The recent concerns raised by members of G7, a bloc of highly-industrialized countries, about China supposedly mischaracterized the facts and truth, the Chinese government decried Monday, April 22.
Wang Wenbin, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Beijing is strongly deploring and firmly rejecting "the manipulation at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting."
They said the comments from the meeting are not only a deliberate mischaracterization of truth, but also "a blatant interference in China's internal affairs."
On Saturday, April 20, top diplomats of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union were united in dismissing China’s maritime claims over the West Philippine Sea, saying “there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea.”
They expressed serious concerns about developments both in East and South China Seas and opposed Beijing’s actions against the Philippines
But China has an answer. Wang said that "with the concerted efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the South China Sea has been generally peaceful and stable.
“There is no issue with freedom of navigation," he added. Wang then proceeded in saying that the grouping is now holding fast to the Cold-War mentality.
Its members also "cobbled together small exclusive groupings, and escalated regional tensions and conflicts." "It has also engaged in trade protectionism and disrupted world economic order under the pretext of de-risking and less reliance," Wang said.
He also urged G7 members to change the habit of deflecting blame and stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.
He asked them to stop holding "back other countries’ development at once, and work with the rest of the world to uphold peace, enhance cooperation and advance development."