G7 ministers issue call to China over human rights
Foreign ministers from the G7 group of industrialised nations have called on China to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms" following their first face-to-face meeting in over two years.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his counterparts from the US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and the EU met for a two-day summit hosted in London, where security challenges and the pandemic were on the agenda. Prime Minister Boris Johnson denied the meeting was a mistake after India's foreign minister was forced to pull out of attending in person after two positive coronavirus cases were detected in the country's travelling delegation. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar participated virtually in the event, where India had been invited as a guest, after coming into contact with the suspected cases, although he has not tested positive. In a lengthy communique issued after the two-day summit,foreignministerssaidthey would continue to "look for opportunities" to work with China in efforts of promoting "regional and global peace, security and prosperity". However, the ministers condemned "human rights violations" in Xinjiang and Tibet, especially the targeting of Uighur people, as well as China's "arbitrary, coercive economic policies". "In line with its obligations under international and national law, we call on China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms," the joint statement said. "We continue to be deeply concerned about human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and in Tibet, especially the targeting of Uighurs, members of other ethnic and religious minority groups, and the existence of a large-scale network of 'political re-education' camps, and reports of forced labour systems and forced sterilisation. "We agree the importance of tackling instances of forced labour through our own available domestic means, including through raising awareness and providing advice and support for our business communities. The foreign ministers also expressed concerns about Russia's "irresponsible and destabilising behaviour", including the build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraine's borders and in Crimea.