Amidst the backdrop of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on the same date, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close alliance raises concerns about China’s ulterior motives and the potential ramifications for the world. This gathering, which showcased China’s grand vision for a new world order, is not necessarily good news for the international community.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s flagship foreign policy, was at the forefront of this conference. While it purports to expand global connectivity and trade through massive infrastructure projects, it hides a more sinister agenda – dominance over it’s neighbors and neutralization of the West. President Putin’s prominent role in this event further underscores the geopolitical challenges that may lie ahead.
What may appear as a united front against Western dominance is, in reality, a calculated move by both leaders to challenge the United States. Their shared grievances towards the Western world order are a cause for concern. Their vision of a “fairer, multipolar world” masks a desire to undermine the current global order and elevate themselves as alternative leaders.
President Xi’s statement that “ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry, and bloc politics are not a choice for us” should be viewed with skepticism. Behind this rhetoric lies a clear resistance to Western efforts to pressure China on issues such as trade, technology, and Taiwan’s status. China’s opposition to unilateral sanctions and economic coercion conveniently serves its interests in evading international scrutiny.
The absence of European Union countries at this conference speaks volumes about the divisive nature of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. While Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary was the lone European Union representative, nearly 150 developing nations eagerly participated. This reflects China’s enticing financial incentives and infrastructure projects, which come at a significant cost.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, funded by nearly $1 trillion in loans, may have spurred economic growth in some nations, but it has left others shackled by onerous debt obligations. Despite these consequences, China persists in promoting the BRI as an alternative to Western-led development models.
President Putin’s presence at the forum allowed him to present himself as a global power broker, despite allegations of war crimes in Ukraine and international isolation. In a world where Western nations seek to isolate Russia, Putin’s interactions with Asian leaders showcased Russia’s enduring global influence.
While this conference unfolded, the Middle East faced a crisis between Israel and Hamas, a conflict that threatened to engulf the entire region. China and Russia’s reluctance to unequivocally condemn Hamas set them apart from the United States and Europe’s staunch support for Israel, raising concerns about their motivations in the Middle East.
In essence, the Belt and Road Forum provided China with a stage to promote its vision of a new world order, one that challenges American dominance. However, the implications of this vision for the world are far from positive. China’s dedication to reshaping the global order through economic influence and infrastructure projects should be viewed with caution.
This has been long in the planning, and the Biden Administration doesn’t seem to be able to grasp the importance of these move. And now they are almost complete – this will cost us dearly.