China tells G7 nations, “stop making irresponsible remarks”
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, April 12, 2016: A statement released by the foreign ministers of Group of Seven nations (G7) on maritime territorial disputes after a meeting in Hiroshima, Japan has angered China which said, “Stop making irresponsible remarks”.
After the two-day meeting held over April 10-11, the ministers on Monday said they don’t approve “any intimidating coercive or provocative unilateral actions” as it will increase tension.
China’s claim on all of the South China Sea as well as the areas of the East China Sea has put it at loggerheads with the neighboring countries.
Furthermore, China has been reclaiming land as well. Based on the satellite images of reclamation, the experts are of the view that China may be militarizing the islands they are creating or expanding with ease.
Although the foreign ministers of the G7 nations, which consists of the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, didn’t make a direct mention of China in their statement, they appealed to all states to “refrain from land reclamations” and constructing outposts “for military purposes” that could bring instability or change the status quo.
The foreign ministers further added that disputes should be dealt “in good faith and in accordance with international law,” but China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang recapitulated and claimed china’s legitimacy to the territory and urged the foreign ministers to “stop making irresponsible remarks and all irresponsible actions, and truly play a constructive role for regional peace and stability”.
The 42nd G7 summit will be held over May 26-27 at the Shima Kanko Hotel in Kashiko Island, Shima, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
