Chinese Media Says Further Cooperation With Russia Could 'Cause Shocks'

There is "still a lot of room" for further cooperation between China and Russia which could "cause shocks," according to an editorial in a newspaper aligned with the Chinese Communist Party.

A piece published on Thursday night on the Global Times website took aim at G7 foreign ministers. It stated that China and Russia could work together to oppose the United States' attempts at strengthening its relationships with allies, in what it branded attempts "to confront" the two nations.

The outlet added that the countries were "moving closer to each other militarily" and had "huge" economic potential as a pairing.

"There is still a lot of room for China-Russia cooperation. Our sponge has just been fully soaked with water," the Global Times wrote. "China and Russia could make more diplomatic coordination in opposing hegemony and take counteractions against US attempts to strengthen alliances."

The newspaper later added: "The two can also tap the huge potential for economic complementarity. In addition, the two countries have just begun in moving closer to each other militarily, if necessary, there could be a lot of cooperation that can cause shocks."

It almost taunted G7 leaders for failing to offer threats of "substantial actions" to be taken against Russia and China in a 12,400-word joint statement released in the wake of London meetings earlier this week.

"This also demonstrates that the US efforts to rally allies against China don't have much energy, but are like an arrow at the end of its flight," the op-ed read.

In their lengthy communique released on Wednesday after two days of talks, G7 leaders urged China to "participate constructively in the rules-based international system" as they castigated the country over its human rights record.

"In line with its obligations under international and national law, we call on China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms," the statement read.

The leaders added that they were "particularly concerned about human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and in Tibet" against the Uyghur minority group being dragged into "re-education camps" and forced labor by Chinese authorities. They also raised concerns about ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Addressing Russia, the G7 foreign and development ministers said they were "deeply concerned" by the country's continued "destabilizing behavior" amid tensions at the Ukraine border following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

The communique offered few plans for dealing with the actions of either China or Russia going forward, beyond encouraging the countries to adhere to "the rules-based international order."

Newsweek has contacted the Chinese embassy in the U.S. for further comment.