G7 Foreign Ministers express concern over China’s “provocative” military drills around Taiwan

The G7 Foreign Ministers, along with the High Representative of the European Union, expressed concern over China’s recent “provocative actions,” especially the large-scale military drills conducted around Taiwan.

In a joint statement, G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and High Representative of the EU highlighted the growing frequency of “destabilising activities,” warning that they raise tensions across the Taiwan Strait and pose risks to global security and prosperity.

The US Department of State in a statement released on Sunday said, “We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, express deep concern about China’s provocative actions, particularly the recent large-scale military drills around Taiwan.”

“These increasingly frequent and destabilising activities are raising cross-Strait tensions and put at risk global security and prosperity,” the statement added.

The G7 further reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral efforts to threaten peace.

“G7 members and the larger international community have an interest in the preservation of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any unilateral actions to threaten such peace and stability, including by force or coercion. G7 members continue to encourage the peaceful resolution of issues through constructive cross-Strait dialogue,” the statement said.

Last week, the US and the EU had restated their disapproval of any unilateral alterations to the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait following China’s military’s recent series of joint drills around Taiwan, according to a report by Taipei Times.

US President Donald Trump “emphasises the significance of upholding peace in the Taiwan Strait, advocating for a peaceful resolution to cross-strait issues, and reiterating our disapproval of any unilateral attempts to modify the status quo through force or coercion,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was quoted by Taipei Times.