The G7 major industrialised nations are increasingly aligned on the “economic and security risk” posed by China and the policies it is pursuing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday at the conclusion of a foreign ministers meeting.
In comments at his last meeting as Washington’s top diplomat, Blinken praised the group’s accomplishments and called for a continuation of the partners’ strategy, which is expected to weaken under president-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20.
“The bottom line is this: We are much stronger, we’re much more effective, when we’re acting together, not alone,” Blinken said, according to a transcript from Fiuggi, Italy, where the meeting was held. “And just to cite the obvious example in the economic area when we’re dealing with policies of concern by China, any of our countries acting alone compared to when we’re acting together simply cannot be as effective.”
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.
The meeting focused heavily on the wars in the Middle East – where the outline of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah has emerged – and Ukraine, including Russia’s recent use of North Korean troops.
“We spent a lot of time on that,” Blinken said. “But also on China’s ongoing support for Russia’s defence industrial base – all of which is allowing Russia to continue the aggression against Ukraine, both of which are reminders that European and Indo-Pacific security are joined.”
But Blinken said it was also crucial to work with China where interests converged. And he called on Beijing to intercede with Russia and North Korea in a bid to bring a resolution to the war, which has surpassed 1,000 days.
“What’s essential here is this: China has an important role to play in using its influence – with ... North Korea, as well as with Russia – to cease these activities,” he said, adding that Beijing had a strong incentive as well. If Russian nuclear technology ends up greatly increasing Pyongyang’s own nuclear capability, it could spark a nuclear arms race in the region and a stronger US presence, he said.
“These are undoubtedly steps that, while not directed at China, China will not like,” he said. “And as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, we, I think, would all look to China to use its influence to try to bring this to an end.”
In their final communique, the foreign ministers threw strong support behind an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
They also gave a nod to China’s huge role in global trade.
“We are not trying to harm China or thwart its economic development; indeed a growing China that plays by international rules and norms would be of global interest,” the communique said. “However, we express our concerns about China’s non-market policies and practices that are leading to harmful overcapacity and market distortions, undermining our workers, industries and economic resilience and security.”
The document said the group was not decoupling or turning inward – without any mention of the imminent Trump transition – but rather de-risking, diversifying supply chains and building resilience to counter economic coercion.
It also called on Beijing to address the human rights situation in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang, avoid actions that undermine democratic institutions abroad and avoid imposing export control measures, particularly on critical minerals, that could lead to “significant supply chain disruptions”.
It also called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and East and South China Seas, opposed any unilateral change in the status quo, expressed its continuing support for the one-China policy and “reiterate our opposition to China’s militarisation and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea”.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has worked hard to show that Europe and Indo-Pacific issues are increasingly interrelated, including naval deployments in East Asia by France, Germany and the Netherlands, efforts that are not appreciated in Beijing. China is wary that a Nato-like collective security organisation could eventually form in the Indo-Pacific.
But Blinken said the logic of a collective response to China’s aggressiveness was strong. When the US tries to act alone, he said, it represents around one-fifth of global GDP. But when it works with its G7 partners – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK – it is close to 50 per cent.
Over the past four years, the G7 has become increasingly of one mind in its approach toward China, Blinken said. This includes the group’s response to overcapacity, unfair trade practices and economic coercion as well as its collective efforts to control sensitive Western exports, screen investments, increase strategic mineral supplies and help build “sustainable infrastructure” around the world.
“As we seek constructive and stable relations with China, we recognise the importance of direct and candid engagement to express concerns and manage differences,” the communique said, adding: “We reaffirm our readiness to cooperate with China to address global challenges.”
More from South China Morning Post:
- G7 to take new steps to curb Russian sanctions evasion
- G7 vows to counter ‘economic and national security threats’ posed by China
For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2024.
