G7 opposes militarization of the East Sea, China is angry

G7 leaders strongly oppose any unilateral activities that increase tensions in the East Sea, angering China.

Subi Reef, part of Vietnam’s Spratly Islands, was illegally reclaimed by China into an artificial island and built a runway on it. This image was taken by a Philippine Air Force plane in April. Photo: AP

"We urge all parties to demilitarize disputed entities," G7 leaders issued a joint statement yesterday after meeting in Italy, expressing concern about the situation in the East Sea and East China Sea, and strongly opposing any unilateral activities that could increase tensions.

The countries also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a rules-based order at sea, in accordance with the principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to resolving maritime disputes through diplomatic and legal means, including arbitration.

Lu Kang, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said early this morning that China is committed to "safeguarding peace and stability" in the South China Sea and the East China Sea through dialogue and direct consultation with relevant parties, according to Xinhua. Mr. Lu also blatantly called on the G7 and outside countries to "stop making irresponsible statements."

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, overlapping with the waters of neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines. China has also illegally turned seven reefs in Vietnam's Spratly Islands into artificial islands and built three military-grade runways, even though President Xi Jinping declared in 2015 that it would not continue to "militarize" them.

Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that all construction and expansion activities by foreign countries on the rocky islands and shoals in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos without permission from the Vietnamese government are illegal and worthless.

According to VNE