China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that he hopes G7 leaders will avoid escalating tension in the region by focusing on economic issues. Beijing's remark is seen as a veiled warning to G7 leaders to refrain from discussing the South China Sea and East China Sea dispute at the ongoing G7 Summit in Japan.

Like Us on Facebook

"We hope the G7 will focus on urgent economic and financial matters," Wang Yi told reporters at a news briefing. "We do not want to see actions that escalate tensions in the region."

Wang's statement comes just hours after British Prime Minister David Cameron took a tough stance on China ahead of the judgment on the South China Sea case by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. Cameron urged China to abide by the judgment of the court.

"We want to encourage China to be part of that rules-based world. We want to encourage everyone to abide by these adjudications. I'm sure that will be something that will be discussed," Cameron said.

China fears that US and Japan will use the G7 Summit as a platform to further isolate China on South China Sea Issue. Political experts have noted that both countries will try to seek a strong statement from other G7 leaders on China's recent assertive actions in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.     

After the G7 Summit, leaders from developed and developing countries will arrive in China to attend G20 Summit in September. China has already stated that it would not allow any discussion of political matters during the G20 Summit.     

China has reiterated that main aim of G20 Summit is to promote growth and any deviation from this aim would not prove fruitful.

Tagschina, South China Sea Issue, G7 Summit Japan, G7 Summit 2016