the incursion, reiterating its “indisputable sovereignty” over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters.

Jia Duqiang, a Southeast Asian studies researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ National Institute of International Strategy, said the situation in the South China Sea has “cooled off greatly”, and China and ASEAN countries are working on a code of conduct in the region.

The remarks in the G7 statement reflect that some G7 members are intent on placing China in check by interfering in the East and South China seas, Jia said.