Zubair Qureshi
The United States’ policy to contain China would not work, experts said at a roundtable discussion titled “US-China Rivalry at the Shores of South China Sea” held here at Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR).
The experts on international affairs included Senator Mushaid Hussain Sayed, former Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi; Zamir Assadi, Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal and Shakeel Ahmed Ramay. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Sabah Aslam, Founder IICR.
Senator Mushahid said that China has transformed and it is its perpetual transformation that has propelled it to global arena. Adding further he said that American century began after WWII and decline of American century started on 15 August 2021 when Taliban took over Kabul.
According to Senator Mushahid when the US was busy with wars, China was busy investing and is still doing it. It is a writing on wall that China has overtaken the US in technology and it is even established in Harvard university report, it is not Chinese fact but report from US. US needs to understand that China will not allow red lines to cross said senator Mushahid.
Zamir Assadi said that the global politics is shaping in South China Sea specially the recent incident of Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Categorizing the visit as politically motivated Assadi said that regardless of concerns by China, United States put global peace at stake.
The next speaker on the panel was Amb. Naghmana Hashmi. Amb. Hashmi said that Taiwan issue is not about one China policy. The issue of one china is settled it is the issue of sovereignty.
Giving historical perspective in depth she said that Taiwan historically is part of China and later it was administered as province and administrative unit of China. Adding further Amb.
Speaking next Mr. Shakeel Ahmad Ramay said that go global policy of china began in 1980s and transformation of China is complete under Xi Jinping. It is the proactive policies of China which were not comprehended by west so they did what they do; rise tensions to escalate conflict. The last speaker on the panel was Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal. Dr Jaspal said that when canons in Ukraine were fired it left a whole mark on world and we in Pakistan also faced it. Similarly if the fire started in South China Sea that it will have direct impact on Pakistan.
Dr. Zafar also said that since 2017 Chinese have also taken clear stance that it is no more pacifist state and will retaliate when necessary. The world is once again governed by geo-strategic ambitions which has heightened the security dilemma between US and China said Dr. Jaspal.
Adding further he said that USA is facing challenges to compete with China and Washington lacks behind in technological run with China. In concluding remarks Dr. Jaspal said that Washington needs to learn from past and if things escalate in Taiwan it won’t be like Ukraine.
