G7 countries have released a statement urging China "not to unilaterally change the status quo by force" in the South China Sea amid rising tensions with Taiwan..“We are concerned by recent and announced threatening actions by the People’s Republic of China, particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion, which risk unnecessary escalation," said the countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the high representative of the European Union.."There is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait.".The statement came following US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan on Tuesday. Pelosi said she visited the country in order to "make unequivocally clear we will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan.".In response, the Chinese government announced they were planning four days of military exercises in six zones surrounding the island nation. They also sent 27 fighter jets into Taiwan airspace, which Taiwan answered with its own jets..China has long considered Taiwan to be part of its own territory. While the US has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it is bound by law to provide the country with the means to defend itself against China..In the statement, the G7 countries said it is "normal and routine" for legislators from their countries to travel internationally. They claimed China's response risks "increasing tensions and destabilizing the region.".The nations called on China to peacefully resolve cross-strait differences, adding there is "no change in the respective one China policies." They were referring to the US' decades-long commitment to only recognize the Chinese government as being legitimate, rather than Taiwan..“We reiterate our shared and steadfast commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encourage all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, act with transparency, and maintain open lines of communication to prevent misunderstanding," the G7 countries said..This comes just two days after the G7 released a statement that condemned Russia's "continued attempts to redraw borders by force," through its invasion of Ukraine, as well as its attempts to "weaponize energy exports.".“We remain steadfast in our solidarity with Ukraine and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defence of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and in their fight for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future," they said.
