G7 diplomats meet in the wake of Macron's Taiwan remarks, aiming for unity

Britian's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and and Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pose for members of the media as they arrive at Karuizawa Station for a G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, in Karuizawa, Japan, April 16, 2023. REUTERS - POOL

For G7 diplomats meeting in the Japanese resort town of Karuizawa, unity was the name of the game on Monday, with ministers lining up to insist there is no daylight between them on China policy. The two days of talks are taking place after the fallout caused by controversial remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron, who last week suggested Europe should avoid "crises that aren't ours."

Europe should not limit its defence policy to its own borders but must act with a broad worldview, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday after talks on China with G7 counterparts.