THE recently-held annual Munich Security in Germany has introduced two new doctrines i.e. “lose-lose” and “win-win” doctrines in the world which has further divided the people. Now both have become hot topics in the international media presenting two distinctive philosophies of life, humanity, respect, dignity, progress, prosperity, security, connectivity, governance, economic stability, sustainability, political cooperation, multiculturalism and, above all, internationalism and competition.
The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech in the Munich Security Conference and highlighted strategic orientations of the Chinese role as a stabilizing force in terms of promoting cooperation between major powers, addressing global hotspot issues, enhancing global governance and accelerating global economic growth which is commendable.
Undoubtedly, China champions economic globalization, openness, modernization, digitalization, development, diversification of economy and determination to eradicate poverty, generate employment and combat looming threat of climate change. Whereas, the United States of America is the central point of destruction, genocide, socio-economic exploitation, political isolation, ethnic marginalization and above all vanadate.
The US constant and continued hegemony and imperialistic designs have become a destabilizing force in the world creating fragmentations, faulty lines and fatal tendencies around the world due to which rule-based global governance is in the line of fire. In the mad race of forming blocs and securing domination, governments are ignoring their basic commitments and millions of civilians are paying a terrible price, with record numbers forced to flee.
It seems that the Chinese President Xi’s Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilizational Initiative have become a stabilizing force in the world creating true spirits of human security based on economic cooperation not competition, internationalism not isolation, rule-based global governance not genocide and implementation of multiculturalism not marginalization in the world and hopefully, China will keep its major principles and policies consistent and stable and serve as a force for stability in a turbulent world.
Recently, during his participation in the Munich Security Conference (MSC), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken responding to a question of moderator concerning that “the US-China tensions are leading to greater fragmentation,” he used an American slang phrase, stating that “if you’re not on the table in the international system, you’re going to be on the menu which vividly reflected true essence of the US foreign, economic, social, fiscal and of course military policies towards the world and especially China.
It is a rude method of conflict resolution and anti-human, anti-development and absolute opposite of dialogue, development and diplomacy. It adheres completely to a jungle law where power and status, not ethical or legal norms, dictate actions. The US national history is full of shameful deeds. It committed ethnic cleansing against the indigenous peoples living in North America 200 years ago. However, with the progress of political civilization and the development of economic globalization, this mind-set and approach are increasingly unpopular.
Washington’s current official diplomatic rhetoric emphasizes the so-called “rules-based international order,” but it is all used as tools to demand, restrain and accuse others, or to cover up US own hegemonic intentions. Unfortunately, it seems that the US policy making has been trapped into its own Military Complex Theory, China Containment Theory and newly designed China’s Collapse Theory through circling, containing and decoupling and delinking policies.
Former US President Woodrow Wilson’s principle of sovereign equality of states has been eroded and intentionally converted into power politics. It is indeed the tragedy of American diplomacy. The Chinese wisdom remarkably stands for joint efforts having the holistic and comprehensive spirits of cooperation, coordination and collaboration by snubbing the doctrines of forming power blocs/promoting power politics, provoking imperialistic schemes and imposition of unilateral imposition of socio-economic, investment, technological and human embargos and sanctions by the US and the EU.
Comparative study of the world politics reveals that the US is mainly worried about the decline of its own hegemony, and its security concerns are relatively illusory or self-centric while the EU concerns are relatively more genuine and factual. In summary, China is and will be a force for stability in promoting cooperation between major countries. It is ready to work with the US to implement the common understandings reached by the two heads of state, promote the steady growth of China-Russia relations and uphold its partnership with Europe to jointly inject positive energy into a volatile world.
It seems that China will be a force for stability in addressing the conflicting realities in the world. It will actively implement the Global Security Initiative and explore a Chinese way of addressing hotspot issues, one that advocates for non-interference in internal affairs and opposes imposing one’s will on others; upholds impartiality and justice and opposes pursuing selfish interests; seeks political settlement and opposes using force; aims to address both the symptoms and the root causes and opposes myopia and one-sidedness. It is predicted that China will be a force for stability in enhancing global governance. It will firmly uphold the authority and central role of the United Nations and support the Security Council in playing a primary role on peace and security. It will enhance solidarity and cooperation of the Global South, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, provide more public goods to the world, and contribute our share to meeting global challenges.
Last but not least, it will be a force for stability in promoting global growth. The Chinese economy, as vibrant and resilient as ever, is showing a more robust momentum of long-term growth. Last year, it grew by 5.2 percent, accounting for one third of global growth. It will focus energy on realizing Chinese modernization, seek faster progress in high-quality development, expand institutional opening up and bring more dividends to the rest of the world. Therefore the world power should move from lose-lose mentality to the Chinese sponsored win-win situation creating befitting proposition and economic prosperity in the world. Mutually beneficial cooperation should be the basic principle of all countries’ policy in handling international relations.
—The writer is Executive Director, Centre for South Asia & International Studies, Islamabad, regional expert China, BRI & CPEC & senior analyst, world affairs, Pakistan Observer.
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