US opens Summit for Democracy, with Joe Biden calling for moves to counter authoritarianism as America eyes China
- ‘This is an urgent matter on all our parts,’ US president tells virtual gathering of more than 100 nations
- Event follows Biden’s efforts to strengthen ties with US allies in response to China’s growing global profile
The United States launched a two-day Summit for Democracy on Thursday with calls for introspection, restructuring and renewal as democracies around the world face unprecedented challenges.
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Biden warns of worldwide democracy backslide at virtual summit
“Democracy doesn’t happen by accident. We have to renew it with each generation,” Biden told the virtual gathering. “And this is an urgent matter on all our parts.”
Authoritarian governments argue that their top-down systems are faster at making decisions and better at preventing social division – even as China expands its economic, military and diplomatic clout and Russia amasses troops on its border with Ukraine.
Speaking in front of a screen filled with a checkerboard of tiny boxes filled with global leaders, Biden rejected those arguments.
“They seek to advance their own power, export and expand their influence around the world and justify their repressive policies and practices as a more efficient way to address today’s challenges,” he said of such governments.
“That’s how it’s sold, by voices that seek to fan the flames of social division and political polarisation.”
