The first days of September are marked by geopolitical maneuvers, with tensions between the United States and China taking the spotlight on the chessboard. This begins with US President Joe Biden at the G20 summit, which prioritizes countering China’s growing influence.
During his visit to India, Biden headed to the G20 Summit, assuring that it would be successful despite the absence of Chinese and Russian leaders. China’s President Xi Jinping will not attend the G20 meeting, citing heightened trade and geopolitical tensions with the United States and India, both of which share long and disputed borders.
President Joe Biden’s visit to Vietnam, scheduled for Sunday, is intended to strengthen US influence, but the primary focus on countering China may relegate human rights concerns to a secondary position. However, Vietnam is unlikely to align closely with either the US or China, according to Nguyen Quoc Cuong, the former Vietnamese ambassador to the United States.
The Philippines and Australia solidified their security and economic alliance by signing a strategic partnership to counter China’s growing regional influence. China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and the militarization of artificial islands have prompted Canberra and Washington to deepen their defense cooperation with the Philippines.
This strategic partnership marks the highest level of bilateral ties between Australia and the Philippines, as Beijing continues to assert its claims over almost the entire South China Sea, disregarding international rulings.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to visit China to seek financial support and explore potential joint ventures with Chinese petroleum firms. Bloomberg reports that this visit also aims to secure fresh oil investments from Beijing.
Venezuela has long been seeking Chinese assistance to bolster its crisis-ridden economy, which is suffering from one of the highest inflation rates globally. Meanwhile, the United States, under President Joe Biden, maintains its stance against recognizing Maduro’s government and has mostly upheld sanctions.
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
