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Editor's Note:
The writer, Mr. I. Hussain Janjua is a senior media professional and analyst having experience of research & broadcast journalism in different organisations. He is a non-resident fellow of Chengdu Institute of World Affairs (CIWA). (Email: [email protected]; twitter: @ihussainjanjua)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his first major policy speech last week declared that the relationship between the United States and China is the world’s “biggest geopolitical test” of the century while the new Biden administration would “manage” ties with China “from a position of strength.”
He opined, “Washington would continue to compete, collaborate and be “adversarial,” if necessary, with China, “the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to seriously challenge the stable and open international system — all the rules, values, and relationships that make the world work the way we want it to.”
It is not surprising at all as throughout his presidency, Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, launched a relentless trade war with Beijing, strongly suggested the corona virus was leaked from the Chinese city of Wuhan laboratory, and challenged China’s military control of the South China Sea.
There is no denying the fact that wherever Washington falters, Beijing moves quickly and adeptly to take advantage of the opening created by US mistakes, filling the vacuum to position itself as the global leader not only in pandemic response but also in other areas for the protection and well being of the humanity. It is working to tout its own system, provide material assistance to other countries, and even organize other governments.
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a strategy launched by the People's Republic of China has set greater well being of world community as its prime objective as it seeks to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks with the aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth.
Beijing also understands that if it is seen as leading, and Washington is seen as unable or unwilling to do so, this perception could fundamentally alter the United States’ position in global politics and the contest for leadership in the twenty-first century.
It is a fact that China is the only US competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system.
No doubt the United States and China are at odds over influence in the Indo-Pacific region and other issues but the Biden administration has indicated it will broadly continue a tough approach to China taken by Trump as Blinken said he agrees with his predecessor Mike Pompeo’s assertions about China.
At the same time Biden wants to signal a break with former President Donald Trump’s “America First” approach by re-engaging with allies and centering multilateral diplomacy, while also recognizing the world has changed since he served in the Obama administration that preceded Trump.
But the US needs to understand that this time around the new Biden administration is faced with China that has almost taken over the US economically while the big reality is this that it is military might now.
In this new scenario increased polarization would not serve any purpose rather would prove detrimental to world peace and human interests in the wake of ever increasing challenges be it Covid-19 or the looming hunger crisis.
It would be in the greater interest of the world that the US instead of confronting China work for more homogeneous and peaceful world and focus on resolving lingering conflicts, economic disparity and the biggest challenge of poverty to make this world a better place for all irrespective of people living in the east or west.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
