The 47th G7 summit meeting held at Cornwall in UK from June 11-13th after two years exuded new energy. With renewed focus on international cooperation, the members in principle agreed on five big agenda items. Being the first major get-together of the World leaders since the world was hit by Wuhan virus, the major talking point has been investigations into the origins of the pandemic.
Themed,
“Built Back Better”, G7 presidency, UK outlined four priority areas- leading
global recovery from corona virus and strengthening resilience against future
pandemics; championing free and fair trade; climate change and preserving
earth’s biodiversity and championing shared values and open societies.
The
above-mentioned priorities laid the framework for a multilateral cooperation. Interestingly,
baring the climate change proposition, the underlining common factor has been an
aggressive China. As an originator of the pandemic, China holds crucial answers
to pandemic related investigations. Similarly, Beijing’s mercantilism and
predatory trade practices have marooned several small countries in debt traps
and its authoritarian and opaque style of functioning is posing threat to
shared values.
After the
subtle messaging at Quad Leaders meet and instituting investigation into Wuhan
virus origin, in continuum with predecessor Trump, President Biden, called for
collective countering of aggressive China. Invoking the guiding principles of
G-7 of commitment to multilateralism, through a collective and consultative
approach countries agreed on aspects which are the enduring ideals of free,
open societies and democracies and the very principles which authoritarian
China infringes.
Though an
absolute unanimity between the G7 nations has been absent given their deep
financial linkages with China, members affirmed their support to the final
draft. Reiterating support to the global fight against pandemic, G7 pledged 1
billion vaccine doses to poorer nations. The support which is critiqued as too
little too late by many activists, certainly made up for good optics of rich
countries towards the developing world.
Announcement
of 1 billion vaccine doses which included 500 million doses of Pfizer and
Moderna and 100 million doses each by the UK and Canada grabbed international
attention. Interestingly, the US doses will be purchased from the second
tranche of $2billion pledged as assistance and routed to poor countries through
COVAX1. Devoid of the
vaccine infrastructure to administer doses even as World Bank has extended
credit to the tune of $12 billion, loomed by concerns of increasing debt
profile, critics argued that vaccine inequality is bound widen.
Seeking
transparency and accountability, G7 called for expert-led investigation into
origins of Wuhan virus pandemic. G7 joint statement pledged to support
establishment of international pathogen surveillance network, a global pandemic
radar; strengthen frameworks in terms of increasing global warning capacities,
improve early warning systems and shorten the cycle of development of effective
treatment, vaccines and tests from 300 to 100 days to prevent future pandemics2.
Calling the
bluff of China’s “non-market policies and practices”, G7 reiterated the
responsibility of “large economies in upholding the rules-based
international system and international law”. In the same breath, G7
expressed concerns over the human rights practices of China. Terming Beijing’s
treatment of Uyghurs as “genocide” US and EU imposed sanctions on the CCP
officials. China responded with retaliatory sanctions. Miffed by Chinese
actions, EU parliament refused to debate and vote on the Comprehensive Investment
Agreement (CIA) and led to temporary freeze of its ratification.
Taking
serious objection to forced labour and shrinking human rights, G7 affirmed, “we
will promote our values, including by calling on China to respect human rights
and fundamental freedoms, in relation to Xinjiang and those rights, freedoms
and high degree of autonomy for Hongkong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint
Declaration and the Basic Law”.
Indo-Pacific
has emerged as a region of major geopolitical contestations. Not be left behind,
G7 countries- France, Germany, UK, (EU) recently announced their respective
policies for the region. Reiterating importance of maintaining free and open
Indo-Pacific based on rule of law, G7 took cognizance of growing instability
across Taiwan Strait and indicated that “(G7) encourages the peaceful
resolution of cross-Strait issues. We remain seriously concerned about the
situation in the East and South China Seas and strongly oppose any unilateral
attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions”. With this
statement, G7 has seemingly overstepped on China’s so-called red line disputing
the “One China policy”.
Ramping up
the plans to counter China, the G7 led by the US announced a $40 Trillion Build
Back Better World (B3W) infrastructure partnerships as an alternative to BRI
(Belt and Road Initiative). Without naming China, stating that Wuhan virus
pandemic has exacerbated infrastructure needs of low and middle-income
countries, G7 declared its development vision which read thus- “we believe
that infrastructure development, implementation and maintenance- carried out in
a transparent and financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable
manner-will lead to beneficial outcomes for recipient countries and communities”.
Alongside, G7 appealed Russia “to stop its
destabilizing behaviour, malign activities, including its interference in other
countries democratic systems and to fulfil its international human rights
obligations and commitments”.
By
implication, G7 affirmed support to the Normandy process and implementation of
Minsk Agreements in support of Ukraine and expressed concerns over heavy
handedness of Belarusian authorities. G7 called for denuclearization of DPRK,
condemned Myanmar coup, appealed for reduction of violence in Afghanistan,
pledged to never allow Iran develop a nuclear weapon and welcomed the
discussion to facilitate return of the US and Iran to JCPoA (Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action).
Also, in
lieu of upcoming COP-26 convention, G7 renewed commitment to Paris Agreement
and noted the need for making relevant changes in energy, transport, industrial
& innovation, agriculture, forestry and land use sectors to meet net-zero
commitments.
In line
with the traditional grandstanding, G7, countries reiterated their commitment
towards embracing values and promoting equality, especially gender equality,
supporting girl child education, protecting the planet, reinvigorating
economies, securing future prosperity, value driven digital ecosystem,
fostering innovation, employing new technology for tackling global challenges,
space and cyber cooperation.
G7, a club
of rich democratic countries comprising of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy,
United Kingdom and United States extended invitation to India, Australia, South
Korea and South Africa as Guest countries for the Summit. Prime Minister Modi
participated in two outreach sessions- Build Back Stronger Health where
he appreciated the help of G7 countries during the pandemic and sought support
for the TRIPS waiver proposal at WTO initiated with South Africa. As a lead
speaker in the session- “Build Back Together-Open Societies and Economies”
and “Building Back Greener Climate and Nature” recalled democracy and
freedom as part of India’s civilizational ethos and expressed shared concerns
of the vulnerability of Open Societies to disinformation and cyberattacks.
India along with other outreach countries and G7 members signed a Joint Statement
on “Open Societies”3.
Prime
Minister Modi in one of the outreach sessions gave “One Earth-One Health”
mantra and called for a whole society approach. He advocated for “next phase
studies (WHO-convened) to reach “robust conclusions” hinting at a China and
emphasized on the special responsibility of the democratic and open societies
to prevent future pandemic4.
Modi first
attended the G-7 Biarritz summit at France as Good Will Partner in 2019. In
2020, President Trump extended invite to the summit proposed to be held at Camp
Davis. But it was cancelled due to Wuhan virus. Due to surging Wuhan virus
second wave, Modi couldn’t physically attend the Cornwall G7 summit.
Ahead of
his Europe trip, Biden wrote, “this trip is about realizing America’s
renewed commitment to our allies and partners, and demonstrating the capacity
of democracies to both meet the challenges and deter the threats of this new
age”5. In line with the stated objective, by reiterating America’s
unflinching support to democratic values, Biden made a rallying call to
like-minded nations. G7 Summit brought together major democratic countries.
Concluding the outreach sessions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson termed the Cornwall
G7 as Democracies-11 including the four guest countries seeding the idea
of a democratic axis.
Aside the
shared values of democracy, liberty and equality, the D-11 is an agglomeration
of disparate nations with conflicting economic, trading, developmental
interests and objectives. Majority of them have strong economic ties with China,
making economic isolation of Dragon difficult. Determined to go for the
jugular, notwithstanding the weak links, President Biden used the G7 to build a
strong counter-force against China.
Pandemic
has changed the World view of China. Beijing’s complicity in pandemic outbreak,
weaponization of covid supplies, wolf-warrior diplomacy, aggressive
expansionism in South China Sea, incursions across Cross Straits, East China
Sea, stand-off at LAC under the pandemic cover, trade sanctions in response to
call for independent investigation into pandemic origins and suppression of
freedom in Hongkong, Xinjiang have blown off the mask of China’s peaceful rise.
Nations are wary of Chinese aggression and hostility. China’s popularity across
the World slumped to its lowest now.
Countering
China and its audacity to institute an opaque governance system has become a
priority. Posturing of a united front by democracies is thus an attempt to
build a post-pandemic international order which is rules-based and fair.
Even as the
impact of G7 summit is widely debated, India reposed interest in B3W which is
congruent with its vision. Since its launch, India has strongly objected to BRI
that passed through the legitimate territory of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and
has been instrumental in Beijing’s deep entrenchment in its neighbourhood.
In response
to G7’s unified position, China cautioned that “days when small groups of
countries decided the fate of the World were long gone”6.
The Chinese embassy in London accused G7 of “lies, rumours and baseless
accusations” and added, “G7 takes advantage of Xinjiang-related issues
to engage in political manipulation and interfere in China’s internal affairs
which we firmly oppose”7. A miffed China made largest
numbers of incursions into Taiwanese airspace on Tuesday. Reportedly 28 Chinese
aircrafts entered Taiwan’s ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone) asserting
reunification under “One Country, two systems”8.
Swiping the
G7 and its allies, a cartoon, “the Last G7” a parody of Leonardo Da vinci’s
“The Last Supper” published by artist ‘Bantonglaoatang’ on Weibo became viral.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mouth piece republished it9.
Countries
depicted from L to R: Germany, Australia, Japan, Italy, USA, Britain, Canada,
France and India
Frogs below
the table are Taiwan and Hongkong.
Picture is
worth thousand words, with its official endorsement Beijing revealed its
narrow-mindedness and prejudice.
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