In what is being seen as a diplomatic triumph for India, leaders of the G7 countries have resolved to toughen their stand against China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific and other regions. Highly-placed diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian that most of the heads of the G7 member nations during the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated that their governments are going to be more aggressive in their opposition to the Chinese aggressive agenda in the Indo-Pacific, South China Sea and East China Sea.
US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hit out hard at Beijing on record. However, some leaders shared the similar views during private conversation with the Indian Prime Minister and diplomats, sources said. UK PM Rishi Sunak categorically stressed that China presents the greatest challenge to global security and prosperity during a Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Hiroshima. “China poses the biggest challenge of our age to global security and prosperity. They are increasingly authoritarian at home and assertive abroad,” Sunak emphasized.
Sources told this newspaper that most of the leaders of the group agreed with Sunak on China’s aggressive agenda. Indian diplomats attribute G7’s “major focus” on China’s belligerence to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic efforts in Japan. PM Modi during his bilateral meetings succeeded in setting the tone and tenor at the G7 Summit against China’s aggressive behavior not only in the Indo-Pacific but also in the regions such as Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. The G7 member states are reportedly extremely displeased with China lashing out against the Summit in Hiroshima for voicing their concern over Beijing’s belligerence. China’s Foreign Ministry has accused G7 leaders of “hindering international peace” and said that the group needed to “reflect on its behavior and change course. What has angered the G7 nations all the more is that Beijing made serious demarches to host country Japan and other parties over their decision to “smear and attack” China. Russia also lashed out at the G7 as the leaders pledged new measures targeting Moscow.
As a result of this, the heads of the member countries of the G7 have decided to continue to call out China for its misdeeds in the Indo-Pacific and other geographies of the world including the Indian Ocean Region and LAC, sources told The Daily Guardian. Rishi Sunak signals it saying, “The G7 countries are taking measures to prevent China from utilizing economic coercion to interfere in the sovereign affairs of other nations.” What is worth recalling is that PM Modi and Sunka spent a lot of time having talks over various issues including China’s authoritarian and aggressive approach. Sources said that PM Modi shared his feedback and views with his British counterpart. PM Modi also shared his views on Chinese activities with Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.