G7 takes aim at China

China may soon acquire the dubious distinction of being everyone’s foe. The G7 summit that concluded recently in Italy in the Leaders’ Communique mentions China specifically at least 8 times, the bulk of it in the context of the war in Ukraine and under the section entitled Indo-Pacific. Almost all references to China are condemnatory. It is now clear that for the G7, it is not merely Russia that is the sole adversary!

In the context of the war in Ukraine, the Leaders stated that they will continue taking measures against actors in China and third countries that materially support Russia’s war machine, including financial institutions, consistent with our legal systems, and other entities in China that facilitate Russia’s acquisition of items for its defence industrial base. This formulation is broad enough to allow almost any Chinese entity that is seen as contributing to the Russian “defence industrial base” to be caught in the net. The Leaders’ while expressing deep concern at China’s support to Russia, called on China to press Russia to stop its military aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

In the Indo-Pacific region, the G7 Leaders called on China to step up efforts to promote international peace and security, and to tackle the climate, biodiversity, and pollution crises, combat illicit synthetic drug trafficking, ensure global macroeconomic stability, support global health security, and address vulnerable countries’ debt sustainability and financing needs.

On international trade, the G7 leaders expressed concern about China’s persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices that are leading to global spill-overs, market distortions and harmful overcapacity in a growing range of sectors, undermining workers, industries, and economic resilience and security in the West.

The Leaders called on China to uphold its commitment to act responsibly in cyberspace. They undertook to continue efforts to disrupt and deter persistent, malicious cyber activity stemming from China, which threatens our citizens’ safety and privacy, undermines innovation, and puts our critical infrastructure at risk.

The Leaders expressed serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. They opposed China’s dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries’ high seas freedom of navigation. They also expressed serious concern about the increasing use of dangerous water cannons against Philippine vessels. In this regard, they reaffirmed that there was no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea and that they opposed China’s militarisation activities in this maritime region.

In what will doubtless be particularly galling to China, the G7 Leaders expressed concern at the human rights situation in China, including in Tibet and in Xinjiang where forced labour was a major concern. They also worried about China’s crackdown on Hong Kong’s autonomy, independent institutions and civil society and continued erosion of rights and freedom, including through the recent enactment of legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law that had broad and vaguely defined provisions regarding “sedition”, “state secrets,” and interactions with foreign entities. These developments, the G7 Leaders averred, will make it harder to live, work and do business in Hong Kong.

The G7 Leaders called on China not to conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of the Western communities and the integrity of its democratic institutions, and to act in strict accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

It is hard to think of a G7 Leaders’ Communique or any Leaders’ Declaration for that matter, which is so broadly critical of China on such a wide range of issues. It is possible to argue that all this is mere rhetoric and it remains to be seen how much of this is enforceable and will in fact be implemented by G7 Countries across the board. Even so, China should be extremely concerned that it is being pilloried in such a manner by a group of still-influential countries belonging to the West.