
LettersWhy did Biden need to paint China as the enemy in Europe?
- On his trip to Europe, Biden emphasised the need to present a united front against China. Perhaps this was the US president’s attempt to make up for the missteps of his predecessor or to shift the burden of its own conflict with China
One cannot help but ask: is the United States using China as an excuse for some other aim - such as participating more in European affairs, or seeking another victim amid America’s long-drawn-out tensions with China ?
All these actions had driven a wedge between the US and Europe. For example, Europeans were worried that the US’ commitment to Nato and generally to international cooperation and global governance had become a partisan issue. Therefore, Biden has to reverse this public opinion in Europe and has called for a united front based on shared values, by repeatedly underlining an ideological divide between China and the Western world.
This might be the one of reasons cracks have begun to appear in the US’ strategy to work with its allies to do more to coordinate against Beijing, with world leaders airing serious differences over how best to approach China. The disagreements at one point became so sensitive that all internet was shut off to the room during the G7 summit.
Tao Hongyi, Shenzhen
