13th May 2023 – (Beijing) China’s emergence as a global leader has been accompanied by a concerted effort to promote peace and stability across the world. While the United States has long been viewed as the world’s policeman, China is increasingly positioning itself as a peacekeeper, mediator, and facilitator of diplomatic solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conflicts. This approach is in stark contrast to the United States, which has been accused of fanning the flames of conflict and pursuing a strategy of perpetual war.
One of the most significant examples of China’s diplomatic efforts is its involvement in the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran. When Arab leaders met Xi Jinping at a regional summit in Riyadh in December 2022, the Chinese head of state pitched an unprecedented idea: a high-level gathering of Gulf Arab monarchs and Iranian officials in Beijing in 2023. Days later, Tehran signed on as well. China had recently brokered a deal to restore relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which had gone seven years without ties. The broader summit between Iran and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which hasn’t previously been reported, is on track for later this year. This is an example of China’s efforts to promote peace and stability in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
China is also making significant efforts to establish ties with Latin America. President Xi has pledged China’s firm support for Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries to cement the sound momentum of peace, stability, independence, solidarity, and development, advance regional integration, and play a greater role in international affairs. China will work with Brazil to ensure the continued success of the China-CELAC Forum, take cooperation between China and LAC countries to a new level, and achieve common development. China will also work with Brazil to strengthen cooperation with MERCOSUR and UNASUR. Facing global changes of a magnitude unseen in a century, China and Brazil are resolved to stand on the right side of history, practice true multilateralism, advocate the common values of humanity, work for a more just and equitable international governance system, truly safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international justice and equity, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. China will step up strategic coordination with Brazil on global issues of mutual interest in the UN, BRICS, the G20, and other multilateral institutions, and enhance coordination on climate response.
China’s efforts to promote peace and stability are in stark contrast to the United States, which has been accused of fanning the flames of conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The United States has been supplying weapons to Taiwan, and there have been growing calls for the United States to take a more aggressive stance towards China. China has repeatedly warned the United States against interfering in its internal affairs and has called for peaceful reunification with Taiwan.
China’s efforts to promote peace and stability are also evident in its recent diplomatic efforts with Australia. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will visit Australia in July, according to a source close to the Chinese government and an Australian academic, with the “reciprocal visit” the latest in a series of high-profile political and trade-related moves. Amid improving ties between Beijing and Canberra, Australian trade minister Don Farrell arrived in China on Thursday for a three-day visit that will include a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on Friday.
China’s efforts to promote peace and stability are not limited to its immediate neighbourhood. China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs Li Hui will visit Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and Russia, starting on 15th May, to communicate with all parties on a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. Chinese experts said Li’s upcoming visits demonstrate China’s efforts to bring about a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, showing China’s objective and fair stance as a responsible power.
As European Union foreign ministers convene to discuss a unified approach to China, three senior Chinese officials and diplomats are presently in Europe. Despite challenges in bilateral relations, Chinese analysts interpret these intensive interactions as a positive indication of China’s sincerity. They anticipate that these communications will prompt Europe to resist external pressures and adopt a more realistic and pragmatic perception of China. Against this backdrop, high-level communication and dialogue between China and the EU are deemed both necessary and urgent. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng recently visited Portugal and the Netherlands, while in Austria, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, expressed China’s unwavering support for European integration.
Meanwhile, at the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, the ex-President George W. Bush stated that the aim was to promote democracy in the Middle East to eliminate hatred and terrorism in the region. However, after 20 years of US involvement, people are critical of the country’s achievements. A global study by the Chinese Institute of Public Opinion at Renmin University and CGTN Think Tank found that over 50% of Afghan respondents believe that their country is worse off than before, and almost 80% believe that regime change under America’s counterterrorism goal was wrong. The country has suffered a significant loss in GDP, with projections estimating a 20% drop in 2022, and almost a million jobs have been lost since the U.S. withdrew its troops. The UN has warned of starvation in the country, with approximately six million Afghans on the verge of starvation. The U.S. has funded much of the country’s public expenditure, but after pulling back its troops and holding Afghan central bank assets hostage, the country is struggling to hold on with the aid of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and China.
The U.S.’s promise of democracy has not been fulfilled, and it has backed out of its commitment to Afghanistan. President Joe Biden has stated that the U.S. mission was never intended to be nation-building, and the U.S. has prioritised its self-interests over keeping its promises, raising questions about its political willingness and competence. The U.S. should be condemned for breaking its promises to the Afghan people, who once looked up to the U.S. for democracy and stability. The U.S. has left behind an unstable system that does not have the support of the people, which has led to the current situation.
This is an example of what happens when a country overestimates its capability to mold another country without considering its culture and history. Foreign intervention and nation-building do not serve the targeted people’s interests in the long run. The U.S.’s justification for intervention was to end terrorism and hatred, but its actions and betrayal have only amplified them.
A four-star U.S. air force general predicted that a war between the U.S. and China is likely in the next two years, mainly over the Taiwan region. This move has been criticised as reckless and provocative by Chinese experts, who believe that it would inflame tensions and deepen strategic mistrust between the two countries, which are already at a low ebb. Some analysts believe that the U.S. intends to use military leverage to gain more in bilateral discussions, as evidenced by several “slips of the tongue” by President Biden over U.S. military interference in Taiwan. However, it is important to prioritise diplomacy and dialogue over military solutions to resolve disputes.
China’s efforts to promote peace and stability are a reflection of its growing role as a global leader. As the United States continues to pursue a strategy of perpetual war, China is positioning itself as a mediator and facilitator of diplomatic solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conflicts. This approach is likely to win China many friends and allies in the international community, as it seeks to promote peace and stability across the world.
