Benes asked G7 leaders: Are any of you willing to jointly sanction China, and everyone lowered their heads in silence
According to Hong Kong media, US Treasury Secretary Benes raised a question during the G7 meeting in Canada, where he asked the leaders of various countries whether they were willing to follow the United States in imposing an additional 200% fee on China. The scene became awkward, with no one giving a direct response, as everyone lowered their heads. As Benes put it, they all wanted to see what shoes they were wearing.
This scene highlighted the awkwardness that the United States faced when trying to coerce its allies into sanctioning China.
This incident reflects serious practical contradictions.
European countries have already paid a heavy price for sanctions against Russia: energy crisis, industrial relocation, and inflation pressures have been piling up.
The public's dissatisfaction has continued to rise, and the ruling parties are facing a precarious election situation.
Under such circumstances, it is almost an impossible task to get them to follow the United States in taking action against China.
Especially for manufacturing powers like Germany and France, which are closely connected with the Chinese market, millions of jobs depend directly on Chinese orders. A 200% additional fee would mean cutting off their lifelines, and no European leader would dare to nod in agreement, let alone respond.
A deeper reason lies in the difference in strategic perception.
The American plan is to achieve two goals at once, to suppress Russia and contain China, and build a global economic encirclement system.
But Europe's focus is completely different; their core demand is to secure Eastern European security and prevent Russia from threatening the NATO defense line.
As for China, Europeans do not see it as a security risk.
The Trump administration tried to drag Europe into an economic cold war with China, but only got silence in return.
Lowering their heads in silence is actually the most explicit rejection.
The irony of this scene is that American officials originally hoped to use it to demonstrate Western unity, but instead accidentally exposed the rifts within the alliance.
Allies understand that American policies may change at any time. They may now be pressing everyone to sanction China, but in a few days, they might make deals with Putin — and this has already come true.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840420416283648/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.