中文
By Ruqiya Anwar
The United States is trying to rally NATO members behind its attempts to oppose China in the "Indo-Pacific" by pressuring its European partners to take a tougher posture against Beijing. Recently, Washington has pushed the transatlantic alliance's members to be more critical of China and to begin developing practical measures to curb Beijing. At the outset of his presidency, President Joe Biden indicated that China is the "most serious competitor" to the United States.
On November 30, after two days of deliberations in Bucharest, NATO foreign ministers concluded discussions centered on containing China. They also emphasized the value of continuing to expand cooperation with allies in the "Indo-Pacific" region and the European Union, as well as meeting the NATO resilience requirements and preserving NATO's technological edge. They consented to engage in trade and economic activity with China, but they must be mindful of their dependence on one another, lessen their risk exposure, and manage their risks.
Washington was working hard to get China back on NATO's agenda. U.S. Department of State officials, attending NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Bucharest, Romania, have discussed methods to increase collective resilience towards China. The last time was that 30 countries endorsed the approach at a conference in Madrid in June, 2022, and a unified European stance against China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on his official visit to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, November 4, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]
The June declaration by the alliance towards China sparked calls for coordination among NATO members' policies to China. In addition, while the EU is evaluating measures to toughen its trade relations with China, the large majority of NATO nations, including Germany and France, are reluctant to fully align their China stances with those of the United States.
Although the White House has increased its support for European defense due to Russia's special military operations in Ukraine, the U.S. has made it clear that this is only a temporary break from a long-term pivot toward opposing China as its primary strategic security and defense policy. The national security plan of the Biden administration was published in October, making it apparent that China, not Russia, was the top security priority, despite Russia being an "immediate and persistent" threat. In addition, Canada has just unveiled its "Indo-Pacific Strategy," proposing increased spending to counter China.
However, significant German defense and energy policy reforms were announced by the newly elected Chancellor Olaf Scholz, signifying a fundamental shift in how Europe's greatest economy sees its place in the world. Scholz's visit to Beijing has sparked concerns in Washington and Europe. The visit to Beijing by Chancellor Scholz was scrutinized in both Europe and the U.S. as a demonstration of Germany's professed desire to change its foreign and defense policies.
Since Joe Biden took office as the 46th president of the United States, rising economic tensions have resulted in a trade war and sanctions against Chinese technology companies. While the Chinese side criticized U.S. trade policy and warned against decoupling in terms of trade and economic development, and starting a trade war or a technological war, constructing walls and obstacles, and pushing for decoupling and cutting supply chains are antithetical to the market economy ideals and weaken international trade rules. The Biden administration's initial China policy sought to strengthen ties with Europe.
Furthermore, a compromise on the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act, which helps the United States compete with China in high-technology industries and military forces dependent on high technology, was approved by the U.S. Senate in July. In the wake of this, NATO, the European Union, and other significant European nations increasingly share the Washington Consensus' perception of restraining China. As a result, they are currently taking action to combat Chinese popularity in Asia and the advancement of high technology.
Notably, the United States' objective in the "Indo-Pacific" area has been to develop a transatlantic alliance and to better connect its partners and allies in Europe and Asia: use the European Union's deployed financial, diplomatic, and military resources throughout the region to its advantage, coordinate on pressing issues, and push for closer ties between the various regions.
Ruqiya Anwar is a researcher, socio-political analyst, and PhD scholar of Media and Communication Studies from Pakistan. Her research is situated at the nexus between domestic and global politics and the intersection of politics and security.
