G7 foreign ministers demand Russia withdrawal from Ukraine, China siege on Taiwan
The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations have issued a joint statement calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and expressing strong opposition to China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force and coercion.
The G7 foreign ministers wrapped up a three-day meeting in the central Japanese town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture on Tuesday morning.
The statement condemns Russia and calls for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all of its troops from Ukraine.
It also says the G7 continues to support Ukraine and calls on third-party countries to stop supplying weapons to Russia.
The statement also addresses China. It expresses serious concerns over the situations in the East China and South China seas and stresses the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Japan’s foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa told reporters the ministers confirmed for the first time in document form that the G7 would oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo anywhere in the world.
“We also confirmed our involvement in a free and open international order based on the rule of law, which Japan places importance on,” Hayashi said.
Meanwhile, Russia and China are apparently keen to demonstrate the strength of their ties to counter pressure from the United States and other nations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu in Moscow on Sunday.
Putin hailed the two countries’ military cooperation. He said Russia and China regularly exchange useful information, work together in the field of military technology, and hold joint sea, land, and air exercises in the Far East and Europe.
Russia’s state-run news agency reported that Li responded by saying the countries’ relations “outperform the military-political unions of the Cold War era.”
Russian forces fighting in Ukraine reportedly face an arms shortage, but Western countries are concerned China may decide to start supplying them with weapons.
