The rise of China in the last few decades is inspiring for any country in the world. But at the same time, their rise is posing threat to many countries. Their expansionist policy is now posing threat to the world order. China is now increasing its territory by indulging in conflicts with many countries. If any country opposes China’s expansionist policy they face backlash from the Chinese government.
In this article we will discuss how China is trying to fulfill its expansionist aim and trying to be a major power in world order……………. let’s start……..
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Debt Trap
The Chinese economy is now 2nd largest in the world in terms of Nominal GDP and the largest in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). There are more than 30 Chinese companies on Fortune 500 list, most of these companies are state-funded. China has transformed itself from being a poverty-ridden country to a country with $3 trillion foreign reserves (largest in the world).
Using its economic power, China targets smaller nations that are suffering from economical losses. China brings many promises to these countries in name of development and funds many infrastructure projects to them.
China find opportunity in every crisis. China targets strategic areas in these countries and offer them to transform their strategic areas into a trading hub. Poor countries fall in trap of Chinese false promises and eventually they lose out their territory to China for repaying their loans.
Poor countries find it easier to take loans from China as the Chinese loan conditions are soft as compared to the terms and conditions of World Bank and IMF loans. Thus poor countries fall into a Chinese debt trap.
Countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Laos, Australia, Angola, Greece, Djibouti, Kenya, etc., are already under China’s debt trap. They have lost their strategic areas in the Chinese hand. Like the Hambantota port of Sri Lanka, the National Power grid of Laos, a military base in Djibouti, etc., are such examples of the Chinese debt trap.
Military Coercion By Chinese
The Chinese military is the third strongest in the world (according to the Global firepower index). Countries that do not fall prey to the Chinese debt trap, China attempts to threaten their sovereignty by using its military.
China is continuously increasing its claim in the South China Sea and East China sea. China is continuously advocating that both seas belong to the Chinese territory. Countries that oppose China’s claim get threaten by the Chinese military.
Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, etc., are countries that are facing a military threat from China. Many instances are recorded, where the Chinese military has bullied the Navy of these countries and also has sunk many fisherman’s boat.
Taiwan which proclaims itself as an independent and sovereign country is also facing the continuous threat of invasion by the Chinese military.
Last year, China had once again provoked India, and the confrontation between the Chinese and Indian Military still going on in Eastern Ladakh.
According to various reports, China is building its military on par with the USA and will achieve the same feat by end of this decade i.e. by 2030. Once the Chinese will overtake the US military then it will be easier for China to dictate its terms and conditions with other nations.
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Belt And Road Initiative (BRI)
BRI is one of China’s most ambitious projects. The total cost of the project is of trillion dollars. The project was announced by Xi Jinping when he became Chinese President in the year 2013.
The project aimed to integrate China with all major trade routes of the world. The BRI project consists of rails, roads, ports, airways, and other infrastructure projects. The project will make it easier for China to expand its trade and increase its export.
The complete discussion about BRI will take an article, we will discuss it later. But in a nutshell, it will completely transform the trade routes all over the world and will empower China in the future to control those routes for fulfilling its expansionist policy.
Wolf Warrior Diplomacy By Chinese
The Chinese diplomats are more active than any other of their counterparts on Twitter and other social media. Their diplomats are continuously working to put their own narrative to the world.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is suffering a lot, many countries blame China for the mishandling coronavirus. But to protect China’s image, their diplomats are constantly playing the blame game. The Chinese are putting their own buildup and narrative like sometimes they blame the US for the origin of coronavirus and sometimes India and Bangladesh, just to protect their own image globally.
Due to the action of Chinese diplomats, their diplomacy is known as the Wolf Warrior Diplomacy and their diplomats are called Wolf Warriors.
The term Wolf Warrior came in 2015 when a Chinese movie under the same name was released. The movie focuses on creating a feeling of nationalism in Chinese citizens and protecting China’s image internationally. The Chinese diplomat also drew their inspiration from the movie and are now working hard to protect China’s image globally.
What Wolf Warrior Diplomacy Mean?
- Aggressive style of diplomacy to confront any narrative that goes against China
- Spreading rumors and misinformation to protect the Chinese image
- Going against any country, which questions the Chinese government
What They Want To Achieve Through Their Wolf Warrior Diplomacy?
- Protecting China’s image globally
- Presenting China as a savior of the world
- Showing China as a greater, powerful and economically powerful to the rest of the world
- Creating false beliefs in other countries that after accepting Chinese hegemony, they will prosper
The Wolf Warrior Diplomacy of China is helping China to evade the truth about the origin of coronavirus and also helping it to create a better image globally. It helps China to protect the image of the Chinese Communist Party in their own country. China portrays the western countries as their enemy, which assumes China’s rise as a threat. This helps China to create a false sense of nationalism in Chinese citizens because NATIONALISM IS THE GLUE THAT BINDS CHINA.
Economic Sanctions
China is now manufacturing around 25% of all industrial goods in the world. And, the largest exporter in the world. Chinese goods are of low cost and many countries directly depend on Chinese exports.
Today, China is one of the largest trading partners of around 100 countries in the world. China’s decisions directly or indirectly affect these countries.
China uses its economic superiority to counter these countries when they oppose China. In 2018 when the Philippines had raised its voice against the illegal encroachment of China in the South China Sea, China had stopped its exports and imports from the Philippines, affecting its economy.
Last year, Australia had raised its voice over the origin of coronavirus and attempted to gather countries to probe in the Wuhan lab. China responded by blocking its import from Australia.
In clear terms, China’s economy is now sufficient to give a shock to many countries in terms of their economy.
Nice article brother
Thanks buddy…….