At the annual Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy, leaders of the world’s most advanced economies issued a stern warning to China, accusing it of enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine. This marks a significant escalation in the rhetoric against Beijing, with threats of further sanctions against entities aiding Moscow’s war efforts.

“China’s ongoing support for Russia’s defense industrial base is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications,” the G7 leaders stated in their communique. They called on China to halt the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components, that support Russia’s defense sector.

The leaders also warned of additional punitive measures against Chinese entities helping Russia bypass Western embargoes. The joint statement emphasized the commitment to impose “restrictive measures to prevent abuse and restrict access to our financial systems” on actors in China and third countries that support Russia’s military capabilities.

American officials have accused China of aiding Russia’s military manufacturing through the export of semiconductors, materials, and machine tools, which are crucial for producing tanks, munitions, and armored vehicles. Although Beijing denies supplying weapons to either side and claims to enforce strict export controls on dual-use goods, the US and EU have already sanctioned Chinese companies for these activities. Recently, the US imposed new sanctions on China-based firms supplying semiconductors to Russia.

US President Joe Biden highlighted at the summit, “China does not supply weapons, but the ability to produce those weapons and the technology available to do it. So it is, in fact, helping Russia.”

The G7 summit also addressed China’s economic policies, particularly concerning industrial overcapacity. The leaders expressed concerns about China’s “persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies” that cause global market distortions and harm economic resilience and security. This comes after the EU announced additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and the US imposed new tariffs on strategic Chinese imports.

Furthermore, the G7 condemned China’s actions in the East and South China Seas, opposing what they described as “China’s dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia” and its obstruction of freedom of navigation in these waters. The statement underscored serious concerns about China’s aggressive maneuvers against Philippine vessels.

The summit underscored the G7’s unified stance on supporting Ukraine and confronting China’s perceived threats to global security and economic stability.