KARUIZAWA, Japan (AP) — Top diplomats from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies vowed a tough stance on China’s increasing threats to Taiwan and on North Korea’s unchecked tests of long-range missiles, while building momentum on ways to boost support for Ukraine and punish Russia for its invasion.
Russia’s war in Ukraine consumed much of the agenda Monday for the envoys gathered in this Japanese hot spring resort town for talks meant to pave the way for action by G-7 leaders when they meet next month in Hiroshima.
Mr. Blinken was scheduled to visit Beijing in February, but it has not yet been postponed due to an incident in which a Chinese spy balloon flew over the United States.
Blinken briefly met with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Forum, but high-level contacts between Washington and Beijing became rare. The U.S. official said he would gain insight into his interactions with the Chinese.
Despite allegations that the G-7 is divided over China, including comments by French President Emmanuel Macron, the official said concerns were shared among his G-7 nations about China’s actions. said there is. The official added that the foreign ministers would discuss how to proceed with coordinated action against China. Another senior State Department official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity about the closed-door meeting, said the G7 released a communiqué on Tuesday in which the G7’s strong consensus on Russia’s war in Iraq would be made clear to Ukraine and China. . In the wider Indo-Pacific, and North Korea in particular, we need to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and improve relations with the Pacific island nations.
Official signs that cracks are forming across China have been downplayed. G-7 members want to work with China on common issues, officials said, but they “rebel” against China’s coercion and attempts to undermine or circumvent international rules governing trade and commerce. “will do.
In a number of recent diplomatic talks with Chinese officials, G-7 members told Beijing that the shipment of arms to Russia for use in Ukraine was as serious as any attempt to change the status quo in Taiwan. The official said European member states had a better understanding of how the current “turmoil” would affect their interests, especially the economy. North Korea is also an important area of interest for Japan and other neighboring countries in the region.
Since last year, North Korea has tested about 100 missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile that has shown potential to reach the U.S. mainland, and various short-range weapons that threaten South Korea and Japan.
“We express grave concern over North Korea’s launch of ballistic missiles at an unprecedented frequency and in an unprecedented manner, including last week’s launch,” said Foreign Minister Hayashi. I strongly condemned it,” he said.
