Chinese FM slams G7 over South and East China Sea statements

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday criticized the G7 over comments that insinuate China is at fault over tensions in the East and South China Seas.

"The remarks of the G7 fall far short of the facts and international justice," said spokesperson Hong Lei at a regular press briefing, referring to a declaration released on Monday after a summit of the G7, a group that is composed of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the US.

"We are concerned by tensions in the East and South China Seas. We underline the importance of peaceful dispute settlement as well as free and unimpeded lawful use of the world's oceans," the G7 leaders said in the statement.

"We strongly oppose the use of intimidation, coercion or force, as well as any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo, such as large scale land reclamation," said the statement, likely in reference to China's construction projects in the disputed Nansha Islands.

Hong said the international community has fair opinions on the rights and wrongs of the issues over the East and South China Seas, regions in which a number of countries hold competing claims of sovereignty.

China is committed to maintaining the freedom of navigation and overflight in the East and South China Seas, and it will be the first country to come out against any behavior that threatens navigational freedom in these waters, Hong Lei stressed.

China has shown restraint over the so-called status quo in order to maintain peace and stability in the region, Hong added.
  Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
9-10/6/15
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