In the statement of the summit, the seven major countries (G7) intensified their offensive against China, citing the crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-democracy forces, forced labor for residents of Xinjiang, and conflict with Taiwan.



This is the first time the G7 summit has criticized China head-on in its closing statement.



In a joint statement on the 13th (local time), the G7 leaders urged China to respect the human rights of Xinjiang residents and allow Hong Kong to be highly autonomous.



"We will promote our values ​​by urging China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang and to uphold Hong Kong's rights and freedoms and the high degree of autonomy guaranteed by the Hong Kong Return Agreement and the Hong Kong Basic Law," the statement said.



The G7 leaders also called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.



"We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas," the statement added. "We strongly oppose unilateral actions that alter the status of the South China Sea and escalate tensions."



In addition, the G7 leaders said they will continue to discuss the issue of a collective approach to respond to China's non-market policies and practices that impede the fair and transparent operation of the global economy.



The joint statement also included a request for a re-examination of the origin of COVID-19.



A high-ranking U.S. government official told Reuters, stressing the changed atmosphere regarding China, saying, "In the 2018 G7 summit joint statement, one paragraph was allotted to North Korea and Russia, but China was not even explicitly mentioned." Regarding China, we could not reach an agreement on anything."



China has strongly criticized the G7's moves aimed at it.



Earlier, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the UK said on its website the day before, "The time for a small group of countries to dictate global decisions is long gone." "It is pseudo-multilateralism for the benefit of a small group or political block." 



(Photo = Getty Images Korea)