By Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Director, Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future, Communication University of China, Beijing, China |
Vaccine conspiracy, Xinjiang Cotton ban, G-7 belligerence towards the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) in the form of infrastructure financing mechanism and now AUKUS military pact are all clear manifestations of the West’s continuous hypocrisy and rivalry against rising China. In September 2021, the AUKUS military pact was signed between the UK, the U.S., and Australia to counter China in the Asia Pacific by facilitating Australia to develop nuclear-powered submarines. The U.S and the U.K will exclusively provide the technical assistance and expertise to Australia for enhancing nuclear submarine capacity. The U.S. is sharing its submarine technology for the first time in 50 years. It had previously only shared technology with the UK. The new grouping aims to target the Chinese presence in the Asia Pacific, which can escalate to a greater rivalry. These continued ultra-nationalist efforts/projects by the West, especially America in the tough time of the pandemic made one thing apparent that U.S. has not shed the notion of traditional warfare and still looming with the Cold war mentality.
Moreover, it is quite clear that the nuclear submarines are directed at China as there is no reason for Australia to purchase, as it faces no great defence perils from the Pacific microstates surrounding it. The new security partnership was announced in a joint virtual press conference between U.S. President Joe Biden, U.K Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison. The AUKUS controversy illustrates that even the closest partners can become enemies when commercial concerns are there. After all, the French defence industry would have gained a profitable deal if the Australians had gone ahead with it. Obviously, the UK and U.S.A have had other vicious motives, as their own military-industrial complex will surely benefit from manufacturing subs for Australia. However, the more troubling reality emerging from this conspiracy is the deployment of nuclear vessels in the Pacific. It appears that in their desire to hem in China or regional peace, the Western bloc is prepared to open up a new front in the Indo-Pacific. Though Australia has affirmed that it has no intention to acquire nuclear weapons. However, the trilateral defence pact, AUKUS may result catalyst for a nuclear arms race and put huge repercussions on regional peace and stability. In this regard, the international community, including neighboring countries, has risen to question Australia’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation.
Flexing Nuclear Muscles:
The West, especially the U.S. has remained a prominent rival to Chinese-led projects. The irreversible rise of China has been tried to curtail by the U.S. through negative propaganda and media campaigns. In the Covid-19 pandemic, where countries are aspiring to tackle this non-traditional security challenge, assist each other with maximum vaccinations, curtail humanitarian crisis, and eradicate other common issues, the West has been indulged in offensive means to sabotage Chinese inclusive economic development projects and its strong global outreach. Instead of flexing its military muscle, the Western bloc needs to engage China at the negotiating table because once sparked an arms race will be difficult to contain. The West, especially the U.S. must shed the obsolete Cold War mentality that threatens regional stability and peace. It has been unveiled to the world that the U.S. is trying to pursue its vicious agendas via coercive actions and negative rhetoric. However, it would be lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet because such political maneuvers cannot impact China's irresistible and irreversible global outreach.
China’s Global Assertiveness and Outreach:
China has become a global leader through its policies of peace, stability, and integrating nations. From inclusive economic development projects, i.e., BRI to vaccine diplomacy, China has outmaneuvered its rivals at every front. The greater alliance of countries for socio-economic development under the ambit of BRI clearly shows trust and confidence in the Chinese government. Many countries across the world have adopted prudent and effective strategies to modernize and diversify their economies under China’s grand vision of shared prosperity. The result-oriented efficacious strategies by the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping have ultimately proved to be a milestone development for amicably resolving the common challenges.
Undoubtedly, China has challenged the global hegemonic structure and initiated better projects or alternatives for shared prosperity. Therefore, the belligerent narratives like rivalry or competition, and AUKUS security deals would not affect China as it is a leading superpower. Moreover, China is advanced in technological development that will help it to enhance its defence/security potentials. China has this narrative that development is the right of all countries, rather than the exclusive privilege of the few. Thereby, it is committed to pursuing development for both China and the world and bringing benefits to all. As the world's largest developing country, China contributes to humanity by maintaining long-term stable development. China's innovative achievements in science and technology have brought greater convenience to work and daily life worldwide, and injected new impetus into international technological innovation and global economic growth. There are many prolonged challenges in the world. In this regard, there is a stark need for wider integration, not rivalries or fierce competition. Therefore, the West and AUKUS group need to stop projecting hostile projects, rhetoric, and propaganda against China and revisit their ideas in order to integrate nations for regional stability worldwide.
