G7 Leaders Address Threat Of China's Economic Coercion

The leaders of the G7 countries, along with the European Union, have come together to discuss the growing threat posed by China's economic coercion.

Reports on Wednesday claim the issue has raised significant concerns in the Asia Pacific and Europe, as countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Lithuania have faced trade restrictions and punitive measures from China over various disputes.

With the annual summit of the G7 kicking off in Hiroshima, Japan, the leaders have indicated that addressing China's use of coercive economic tactics will be high on their agenda.

Japan and several European countries, including the European Union, rely heavily on trade with China, making them more cautious about measures that could disrupt their economic relations.

With China being a top trading partner for both Japan and the European Union, there is a delicate balance between addressing concerns and maintaining access to China's market.

The United States has been vocal in countering China's influence and has called for coordinated action against economic coercion.

China, on the other hand, denies using trade as a weapon and accuses the United States of hypocrisy, pointing to its own use of sanctions and export controls.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that China has been a victim of US economic coercion and firmly opposes such practices by any country.