Thread by @WilliamYang120

“G7 leaders are planning to announce on Saturday measures to respond to Chinese “economic coercion”, as the group of advanced economies seeks to adopt a common approach on #Beijing.”

ft.com/content/cc19f9…

UK officials said a “platform” would be unveiled at the G7 summit in Hiroshima that would provide a forum for the identification of economic vulnerabilities and co-ordination of protective measures.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will open a summit session on economic security by noting China’s use of trade measures to coerce countries including Australia and Lithuania over political disputes.

“The platform will address the growing and pernicious use of coercive economic measures to interfere in the sovereign affairs of other states,” Sunak said in remarks released before the meeting.

Another official involved in the G7 talks said the tools would be used “in very specific areas” such as national security and issues involving the World Trade Organization.

The communique is being released one day earlier than planned because the leaders are expected to focus on Ukraine on Sunday.

European officials said the G7 would take a “clear-eyed perspective” towards China, maintaining that co-ordinated action was more powerful than unilateral measures by individual countries.

“We want to avoid misunderstandings [with Chinese leaders], but confront them when necessary,” added one of the officials.

“The US often accuses other nations of utilising their great power status . . . and economic coercion to enforce compliance and engage in coercive diplomacy,” the Chinese foreign ministry said. “It is, in fact, the United States itself that instigates coercive diplomacy.”