“RUSSIA’S WAR MACHINE”
Security and defence concerns are also being addressed at the summit, including accusations Beijing has helped expand Russia’s armed forces.
During a press conference with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, Biden said the G7 had “agreed to taking collective action” against China’s role in supplying Russia with “materials they need for their war machine”.
Washington has accused Beijing of helping Russia’s defence industry – and therefore its invasion of Ukraine – through joint production of drones and exports of machine tools needed for ballistic missiles.
Zelenskyy said he had spoken by phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who “gave me his word” that he would not sell weapons to Russia.
“We will see,” Zelenskyy added.
G7 leaders will also address security in the Asia-Pacific, where China’s confrontational tactics and militarisation of islands in the South China Sea – as well as its recent war games around self-ruled Taiwan – have increased fears of a potential conflict.
At the last G7 summit, in Japan, the leaders said in their final statement that they “oppose China’s militarisation activities in the region”.
The Japanese government source said it was crucial for the leaders meeting in Puglia to send a clear message to Xi that the issue was not merely regional, but of concern to all the G7 nations.
“All the (G7) countries are aware that we need to convey the message very candidly to the Chinese at the very top level,” the source said.
