"The rich democracies have moved closer together regarding China"

On Saturday, a joint statement from G7 leaders put the matter into words:

"We call on China to put pressure on Russia, and stop the military aggression in Ukraine," the statement reads.

G7 leaders placed more responsibility on China to end Russian aggression in Ukraine.

This and several other formulations in the statement mean that the rich democracies have come closer to each other when it comes to views on China, and views on how to deal with China.

"Dealing with" China has been a hot topic for a few years, and the G7 countries agreed behind some pretty sharp wording about China and China's influence. In addition to Ukraine, these dealt with Taiwan, economic blackmail and military activity in the South China Sea.

G7 countries say China has chosen sides

China has not allied itself with Russia. But yesterday's statement from the G7 means that the G7 countries choose to see it as China having a greater share of responsibility for the war in Ukraine. That China has chosen sides.

Chinese officials would never call Russia an ally, because Chinese foreign policy follows the principle of saying China has no allies. China considers China neutral in the "conflict in Ukraine".

The joint statement, however, begins with conciliatory statement that G7 leaders "are ready to build constructive and stable relations with China." That wording is attributed to Germany and France.

Europe wants risk reduction

The U.S. thinks it should deal with China by de-coupling itself from China, making itself independent of Chinese technology and products, and getting out of Chinese supply chains.

But Europe has launched its own concept lately: Europe thinks it should deal with China through what it calls de-risking, finding ways to protect itself from harmful Chinese influence. During the G7 summit, the G7 ended up a little closer together, somewhere between de-risking and de-coupling.

Except in the case of Ukraine and Taiwan, where the message was less conciliatory, and is beginning to sound more like an ultimatum. He who is not with us is against us.