UPSC EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : China, a ‘want-to-be’ superpower

Source: The Hindu

• Prelims: Current events of international importance(BRI, Regional forums, Saudi-Iran accord, G20, SCO, mapping(Middle East) etc

• Mains GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional and global grouping involving India or affecting India’s interests, BRI and issues associated with it etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

• The first anniversary of the China-brokered détente between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023 passed without much attention.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context

The Saudi-Iran accord:

• The agreement addresses the most serious regional confrontation

• It reduces regional tensions and puts in place the bases for further dialogue on improving relations and engaging on contentious issues.

• Meetings of Saudi and Iranian officials in Baghdad and Muscat in 2021 and 2022 Addressing issues that divide the two countries The wars in Syria and Yemen Saudi concerns relating to Iran’s mobilization of Shia communities in the region Arab states were prepared to pursue their interests without United States involvement. S. not as a security-provider: The U.S.’s military failures in Iraq and Afghanistan contributed to its loss of credibility among its regional allies.

• Addressing issues that divide the two countries The wars in Syria and Yemen Saudi concerns relating to Iran’s mobilization of Shia communities in the region

• The wars in Syria and Yemen

• Saudi concerns relating to Iran’s mobilization of Shia communities in the region

• Arab states were prepared to pursue their interests without United States involvement.

• S. not as a security-provider: The U.S.’s military failures in Iraq and Afghanistan contributed to its loss of credibility among its regional allies.

Role of China:

• China is an attractive partner.

• It has substantial energy, trade, investment and technology-related ties with West Asia

• It is the region’s largest buyer of crude oil

• It is a major trade and investment partner, and rapidly expanding its role as a technology-provider in most countries.

China’s mediation policy:

● Wang Yi (director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee) Set up a new China-backed international mediation organization headquartered in Hong Kong.

● Algeria, Belarus, Cambodia, Djibouti, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Serbia and Sudan were signatories to the initial statement as a preparatory office was launched.

● The Chinese establishment links the mediation initiative to its economic corridor, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

○ The BRI has extensive membership in West Asia as well, with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE among others.

○ Israel, is not a signatory.

China’s role in the Red Sea crisis:

● China has been absent through the crisis in the Red Sea

● China’s crafty diplomacy is to predominantly protect its own interests and

● China’s support for the Palestinian cause without criticizing Hamas

○ This stands against U.S. support for Israel.

Why is ‘mediation diplomacy ‘an aspirational design for China?

● It is to position itself as an antithesis to what China sees as decades worth of western interventionist policies, specifically in a region such as West Asia

○ where conflict has direct correlation with colonial history.

● It is to increase its own geopolitical weight as a responsible international actor and power.

● Counter long-standing American influence and to take advantage of crevasses in regional diplomacy,

○ specifically by the likes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates(UAE)

○ They are looking to chart their own paths of strategic autonomy

○ They are willing to partner with China despite having close security ties with the USA.

Way Forward

• China seems content with predominantly displacing American hegemony without replacing it A perception of being a ‘soft hegemon’ in the region will stand starkly against Chinese grandstanding against western policies.

• A perception of being a ‘soft hegemon’ in the region will stand starkly against Chinese grandstanding against western policies.

• China utilized the ‘war on terror’-era to build closer ties with the U.S. It benefited its own security concerns regarding radicalisation and terrorism narratives around its restive Xinjiang region.

• It benefited its own security concerns regarding radicalisation and terrorism narratives around its restive Xinjiang region.

• Scholars Sheena Chestnut Greitens and Isaac Kardon: China, for its partner states, is more about their internal security rather than external. Prioritizing political security of regimes rather than states.

• Prioritizing political security of regimes rather than states.

• The war in Gaza colors China as still being a ‘want-to-be’ superpower.

• China remains a utilitarian superpower for others to hedge against rather than being an upcoming traditional superpower.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. what importance does it hold for India.(UPSC 2021) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

Editorial Analysis – 26 March 2024