Alexander Ratz, William James, and Humeyra Pamuk

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters] – Although Vladimir Putin is keeping the West guessing about Ukraine’s fate, it was the power of Xi Jinping, Chinese President, that drew the attention of diplomats representing the Group of Seven wealthiest democracies at this weekend’s meeting.

The United States and its other G7 allies are searching for a coherent response to Xi’s growing assertiveness after China’s spectacular economic and military rise over the past 40 years.

Talks between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and his counterparts were dominated by Putin. With a warning about severe economic sanctions, there was widespread support for President Joe Biden’s efforts to deter Putin and support Ukraine.

“There’s a huge amount of convergence about what will unfortunately be necessary if Russia makes that very bad choice,” a senior U.S. State Department official said.

Russia is being considered by the West as a potential threat to Ukraine. Although the Kremlin claims it does not intend to invade Ukraine, it has requested legally binding security assurances that NATO would not expand east.

Sources with knowledge of the discussion said that although concerns were expressed about alleged Russian disinformation campaigns, there wasn’t a clear consensus on whether sanctions should be imposed on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline.

Russia was part of the G8 which was established in 1997. However, it was removed from the G8 after Ukraine annexed Crimea. Moscow claims that the G7, which includes the United States of America, Canada, France and Germany as well as Japan, is making aggressive allegations.

Putin at 69 was a concern for the near-term, while Xi’s China was the long-term strategic problem.

One official at the meeting said that there were intense talks, especially about China.

‘ANTI-CHINA CLUB’?

It is comparable to the fall of 1991 of the Soviet Union, which ended the Cold War and the rise of China as the world’s leading power.

China in 1979 had an economy that was smaller than Italy’s, but after opening to foreign investment and introducing market reforms, it has become the world’s second-largest economy and is a global leader in a range of new technologies.

The G7 was established in 1975 to provide a platform for rich nations of the West to talk about crises like the OPEC oil embargo. In June, at a summit in Cornwall, Russia and China were rebuked by the G7.

China, which was never a G7 member country, replied in June that they were no longer ruling the world.

“It’s tremendous that there’s such a focus on the Indo-Pacific here,” said a second State Department official.

First State Department representative stated that foreign ministers had discussed Hong Kong and Xinjiang, as well as the importance of peace within the Taiwan straits.

It was also raised the necessity to assist Lithuania. After the opening of the Taiwanese Representative Office to Lithuania on November 18, China lowered its diplomatic relations with the Baltic State and stopped consular services.

G7 members want to work together in China, but not appear to be joining forces with Beijing.

“We don’t want to be seen as an anti-China club,” said one official.

Officials from the West point out that G7 is still a formidable combination: It has around $40 trillion of economic power and three of five nuclear states.

Officials said there was serious debate about G7 coordination action to combat China over disinformation, and to support other countries that are ensnared with what China critics call the global debt-trap net.

Annalena Baerbock (German Foreign Minster) stated, “With respect to China, we (the G7) agree unanimously That China is Partner in All Global Issues…but also a Competitor and System Rival.”

Canada, Britain, and the United States joined the diplomatic boycott of Wednesday’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. China has said https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/china-says-australia-britain-us-pay-price-wrong-acts-2021-12-09 those countries will pay a price for their snub.

Japan and Germany were not yet resolved at the G7 and Italy was skeptical of the boycott.

Blinken heads https://www.reuters.com/world/blinken-heads-southeast-asia-deepen-cooperation-china-pushback-2021-12-12 to Southeast Asia on Monday in an attempt to forge a united front against China in the Indo-Pacific.