Beijing lashes out at ‘arrogant’ G7 for criticism over Taiwan
China lashed out at G7 countries for accusing it of endangering maritime safety, saying that they were “filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intentions”.
Even for China’s generally overheated diplomatic language, the statement issued on Saturday was unusually vitriolic, though it did not threaten any retaliation.
In a statement on Friday that prompted the Chinese response, the G7 said: “We condemn China’s illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to alter the status quo in such a way as to risk undermining the stability of regions, including through land reclamations, and building of outposts, as well as their use for military purpose.”
“We reaffirm that our basic policies on Taiwan remain unchanged and emphasise the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to international security and prosperity,” the statement by the grouping’s top diplomats continued, referring to the waterway separating China from the island republic it claims as its own territory.
In the response issued through its embassy in Canada, where the G7 meeting was held in Quebec, China said the statement “repeated the same old rhetoric, ignored facts and China’s solemn position, grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, and blatantly smeared China”.
“The statements are filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intentions to suppress and attack China,” it added. “China strongly deplores and opposes this and has lodged solemn representations with the Canadian side.”
China is not a member of the G7 but follows all comments and references to its international status made by international organisations or in foreign countries, responding to criticism with caustic language.
China claims a vast expanse of the South China Sea, through which passes around $5 trillion in global trade. It occasionally clashes with other countries that claim parts of the sea, especially the Philippines, a US treaty partner.
Beijing has routinely sent ships and warplanes into the airspace and the waters near Taiwan, built military bases on artificial islands in the South China Sea, and recently staged surprise live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
Australia’s aviation authority said it learnt of the drills just 30 minutes before they began, not from Beijing but from a pilot flying in the area, and 49 commercial flights were forced to alter their flight paths in response.
The G7 didn’t mention the exercises in its statement. “We share a growing concern at recent, unjustifiable efforts to restrict such freedom and to expand jurisdiction through use of force and other forms of coercion, including across the Taiwan Strait, and in the South China Sea, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea,” it said.
China has the world’s largest navy, including three aircraft carriers, with a fourth on the way. It has a base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and has consistently expanded the range of the force.
In pictures: How India is celebrating the festival of colour Holi
Vibrant hues filled the air as millions of people across South Asia celebrated Holi, the Hindu festival of colour that signifies the arrival of spring in India.
Observed on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar month of Falgun, Holi is marked by joyous gatherings, playful throwing of coloured powders, traditional music, dance, an abundance of sweets, and offering prayers to deities.
The origin of Holi is steeped in legends telling of the victory of righteousness over evil. The most popular story is that of demon king Hiranyakashipu and his son Prahlad. Hiranyakashipu, who was granted near-immortality by the gods, grew arrogant and demanded everyone worship him. However, Prahlad remained a devout follower of Lord Vishnu, defying his father’s command.
Infuriated, Hiranyakashipu plotted to kill Prahlad with the help of his sister Holika, who had a boon that made her immune to fire. Holika tricked Prahlad into sitting with her on a burning pyre, but her boon failed and she perished in the flames while Prahlad, protected by his unwavering devotion to Vishnu, emerged unscathed.
The story is commemorated through the ritual of Holika Dahan, which involves the lighting of bonfires on the eve of Holi to symbolise the destruction of evil.
Another popular myth associates Holi with the playful love story of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. The legend goes that dark-skinned Krishna was envious of Radha’s fair complexion, so his mother playfully suggested he smear colours on Radha’s face to erase the difference. This legend is celebrated through the playful throwing of colours during Holi, symbolising love.
Northern India, particularly Uttar Pradesh state, celebrated the unique version of the festival called Lathmar Holi, which sees women playfully beat men with sticks and the men defend themselves with shields, re-enacting the legend of Krishna and Radha.
In the eastern state of West Bengal, Holi coincides with Basanta Utsav, a festival initiated by poet Rabindranath Tagore that celebrates spring with songs, dances, and cultural performances.
In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, the two-day Masaan, or crematorium, Holi along the banks of the Ganges river attracts thousands of visitors from across India and beyond. During this unique celebration, devotees and ascetics apply ashes from funeral pyres to each other’s faces, honouring both the cycle of death and the Hindu god Shiva.
While Holi is known as the festival of joy and togetherness, many women have spoken out about harassment under the guise of playful colour-throwing. Incidents of groping, inappropriate touching, and verbal harassment have been reported, particularly in crowded public spaces.
A video shared by Indian actor Tushar Shukla showing men throwing colours and water at women while making lewd remarks sparked outrage on social media. “Today I went to play Holi in Barsana. Everything was great, it was fun,” he asks in the video. “But I have a question: do only girls go to play Holi in Barsana? Why are they directly targeted in such an indecent manner? Men also come, so why not engage with them?”
Drunk driver kills woman in car crash and shouts ‘another round’
A woman was killed and at least four people injured after a drunk driver crashed his car in western India’s Vadodara city.
The incident took place in the early hours of Friday near a busy intersection in the city’s Karelibaug area in Gujarat state. According to eyewitnesses and surveillance footage, a speeding black car lost control and crashed into a scooter and hit several people.
Hemaliben Patel was killed instantly while two girls aged 10 and 12, a 35-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were left seriously injured, NDTV reported.
Indian social media erupted in outrage after a video of the accident and the driver’s reaction appeared online.
In the video, a young man, later identified as Meet Chauhan, exits the wrecked car and says in Hindi: “I did not do anything, he was driving the car.”
That is when the driver, identified as law student Rakshit Chaurasia, steps out and shouts: “Another round, another round!”
Mr Chaurasia was subsequently arrested. “A four-wheeler rammed into a two-wheeler and one woman died in the accident. The accused driver has been caught,” joint commissioner of police Leena Patil told the press. “This is a case of drunk driving.”
In the video, Mr Chaurasia appears incoherent and is caught by bystanders.
“A car was moving from Sangam to Muktananad crossroad. It met with an accident while overspeeding. Police reached the spot and arrested one accused, Rakshit Ravish Chaurasia. Search to arrest the other accused, Meet Chauhan, is underway,” deputy police commissioner Panna Momaya told the press. “The car belonged to his friend Meet Chauhan, who was sitting in the co-driver’s seat when Chaurasia rammed it into some two-wheelers at full speed while going towards Muktanand circle.”
Speaking to reporters outside the local police station, Mr Chaurasia denied being under the influence of alcohol and claimed his airbag had deployed unexpectedly and caused the accident.
“The airbag deployed suddenly and I could not see anything ahead. It was also difficult to control the car as it was automatic,” he said, according to Times Now, adding that two or three scooters suddenly came into his path.
Several eyewitnesses told local media that the speeding car took a sharp turn before it hit a scooter.
Mr Chaurasia claimed he did not know the crash had resulted in a death.
A preliminary investigation found that Mr Chaurasia was under the influence of alcohol as well as drugs, police said, adding that they would be sending his blood samples for drug tests.