G-7 ‘Strongly Opposes’ China’s Land Reclamation

Munich (PNA/Kyodo) — Leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Sunday expressed “strong opposition” to massive land reclamation in disputed waters in the South China Sea as part of China’s attempts to change the status quo by force.

The leaders agreed the G-7 will not lift sanctions on Russia unless it fully implements a cease-fire agreement struck in Minsk, Belarus, in February, a senior Japanese official said after the first day of a two-day summit at Schloss Elmau, a resort in the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany.

They also agreed to “strongly condemn” North Korea’s continuation of nuclear and missile development and human rights violations including its abduction of Japanese nationals decades ago, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said. (PNA/Kyodo) JBP/SSC