Professor Dr. Shreedhar Gautam
Secretary General
Nepal Council of World Affairs (NCWA)
Nepal
Francis Fukuyama made a prophecy after the end of cold war that “World history has reached its final destination with the end of communist empire in Soviet Union”. What he had in mind was that Western type democracy as understood in the form of elections and free market would be the ultimate solution of all riddles of human history. But now Fukuyama prophecy is proved to be mistaken. Fukuyama ignored the fact that exclusive democracy is challenged for long by a more democratic alternative in other parts of the world.
One of the thinkers of 20th century Acharya Rajnish, also known as Osho, on the other expressed the view that he would prefer the third world war rather than the destruction of the Soviet Union. He was worried that in the name of peace Gorbachov could go beyond the limits. He further said that death of the Soviet Union would be the death of all evolution, of all possibilities, of a world without boundaries, of a world without class, of a world richer in every sense of word, not only money but consciousness too; not only power but art and music and dance. He meant that if Gorbachev wanted peace in the world at the cost of communism, that peace was not worth of it. It is worth remembering that the same Osho had opposed Socialism and also denounced the leaders like Stalin and Mao.
Before his death in 1991, Osho remarked that Soviet Union was hope for humanity. I have quoted these two thinkers to show their different perception about socialism. The present situation of the world does not match with the euphoria seen in the Western world and elsewhere after the collapse of the socialist system in Soviet Union. China’s new leadership too seems to understand this reality, so it has rejected the western countries call to follow the west minister style democracy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s emphasis is on realizing “China Dream” by strengthening
socialism with Chinese Characteristics on the one hand and expanding bilateral and multilateral initiatives in the neighborhood and beyond with new and far reaching projects like Silk Road Economic Belt. China has succeeded in expanding its connectivity to majority of world countries through its economic policies.
Its neighboring countries like South Korea, Japan, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, have taken positively China’s initiative to establish Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank.
While Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka have already joined the new bank, others are expected to join in future. This is a major development because AIIB is supposed to fund for Silk Road Infrastructure. China’s adherence to the policy of non interference in the internal matter of other countries has been the major factor in receiving wider acceptance in the Silk Road project. Though Vietnam, Japan and Philippines have territorial dispute with China, they continue to expand their economic relationship. Chinese president has visited South Korea to create a climate of trust and understanding. China seems committed to the goal of building an affluent, strong, civilized and harmonious socialist modern country to fulfill the aspirations of Chinese people.
China’s foreign policy has not been changed as its basic direction remains same.
The description of foreign policy in the 2012 and 2014 government reports both followed the logic of ‘’diplomacy with neighboring countries; diplomacy with developing countries; diplomacy with major powers; (and) multilateral diplomacy.’’ This indicates certain continuity between the two administrations in foreign policy. In china, there is a saying that in foreign policy ‘’ the neighboring countries are of first importance and the major powers are the key’’. Prior of Premier Li’s work report, there were some voices questioning this conventional wisdom. According to the explanation in Li’s report, the basic principle of diplomacy will be continued. This indicates that in spite of the importance of relations with major powers and the urgent desire to develop that relationship, major power relations will not surpass the fundamental importance of diplomacy with neighboring countries.
The explanation of diplomacy with neighboring countries is different, and the government led by Li keqiang has paid more attention in this respect. Wen’s 2012 report, when referring to diplomacy with neighboring countries, said, ‘’we will continue to deepen friendly relations with our neighbors; actively participate in cooperation mechanisms with them; deepen regional cooperation; and work with them in creating a regional environment of peace, stability equality mutual trust cooperation and mutual benefit.’’ The wording emphasized stability and peace. The 2014 government report elaborated on this concept pledging to ‘’comprehensively promote diplomacy with neighboring countries, consolidate friendly relations with neighbors and depend mutually beneficial cooperation. We will safeguard the victory of the Second World War and the post war international, and will not allow anyone to reverse the course of history.’’ In fact, the wording of ‘’ comprehensively promote’’ echoed the high standard of the central committees’ October 2013 ‘’conference on diplomatic work with neighboring countries.’’ Li’s work report is an external reflection of the diplomatic guiding ideology of the central committee. It can be seen that diplomacy with neighboring countries will continue to prosper in future.
China’s revival of Silk Road Economic Belt is the sign of growing national confidence born out of the economic prosperity gained over the last three decades. President Xi Jinping has been pledging to continue targeting the goal of “great renewal of the Chinese nation” ever since his coming to power in 2012. He has described the “The Road towards Renewal” as a retrospective on the Chinese Nation, a celebration of its present and a declaration on its future. Citing a line from one of Mao Zedong’s poems, “Idle boast the strong pass is a wall of iron,” while visiting national museum of China on November 29 Xi said, the Chinese nation had suffered unusual hardship and sacrifice in the world’s modern history.
Talking about China’s today, President Xi borrowed another line from Mao’s poems, “But man’s world is mutable, seas-become mulberry fields,” referring to the country’s hard-earned finding of a correct road toward rejuvenation and its remarkable achievements since the launch of reform and opening up. “It is the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” he stressed.
Chinese continue to believe in their socialism with Chinese characteristics, not following the western style democracy as practiced in Europe and America. Parliamentary democracy successful in Britain may not be applicable in other countries. So, logic demands that countries should understand each other’s history, culture, literature and other sensitive issues.
Text courtesy: Nepal Council of World Affairs journal, 2016.
Thanks the Editorial board of the NCWA and the distinguished author Professor Gautam: Ed. N. P. Upadhyaya.