China’s worldview, its postulates and a reality check

08 Aug 2023 7 mins Download PDF

China’s worldview, its postulates and a reality check

China’s worldviews:

1. 1. 1. 1. China’s growth is driven by a multitude of factors
            1. Acceleration by technology
            2. Economic strength
            3. Demographic potential
         2. Beijing’s one of the underlying principles include, ‘changes unseen in a century’, that lays emphasis on dominance in all areas of military security, technology, cultural and biological aspects.
         3. China’s main threat comes from the US
            1. US’s changed attitude to counter China from an earlier policy of ‘engagement and partial containment’ to an “all-out competition” with China to achieve global influence.
            2. New security partnerships like the QUAD and AUKUS
         4. China’s notion of ‘Polycentric competition and cooperation’, in which the influence of US has been on decline and China is displacing the US.

For instance, the Iran-Saudi Arabia truce was brought about under the China’s initiative.

2. China’s influence in the international organizations such the WHO has been growing along with its ability to have a decisive voice in various international standards setting bodies.

Reverses faced by China:

1. China is facing reverses on the economic front due to,
   1. Mr. Xi’s orthodox version of communist philosophy that is distinguished from the market-oriented policy.
   2. Increased governmental control over the economic arena
   3. Restrictions imposed on the private firms
   4. The unprecedented three-year COVID-19 lockdown has pushed companies to adopt “China+1” strategy and also tarnished the image of China in the eyes of the world.
   5. China’s crackdown on major tech firms and Real-estate sectors have led to outflow of investors to other countries.
2. China’s GDP growth has currently declined to 3%, far low figure for its healthy growth.
3. Lack of employment among the youth
4. Increasing dependent-ageing population in the demographic profile of the country.
5. China’s violation in human rights records especially against Uighur Muslims in the western region of the Xinjiang province.

A new economic model with structural reforms that advocates increased wages, an alternative theory to modernity that enhances innovation and resolving the issue of Taiwan by arriving at a common ground shall enable China to address its reverses.

What are the strategies adopted by the US to counter China?

1. 1. 1. 1. The Strategy of “Invest, Align and Complete”.
            1. Invest in foundations of strength – Competition, Innovation and Democracy in the US. For instance, the roll out of Innovation and competition Act.
            2. Align and operate with allies and partners to act based on common goal and common causes, with an intend to defend its interests and building vision for a common future of a ‘Rules-based order’.
         2. Prioritization of Strategic competition with China in its foreign policy.
         3. Collaboration, coordination and action with the regional groups and partnership groups.
            1. QUAD- to maintain free, rules-based order and protect maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
            2. US held a summit with ASEAN, of which many of its members are in conflict over China’s competing claims over South China Sea.
         4. Defense budget allocations have been increased to modernize the military to effectively deter China.
         5. Adoption of a whole-of-government approach that combines diplomacy, economic leverage, information operations and military partnerships.