Manila: The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), expressed gratitude to the Group of Seven (G7) for their opposition to the use of force and coercion in the South China Sea.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DFA issued a statement on Tuesday emphasizing the Philippines’ alignment with the G7’s concerns over the use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons, as well as efforts to limit freedom of navigation and overflight through militarization and coercion in the area. The DFA acknowledged the G7’s call for security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea, and highlighted the importance of the 2016 Arbitral Award as a foundation for peacefully managing and resolving maritime differences.

In a joint statement dated November 12, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries-Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States-along with the European Union, reiterated their serious concerns regarding the use of dangerous tactics and water cannons in the South China Sea. They reaffirmed their support for the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling on the South China Sea, declaring it binding on the involved parties.

The G7, comprising some of the world’s leading industrialized democracies, has consistently advocated for a rules-based order in the disputed South China Sea, where China asserts extensive territorial claims. Historically, G7 diplomats have publicly supported the Philippines in condemning China’s application of water cannons and perilous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.