Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

According to media reports, the UK has planned to get South Korea, Australia and India involved in the "D10 club" of democratic partners as it hosts the G7 summit in June. The aim is to "save the West" from the deeply mired world democratic systems and to counter the rising influence of China.

The COVID-19 crisis in the UK is quite severe now, with unemployment soaring rapidly. Its will to act as an anti-China pioneer in the West does not match its ability given this context. Can it afford this? Shouldn't its focus be at home first? 

The UK's concept of the so-called D10 group went through the world history of the 20th century. With the essence of Cold War ideology, the concept does not echo either the times or the development trajectory of Eastern and Western cultures.

Peace and development are still the themes of the world. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging, the international community must find a common way-out and seek mutually beneficial development. Forging new democratic alliances goes against this trend. 

From another perspective, fundamental changes and imbalance of regional development and security are presenting the world with unprecedented challenges and risks. Since the pandemic broke out, most of the major economies have witnessed serious financial slumps. Against this background, Western countries are stressing a Cold War mentality and demonizing China with ideological tools. Sadly, they are hypnotizing themselves into a false reality. 

Given the current chaotic situations of Western democratic systems, the D10 club is just an illusionary idea. The social crisis in the US is, in essence, a crisis of its political system. The powerful interest groups have taken near total control of politics, but nobody cares about the national interests and welfare of ordinary Americans. Low social governance efficiency, inconsistent government policies and increasingly serious problems about people's wellbeing are key words for today's US and UK. An alliance needs a charismatic country and leadership. Neither the US nor the UK fits this condition at present, and going forward looks rather shaky. 

Some analysts believe that the world is slipping into a new cold war. But the crux is: Is China a country similar to the former Soviet Union? Not by a long shot. China insists on a development path that fits its own situation and never seeks hegemony as its strategic objective. As a responsible major power, China has proposed the concept of building a "community of common destiny for mankind" as its solution for world governance quagmires. 

China insists on opening up the world economy to lead the healthy development of globalization. It is engaged in expanding the global economy and at the same time ensuring all countries enjoy a share of it on an equal footing. China is conducive to world peace.

Objectively speaking, can one succeed in containing China? China is the most important factor in the rapidly evolving realm of international relations. It owns the world's most accomplished industrial production systems and an irreplaceable huge marketplace. The powerful social governance ability of the Chinese government and the national spirit of self-reliance and dedication are a fundamental assurance of China's determination and confidence. 

As a big and powerful country, China insists on the peaceful development path with the other countries and advocates multilateralism to solve international disputes. Does this go against the interests of democratic countries? By holding a new Cold War-like confrontational mind-set and concealing problems in its own social governance system, the West is only deepening its internal contradictions and social crises. 

The UK government has an old imperial tradition of playing the role of "commander-in-chief" among Western countries. The West is good at peddling its thoughts and achieving its own strategic interests by taking advantage of other countries. But Chinese diplomacy is ripe day by day, and will not dance by the rhythm of others. Nor will it sit idle when its core interests are impaired. Those who benefit from China but hurt China's interests will pay a heavy price.

The author is a scholar at Shanghai International Studies University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn