China-US 'G-2' Hype Is Absurd

As we approach the China-U.S. summit, the concept of a “G-2” grouping of nations is again receiving enthusiastic attention from foreign media. This kind of hype is completely baseless. Although China and the U.S. need to cooperate for the sake of both countries’ interests, as well as world peace, they absolutely do not constitute a two-nation grouping designed to dominate the world. The notion of a G-2 is absurd — and it is an impossibility.

First, what the U.S. is after is world peace under American rule — that is, for the 21st century to be another American century. Unbending to the winds of change, it continues to see hegemony as its sole preserve, which it refuses to share with anyone, never mind with a country such as China, whose development model and values are so different from its own. The U.S. allows other countries to be its junior partners, but it will not willingly rule the world with them as equals.

Secondly, China has no such aspiration. China has always upheld the ideal of equality between nations, big or small. The idea of a G-2 would cause China to alienate itself from other countries, especially developing countries such as the BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa], and fall into diplomatic isolation. In fact, this may have been the original intent of a carefully laid scheme. China should be vigilant, especially those of us who relish all this talk of being part of such an elite grouping.

Thirdly, China’s power is not there yet; its comprehensive national power still lags behind the U.S. considerably. Its position as the nation with the world’s second largest gross domestic product does not tell the whole story; China is still in the initial stages of socialism, with yet a long road to travel before becoming a truly developed nation.

Fourth, momentous changes have swept the world as of late. Many forces have risen concurrently; peace, development and win-win cooperation are now the order of the day. Both the unipolar and bipolar world orders are obsolete; all this chatter about a G-2 is even more so.

In a word, what China should pursue can be found not in a G-2 group of nations but rather in a new world order based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, one of lasting peace and common prosperity.

The author is a former ambassador to India and former director of policy research at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.