Top diplomats from the Group of Seven nations have singled out China in a number of ways likely to irritate the government in Beijing, from alleged human-rights abuses to its actions on Taiwan and incursions in cyberspace.
Language used to reproach the Asian nation in a final statement echoed past communiques, but it was the laundry list of concerns that will get under China’s skin, along with the chiding.
"We encourage China, as a major power and economy with advanced technological capability, to participate constructively in the rules-based international system,” the statement said as it singled out in detail the treatment of Uyghur Muslims and pointedly supported Taiwan’s "meaningful participation in World Health Organisation forums.”