A New Chinese Policy in the World Order

Dr. Bahaa Helmy Writes:

In the last week of December 2020, the Chinese parliament passed an important amendment to the National Defence Law allowing it to play a security role beyond its borders from January 2021, and China announced that it would be a unique role in protecting stability and peace across the world.

It seems to some that this amendment is new to China’s constitution and its foreign and military policy, since its constitution is based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence and the preservation of world peace, and its strategy relies on commitment to a defensive policy and the principle of non-interference in the affairs of other states out of respect for their sovereignty, and rejection of the use of force against any state on the basis of imposing human rights or spreading democracy. Together with a ban on the use of force against any state except in the case of legitimate defence, in self-defence against any aggression.

Here the question arises about the nature, motives and timing of this amendment?

It seems that China decided to change its strategy in political and military dealings at the global level after the intensification of the economic war led against it by former US President Trump, and his accusing it of responsibility for spreading the coronavirus in the world, and the escalating tension that reached the point of a military threat between America and China in the South China Sea following the American announcement of support for Taiwan and the Asian countries bordering the South China Sea.

Despite Beijing’s public warning to the government of Taiwan, whose feelings are tickled by the spirit of secession, that if Taiwan takes any step in this direction it will use military force to extend its sovereignty over the island, even if with American support.

And during the visit of an official of the American administration in the last days of the Trump era, China carried out huge military manoeuvres, sending a carrier group led by China’s newest carrier, the Shandong, into the Taiwan Strait on its way

to military exercises while forces of the American army were present in the South China Sea, in a precedent that is the first of its kind. This raised the fears of Taiwan, which appealed to Beijing to exercise restraint.

Beijing replied that the presence of American forces in the South China Sea is a call against peace and an encroachment on territorial waters.

It is worth noting that China has built hundreds of natural and artificial islands in the South China Sea relying on modern technologies, which has made them territorial waters over which it has the right to extend its influence, something the United States still opposes.

China may have become convinced that American behaviour towards it stems from the convictions of the American administration and its fear of China’s growing rise as a superpower in the world, which it classifies as a threat to it, regardless of the nature of the administration, whether Republican or Democratic, especially since these fears and convictions are rooted in and echoed by American think tanks and media, which call for working with allies to confront China.

The effect of those reasons and motives appears clear on the decision of China’s leaders to change their political and military doctrine in order to preserve their gains, interests and plans extending across the world, in a different way from before.

For it has the Silk Road project, which links the world with huge Chinese financing and means opening a new global gateway for world trade under China’s leadership, according to a new concept and style of dealing that differs from the capitalist style currently followed in world trade, which would restore the global balance of power; this requires protection and security and may need the establishment of various military and naval bases, like the American and Russian bases.. and others.

As for the timing of the announcement of the Chinese amendment to the defence law, it came at a time when the struggle over taking charge of the American administration was intensifying, with the departure of US President Trump and his policies and the arrival of a new Democratic president, taking advantage of the decline of American influence in many regions of the world.

To set before him China’s strategy and its new role in the world order. So that another stage of its rise as a superpower may begin.