The obstructionist attitude on display at several ministerial meetings has been a key roadblock towards evolving a consensus, although Indian officials have managed to work to narrow the differences on most substantive issues.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is unlikely to attend the leaders’ summit, though Beijing has so far maintained silence.
China’s stance has, however, been a topic of discussion in diplomatic circles and comes against the backdrop of the border conflict, which has locked the two nations for the past three years. “It’s often been a ping-pong game between India and China and the G7 members are looking at the two sides, trying to figure out what’s happening in the room,” said an ambassador.
There are issues such as loan restructuring for the vulnerable countries on which China has a different position given its large exposure to countries in Africa and Asia. These countries are groaning under the weight of a mountain of debt following the Covid pandemic.
A representative of an international agency who attended a few meetings said some of the objections appeared to be meant only to block progress and not allow India to claim “success” at the end of its presidency. India had played a key role in ensuring a consensus at the Bali leaders’ summit last year, where PM Narendra Modi’s message that “this is not an era of war” had clinched the issue, resulting in a declaration at the end of the meeting. The Bali spirit was expected to be carried on to India’s presidency, but officials said China’s stance has soured the mood.
China has consistently teamed up with Russia to block a communique at the end of every meeting, following a direct conflict with the G7 nations led by the US whose insistence of the Ukraine war being mentioned in the statement has been at the root of the conflict between the two blocs.
This has spilled over to the last few days when sherpas (envoys of the leaders) will meet in Manesar to deliberate on the crucial issue of geo-politics, energy transition and climate change in a last ditch attempt to stitch together a consensus.