China: a new global power or a new imperialist?

Ebu Masum Mucahit

Since the beginning of the millennium, China has recorded rapid growth in global investment. Consequent to this, the ultra-industrialized nation has moved a step forward in its international play. It has moved from being a regional player to a global one. This status change has made China adopt the same method as 1900s Europe by exploiting countries’ raw materials worldwide, and thus, increasing its political and economic power. The increase in power has set the county against its western counterparts, especially the US, which has always stood in its way.

A unique tool in China’s political-economic power is loan politics. China has used this strategy in various countries all over Africa, Middle East, Asia, the Balkans and Latin America. Unlike the European colonization method that started in the 16^th century, China is not known for the direct exploitation of nations and communities; instead, it traps its victims with enticement. For instance, Mete Han, the ruler of the Huns, told his Turkish lords in his will that they should not be deceived by the silks and adorned women of China. However, today, China does not entice with silks and women; it now uses loans, roads, bridges, tunnels, canals, etc.

Beijing’s focus has always been on the exploitation of mineral resources. However, the developmental services it renders to countries make several governments oblivion of this. For instance, in some African countries, Chinese illegal or unaccountable mining is obscure to the governments which enjoy China largesse. They are attracted by Chinese loan and project terms, and they are quick to attest their signature to any agreement from Beijing without weighing the long-term consequences.

Today, communities tired of European exploitative imperialism and American occupation are rowing towards the Chinese. However, there are evil characteristics of the new “saviour” these communities and administrators are unaware of. European societies have successfully placed the love and desire of luxuries in people’s minds. This has affected them and has put them in a competition of “development”. Thus, the government’s urge to satisfy this takes them to Beijing’s doorstep. Moreover, this mandate makes them turn blind eyes to things that even threaten their sovereignty and local industrial development.

Railway lines built / planned in Africa with Chinese investment and financing (Source: Mecra)

A contrast between China and the European style of exploitation is demographic adjustments. While the whole of colonial Europe population was not even 500 million, today, China makes up about a quarter of the world’s population. The country strategies a way of dispensing a part of its population across the globe. Many times, Chinese workers abroad do not find it necessary to go back home.  The Chinese government establishes satellite cities for these individuals and employs them for other projects. Subsequently, the country is on the verge of dispensing up to 300 million of its population to other countries. Thus, with a demographic shift, recipient countries are left under Chinese influence.

Besides, the Beijing administration has begun to interfere in the internal affairs of some of its debtor countries. The Chinese government seized the Hambantota ports of Sri Lanka in 2017 as a deduction for debts. It acquired free lands in Simhene and Erkestam regions of Kyrgyzstan in 2002 and two cities and lands in eastern Kazakhstan in 2006 and 2018. The same Chinese administration took Afghanistan’s lands on the Tajikistan border, seized Tajikistan’s lands the size of Sri Lanka in 2016, and bought 3 million hectares of Ukraine’s fertile agricultural lands (9% of the country’s surface area). It purchased the region where Rohingya Muslims live in Myanmar and many Greek islands in the Aegean. Apparently, China silently continues these activities in a pretty different style. Hence, the tale of Chinese soft silk and adorned women manifests yet again.

It is worthy of note that neither China nor any other exploitative nation deserved to be trusted.Thus, leaders should be careful with the way they relate with Beijing. In this case, Sudan’s Omar Bashir comes to mind. The disposed Sudanese leader conceded his country’s mines to China against the expansionist policy of Europe. However, in 2018, China sacrificed him to Europe because its interest is not threatened. Today, while Omar Bashir is in prison, Beijing continues to exploit Sudan’s natural resources.

Beijing’s influence goes beyond loans and financial largesse. Today, it offers scholarships to students from various African and Central Asian countries. The country is the third country host of international students, after the USA and the UK (2017). Considering that those who destroyed the Ottoman Empire were the students sent to study in France, it is scary to note that China alumni may be pushing for Chinese interest when they come back home.

At this junction, it is worthy of saying thatthe Beijing administration’s policies are protected and promoted by certain interests. The first being local authorities who see obscure agreements with Beijing as a way to cash out. Another factor is the cracks in international blocs. For instance, Britain has recently rivalled the USA, France, Germany bloc on the world stage.  In a conflict like this, Britain does not directly confront them; it rather indirectly allies with any other power that does that. And as a matter of fact, the new Silk Road extended to the UK. Britain wants to revive the railroad against the sea route controlled by the USA and Rockefeller influences. For this reason, Britain needs to take side with Beijing ad eventually uses it as a Trojan horse.

Conclusively, people must uphold self-respect and protect their interests. For this, often, they have to get rid of being the slaves of technology and comfort. During the petrol crisis, which put the west against Saudi Arabia, King Faisal pointed that his people can always get rid of the luxury supplies from the west, but the west cannot do without their oil.

Trade organizations operating with fairness and equity should be formed and made to perform. For instance, the late Turkish prime minister Necmettin Erbakan initiated D8 against the EU and the World Trade Organization. Undoubtedly, if unions like this are made to strive, they will help develop the world with fairness. Patriotic education is a prerequisite for the people too. They should put collective interests and values above worldly gains.