G7 foreign ministers call China’s activity east of Taiwan a threat to stability, as Xi says “reunification” must happen

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) describe what China is doing in the waters east of Taiwan as a threat to regional stability. The wording is in the joint declaration released on Wednesday, November 11, after the two-day ministers’ meeting in Paris on November 9 and 10, under the French presidency of the group. The Seven speak of Beijing’s “increasingly assertive activities”, which, according to the declaration, threaten not only stability but also freedom of navigation and the safety of international shipping. We covered the wider text in our report on the declaration.

The reference to the island’s eastern waters is no accident. Since June, the Chinese Coast Guard has patrolled regularly off Taiwan’s east coast, an area Taipei considers vital for supply lines from its allies in the event of a blockade or war. Taiwanese officials believe Beijing is rehearsing a possible naval blockade, combining military, paramilitary and political means. On Tuesday, November 10, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said China is carrying out “area denial” drills in the Western Pacific with the Liaoning carrier group, as we reported in our report on the Chinese drills.

In the Indo-Pacific section, the ministers stress the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait and repeat their opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo, “in particular by force or coercion, or the threat of them”. They call for cross-Strait differences to be resolved through constructive dialogue and support Taiwan’s “meaningful participation” in international organisations. On the East China Sea and the South China Sea they express “serious concerns” and recall that the Arbitral Tribunal’s decision of July 12, 2016 is final and legally binding.

Elsewhere the Seven condemn China’s supply of “weapons, military training and dual-use components”, which enables Russia to continue its war in Ukraine.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense daily report for the 24 hours to 06:00 on Thursday, November 12 records seven sorties by Chinese aircraft, seven warships and two official ships. Three aircraft entered the south-western and eastern air defence identification zones (ADIZ). In the previous 24 hours there were four sorties, two of which crossed the median line of the Strait, with seven warships and three official ships. Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the movements and deployed combat air patrol aircraft, warships and coastal missile systems.

Xi’s message on “reunification”

On Thursday morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, at an event marking 160 years since the birth of Sun Yat-sen, leader of the 1911 revolution. The Xinhua news agency reports his call for “national rejuvenation”. In extracts carried by Reuters, Xi said “the tide of history cannot be stopped” and that full “reunification” with Taiwan “must be realised”, calling the resolution of the issue an “unshakeable historic mission” of the Communist Party.

Beijing regards Taiwan as Chinese territory and has never ruled out the use of force, while Taipei rejects its claims of sovereignty. The Seven’s joint position comes shortly before the APEC summit, hosted by China this year, while China’s Foreign Ministry says the two sides are in contact about meetings between Xi and Donald Trump.