China hits back at G-7 statement on disputed seas

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING

China has criticized a statement by foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G-7) that expressed strong opposition to “intimidating, coercive or provocative unilateral actions” in disputed regions of the East and South China seas.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang expressed “strong dissatisfaction” Tuesday with the remarks, calling on “G-7 member states to honor their commitment of not taking sides on issues involving territorial disputes”.

The response comes one day after the top diplomats of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a statement in Hiroshima underlining the “fundamental importance of peaceful management and settlement of disputes”.

China considers most of the resource-rich South China Sea as its territory, and has contesting claims with Japan over the Senkaku Islands -- which Beijing calls the Diaoyu -- in the East China Sea.

Beijing’s reclamation work in the southern sea, which includes the building of airfields on some of the disputed islands, has prompted the U.S. and its allies -- including Japan -- to express alarm over the maritime expansion, which they suspect is aimed at extending its military reach.

The G-7 statement had warned against unilateral moves that “could alter the status quo and increase tensions” in the Asian seas, calling on all states “to refrain from such actions as land reclamations including large scale ones, building of outposts, as well as their use for military purposes.”

The foreign ministers underlined the need to act in accordance with “international law including the principles of freedoms of navigation and overflight”.

Lu responded Tuesday by calling on G-7 states to "stop making irresponsible remarks and all irresponsible actions, and truly play a constructive role for regional peace and stability."

He stressed Beijing remains “consistent and clear” in its stance on the seas, upholding “its sovereignty” to build on disputed islands and reefs and insisting that “there is no problem with freedom of navigation and overflight” in the regions.

Last year, Beijing criticized the U.S. for “provocative” behavior after two of its warships sailed close to Chinese claimed features in the South China Sea in “freedom-of-navigation operations”.

The sea is a critical asset for global shipping and fishing, as it sees over $5 trillion in maritime trade every year.