The G7 which is comprised of seven nations with advanced economies and likewise considered as having the world’s most advanced military muscle, decried Beijing for its sweeping claims of the major waterway notwithstanding its failure to show legal basis to support it.

In a joint statement on Friday (April 19), the top industrialized countries aired their serious concern on the on-going situation in the South China Sea as they expressed “strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.”

“We continue to oppose China’s dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries’ high seas freedom of navigation, and we express serious concern about the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels in this regard,” the statement read.

The G7 stressed that it supports the July 2016 arbitral ruling that upheld the Philippines claims in the South China Sea.

“We reiterate that the award rendered by the arbitral tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties,” the group said.

The statement was issued a week after foreign ministers of the seven nations held their annual meeting in Capri, Italy.

The informal group of industrialized democracies is composed of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Despite having its territorial claims over the South China Sea rejected by the international arbitral tribunal, China remained adamant with its insistence that it also owns portions of the exclusive economic zone that international laws allocates to the Philippines.

China’s coast guard has been attacking Philippine supply boats with high pressure water cannons notwithstanding the fact that they are on missions to bring provisions to troops manning the World War II-era warship BR P Sierra Madre stranded at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal).

Ayungin is only about 195 kilometers from Palawan province, thus, making it part of the Philippines EEZ that extends up to 300 kilometers from the Philippines.