China hits back at US over G7 ‘zero-sum’ belt and road alternative
- Washington’s revived partnership is an attempt to ‘smear Beijing’ and its infrastructure initiative, foreign ministry says
- The American effort should not be underestimated or discredited, analyst says
The partnership is largely a revival of the Build Back Better World initiative launched at the G7 summit a year ago – a scheme that faltered over financial difficulties and competing efforts by the United States and its European allies, such as the EU’s Global Gateway.
Outlining the Biden administration’s China policy in May, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the renewed G7 effort would be “a coordinated, high-standard, and transparent approach to meet the enormous infrastructure needs in developing countries”.
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Biden at G7 announces global infrastructure plan to counter China’s Belt and Road
Beijing last week described Biden’s rebranded initiative as a “zero-sum game approach” targeting China. On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian doubled down on Beijing’s criticism.