CHINA’S STAND IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

India and China are two of the oldest civilizations. They were and remain the two most populous countries. For Europeans, they were sources of immense wealth and wisdom right up to the eighteenth century. The development and global standing of China has seen significant trajectories over the past decades. It can be summarized under the followin

ECONOMIC STRENGTH OF CHINA

At present, China is the world's largest manufacturing economy and exporter of goods, the world's fastest-growing consumer market and second-largest importer of goods. There are concerns that China may overtake US as the world’s leading economy. China is the second‐largest economy in the world—trailing only the United States. In 2021, its GDP was about $17.7 trillion compared to about $23.3 trillion for the United States. China accounted for 19% of the global economy in 2022 in PPP terms, and around 18% in nominal terms in 2022. The World Bank has projected GDP growth to be 5.1 percent in 2023.

Its BRI project can be claimed to be the julgar vein for Chinese economy to establish its economic order. According to Acamedic Wnd Yiwei, BRI aimed to reboot globalisation and rectify its shortcomings for China.

Mr. Xi claimed at a ceremony in Beijing in 2014 "If you would like to get rich, build roads first, and I believe that is a very vivid description of the importance of infrastructure to economic development."

The White Paper on BRI released this month titled “The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future” revealed that over 200 BRI cooperation pacts had been inked with over 150 nations. The document also stated that total twoway investment between China and partner countries from 2013 to 2022 touched $380 billion.

BRI served as a vehicle for Mr. Xi to portray himself as a global statesman and project China’s power over the world. He claimed that BRI would provide more public goods to the entire world.

China's celebration of a decade of BRI was more an attempt to showcase its own rising profile as the provider of an alternative to the US-led global order than to provide for the development needs of the Global South. Ii is as much about geopolitical positioning of China in the global world order as much as it is about geo economics. Xi talked of establishing "the Integrity and Compliance Evaluation System for companies involved in Belt and Road cooperation" and working "with international organizations to carry out research and training on promoting integrity in Belt and Road cooperation."

China’s investment in Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, is an attempt to harvest the gains of BRI and pitch for the use of local currency in trade. It projects utslef as an alternative to Int. Financial Instititions like IMF and World Bank. Mr Xi wants to build an economic order centered on China.

 GEO POLITICS

China is adopting a a more proactive and confident diplomacy to counter the West. The statement issued in July’s NATO Summit where members criticised China’s coercive policies, which they said challenge the interests, security and values of the bloc speaks volumes about the global challenges faced by China. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is also under scrutiny after its Canadian communications chief resigned over what he called China's undue influence in the multilateral organisation.

Various tactics are adopted by China in its foreign policy to handle its stand im geo politics.

It is focusing its diplomatic energies in Asia. deepening its economic ties with ASEAN,promoting the ASEAN-sponsored Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, China brokering an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to reopen embassies in each other’ capitals and implement a 1998 economic agreement , its efforts to initiate peace talks between Isreal and Palestine- all become a significant example of this move.

Secondly, it is making efforts to deepen its economic ties with Europe. Premier Li Qiang’s first major international trip since taking office to Germany and France, where he emphasised economic opportunities over geopolitical differences and partnership over rivalry quotes about China’s efforts to promote trade and investment with Europe.

Thirdly, Russia and China deepening ties diplomaticalyy as well as politically offer a great counter to the West. Though China claimed to be a neutral mediator in the war in Ukraine, Xi Jinping, visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow in a show of support for his “dear friend”. Also, they have pulled closer together since the start of invasion. Anumber of bilateral agreements have been signed between the two countries relating to sports, defence, agriculture, services, energy supplies etc.

Fourthly, China is projecting itself as a global leader. Xi Jinping’s claim that BRI would provide more public goods to the entire world states it. China has positioned itself as a foremost champion of voices of Global South. It has made attempts to elevate its profile in the UN as well- It has become the second-largest contributor to the U.N.’s regular budget, as well as the second-largest source of funding for U.N. peacekeeping operations. Beijing has also secured senior positions in many specialized U.N. agencies and provides a significant number of personnel to U.N. peacekeeping operations — the most among UNSC members.

It also believes it can offer alternatives to UN-led groupings like Quad via its initiatives like the BRI project and wants a wholesale reform of global governance.

 HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS IN CHINA

A report from the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute on the BRI has

highlighted issues related to ecological damage, displacement of people, disputes over payouts

and labour unrest. In Laos, the glistening superfast trains and

impressive dam projects over the Mekong River cannot hide the woes of those left high and dry

Due to lack of compensation, or others on whom droughts due to damconstruction projects have wreaked havoc. AidData estimates that Laos owes China around $12.2 billion — about 65% of its GDP. Relating to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a Pakistani legislative report

unearthed that while China cornered 91% of Gwadar port’s revenue, Pakistan pocketed just

9%.

Numerous human rights groups have publicized human rights issues in mainland China-

namely the death penalty, the one-child policy, neglect of freedom of the press in mainland

China, lack of legal recognition of human rights and the lack of an independent judiciary, rule

of law, and due process. According to the Amnesty International report from 2016/2017 the government continued to draft and enact a series of new national security laws that

presented serious threats to the protection of human rights.

On August 31, 2022, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

issued a report claimimg that the Chinese government’s rights violations against Uyghurs

and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang “may constitute ... crimes against humanity.” Since

2017, the Chinese government has carried out a widespread and systematic attack against

Uyghurs and Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang which includes mass arbitrary detention, torture,

enforced disappearances, mass surveillance, cultural and religious persecution, separation

of families, forced labor, sexual violence, and violations of reproductive rights. Human Rights

Watch in 2021 concluded that these violations constituted “crimes against humanity.”

CHALLENGES FOR CHINESE ECONOMY

China’s rapidly ageing popultion will impact economic output and also put a stress on govt. Services. China’s fertility continues to fall; in 2020, for example, the fertility rate of 1.3 births per woman is below the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman. China has a severe imbalance in the ratio of men to women which led it to Reverse its one-child policy in 2016. on top of low birth rates and a rapidly aging population, China also faces a severe exodus of young, talented, highly educated citizens. Although, China ranked first in reading, science, and mathematics in the PISA exam conducted by OECD the educated and qualified workforce isn’t staying in China.

the World Bank cut its 2024 forecast from 4.8% to 4.4% for China’s GDP growth due citing citing persistent difficulties such as elevated debt, property weakness, and an aging population.

Another major challenge for its economy is relative poverty in China compared to the developed world. the average Chinese citizen remains poor relative to the individuals in the developed world because its economic growth began from a very low, communism-induced baseline. The World Bank claims that although China has eradicated extreme poverty, a

 significant number of people remain vulnerable, with incomes below a threshold more typically used to define poverty in upper-middle income countries.

 China is also struck with several environmental problems. It accounts for 27 percent of annual global carbon dioxide and a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions – with per capita emissions now surpassing the European Union's.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIAN ECONOMY

While china has leaped the manufacturing sector, india has witnessed an industrial revolution in services. With more than half a billion internet users in India,India has the makings of becoming the world’s largest digital economy. The global digital revolution has enabled India to leapfrog several stages of development. Its labour productivity growth in the digital economy and modern services sector has grown rapidly. Infact, labour productivity growth in modern services exceeds China’s productivity growth in the manufacturing sector. India has made a big leap in the digital revolution, penetration of AI skills among the Indian workforce across many sectors has been remarkable, India has produced CEOs of Google and sent a large number of workforce to Silicon Valley. India has the potential to become the largest digital economy in the world if efforts are made to scale up investments in digital infrastructure, reduce the digital divide, and change the data use landscape in the country.

 However, to claim that it can leap over China in terms of economy is a picture far way. It will take decades to overcome the Chinese economy given its massive strength.

SOURCES:

https://frontline.thehindu.com/world-affairs/dragon-in-the-room-what-do-china-latest-di