Moscow, August 4 (FN Agency) The G7 Foreign Ministers on Wednesday called on China to not unilaterally change the status quo in the region by deploying force and expressed concern over Beijing’s “threatening” live-fire exercises, which may cause escalation. “We call on the PRC [People’s Republic of China] not to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the region, and to resolve cross-Strait differences by peaceful means. There is no change in the respective one China policies, where applicable, and basic positions on Taiwan of the G7 members,” the statement read.
The foreign ministers also expressed concern over Beijing’s “recent and announced threatening actions, particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion, which risk unnecessary escalation,” adding that “there is no justification to use a visit [of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait.” “We reiterate our shared and steadfast commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encourage all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, act with transparency, and maintain open lines of communication to prevent misunderstanding,” it added.
On Tuesday, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army announced plans to conduct live-fire exercises in six water zones around Taiwan in response to Pelosi’s visit to the island. She arrived in Taiwan as part of a congressional delegation’s tour of the Indo-Pacific region, brushing aside private warnings from the Biden administration about the risk that her high-profile diplomatic visit could bring sharp response from the Chinese government. China, which claims sovereignty over the island, has always been against any contacts between Taiwan representatives and other countries’ high-ranking officials or military leaders.