China's meaningful and decisive role in rescuing global economy

Yuba Nath Lamshal

While the entire Western world is badly bruised by history's worst economic crisis, China remains relatively less touched and hurt by global meltdown and it continues to grow vibrantly. China's miraculous and unhindered economic growth despite global recession is a subject of academic debate and research for economic scholars. With high rate of growth and economic prowess, Beijing's clout and influence is also growing up in the global scene. The world is, thus, looking to China for playing its meaningful and decisive role in rescuing global economic order. China is, thus, expected to assume an increased role in global leadership.

This global expectation is mainly influenced and guided by China's growing soft power image. With its growing clout in the global arena, China has already felt its international obligation and is accordingly adjusting its foreign policy and international relations. To do this, China has not adopted hawkish and coercive policy but is furthering its soft power image. In fact, China is already a global soft power and it is trying to further improve this image in the world.

Unlike, other international powers mainly the United States and its allies, Beijing prefers to shun coercive policy in order to achieve its goal in the international scene. Beijing prefers cooperation instead of coercion and partnership instead of pressure in dealing with other countries in the world irrespective of their size and economic and military might. In today\'s interconnected and interdependent world, mutual cooperation and partnership are the best tool to create a safer and just world, which Beijing has well understood and practiced.

There are some international powers that treat countries on the basis of their physical size, economic strength and military might. But these dynamics count a little for China as Beijing wants friendship and cooperation on the basis of mutual equality. Respect to sovereignty of other countries, mutual equality, non-interference in other countries\' affairs and cooperation are some of the cardinal principles of China\'s foreign policy. On the basis of these foreign policy priorities, China\'s has been pursuing its soft power in the world and accordingly trying to play more decisive and meaningful role in the international arena.

As China\'s role in the international scene has dramatically enlarged in t he global politics, this has been a subject of academic discussion and debate in every international forum. China\'s policy has definitely had greater impact on the global politics, security and economic situation. The world is, thus, looking closely at China\'s behavior and policies and also expecting much from Beijing for reshaping new global order.

During the Cold War period, the behavior and policies of the two superpowers-the United States and the Soviet Union- played crucial role in world affairs. With the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union which paved the way for the end of the Cold War and also gave rise to uni-polar world with the United States of America as the only superpower, Washington\'s policies and behaviors ruled the roost in t he global politics and security affairs. Now the situation has changed and is further changing. The power vacuum that was created after the collapse of the Soviet Union is now being filled up, which may give rise to multi-polar world instead of the present unipolar situation dominated by the United States. China is set to emerge as an alternative power in the international scene which would definitely change the current global power equation. This is the reason why China is being the center of discussion in the international forums.

China is already the second largest economy with the possibility of emerging as the largest economy in a few years. China\'s possibility of growing as the largest economy is not based on the fictitious projection but based on factual. Given the speed with which China\'s economy is growing one cannot deny this possibility. Moreover, the Western economies mainly the United States and the European Union are in the worst economic recession and the global economic crisis shows no sign of abating, there have been calls from the international community for an increased Asian intervention mainly by China. The struggling Western economies are looking to cash-rich China as their key rescuer.

China, too, has strongly felt its international obligation and role to rescue the world. But this cannot be without cost. China has already issued strong warning to the Western countries especially Washington and the EU that they have to first look inward and initiate policy measures in order to clear the mess they have created in their economy if they at all want China\'s intervention and assistance to rescue their ailing economies. This message was more clearly conveyed by Premier Wen Jiabao in the World Economic Forum in September, 2011. In his speech, Premier Wen made it clear that Beijing was willing to offer assistance but other Western countries must "first put their house in order". This was Wen\'s message to resolve debt crisis the European economies have suffered.

This shows that China is already a global leader with capability to steer the word into newer but positive order. China has been emphasizing on peaceful rise, which has, to a large extent, been realized. The peaceful rise means China would be no threat to any country in the world. Although some Western countries mainly the United States and some in its own neighborhood seem to be a little skeptical about China\'s peaceful rise, most of the developing countries are happy with China\'s growth and increased international role. China\'s rise and its increased role in the world politics would definitely end the hegemony of the lone superpower, which would help in creating safer and balanced world order.

As China assuming global leadership role, it is being widely said and believed that the 21st century would be Asian century. This is definitely an important paradigm shift in the global power politics. The United States, which is the only superpower at present, has also often spoken of enlarged role of China in the future global power politics and economy. Washington has already seen China as the principal challenger to its global security and political domination. The United States has already sensed its waning power and China\'s rising influence. Washington, thus, has adopted multi-pronged strategies to contain China and check its power enlargement in the globe in general and in Asia in particular. With the objective of containing China, the United States has increased its military presence in South China Sea as well as in the Pacific region on the one hand; it has outsourced its security in South Asia by entering into a military and strategic partnership with India. This way, the United States is trying to encircle China to check Beijing\'s growing influence in Asia and beyond. However, it will have no significant impact as China has no appetite for other\'s territory but only wants to build a partnership with all countries in the world for better economic and security conditions of the world.

China is interested not only to achieve its own foreign policy goal but also wants to contribute to global objectives. China has already started asserting its right as well as role in matters of global concerns. This has two reasons for Beijing\'s foreign policy priorities. One is to enable China to speak its mind in the global affairs and the other one is the assertiveness of its responsibility to undertake in the world.

Against this background, China\'s pursuance of soft power is entirely for defensive and developmental purposes. Beijing, thus, is aiming at forging trust with all countries to promote its brand of soft power. China believes that cooperation in the field of economy, development, culture and education and deeper and stronger contacts and relations at the people\'s level further deepen bilateral relations. China seeks no hostility and enmity with any countries in the world. This is the principal bedrock of Chinese brand of soft power. As a global soft power, China always suggests all countries to have friendly relationship with all and animosity with none. This is also applied to its neighbors including Nepal.

Premier Wen Jiabao\'s suggestions to Nepalese leaders and government, during his recent one-day visit, can also be viewed against this background. Premier Wen told the Nepalese leaders and officials to have equally strong and friendly relationship with its neighbors including India. This gives two clear messages. The first message is that China has no animosity and competition with India, in whatsoever way, and Beijing has no objection if Nepal builds stronger partnership with India for its own national interest and sovereignty. Secondly, China is a soft power and suggests every country to take maximum benefit from the friendship with its neighbors. China\'s concern is Nepal\'s sovereignty, peace, stability and development. For this, Nepal has to adopt balanced foreign policy and friendship with all countries on the basis of mutual equality.