MANILA, March 15 -- The top diplomats of the Group of Seven (G7) have condemned China's "illicit, provocative, coercive, and dangerous actions" in the Indo-Pacific as they aired their concern over the harassment against Filipino vessels in the South China Sea (SCS).

A statement released by the US Embassy in Manila on Saturday said the G7 expressed concern over the situation in the South China Sea, including the "increasing use" of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels.

The G7 foreign ministers, who held a meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec in Canada on March 12-14, also hit "efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight" through militarization and coercion in the South China Sea, describing these as a vi...