China: ”Russia is an important member, and no member has the right to expel another country.”

The Independent What is the G20 and could Russia be expelled?

The G7, incidentally, was the G8 until 2014, when Russia was expelled from that grouping as punishment for its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine that year, an act of aggression in response to the popular Maidan protests in Kyiv that drove pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych from power and set in motion the fighting in the east of the country, which in turn inspired Mr Putin’s savage and cynical intervention last month.

Given that precedent, excluding Russia from the G20 would at least be diplomatically consistent – and avoid some deeply awkward conversations at the next gathering of the collective in Bali.

However, doing so could trigger a boycott from other member states and, at present, Mr Putin is understood to be still planning to attend and would have the backing of China in doing so.

“The G20 is the main forum for international economic cooperation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said this week.

“Russia is an important member, and no member has the right to expel another country. The G20 should implement real multilateralism, strengthen unity and cooperation.”

G20排除もなしか。