Q: It is reported that the G7 Hiroshima Summit issued a joint statement and other documents hyping up China-related issues, making vain remarks about the situation in the Taiwan Strait, making irresponsible remarks about issues related to the East China Sea, the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, and China's nuclear forces, saying that it opposes unilateral changes to the status quo and alludes to China with so-called "economic coercion". What is China's comment on this?
A: The G7 rhetoric of "towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous world" is doing things that hinder international peace, undermine regional stability and suppress the development of other countries. In spite of China's serious concerns, the G7 insists on manipulating China-related issues, smearing and attacking China, and grossly interfering in China's internal affairs.
Taiwan is the Taiwan of China. Resolving the Taiwan issue is Chinese its own affair, and it is up to the Chinese to decide. The one-China principle is the anchor for safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The G7 claims to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait but never mentions its opposition to "Taiwan independence", which is in fact a connivance and support for the "Taiwan independence" forces, and the result will only cause a serious impact on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. No one should underestimate the strong determination, firm will and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The affairs of Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet are purely China's internal affairs, and China firmly opposes any interference by any external forces in this area under the guise of "human rights." The G7 should stop pointing fingers at China on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, and deeply reflect on its own history and human rights abuses.
China is a staunch defender and builder of the international maritime rule of law. At present, the situation in the East and South China Seas remains stable on the whole, and relevant countries should earnestly respect the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability, and stop using sea-related issues to sow discord among regional countries and create camp confrontation.
With regard to the so-called "economic coercion", the United States has vigorously pursued unilateral sanctions and "decoupling and breaking the chain", and it is the real "coercion" that politicizes and weaponizes economic and trade relations. We advise the G7 not to be complicit and accomplice in economic coercion.
China has always firmly pursued a nuclear strategy of self-defence, adhered to the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, and always maintained its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security. China is the only one of the five nuclear-weapon States that has made such a commitment. China's position is upright and frank, and cannot be distorted or smeared.
I would like to stress that as a responsible major country, China firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The international community does not accept the "Western rules" led by the G7 and drawn by ideology and values, let alone the "small circle rules" that serve the vested interests of "America first" and a few countries. The G7 should reflect on itself and change course.
I would also like to point out that the era of wanton interference in the internal affairs of other countries and manipulation of global affairs by a few developed countries in the West is over. We urge the G7 members to adapt to the general trend of the times, focus their energies on solving their own problems, stop engaging in closed and exclusive "small circles", stop curbing and suppressing other countries, stop creating and provoking camp confrontation, and return to the correct path of dialogue and cooperation. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs website)