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G7 leaders warned China and North Korea not to build nuclear weapons and prepared new sanctions against Russia. Indian photo/Tribune
TOKYO – Leaders of the most powerful democracies in the world, G7 warned China and North Korea (North Korea) not to build up their nuclear arsenal. The G7 leaders also tightened sanctions meant to punish Moscow and change the course of a 15-month-old invasion of Ukraine.
There is growing anxiety in Asia that Beijing, which is building on its nuclear program, could try to seize Taiwan by force, triggering a wider conflict.
China has long claimed the self-governing island as its own and regularly sends ships and warplanes near it.
“China is accelerating its nuclear arsenal build-up without transparency (or) meaningful dialogue raising concerns for global stability,” the G7 leaders said in a statement.
Meanwhile regarding North Korea, the G7 leaders called for Pyongyang to completely abandon its nuclear bomb ambitions.
“Including more nuclear test launches using ballistic missile technology. North Korea cannot and will never have nuclear weapons state status under an international nuclear treaty,” the statement said.
North Korea has in recent months conducted high-speed missile tests. That was done in an effort to perfect its nuclear program which is meant to target the United States (US).
The G7 leaders also used their summit to launch a new wave of global sanctions against Russia as well as plans to increase the effectiveness of existing financial sanctions intended to limit President Vladimir Putin’s war effort.
