G7 Seeks Common Front On China In First Talks Since Pandemic By Shaun TANDON
05/04/21 AT 11:32 AM
The Group of Seven wealthy democracies on Tuesday discussed how to form a common front towards an increasingly assertive China in the foreign ministers first in-person talks in two years.
Backing US President Joe Biden s calls for a deeper alliance of democracies, host Britain invited guests including India, South Korea and Australia for talks in central London stretched out over three days.
After a welcome dinner Monday focused on the nuclear programmes of Iran and North Korea, the foreign ministers opened formal talks at Lancaster House, a West End mansion, welcoming one another with Covid-friendly elbow-bumps and minimal staff.
Japan, Britain vow to cooperate over free, open Indo-Pacific
May 4, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Britain s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, right, walks with Japan s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi during their talks in Kent, southern England, on May 3, 2021. (Tom Nicholson/Pool via AP) LONDON (Kyodo) Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his British counterpart Dominic Raab on Monday affirmed security cooperation in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific as China steps up assertive territorial claims in the East and South China seas. Meeting on the sidelines of a three-day gathering of Group of Seven foreign ministers in London through Wednesday, Motegi welcomed Britain s scheduled dispatch of the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth and its strike group to Japan and the Indo-Pacific later in the year, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
US, Britain agree to defend democracy, human rights in China rebuke
May 4, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Britain s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, right, welcomes U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of bilateral talks as part of the G7 foreign ministers meeting near London, on May 3, 2021. (Ben Stansall / Pool via AP) WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Top diplomats of the United States and Britain on Monday affirmed their commitment to democracy and human rights in response to acts by China that they believe run counter to the two nations shared values. We ll continue our robust cooperation to address the atrocities in Xinjiang, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference with his British counterpart Dominic Raab in London, referring to allegations of human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur minority in China s Xinjiang autonomous region.
Foreign ministers from the UK, US and other leading nations have met for the first time in more than two years amid tight coronavirus restrictions.
Dominic Raab welcomed his counterparts to Lancaster House for the G7 meeting, the first opportunity for representatives of the group of industrialised nations to meet face-to-face since the pandemic hit.
The Foreign Secretary and the other ministers were separated from each other by clear screens at the summit table, while the number of aides present in meetings was also limited.
The Foreign Secretary, wearing a face mask, welcomed his counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the US and EU, with awkward forearm bumps replacing the usual handshakes.