Beijing highlights discrepancies between G7 statements and actions

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 May 2023 22:57

Following the release of a joint communique that emerged from the G7 leaders' summit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the era of Western manipulation and interference in the affairs of sovereign nations is over.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin speaks during a regular press conference in Beijing, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (AP)

In a joint communique published on Saturday, the G7 leaders restated their intention to continue to offer Kiev "unwavering support" and called China to push Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

The statement noted, "We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes to bring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace."

The G7 countries announced that they have been committed to "intensifying our diplomatic, financial, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, to increasing the costs to Russia and those supporting its war efforts, and to continuing to counter the negative impacts of the war on the rest of the world, particularly on the most vulnerable people."

Furthermore, the leaders urged China to "press Russia to stop its military aggression, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine."

Moreover, the statement highlighted concerns about Taiwan, the South China Sea, China's "non-market policies and practices" and the human rights situation.

In turn, Beijing expressed strong protest over the statements of the G7 communique in what related to China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that "regardless of China's serious concerns, the Group of Seven insists on manipulating China-related issues, smearing and attacking China, and violently interfering in China's internal affairs."

Additionally, the Foreign Ministry noted that "China has expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this, and has made serious representations to the summit organizer, Japan, and other relevant parties."

Significantly Beijing also underscored the contradictions between statements made by the G7 and their actions when it came to peace and stability, which the Foreign Ministry said were "hindering international peace, damaging regional stability and suppressing the development of other countries."

"The G7 keeps claiming to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait, but never mentions its opposition to 'Taiwan independence.' No one should underestimate the strong determination, firm will and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," the ministry stressed.

Additionally, Beijing argued that the era "when a few developed countries in the West wantonly interfered in the internal affairs of other countries and manipulated global affairs" has passed and called on the G7 to "focus on solving their own problems, stop forming closed and exclusive 'cohorts,' stop containing and oppressing other countries, stop creating and provoking confrontation between camps, and return to dialogue and cooperation."