G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, "China Must Comply with International Norms and Legal Obligations"...Concerns over Human Rights Issues

Joint Statement Declares "Will Resist Chinese Practices"
Does Not Mention Specific Joint Sanction Measures
Explicit Support for Taiwan's WHO Participation... Chinese Backlash Expected

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] At the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting, the G7 ministers expressed concern in a joint statement about human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Tibet, as well as the decline of democracy in Hong Kong, urging China to comply with international norms and legal obligations regarding human rights. However, no specific new sanctions beyond the individual sanctions currently imposed by G7 countries on China were announced. The statement also explicitly supported Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO), which is expected to provoke China's backlash.

According to foreign media including the AP on the 5th (local time), the G7 foreign and development ministers, concluding their meeting that began the previous day, stated in a joint communiqu?, "We express deep concern about the human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang Uygur and Tibet, as well as the regression of democracy in Hong Kong," and "We repeatedly urge China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to comply with international norms and legal obligations."

They continued, "Pointing out China's practices that undermine a free and fair international economic system, we will work together to strengthen global economic resilience against unilateral and coercive economic policies and practices." They also jointly urged China to act responsibly in cyberspace, including refraining from intellectual property theft. The statement explicitly supported Taiwan's participation in the WHO Forum and the World Health Assembly (WHA).

Additionally, the communiqu? included, "Addressing global issues such as climate change and biodiversity, promoting economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, and supporting pandemic eradication efforts align with the interests of China as well as all of us," and "We look forward to opportunities to cooperate with China for regional and global peace, security, and prosperity."

However, the anticipated specific additional sanctions against China by G7 countries were not included in the joint statement. According to the UK's Guardian, European countries with significant trade dependence on China and Japan, concerned about China's trade retaliation, prevented the inclusion of concrete sanction measures. Nevertheless, the joint statement already mentioned sensitive issues for China such as human rights in Xinjiang Uygur, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as the 'One China' policy, which is expected to provoke a response from China.

Led by the UK as the chair country this year, the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting held in London from the 4th focused on China from the start. The UK criticized China for severe human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, including forced labor and forced sterilization. The US criticized China's Belt and Road Initiative (land and maritime Silk Road) projects in Africa and emphasized the need for G7 countries' infrastructure support programs in Africa to respond to these projects.