G-7 or Anti-China Cult
Editor's Note: The writer is the CEO of Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development and Visiting Research Fellow, Hebei University, China. Shakeel Ahmad is a political economist with strong background in policy research, lobbying, political economy, eco-civilization, economic forecasting, global diplomacy and changing dynamics of global governance. He has deep understanding of China, BRI, CPEC, Sustainable Development, Global Development Initiative, AIIB climate change, SCO, eco-civilization, Eurasia, GCC, digital diplomacy, Non-human Security Threats, and Leadership with Imagination. He has produced a good number of publications which are being used as reference material in universities like Princeton University USA, National Defence University of Pakistan and others. Publications can also be found at UN websites. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of Gwadar Pro.
The third week of May 2023 witnessed three major diplomatic events. First, the China-Central Asia Summit was hosted by China on 18 and 19 May 2023. Second, leaders of the Arab League met in Saudi Arabia on 19 May 2023. Third, G-7 leaders gathered in Japan from 19 to 21 May 2023.
The China-Central Asia Summit and the Arab League Summit ended with a message of hope. The leadership focused on, how they can work together to promote peace and development. They tried to chalk out policies and plans for constructing a community with a shared future. Most importantly, leadership at both summits did not target any third country or region. Rather, they have shown commitment to cooperation and a win-win cooperation.
Unfortunately, we cannot say this about the G-7 summit. G-7 summit started with an anti-China tune. Rather, even before the start of Summit, the USA and its allies kept themselves busy in portraying a negative image of China. They unleashed a smear campaign and put efforts to convince countries, but without success. They could not support their campaign with data or facts. However, they continued the oratory during the summit and communique followed the same rhetoric.
The G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué shows that G-7 is confused, self-centered and insists on its hegemony, at any cost.
On the one hand they do not want to miss the Chinese market. National interests dictate them to keep close economic relationship with China. It is a classical example of self-interest based policy. But simultaneously they do not want China to become the largest economy of the world. They consider it necessary to contain China, one way or other, to sustain their hegemony. Thus, they are pressurizing small countries to dis-engage China.
Second, they are confused because they do not know how to malign China in the disguise of international law and values to fulfill their national interests. For example, the Communiqué accused China of economic coercion and asked China to act in accordance with international law.
However, it was unable to find any example of economic coercion. On the contrary, G-7 countries have a history to punish countries by economic coercion and apply unhuman economic sanctions. They destroyed many countries and put many regions on ventilator. They never cared about the international laws, human rights and values. G-7, especially the USA has been applying the same strategy of economic coercion on China for many years. First it launched a trade war against China. It imposed multiple sanctions to harm Chinese companies. It is openly running a campaign against Chinese tech companies including Huawei. Like, the USA is leaving no stone unturned to ban Huawei and is asking everyone not to engage Huawei.
Third, the Communiqué was a blatant interference in the internal affairs of China. One cannot understand why G-7 is discussing the internal affairs of China at their summit. In reality, China is doing extremely well to develop itself. China is implementing the most pro-people policies on its land. We have seen a revolution in the life of Chinese people. In nutshell, China has all the rights to solve its internal matters according to its national interest. Although, it is against international laws and values to interfere in internal affairs of any other countries, but G-7 kept discussing about China. The astonishing fact is that they are doing so, while they are delivering lectures on the importance of and the respect for international laws and values.
Despite all such malicious campaigns and actions, G-7 wants China to play a leading role to tackle global challenges. It is a perfect example of the confused G-7, more precisely, the double standards of G-7. They are asking China to lead the fight against climate change, environment degradation and economic stability. Unfortunately, when China starts to play its role, G-7 members start to malign China. For example, China launched Belt and Road Initiative as an economic program, but G-7 is opposing it. They are shouting with full throat to stop it.
Second, the G-7 members are crying for help to solve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although China has nothing do with it, neither China is initiator nor party, but still they are asking China to take the responsibility to solve it. Despite these facts, China tried to help and came up with proposal to peacefully solve the conflict. Unfortunately, now they are not agreeing to the Chinese proposal. In this backdrop, how China can help.
On the basis of above discussion, it can be inferred that G-7 is not interested in solving the issues or building mutually beneficial relationship with China. They consider China a rival if not enemy and they are ready to do anything to contain China. Thus, they are turning G-7 into an anti-China cult. It is against the international laws and values and will be disastrous for the world. The world needs cooperation, not confrontation, as it is facing multiple challenges including the existential threat of climate change. Thus, it is advised that let us cooperate and work for our future generations and build a community with a shared future.
