Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Master's degree in International Relations, university of mazandaran
2
Assistant professor in International Relations, Department of Political Science and international relations, Faculty of Law & Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
3
Associate professor in International Relations, Department of Political Sciences and international relations, Faculty of Law & Political Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
10.22080/jpir.2026.30344.1480
Abstract
China’s emergence as a major power in the economic, military, technological, and diplomatic spheres has elicited diverse responses from the members of the Group of Seven (G7). Adopting an analytical-comparative approach and drawing on Stephen Walt’s Balance of Threat Theory, this study examines G7 members’ strategies toward the rise of China. The main research question is how G7 members have responded to China’s rise and what differences and similarities exist among their strategies. The findings indicate that G7 members share concerns regarding China’s trade practices, human rights issues, and expanding military capabilities, while differing in how they respond to Beijing. The United States has adopted a more competitive and balancing-oriented approach, whereas Japan, owing to its geographical proximity and security concerns, demonstrates a stronger tendency toward balancing China. By contrast, Germany and France, while recognizing China as a strategic challenge, emphasize the importance of maintaining economic engagement with Beijing. The United Kingdom and Canada have likewise sought to balance their security considerations with their economic interests. Overall, the study finds that G7 members’ strategies toward China constitute a combination of balancing, competition, engagement, and conditional cooperation.
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