NEENAH PAYNE
NEW PARADIGM WRITER
CHINA
SUPPLEMENTS / DOCUSERIES / PERSPECTIVE and HEALTH / CHINA
These articles discuss China's role as a world leader for 1,000 years during the time of the old Silk Road, its decline during the Age of Industrialization, its "Century of Humiliation", and the establishment of the People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong in 1949. They also discuss the opening of the China to the West by Deng Xioping in 1978 and the era of globalization initiated in the 1990's.
However, these articles primarily focus on the era of President Xi Jinping whose presidency has been referred to as the "Third Revolution". Since the Chinese Congress removed term limits for the presidency in 2018, Xi may remain president after his 10-year term ends in 2023. Xi has been referred to as second now only to Mao in revolutionizing China and its role in the world. Some people even say that Xi is more important than Mao. He is the only leader of any nation who has had a vision not just for his own country, but for the world.
President Xi is perhaps the world's first global visionary. His style of "Soft Power" and his "Man of the People" diplomacy served him well when he visited China's 14 poorest areas, in meeting with American farmers, and visiting an American high school. Yet, Xi is stunning the "developed world" with the rollout of the world's greatest network of high-speed bullet trains. Those will be on display to the world when China hosts the 2022 Winter Olympics. Under Xi, China is investing heavily in building up the infrastructure of Africa with roads, highways, bridges, harbors, airports, schools, universities, hospitals, and manufacturing plants. It is a win-win situation as China buys the raw materials it needs for industrialization -- thereby driving up the prices.
At the same time, the genocide of the Muslim Uighur people is taking place in the western province to make way for Xi's "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI) -- aka the New Silk Road. In addition, many countries are complaining that the BRI benefits only China. Finally, the new "Social Credit Score" that China implemented in 2020 is very frightening. Each citizen's behavior is closely monitored and even minor infractions can result in a year-long loss of access to trains and planes, for example.
CHINA
February 3, 2020
The article discusses the book When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order: Second Edition by Dr. Martin Jacques, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Modern International Relations, Tsinghua University and at the China Institute, Fudan University. Dr. Jacques is a Senior Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies, Cambridge University and a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing, Fudan University, Shanghai, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore.
The article links to Dr. Jacques’ talk When China Rules The World in which he discusses the many ways in which China is different from the West. Jacques describes the enormity of China’s territory and population – as well as the rapidity with which that population is growing. He also discusses the accelerating expansion of the Chinese economy which now equals that of the West. Jacques points out that in the last 30 years, the Chinese government has presided over the most remarkable transformation in human history.
Dr. Jacques explains that the last 500 years have been a time of European domination, but we are now moving into a new era. The character of international relations will change profoundly. The 85% of the world’s population that has been dominated by the West since the British Industrial Revolution starting in the 18th century will now have their say for the first time.
Dr. Jacques says that the 2008 financial crisis was a major turning point in the relationship between China and the US. Prior to that, China was expected to overtake the Western economies in 2027. However, by 2013, the projection was changed to 2018. This means that the world has moved into a new era in which globalization is being shaped by China -- and the West is being marginalized.
February 10, 2020
China is surging ahead now with its high-speed bullet trains, education, eradication of poverty, The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aka The New Silk Road, massive investment in infrastructure all across Africa that is making friends of the 55 African nations, and the growing Chinese student enrollment in the US.
Perhaps one of the most subtle ways China is establishing its lead now is through the quiet diplomacy of President Xi Jinping who is winning over one country after another – including Britain, one of the reasons for China's Century of Humiliation. As Xi was welcomed royally in Britain, he invested billions of dollars and introduced a Chinese bond. It is a new day when the “developing world” is investing in the developed world!
President Xi is also quietly befriending Americans from students in Washington state to farmers in Iowa. When Xi visited Lincoln High School in Takoma, Washington, he spoke of his long-term connection to the city. When he announced that he was inviting 100 students to visit China, he got a standing ovation. When Xi visited Iowa, it was again a return visit and he spent time in the home of friends he had made on his first trip as a student years earlier. During his visit, Xi signed the largest soybean deal every made in a single visit.
February 17, 2020
The coronavirus crisis must not make us lose sight of the importance of understanding how powerful China has become under President Xi Jinping. China is one of the most rapidly changing countries on the planet – and is also changing the world in several key ways! Xi Jinping was Vice President from 2008-2013 when he became President. He is now considered the most important Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Since China removed term limits for the presidency in 2018, Xi may be President for life!
Zambian economist Dr. Dambisa Moyo explains in her TED Talk Is China the new idol for emerging economies? that for the first time, there is a challenge to the Western model of politics and economics. She warns that the West is now out of step with the aspirations of the developing world – a world being inspired now by China. She points out that while the developed world holds up the ideals of capitalism, democracy, and political rights for all, people in emerging markets often don't have that luxury.