China presses Japan to keep South China Sea row off G7 agenda

[William Hung]

China presses Japan to keep S China Sea row off G7 agenda | TODAYonline

TOKYO — China has pressed Japan not to broach Beijing’s disputes with regional neighbours in the South China Sea at the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit, to be held in Japan in May, arguing that touching on the issue would hamper efforts to improve bilateral relations, said diplomatic sources over the weekend.

China pressed the point to Japan at a vice-foreign ministerial gathering held in Tokyo in late February, the sources told Kyodo News. But Japan rebuffed the Chinese demand, saying the international community cannot accept China’s building of artificial islands in the sea and their militarisation, they said.

China is embroiled in overlapping territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea with Taiwan and four members of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is eager to clearly state the importance of the rule of law in the G7 leaders’ declaration after securing unity over the South China Sea issue at the G7 Foreign ministers’ meeting taking place in Hiroshima in April.

If Japan does raise the issue at the summit, Chinese ire could cast a pall over budding signs of improvement in bilateral ties marred by a territorial spat surrounding islands in the East China Sea.

The Chinese diplomat went on to warn that how Japan approaches the issue at the G7 summit will be a litmus test of whether bilateral ties can be improved and that China will be watching closely, said the sources.

 

[MarkusS]

I dont get this. I heared our italian ambassador was summoned in china because we and all other G7 nation said this must be solved peacefully. why is china angry about this?

 

[ForgetfulUsername]

I don't see how SCS discussion is irrelevant for the G7 , the SCS is the center topic of trade with japan. Most of the trade routs reaching her is through it .

 

[Rechoice]

Free navigation and aviation is important for all people in the world including G7, not to Japan only.

 

[cirr]

In the meanwhile, China has quietly begun land reclaimation at Ganquan Island in the Spratlys....

 

[William Hung]

I dont get this. I heared our italian ambassador was summoned in china because we and all other G7 nation said this must be solved peacefully. why is china angry about this?

I thought G7 summit will only begin in May, the G7 leaders have met already?

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

How relevant of what G7 said when G2 get used to negotiate this world amount themselves under the table.

 

[xunzi]

The G7 is the modern form of the 8-nation alliance, a modern imperialist trying to protect each other interest. We have dealt with them before. This time, we are more than ready to protect our sovereign rights.