As China lashes out at US democracy summit, analysts warn of more division
- White House event is expected to be attended by over 120 world leaders, with Beijing and Moscow excluded
- Analyst says China is in ‘an unfavourable position’ and the world could be further split into two ideologically driven camps
Beijing has accused Washington of sowing division with the three-day event, which will mostly be held virtually and is expected to be attended by over 120 world leaders – eight more than President Joe Biden’s inaugural democracy summit in 2021.
Framing the US-China rivalry as a fight between democracy and authoritarianism, Biden has tapped four co-hosts on each continent in a bid for a united front – South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and the leaders of Zambia, Costa Rica and the Netherlands.
Pang Zhongying, a professor of international affairs at Sichuan University, called it “bad news for China”.
“By portraying Beijing as an authoritarian villain, Biden’s narrative – which is central to his China-focused foreign policy doctrine – has put China in an unfavourable position and it could further divide the world into the two ideologically driven camps led by the US and China respectively,” he said.
Beijing responded by hosting its own second international forum on democracy on Thursday, inviting 300 guests from over 100 countries and regions to slam Washington’s “monistic and hegemonic narratives”, according to state television.