China has responded to the G7’s request that it cease its support for Russia in the face of extensive Western sanctions, stating that China bases its own position and policy on the “merits of the matter itself,” and that the seven member nations should focus on their own issues rather than intervening in the internal affairs of other countries.
The declaration comes after the Group of Seven (G7) released a statement on Saturday urging Beijing to “resolutely” push Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine and desist from giving economic and military aid to the Kremlin.
Zhao Lijian, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, criticized the demands and asked the G7 countries to avoid imposing unlawful sanctions and agitating other countries.
“We ask G7 nations to handle their own business, resolve their own human rights concerns, and do something substantial to restore peace in Europe, rather than smearing other countries, intervening in other countries’ internal matters, and causing turmoil everywhere,” he added.