China News Service, May 22 (Zhang Mingxin) US President Biden is currently visiting South Korea, which is his first trip to Asia since taking office.

Some analysts pointed out that although Biden went straight to South Korea and Japan, the focus of his visit was to China.

　　However, expert analysis believes that whether it is trying to sell the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" (IPEF) or trying to win over more political and even military allies, the US's ambition to "weave a web" to surround China is difficult to achieve.

On May 21, local time, U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a speech at a state banquet hosted by South Korean President Yoon Sek-yue.

People in Korea and Japan, meaning in China

The U.S. "weaving the web" has a clear motive

　　U.S. President Biden's trip to Asia is "albeit late".

　　Ostensibly, Biden's trip is aimed at cementing ties with his Asian allies.

However, analysts generally believe that although Biden only has South Korea and Japan on his itinerary, the focus of his trip to Asia this time is to "encircle" China.

　　"Biden's visit to Asia is to strengthen economic and security ties with the Asia-Pacific region and weaken China's growing presence in the region," said Katharine Moon, a professor of political science at Wellesley College in the United States, quoted by AFP. growing influence".

　　Reuters also reported that Biden's trip will play a crucial role in strengthening regional cooperation and "encircling" China.

　　Yuan Zheng, deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also pointed out in an interview with Chinanews.com that "the United States regards China as its number one challenger and threat in the Asia-Pacific region."

　　In fact, the U.S. government is trying to weave a "big net" that covers all political, economic and military matters, shrouding China in it.

　　At the political level, during Biden's visit to Japan, he will also attend the summit of the "Quadrilateral Mechanism" (QUAD) between the United States, Japan, India and Australia.

Yuan Zheng pointed out that the "four-sided mechanism" of the United States, Japan, India and Australia is essentially directly related to China, so it is inevitable that the summit will talk about China.

He believes that the United States is very likely to re-emphasize the cooperation between the United States, Japan, India and Australia at the summit and further enhance the level of cooperation.

Data map: On February 11, local time, the foreign ministers' meeting of the US-Japan-India-Australia "Quadrilateral Mechanism" (QUAD) was held in Melbourne, Australia.

　　On the economic level, Biden will launch the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" during his visit to Japan.

Yuan Zheng said that this issue is an extension of the "Indo-Pacific strategy" in the economic field, the purpose is to exclude China from the international supply chain dominated by the United States, thereby curbing China's development and continuing the United States' economic hegemony.

　　At the military level, the "Indo-Pacific strategy" pursued by the Biden administration itself has a strong military color.

Analysts said that the "Indo-Pacific strategy" pushed by the United States in the Asia-Pacific region is essentially to build a closed and exclusive "small circle", with the intention of piecing together an "Asia-Pacific version of NATO" and then provoking division and confrontation in the region.

Biden goes to great lengths to win over allies

But it is difficult to escape the dilemma of returning home

　　Although the US government has racked its brains for "weaving a web" and attempted to contain China in many ways, the actual situation is far less optimistic than its plan.

　　Although the U.S. government is trying to sell the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" to countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the framework itself has many controversies.

Some U.S. lawmakers criticized the new framework for lacking substance.

Japan's Kyodo News said that the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" does not discuss tariff reductions, and it is "hard to see benefits" for Asian countries looking to expand exports to the United States.

　　Yuan Zheng also pointed out that the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" lacks the factors in other economic agreements that are conducive to promoting trade between countries, but involves more political content such as the digital economy and supply chain cooperation.

Compared with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which promotes economic and trade development in the Asia-Pacific region, the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" is difficult to have a market in the Asia-Pacific region.

　　Regarding South Korea's desire to become an initial member of the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework", Yuan Zheng said that there is no need to over-interpret it. After all, South Korean President Yin Xiyue himself said that joining the framework does not conflict with South Korea's maintaining economic ties with China. "There is no need to take this into account. It's a zero-sum game."

　　Yuan Zheng also bluntly stated that it is even more difficult for the United States to "weave a web" to encircle China militarily:

　　——The establishment of a multinational military alliance similar to NATO requires specific historical conditions and backgrounds. The current situation in the Asia-Pacific region is far from meeting these conditions. The vast majority of countries in the region advocate peace and stability and do not want a military confrontation between China and the United States;

　　——China is the world's second largest economy and the largest trading partner of many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Economic interests drive these countries to avoid taking sides between China and the United States;

　　——China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace, advocates and adheres to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, advocates solving problems through consultation, and establishes equal and mutually beneficial relations with neighboring countries.

　　The "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" is likely to be "sluggish", and the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" that attempts to "Asia-Pacific" NATO is even more out of bounds... Biden's "debut" in Asian politics is likely to face the dilemma of returning home.

Data map: Visitors learn about the related products on display in the commodity exhibition area of ​​the member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Photo by Zhang Bin

　　In addition, Yuan Zheng also pointed out that in the face of Biden's intention to "weave the net", China can mainly start "breaking the net" from two aspects:

　　——China should focus on its own development, starting from economic, diplomatic, military and other aspects, and continuously improve its comprehensive strength and international status;

　　——China should continue to adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, abide by the diplomatic concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, continue to develop peaceful diplomatic relations with neighboring countries, and push the level of cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region to a new level.