Khurram Sajjad |
After the recent increase of the discourse in print and electronic media on declining American power in front of the resurgence of Russia and emerging China at the eastern hemisphere of the world, the US stood up after smelling the rat to flex its muscles to defend its decades-long claim of unipolarity. Today, covert war between America and China go on to grab the status of assuming a global leader. Even though, the Obama administration’s reflection was also to impede China’s rise at the Pacific region across the Strait of Malacca, whereupon China turned elsewhere to avert any confrontation.
However, after the transition of American civilian regime, Donald Trump perplexed the world from his proclaimed economic isolationist policy to his militarily practical implementation of global engagement policies especially in conflicts. Fearing impediments at the Pacific region, China had taken to its western region to find a possible way to the warm waters, but apparently remained uncertain after Afghanistan started receiving more American troops to jeopardize China’s desires.
China could win the trust of states through incessant economic development, and regional connectivity. However, she may face large challenges to get the slot of America.
The uproar of China is usually undertone so as to express the notion of peace and harmony to which they are pretty conformed to. China’s wait and watch policy has wondered the entire world despite them facing various economic hurdles in the way, but it will not be long-lived now.
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China believes that the 21st century will be their century to assume the role of a peaceful global player rather than a brutal persona. In order to meet the principles of realism, China is now focusing on the military’s might to counter any challenge with force if the impeding situation against it continues. Furthermore, China is rapidly developing the capacity to confront America`s military advantage, despite the fact, her defence budget is three times smaller than that of the US.
Pakistan went all out to assure China of its successful completion of the CPEC project — China’s western advancement to the port of Pakistan adjacent to warm waters; Gawadar Port. Even though, Pakistan had readily assumed its role to be as one of the Asian Tigers across South Asia, particularly after China assumed the role of global player with the drawdown of NATO forces from Afghanistan back in 2014 under the Obama regime.
It was also envisaged that the long held animosity between Pakistan and India would be resolved by reinvigorating the objectives of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) to be spearheaded by China by carrying forward the objectives of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation).
The Obama administration’s reflection was also to impede China’s rise at the Pacific region across the Strait of Malacca, whereupon China turned elsewhere to avert any confrontation.
In order to ensure their real materialization, Pakistan brought China and Russia in to resolve Pak-India perennial existence of disputes, which was also better for the future prospects of the SCO. But unfortunately the sudden change of the US policy threw water to the contemplated dreams of Pakistan and China in general and Russia, in apparent.
The US took no time to take off to come on the air for telling the world that its might continues to remain unscathed despite rising China and the revisionist power. That is why; it got itself engaged with almost all outstanding issues of the globe, which are as follows:
The Middle- East: The US jumped into the Syrian imbroglio to counter the spreading influence of Iran and Russia to flourish unprecedented mutual collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Israel for strengthening its position. It is also argued that the US has been instrumental in forging cold relationship between these two countries, which ever remained in a bitter feud. Hence, this move has mustered the role of US in the region.
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The Pacific region: the US got indulged in heated rhetoric with North Korea due to its unfettered nuclear might, to seek the support from South Korea, Japan and others, so as to get the advantage of his policy of defusing economic agreement namely Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) initiated by the Obama administration, to which the Pacific states expressed repugnance against it— which was certainly profitable for the Pacific Rim.
Moreover, the US also came in to back Taiwan’s autonomy, which has been distasteful to China. The US believed that China is backing North Korea to weaken its hegemony and imperialism, which compels it to go for Taiwan’s advocacy in the region.
Pakistan brought China and Russia in to resolve Pak-India perennial existence of disputes, which was also better for the future prospects of the SCO.
The European region: BREXIT brought a blow to the stability of the EU. There goes apprehension on the part of European countries that the US would dampen its further military and financial support to protect the region. The European countries especially Germany and France expressed their sentiments over dismemberment of Britain from the union in such a time when Russian mounting a threat is hovering over the region especially after economic sanctions are imposed by the west.
Most notably, the EU always enjoyed the financial and military support of the US. However, after the disintegration of the EU, the reliance on the US by them for assistance is declining gradually. Nevertheless, the Russian threat will keep the reliance intact.
The Asian region: The successful completion of the CPEC project in Pakistan is in the state of commotion after Trump’s Afghan policy decides to prolong its stay at Afghanistan with the increase of military reinforcement. The extended stay in Afghanistan of the US forces gives benefits to India to operationalize its Chahbahar Port project, rival to Pakistan’s Gawadar Port, for grabbing the status of Asian Tiger from Pakistan. India has been in mad-pursuit to emulate China.
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For this, it intends to maintain hegemony across South Asia. The close partnership between India and the US is not better for the region. Inevitably, Pakistan will seek American support to defuse Indian bellicose against her.
On the other hand, the status of Russia at this juncture goes invisible hitherto. The retention of American influence worldwide will be decided by the economic usurpation by China. China and Russia apparently seem to be on the same page when it comes to eyeing on the US.
The US believed that China is backing North Korea to weaken its hegemony and imperialism, which compels it to go for Taiwan’s advocacy in the region.
However, they seem divided when it comes to assuming a global role, after the US. In order to compete with the US, China is planning to send elite military units; Tigers of Serbia and Night tigers, to Syria for assisting Asad’s regime, clearly opposite to the American policy. At the same time, the US and Russia have failed to draw consensus over the Syrian issue.
This implies that China wants to gain unspoken support of Iran and Russia to fulfill her dream of outstripping America at the global level. After all, China is also a veto-wielding power of the UN Security Council, and she uses many vetoes against the US.
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The US still enjoys strong political, technological, economic and military advantages over China. China could win the trust of states through incessant economic development, and regional connectivity. However, she may face large challenges to get the slot of America. Her primary hegemony across the Indian oceans will determine China’s capability to reach the climax. Besides all, the rapid economic development of China could certainly enable her to secure the position of a global player.