G7 Foreign Ministers Meet in New York, Vow to Keep Sanctions on Russia, Remain Concerned About China’s Moves in Asia

By Kazusa Yoda / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

17:05 JST, September 19, 2023

NEW YORK — G7 foreign ministers met Monday in New York and “reaffirmed their strong unity in addressing threats to international peace and security,” according to a statement by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, who chaired the meeting as Japan holds the group’s rotating presidency this year.

Kamikawa and the ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union were all in town for the U.N. General Assembly’s High-Level Week.

Regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine, the statement said the G7 “remained committed to maintaining and, where appropriate, expanding robust sanctions and other restrictions against Russia.”

As for China, the G7 “remained seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas,” adding that the members “strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.”

Kamikawa expressed to fellow G7 members Japan’s appreciation for understanding the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the sea.

“The G7 members welcomed Japan’s safe, transparent, and science-based process to responsibly manage the discharge of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water, in proactively coordinating with scientists and partners,” the statement said.

Including teleconferences, this was the fifth meeting of G7 foreign ministers this year.

The G7 foreign ministers will be in Tokyo from Nov. 7-8 for their next in-person meeting.