2 days Ago By Torsten Holtz
Leaders of the G7 countries have expressed "deep concern" over China's recent large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. Login or signup to continue reading Foreign ministers of the G7 - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - plus the European Union condemned Beijing's "provocative actions". "These increasingly frequent and destabilising activities are raising cross-Strait tensions and put at risk global security and prosperity," they said in a joint statement on Sunday.
G7 members and the international community have an interest in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the statement said. "We oppose any unilateral actions to threaten such peace and stability, including by force or coercion." China rejected the joint statement, calling it a "mischaracterisation of the facts and truth and an interference in China's internal affairs.
" "China deplores, opposes and absolutely does not accept this," a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada said. China's military conducted the drills over two days in early April. The military said the exercise, involving the army, navy, air force and missile unit, included precision strikes on simulated key targets.
The Chinese Embassy spokesperson said that the exercises were "severe punishment" against the Taiwan government's "aggressive provocation to seek 'Taiwan independence'," as well as "a stern warning to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces who deliberately undermine peace across the Taiwan Strait." "No external force is in any position to point fingers at this," the spokesperson continued. "We will never ever allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan from China in any form.
We will take all measures necessary to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity." In addition to regular military exercises, Chinese fighter jets fly almost daily into Taiwan's air defence zone, usually prompting a response from Taiwan's Air Force. China regards Taiwan as part of the People's Republic and has repeatedly threatened to invade it in the past.
It has warned other countries, notably the US, to stop supporting Taiwan, which it regards as interference in China's domestic affairs. Democratic Taiwan, with a population of around 23.4 million, has had an has had an independent government since 1949.
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