On May 21, 2023, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi to lodge solemn representations on the Group of Seven (G7) Hiroshima Summit hyping up China-related issues.

Sun Weidong pointed out that the G7 clings to bloc confrontation and the Cold War mentality, and that what it has done goes against the historical trend, objective facts, and international justice. Japan, which assumes the rotating G7 presidency this year, has ganged up with relevant countries to smear and attack China at events of the G7 Hiroshima Summit and in the Leaders' Communiqué it released. Such moves blatantly interfered in China’s internal affairs, violated basic principles of international law and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and harmed China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests. China deplores and firmly opposes it.

Sun Weidong stressed that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan, and resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese and a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese. The Taiwan question, which is at the very core of China’s core interests, bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and is a red line that can’t be crossed. No one should ever underestimate the firm resolve, strong will, or great capability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet are purely China’s internal affairs that brook no irresponsible comments or interference by external forces. China is a staunch defender and builder of international rules of law for maritime affairs. Noting that the current situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea is generally stable, Sun Weidong said the so-called “attempts to change the status quo by force” are malicious hype going against facts. China firmly pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening-up, and the label that says “economic coercion” and “debt trap” won’t stick on China. The United States is the one that undermines international order and rules and disturbs the functioning of the world economy in the first place, posing the biggest risk to them. China has been committed to a self-defensive nuclear strategy and the policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons, with nuclear forces kept at the lowest level required for national security. It is the only one of the five nuclear-weapon states to make the above commitment. China’s position is open and aboveboard and allows for no misrepresentation or smearing.

Sun Weidong stressed that as a responsible major country, China firmly safeguards the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and will never accept “house rules” concocted by a handful of countries. The era of individual Western countries wantonly interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and manipulating global affairs is gone forever. China urges G7 members to follow the trend of openness and inclusiveness, stop forming closed and exclusive “small circles”, stop containing and suppressing other countries, and stop creating and inciting division and confrontation. Japan should correct its perception of China, keep strategic autonomy, abide by the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan, and promote the steady development of bilateral relations with a truly constructive attitude.