At the G7 summit that US President Joe Biden is attending in Japan this week, leaders will appear united behind a common approach to dealing with China based on shared values, even as each country recognizes its own relationship with Beijing, he said. government official on Monday.
The official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that Biden’s visit to Japan would show that Washington can support Ukraine and maintain an unprecedented level of commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
After the three-day summit, which begins on Friday, Biden will make a brief, historic stop in Papua New Guinea and then travel to Australia for a meeting of the group known as the Quad.
When asked if the leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States – would be able to show unity in dealing with China, the world’s second largest and most important economy. A challenge to global American power, the official replied:
“While the G7 is a consensus-driven group, the hosts play a big role in setting the agenda, and the Japanese are very concerned about economic security issues in general, including dealing with China.
“I think you can expect the G7 leaders to make it clear that we are all united behind a common approach based on shared values. At the same time each G7 country will manage its relationship with China, but we are all committed to the principles that will guide all of our relations.”
The official said that while this was “one of the most complex issues” of the G7 meetings in Hiroshima, the US is “very optimistic.”
Differences between countries over how to deal with China surfaced after French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beijing last month. He called on the European Union to reduce its dependence on the United States and warned the European Union against falling into a crisis over Taiwan driven by the “American rhythm and China’s exaggerated reaction.”
Two years ago, the G7 leaders condemned China in Britain on human rights issues.
The US official said the G7 will focus on the need to support developing countries that have been hit by recent shocks, including debt and climate change, and that leaders will rally behind the need for decisive action to accelerate a clean energy transition.
Asked whether a G7-level agreement on limiting exports of semiconductor technology to China could be expected and whether there was consensus on the issue, the official said:
“There is a consensus on the need to ensure the safety of the technology. I don’t want to prejudge the discussions on what agreement will be reached, but I think that among countries that are major players in the semiconductor space, there is very broad agreement and a high degree of consensus. .
“I think you can expect general agreement on the principles that will govern relations with China.
The official said he expected a trilateral summit to be held on the sidelines of the G7 summit between Biden and the leaders of Japan and South Korea to discuss economic security, expanding military exercises and their shared concerns about North Korea.
He said the meeting of the Quartet on May 24 – Australia, India, Japan and the United States – is likely to see new steps in security, digital connectivity, investment in advanced technology and capacity building in infrastructure, climate and clean energy.
