G7 leaders assert that China is facilitating Russia's war on Ukraine, issuing a strong rebuke.
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At the conclusion of the G7 summit in Italy, there was a stern warning issued towards China due to escalating U.S. diplomatic efforts urging Europe to take a harder line against China regarding its support for Russia's military-industrial complex.
"China's continued assistance for Russia's defense industrial base remains critical in sustaining Russia's unlawful war in Ukraine, posing significant and widespread security concerns," the G7 leaders stated in their communique on Friday.
They urged China to cease transfers of dual-use materials, such as weapons components and equipment, to Russia's defense sector. In addition, heavy-handed measures, including penalties, were threatened towards Chinese entities found assisting Russia in circumventing Western restrictions.
The joint statement revealed that more actions were planned to punish such entities, consistent with the legal systems involved and targeting other entities in China facilitating Russia's acquisition of items for its defense industrial base, along with restricting their access to our financial systems.
American officials claim China has aided Russia in expanding its military production, including through exports like semiconductors, materials, and machine tools that they argue enable Moscow to ramp up production of armored vehicles, munitions, and tanks.
China has denied giving weapons to either party, ascertaining it has stringent export controls on dual-use goods. The U.S. and European Union have already imposed penalties on several Chinese companies, with the U.S. adding sanctions this week against China-based firms supplying semiconductors to Russia.
"China does not supply weapons, but rather, the capability to produce those weapons and access to that technology," said U.S. President Joe Biden at the summit on Thursday. "Therefore, it is contributing to Russia's war effort."
The G7 is also taking a stronger stance on China's economic policies, specifically on the issue of industrial overcapacity, pledging to take actions to combat unfair practices, aim to restore fairness, and remedy ongoing damage in this area.
"We express our concerns about China's targeted industrial practices and comprehensive non-market policies that are leading to global spillovers, market distortions, and harmful overcapacity in a growing number of sectors, causing damage to our workers, industries, economic resilience, and security," the joint statement said.
Before the summit, the EU announced additional tariffs on EVs imported from China following a lengthy examination of allegedly unfair support for Chinese businesses competing against European automakers.
Last month, the U.S. imposed new tariffs on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports deemed crucial to national security, including EVs and clean-energy products.
The G7 unanimously expressed vehement opposition to China's attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas.
"We continue to oppose China's dangerous deployment of coast guards and maritime militia in the South China Sea, as well as its repeated interference in other countries' high seas freedom of navigation," the joint statement revealed. "We express deep concern over China's abusive tactics, such as the increasing use of hazardous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels."
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In light of the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the G7 leaders expressed concern about China's continued support for Russia's military-industrial complex, which they believe is critical in sustaining Russia's unlawful war in Ukraine.
Despite China's denial of providing weapons to either party, U.S. President Joe Biden claimed that China is contributing to Russia's war effort by providing the capability to produce those weapons and access to the necessary technology.
