China hits back at G-7 over disputed seas

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 […]

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.