Beijing chastises Japan, Britain, and the ‘anti-China’ G7 summit. Chinese state media After Beijing summoned Japan’s envoy and blasted Britain in response to G7 summit statements in Hiroshima, Global Times labeled the G7 an “anti-China workshop” on Monday.

On Saturday, a joint declaration singled out China on Taiwan, maritime claims, economic pressure, and human rights, highlighting the tensions between Beijing and the rich nations, including the U.S.

“The U.S. is pushing hard to weave an anti-China net in the Western world,” Global Times said in an editorial titled “G7 has descended into an anti-China workshop” on Monday.

“This is not just a matter of brutal interference in China’s internal affairs and smearing China, but also an undisguised urge for confrontation between the camps.”

Beijing’s foreign ministry strongly criticized the G7 statement and summoned Japan’s ambassador late Sunday to complain to the summit host.
Russia, a strong friend of China and a G7 statement target for its invasion of Ukraine, dubbed the summit an “incubator” for anti-Russian and anti-Chinese emotions.

On Sunday, China’s embassy in Britain warned London to cease slandering China after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Beijing is the world’s biggest threat to security and prosperity.

Despite Beijing’s sharp response, U.S. President Joe Biden predicted a “very shortly” thaw in relations with China. Canada, France, Germany, and Italy comprise the G7.

A ministry statement late Sunday claimed Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned the Japanese envoy to protest “hype around China-related issues.”

Sun said Japan joined the other G7 nations “in activities and joint declarations… to smear and attack China, grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs, violating the basic principles of international law and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan,” referring to the 1972 China-Japan Joint Statement.

China is “strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes” Japan’s activities, which harm China’s sovereignty, security, and development.

“Japan should correct its understanding of China, grasp strategic autonomy, adhere to the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan, and truly promote the stable development of bilateral relations with a constructive attitude,” Sun added.

According to a summary, the Japanese ambassador to China, Hideo Tarumi, said it is “natural” for the G7 to discuss common concerns as it has and will continue to do so as long as China does not change its behavior.

“China should first take positive steps to address those issues of concerns if China demands not to refer to them,” Tarumi said Sun, according to the readout.

In a Monday morning briefing, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the country’s stance toward China has been consistent: insist on what’s needed, promote responsible behavior, and resolve concerns and work on common subjects.