Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, stands with other leaders of Group of Seven industrial nations, from left, European Council President Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Barack Obama, Abe, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker as they pose for the family photo during the first day of the G-7 summit meetings in Shima, Japan, Thursday, May 26, 2016. (Japan Pool via AP)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, stands with other leaders of Group of Seven industrial nations, from left, European Council President Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Barack Obama, Abe, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker as they pose for the family photo during the first day of the G-7 summit meetings in Shima, Japan, Thursday, May 26, 2016. (Japan Pool via AP)

ISE CITY, Japan — With a keen eye on the Philippines’ legal battle with China, leaders of the powerful Group of Seven (G7) nations have agreed to send a strong message on the importance of international law in resolving maritime disputes in Asia.

The world leaders said they should pay close attention to the pending Philippine case against China before a United Nations arbitration court, with some of them opining they should “raise their voice on this,” if necessary.

On the first day of the two-day G7 Ise-Shima Summit, the seven heads of state arrived at a decision to send a bold signal emphasizing international law in disputes in the South and East China seas, a Japan spokesperson said.

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/139704/leaders-of-g7-nations-to-pay-close-attention-on-maritime-disputes-in-asia#ixzz49uergv6a