G7 says China’s expansive maritime claims in SCS have no legal basis

Members of the G7 have stressed that China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis and expressed serious concern over the current situation in the waters.

In their joint statement, the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union also expressed opposition to China’s militarization activities in the region.

G7 members emphasized the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which they said must be upheld as the law sets “out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas.”

“We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings, and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties,” they added in a statement issued after their leaders virtually met on Dec. 6 to address global challenges.

The 2016 ruling was issued in The Hague after the Philippines filed an arbitration case against China regarding its dispute over the West Philippine Sea, a part of the bigger South China Sea where Chinese reclamation and militarization activities continue.

The ruling turned in favor of the Philippines as it affirmed, citing UNCLOS, the Philippines’ territorial sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.

“We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion,” G7 member said.

The seven countries and EU clarified that their policy approaches “are not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart China’s economic progress and development.”

They just said that “a growing China that plays by international rules would be of global interest.”

“We are not decoupling or turning inwards. At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires de-risking and diversifying. We will take steps, individually and collectively, to invest in our own economic vibrancy,” they said.