G-7 hammers China over Russia ties, 'harmful' trade practices

Bloc also takes aim at dangerous’ incursions by Beijing in contested South China Sea

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Group of Seven (G-7) leaders meeting in Italy on June 14 hardened their tone against China, warning Beijing to stop sending weapons components to Russia and to play by the rules on trade, according to a draft summit statement.

China has been a key focus of the G-7 talks in Puglia, amid souring trade relations between Beijing and the West and concerns that its supplies of equipment to Moscow are fuelling Russia's war in Ukraine.

"We call on China to cease the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, that are inputs for Russia's defence sector," according to a draft statement seen by AFP.

The G-7 also took aim at what it called "dangerous" incursions by China in the contested South China Sea, where worries of a military escalation between Beijing and its neighbours are rising.

"We oppose China's militarisation, and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea," the statement read, using stronger language than at last year's summit in Japan.

After a first day dominated by Ukraine, US President Joe Biden and the leaders of Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Britain and host country Italy turned their focus to the world's second-largest economy, a superpower whose oversized influence on geopolitics and global trade cannot be underestimated.

"G-7 countries are on the same page vis-a-vis China," a Japanese government source told AFP.