China complains about G7 statement on South China Sea

Apr 15, 2016Initiative

(April 18th, 2016) China last week summoned envoys from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized democracies to complain about a G7 statement opposing provocation in the East and South China Seas. The G7 was responding to Chinese militarization of small reefs and islands that China has seized in the South China Sea as well as to its implied threats against Japan, a G7 member, over disputed islands in the East Asia Sea.

This May 10, 2015 US Navy handout photo shows two F/A-18 Super Hornets(L and R) and two Royal Malaysian Air Force SU-30MKM/Flanker H, flying above the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) operating in the South China Sea during a bi-lateral exercise aimed at promoting interoperability with the Malaysian Royal Military. The Carl Vinson Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT / US NAVY / LT. JONATHAN PFAFF == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / MANDATORY CREDIT: "AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT / US NAVY / LT. JONATHAN PFAFF "/ NO MARKETING / NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS / NO A LA CARTE SALES / DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ==

The Boston Global Forum (bostonglobalforum.org) has been closely following matters regarding the G7 Summit in its BGF-G7 Summit Initiative. In that project it has been working with Japanese officials to craft proposals for consideration by the national leaders at the summit, to be held in Japan on May 26-27.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, believed to have huge oil and gas deposits, and has been building islands on reefs to bolster its claims. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims in the sea, through which about $5 trillion in trade is shipped every year.
G7 leaders are expected to discuss Chinese expansionism at the summit. There has been some informal discussion of creating a NATO-like alliance to thwart Chinese plans.