
Biden should follow G7 pragmatism in approach to China
- Despite Beijing being the subject of a strongly worded final communique, not all group members shared the views of the US president as highlighted by disagreement over funding for an alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative
The Group of Seven, comprising the world’s most developed economies, has the financial and technological clout to take on the greatest global challenges of our times. Most immediate is the Covid-19 pandemic, and close behind is climate change. But its recent summit, the first in-person gathering of leaders since the coronavirus crisis began, seemingly had China above all else on its mind, worries about the nation’s rise stalking many discussions.
Biden used the summit to announce the return of his country to multilateralism after the four years of his predecessor, Donald Trump, who had adopted an insular foreign policy. There was obvious relief among the leaders of the fellow member nations, host Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. The last time they met in person, in 2018, Trump withdrew support from the group’s final communique.
