Foreign ministers of the G7
nations have condemned China's actions that have posed risks to regional
stability, while expressing concern over efforts to restrict freedom of
navigation and overflight through "force" and "coercion" in
the South China Sea.
This was conveyed on Friday in
the Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity by G7 foreign ministers
following their meeting in La Malbaie, Canada this week.
"We condemn China's illicit,
provocative, coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to alter the
status quo in such a way as to risk undermining the stability of regions,
including through land reclamations, and building of outposts, as well as their
use for military purpose," the declaration read.
It added, "We oppose
unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or
coercion including in the East and South China Seas."
The ministers highlighted the
importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, which have been areas
of concern for the Philippines amid its territorial dispute with China.
Aside from past incidents of
water cannon attacks in the West Philippine Sea, tensions between the two
countries have also reached the skies. One such incident happened last
February, when a Chinese helicopter flew as close as three meters above and on
the side of an aircraft of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
over Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.
"We condemn, as well, dangerous
vessel maneuvers, the indiscriminate attacks against commercial vessels and
other maritime actions that undermine maritime order based on the rule of law
and international law," the ministers said.
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