TOKYO: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad criticised a US-led economic grouping on Friday, saying it was intended to isolate China and would not benefit regional economic growth without Beijing.
US President Joe Biden launched the 13 nation Indo-Pacific Economic Framework during a visit to Japan earlier this week.
He said it will help the United States to work more closely with Asian countries in areas like supply chains, digital trade, clean energy and anti-corruption.
Mahathir said at an international conference in Tokyo organised by Nikkei that the US will always want to use groupings like this in order to isolate China.
This is not an economic grouping, but it is a political grouping. Together they represent 40 per cent of the world's GDP.