G7 hits China's coercive actions in SCS

Foreign ministers from the world's leading industrialized nations have voiced their strong opposition to China's attempts to restrict freedom of navigation through militarization and coercive activities in the South China Sea.

- By PIA LEE-BRAGO

The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the high representative of the European Union (EU) reiterated their commitment to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region, based on respect for the rule of law and sovereignty.

In a statement issued on Saturday after their meeting at the Munich Security Conference, the G7 foreign ministers "strongly opposed any attempts to change unilaterally the status quo using force and underscored the importance of resolving disputes peacefully."

In November, the G7 foreign ministers expressed deep concern over China's increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels, denouncing its repeated obstruction of countries' freedom of navigation and overflight.