China world's largest challenge to security, prosperity: Rishi Sunak

Hiroshima: At the G7 summit here, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday that China is the world's greatest challenge to security and prosperity. But he added that world powers need not fully de-couple from the country.

He said that China is increasingly authoritarian at home and abroad. Britain, along with other G7 countries, would follow the common approach to address the said challenges.

He said that it is all about de-risking and not de-coupling. G& is aiming to prevent China from using economic coercion to interfere in the sovereign affairs of others, he said.

Visiting Taiwan last week, Sunak's predecessor as PM of Britain, Liz Truss, said that the West must not appease or accommodate China. Her visit to the country made her best-known British politician land in Taiwan since Margaret Thacher.

Chinese recent attempts and efforts to annex the self-governed island of Taiwan have kickstarted tensions. China claims that Taiwan is their territory and is employing force to take control.

Truss is against the Sunak government's approach towards China, involving trade, climate change etc., though it puts efforts into limiting national security threats.

Later, Sunak told reporters at G7 that Birtian would commence training Ukrainian pilots this summer to back Kyiv's air force against Russia.

Sunak said that the Ukrainian president dearly wanted peace, but the peace conditions must come under Kyiv's principles.

During the three-day summit, G7 reiterated to Russia that they are ready to stand by Ukraine for the long term.

Based on Reuters story