The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) exercises near Taiwan are causing concern among Group of Seven (G7) countries, said a joint statement by the heads of G7 foreign agencies.
„We, the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union, express our deep concern about China's provocative actions, in particular the recent large-scale military exercises around Taiwan“, said a statement from the British Foreign Office.
„These escalating and destabilizing actions are increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and threatening global security and prosperity. "The G7 members and the wider international community have an interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any unilateral actions that threaten peace and stability, including force and coercion. The G7 members will continue to call for a peaceful resolution of issues through constructive dialogue between the parties," the text notes.
On April 1 and 2, the PLA held large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. Long-range artillery fire was conducted with attacks on simulated targets - seaports and energy infrastructure. To the east of the island, the PLA deployed the aircraft carrier Shandong.
Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, when the remnants of the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island after being defeated in the civil war. Since then, Taipei has retained the flag and some other attributes of the former Republic of China, which existed on the mainland before the communists came to power. According to Beijing's official position, supported by most countries, including Russia, it is one of the regions of the PRC. Recently, relations between the Chinese central government and the Taipei administration have become particularly tense.