G7 foreign ministers condemn China's attacks vs Philippine vessels

MANILA, Philippines — The Group of Seven (G7) countries' foreign ministers have intensified their criticism of China's "dangerous" maritime behavior, naming the Philippines as a target of Chinese vessels' aggression for the first time in their annual joint statement. 

The G7 ministers expressed "deep concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels" while declaring "there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea," according to their November 26 joint statement following their meeting in Italy.

The 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 also opposed Beijing's "dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia" and "repeated obstruction of countries' freedom of navigation."

"We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," the statement read.

The foreign ministers of the G7 nations also reiterated their opposition to China’s "militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea." This point of criticism was not present in last year's statement.

They also doubled down on the binding nature of the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China's sweeping nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea, calling it a "useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties."

Beijing has never recognized the ruling and has instead continued to press its claims on almost all of the South China Sea, parts of which overlap with the Philippines', Vietnam's and other Southeast Asian nations' exclusive economic zones.

As a result, Chinese vessels have routinely shadowed, blocked and doused with water cannons Filipino vessels conducting patrols and resupply missions. Chinese ships have also harassed Vietnamese fishing vessels.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Thursday, November 28 welcomed the G7's position and their support for maintaining a rules-based order in the