NIAS Area Studies
PAKISTAN READER
IN FOCUS
By Dincy Adlakha
Five aspects of Xi’s New World Order: Review of a Foreign Affairs Analysis
On 9 December, Foreign Affairs published an essay by Elizabeth Economy titled, ‘Xi Jinping’s New World Order’ which brought out the ambitions of the Chinese president. The essay took inspiration from the speech delivered by the Chairman of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping, in Beijing in March 2021. This was an annual gathering of around 3000 representatives of the National People’s Congress. Although President Xi has been vocal about the Chinese dream on multiple occasions, this one was special since President Xi remarks that China has never been this closer to its rebirth. The essay analyzing the Chinese ambitions can be understood in five broad aspects.
China as the center of world affairs
According to the essay, China is already a strong regional power in Asia. It has expanded its maritime domain and established hegemonic intentions in East and South East Asia. Hence, the next logical step lands at dominating world affairs. China is already quite involved through investments and infrastructure in the world. Added with cheap and advanced technologies, and a shift in the geostrategic landscape from World War II to the Cold War and then to the post-Cold War, China seems to be eager to alter the equation again. It looks to run the world with its values and norms and with the informational connections that it runs. However, as the author sees it, China should not gloat in super self-confidence. If it does not adjust with the resistance, it will break. The world order will be shifted but not in its favor.
A reunified, complete China
The second most important aspect of the New World Order as seen by Xi Jinping is the dream to unite the entire Chinese land together. This includes Hong Kong, the South China Sea and Taiwan. Hong Kong has already seen the end of its pro-democracy initiatives. China’s assertion in Hong Kong was an example to the other regions regarding their resistance. President Xi promises to maintain territorial sovereignty in the sea. It also includes other contested territories such as the Diaoyu islands. President Xi has started on a path to redraw the map of China representing all these territories as inwards. Other efforts to hold these parts together are undermining their position in international organizations, proposed policy shifts and also involving other countries in accepting these principles.
The American decline
The author highlights that succeeding in the US is a top priority for China. It is already attempting to remove the “bully” from the “big Indo-Pacific family. President Xi has made sure to become the regional economic neighbor who is preferred due to virtual benefits. China is the largest economic partner of the majority of the countries in the world. Although only less than two percent of the entrepreneurs from East and Southeast Asia is power without an intention to surpass the US. From economy to security, China has the huge will to outshine the US when it is declining fast.
Global connectivity
President Xi is extremely ambitious and dedicated to the Belt and Road Initiative. BRI will enable China to build connections with the entire world. There are routes in Africa, Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East which are untapped as one connected line of the world. Apart from BRI, China is also highly conscious about the 5G networks and railroads, bridges, fiber-optic cables and other ports. It also connects with the world through the different commitment models or investment programs formed by China. Despite seeing a few protests in some countries against the Chinese engagement, BRI still remains a cultural, technological and economically sound project. China is also expanding its connectivity through Confucius institutes which create channels of exchanges. Cooperation in technology, space exploration and replacing banks like Asian Development Bank as the lender lead China to this position. Even though the world is aware of the ‘Wolf Warriors’, it still continues to connect with China.
Distinct approaches
Additionally, China has also been highly active in domains like e-governance and Arctic politics. China is using internet technologies to better help its citizens understand the world and participate for the nation’s benefit. President Xi has also eyed at leading in developing the norms of areas yet to be established fully. Exploration and research stations in the Arctic and enthusiastic participation in the Arctic Council are the beginning of the Chinese presence in the global commons. The author uses the same approach to understand China’s involvement in UN agencies and international organizations. This is to secure a position capable of guiding the other countries.
Inference
The analysis gives various fields to the Chinese eye. However, the author also points to the resistance faced by China for the same. In the end, President Xi will be able to achieve his Chinese dream only if the country balances these ambitions with resistance. The author finds that President Xi’s success will depend on him edging the gap between these two strong forces.
References:
Elizabeth Economy, “Xi Jinping’s New World Order,” Foreign Affairs, 9 December 2021
IN BRIEF
By Keerthana Nambiar and Avishka Ashok
INTERNAL
China discusses enhancing labor education in schools
On 13 December, China’s political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference held a virtual meeting to discuss education on labor and industriousness in Chinese schools. The meeting was headed by the chairman of the CPPCC Wang Yang who stressed the inclusion of labor education in children’s growth, the country’s economic development and social development. He said: “The industriousness education should be undertaken by the family, school and society, and it should be integrated into the system with moral, intelligent, physical and aesthetic education.” (“Political advisors discuss enhancing labor and industriousness education,” Xinhua Net, 13 December 2021)
Premier Li Keqiang meets President of World Bank Group
On 13 December, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attended a virtual meeting with the President of the World Bank David Malpass and said that China could achieve high annual economic targets and is capable of working along with the World Bank. He said: “Facing downward economic pressure, China will prioritize growth, coordinating steady economic growth while archiving structural adjustment and promoting reform.” The Premier promised that China would continuously strengthen its economic policy and safeguard macroeconomic stability. (“China could achieve major annual economic targets: Premier,” Xinhua Net, 13 December 2021)
Communist Party of China organizes a ceremony for the Nanjing Massacre
On 13 December, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council held a memorial ceremony to remember the 3,00,000 victims who lost their lives during the Nanjing Massacre of 1937. The Vice Premier Sun Chunlan addressed the ceremony and urged the audience to remember the massacre and learn from the lessons of the past. He referred to the CPC achieving its centenary goals and said: “It is the greatest consolation to the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, the martyrs, and all those who died during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.” (“Chinese vice premier pays tribute to Nanjing Massacre victims,” Xinhua Net, 13 December 2021)
China deals with the newest variant of the coronavirus after discovering the first case
On 14 December, the local health authorities in Tianjin referred to the discovery of the first Omicron case and informed them that the case was imported from Europe. On 13 December, the first Omicron case was discovered in Tianjin. The health infrastructure and the medical facilities are being tightened to ensure that the spread of the virus is controlled and does not impact the Chinese economy. The person detected with the variant has been transferred to a quarantine spot while the city has planned a special treatment area for dealing with the new variant. (“Update: Mainland's 1st Omicron case imported from Europe, special treatment area and team set: local authority,” Global Times, 14 December 2021)
INTERNATIONAL
Chinese ambassador criticizes US for double standards of democracy
On 14 December, Xinhua quoted the Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming’s article published in the Daily Sun to say that a few countries have “a hegemonic mentality of recognizing countries with the same system as correct and those with a different one as wrong which is undemocratic in nature.” The ambassador targets the US Summit for Democracy and points out that the US and other countries do not have the right position to set standards for democracy, let alone ask other countries to follow its methods. (“U.S. not in rightful position to set standards for democracy: Chinese ambassador,” Xinhua Net, 14 December 2021)
China opposes interference in internal matters by G7
On 13 December, Wang Wenbin remarked at a press briefing that China does not appreciate the G7’s attempt to interfere in China’s internal matters on issues relating to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang and maritime activities. He said that The Us and the Uk, along with others, should stop the cold war mentality and urged them to practice multilateralism. Wang also stressed that it is important to stop practices of unilateral sanctions and implement non-discriminatory international trade. (“China firmly opposes G7's interference in its internal affairs: spokesperson,” Xinhua Net, 13 December 2021)
China and France agree to increase economic cooperation
On 13 December Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and the French Economy and France Minister co-chaired the eight China-France High-Level Economic and Financial and Financial Dialogues via video conference. The summit set important goals for the two countries as they vowed positive progress and cooperation for Covid-19 pandemic anti measures. Their trade has reached a bilateral high and both the representatives vowed to work further for deepening economic relations. They also promised to multilaterally cooperate on issues like WTO reform, climate change, and biodiversity protection. Agriculture and communication remain strong fields of their future cooperation. (“China, France vow to strengthen economic and financial cooperation,” Xinhua Net, 13 December 2021)
US top diplomat urges China to be more ambitious for climate change
On 13 December, US no.2 official urged that China needs to be more active in actions for climate change. Although China and the US have had a good year in terms of climate change cooperation in 2021, the official urged China to fasten its speed in rectifying the coal usage. He said that China has informed slow targets and is still the world’s largest energy consumer. Emphasizing on the US-CHina agreements on climate change, he said: “This is a very positive outcome and one we plan to build on in our bilateral engagement going forward and… get to a place where things are speeded up, where the numbers look better.” (“Top U.S. diplomat says China needs more ambitious climate goal,” The Asahi Shimbun, 13 December 2021)