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November 16, 2025 | 12:05pm
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani gather for a group photo during the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, on November 12, 2025.
AFP / Mandel Ngan
MANILA, Philippines — The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers reaffirmed their opposition to China's coercive actions in the South China Sea, expressing concern over recent maneuvers and upholding the binding nature of 2016 arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines.
In a joint statement issued after their meeting in Niagara, Canada on Wednesday, November 12, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, together with the European Union’s high representative, reiterated their "strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in particular by force or coercion, including in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.”
“We expressed serious concern over the use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons in the South China Sea, as well as efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight through militarization and coercion in the South China Sea,” the statement read.
“We reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, binding upon the parties,” it added.
While not directly referring to the incident and China, the statement comes a month after a Chinese vessel blasted a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources boat with water cannon and rammed it on October 12. This was only a recent water cannon attack, which Chinese ships have been deploying on Philippine vessels in recent months.
The G7 also underscored “the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” and said it opposed “any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, particularly by force or coercion.”
China's response
Beijing, meanwhile, rejected the statement, accusing the G7 of interference and distortion.
At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the document represents a mischaracterization of facts, a deliberate vilification of China, and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs.
"As regard to peace and security, China is the major country with the best track record. China is firmly committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China always keeps its nuclear strength at the minimum level required by national security," Lin said on November 13.
Lin insisted the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea remains stable, urging the G7 to stop using maritime issues to stoke disputes.
He also called the Taiwan question as purely of China’s "internal affairs,” urging the group to stop interfering. — Camille Diola
