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As the United States and its allies grapple with questions of their unity in dealing with wartime aggression by Russia and ChinaSecretary of State Antony J. Blinken emphasized Tuesday at the conclusion of a meeting of top diplomats in Japan that the countries had one voice on two key issues.

Blinken said at a news conference after three days of Group 7 meetings that the coalition “has led the world from the beginning in strengthening and maintaining support for Ukraine,” and that its members This “sides with Ukraine” when besieged. The country prepares for an important counterattack against Russia.

Regarding China, Blinken said the allies “are addressed and united with the need to have a frank discussion with Beijing about its unfair trade practices” and that “their actions undermine international rules that all countries benefit from,” as well as pushing back China cooperates with Russia.

Top diplomats from the Group of Seven – the United States, Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Italy, as well as the European Union – arrived in the Japanese resort town of Karuizawa on Sunday on a important period of diplomacy for allied governments.

In recent weeks, they have faced growing questions about their level of solidarity about their approach to Beijing on trade and security, and whether they can maintain their resolve to help Ukraine win its tough war against the Russian invaders.

The question of whether the allies have a strategic rift, especially on issues surrounding China and its military actions against the de facto independent island of Taiwan, has been raised. buoyed by conciliatory remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit earlier this month to Beijing.

The group of seven countries — the United States, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, as well as the European Union — are facing questions about their level of solidarity on diplomatic issues.Credit…Yuichi Yamazaki’s swimming pool photo

The group of diplomats in Japan, including Catherine Colonna of France, seem to put aside any differences in vision or tactics to focus on common policy approaches.

Mr Blinken’s remarks echoed the first line of a statement released by the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Tuesday, which said the nations “understood our strong sense of solidarity as the world navigates its relations with the world”. serious threat to the international system, including Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine.” The emphasis on that message is now remarkable; The communiqué issued at last year’s meeting of foreign ministers, in Germany, did not emphasize “unity” at the highest level.

“We remain committed to strengthening sanctions against Russia, fully coordinating and enforcing them,” the statement said, “while resisting efforts by Russia and third parties to evade and weaken our sanctions. We reiterate our call for third parties to stop supporting Russia’s war, or there will be heavy costs.”

That message appeared aimed at Iran, China and several other countries. Iran has provided Russia with weapons and training, while China has provided Moscow with significant diplomatic support. Chinese officials have so far refrained from sending artillery shells or other weapons to Russia, although US officials warn that Beijing remains open to that option. A recently leaked US government document labeled “top secret” states that the leaders of Egypt, an ally of the United States and the recipient of significant annual US military aid Ky, discussed production up to 40,000 missiles and secretly transport them to Russia.

The statement also stressed support for the efforts of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to “promote a comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter – a tacit rebuttal to China’s claims in recent months that it is leading a peace initiative over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

US officials say China is trying to create a smokescreen to allow Russian President Vladimir V. Putin to gain territory in Ukraine and regroup his forces. Some European officials have been more cautious about the efforts of China and some countries, notably Brazil, confirmed China’s statements

In presiding over this year’s meetings of the Group of Seven, Japanese officials sought to further highlight difficult problems in Asia — particularly China’s assertive actions in the regions. disputed areas in the East and South China Seas; its aggression towards Taiwan; and its economic coercive efforts. The first working session of the meeting, a Sunday dinner, was about China and North Korea, whose repeated missile tests have alarmed Japan.

The first line of the statement in the section on China contained language not found in last year’s foreign ministers’ statement: “We recognize the importance of candid engagement and expressing our concerns. I am directly with China.”

Earlier this month, President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Beijing and expressed confidence in Xi Jinping, China’s top leader.Credit…Pool photo by Jacques Witt

Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s foreign minister who chaired the three-day meeting, said in his own press conference on Tuesday that “as the G7, we share concerns about warehouse expansion. China’s nuclear weapons and affirms the importance of transparency.”

“We strongly urge China to quickly enter into negotiations with the US to reduce strategic risks,” he added.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded at a daily news conference to comments on China’s nuclear construction, saying that the country “always follows a nuclear strategy.” Humans are defensive in nature.”

And he lashed out at the conclave in Japan. “The meeting of the G7 foreign ministers grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs and maliciously smeared and discredited China,” he said. “The announcement is full of arrogance and prejudice with the intention of harming China. We regret and reject this.”

Earlier this month, Macron traveled to Beijing with a delegation of about 50 business executives and expressed confidence that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would take a different approach from the confrontational stance of the Biden administration.

On the flight back to Paris, Mr. Macron told reporters that Europe should establish a foreign policy independent of the foreign policy of the United States, and that France is not a “vassal” of the United States and will not be drawn into conflict with China over the Taiwan issue. Loan, which the governments of American leaders supported with weapons aid.

Mr. Macron later said in Amsterdam that France had still consistent in supporting the maintenance of the “status quo” with respect to Taiwan, in which Taiwan’s leaders maintain the island’s democratic autonomy but do not provoke China by declaring independence.

The French leader’s earlier remarks set off a firestorm among officials and policy analysts in Washington, who deemed them insensitive or offensive. They insisted that Mr. Macron should show strong support for Washington’s efforts to contain China, especially on the Taiwan issue. They argue that Mr. Macron should at least do so to express gratitude for the billions of dollars in military and economic aid the US government has given Ukraine in its resistance against Russia, which France and other European nations consider it the most important foreign policy issue for at least a generation.

President Biden has repeatedly said that Russia is a medium-term problem, while China poses the biggest long-term challenge to the global alliance and US-led institutions.

The scene of a Russian air strike in Sloviansk, Ukraine, last month. European officials visiting Beijing are said to have received assurances that China would not send weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.Credit…Daniel Berehulak/New York Times

Some European analysts praise Mr. Macron’s Gaullist philosophy of a Europe decoupled from American policies, while others criticize him.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in China shortly after Macron’s trip and took a more confrontational approach to officials there. She has represented Germany at Group of 7 meetings in Japan and she is often eager to agree with Mr. Blinken in public on major issues.

Officials in Berlin are divided over how to formulate policy towards China, and Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has adopted an approach similar to that of Mr. Macron when he traveled to Beijing in November to met Mr. Xi, bringing with him a large business delegation.

A senior State Department official said on Monday evening, after the first full day of meetings, that European officials who recently visited Beijing had all received assurances during face-to-face meetings that China China will not send weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.

European visitors to Beijing also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the US official said.

In addition to mentioning Russia and China, the Group of 7 communiqué outlined the lines of a new crisis: violence in Sudan between two armies. “We call on the parties to cease hostilities immediately without preconditions,” it said.

For Mr Blinken, rising violence in Sudan has cast a shadow on his trip, which began last week in Dublin, where he accompanied Mr. Biden on the visit, and included a two-night stopover in Hanoi. Noi, Vietnam, before ending in Karuizawa.

Blinken said he spoke on Tuesday morning with two Sudanese generals who lead opposing forces in the conflict and urged them to cease fire immediately. And he said a US diplomatic convoy in Khartoum was attacked on Monday, presumably by militants affiliated with the Rapid Support Force, a paramilitary group.

“All of our people are safe and unharmed,” he said, “but this action is reckless, irresponsible and of course unsafe – a diplomatic convoy, with license plates diplomacy, American flag, shot.”

Daisuke Wakabayashi contributed reporting from Seoul.

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