THE Twenty First Century was declared as the century of Asia. As we close in on the first quarter of this Millennium, it is essential to examine the progress made by the large mass of humanity residing in Asia and China’s contribution to it. Asia, with its congruence of land mass and ancient ties of trade, commerce and cultural exchanges held immense promise in the medieval times when Europe was still enveloped in the dark ages. As mentioned by President Xi Jinping, in his recent keynote address to the 3rd BRI Forum, the pioneers of the ancient silk routes won their place in history as friendly emissaries leading camel caravans and sailing ships loaded with goods rather than conquerors.
In this backdrop, after being liberated from the strangleholds of European and Japanese imperialism, China was struggling to eke out a survival. Ironically, the Occident, wary of the rise of communism, blacked out mainland China, recognizing Taiwan as the Republic of China. This farce continued for nearly a quarter century—after which— the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s perseverance paid dividends, winning back China’s genuine status in the comity of nations as well as setting it on the path of progress, leapfrogging other nations to become the world’s second largest economy. Having suffered the ignominy of slavery and exploitation, China resolved to use its resources not just for the Chinese nation, but for the development of the entire region, especially Asia.This is the rationale for the paper: “Outlook on China’s Foreign Policy on Its Neighbourhood in the New Era” based on the assessment and overview of the current situation and future trends in Asia. The document comprehensively outlines the achievements, policies, visions and objectives of China’s neighbourhood, which has seen sporadic bursts of unease and conflict as well as periods of tranquillity and peace.
President Xi Jinping, who has emerged as a statesman and a world leader, in his report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, accentuated that “changes of our world, our times, and of historical significance are unfolding in ways like never before, placing us once again at the crossroads of history.” He highlighted that Asia is the most dynamic region with the biggest development potential in the world and will remain a promising land for global development and prosperity. However, Xi warned that global governance is dysfunctional; the Cold War mentality is resurfacing; unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism run rampant. Simultaneously, multiple risks in such fields as energy, food, finance, industrial and supply chains and climate change are having greater impact on Asia. The Chinese President observed that Asia also faces challenges such as uneven economic growth, and pronounced security and governance issues.
In this turbulent milieu, some countries are fishing in troubled waters by creating regional military coalitions and propping up alliances and proxies to forward their vested interests, Yemen, Afghanistan. The major flashpoints for conflict are the Korean Peninsula, Palestine, Kashmir and the South China Sea. From a regional perspective the document quoted above, reveals that China and fellow Asian countries have jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, carried forward the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, and kept advancing good-neighbourliness and mutually beneficial cooperation.
To promote collaboration, China has established diverse and substantive partnerships, cooperative relations and strategic ties of mutual benefit with 28 neighbouring countries and ASEAN. It has resolved historical boundary issues with 12 neighbours on land through negotiations and signed the treaties of good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation with nine neighbouring countries. Beijing has signed and ratified the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia and is fully prepared to sign the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.
The achievements of China in regional cooperation are numerous, it is the largest trading partner of 18 neighbouring countries, has ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), launched the mega project the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), established the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), New Development Bank and the Silk Road Fund to provide financial support for infrastructure projects. It has co-founded the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, both of which have admitted new members to promote cooperation, and development. It is notable that China has prudently recommended solutions to resolve the different hotspot issues in its own neighbourhood, like the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea, Myanmar and the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. During the trials and tribulation of the global pandemic COVID-19, China and neighbouring countries have come together to overcome difficulties, which reflects the spirit of a community with a shared future and provided leadership for global solidarity against the pandemic. The report informs that under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China will maintain the continuity and stability of its neighbourhood diplomacy, adhere to the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighbours, and act on the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.
It is heartening that China solemnly pledges to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Reassuringly Beijing upholds open regionalism, practices true multilateralism, and interacts with neighbouring countries to foster Asian values centred on peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration.
The West has been baiting China through Taiwan, South China Sea and a few “disputed” islands in the vicinity. It is encouraging that instead of being drawn into conflict, China, after consultations with its neighbours, has opted for the path of implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and strive for the conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), to address maritime disagreements and differences through dialogue. This initiative includes its own national reunification, resolutely rejecting “Taiwan independence” and any other separatist activities to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The referred document emphasizes that China is willing to partner its neighbouring countries, relying on the four pillars of connectivity, development, security and people-to-people exchanges and focusing on the six cooperation areas of the political sector, economy and trade, science and technology, security, people-to-people exchanges and global challenges, work for a community with a shared future among neighbouring countries that features shared concepts, plans, benefits, security and responsibilities.
—The writer is a Retired Group Captain of PAF, who has written several books on China.
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