taz.de
China's Multipolar Vision: Economic Strength, Military Buildup, and Internal Risks
China views the global order as shifting from Western to multipolar dominance, aligning with Russia against Western hegemony but pursuing distinct strategies; its economic strength and military modernization underpin its ambitions, while internal economic stability is crucial for Xi's rule.
- What are the points of convergence and divergence between China and Russia's worldviews?
- China's alignment with Russia stems from shared authoritarianism and opposition to Western hegemony. However, their goals differ: Putin prioritizes self-preservation through military means, while Xi focuses on economic expansion and cautious military buildup. Russia's Ukraine war has shifted the balance, increasing China's influence in Central Asia.
- What are the primary internal and external risks to China's current strategic trajectory?
- China's economic prowess, particularly its dominance in rare earth processing technology and its role as a major trading partner for many nations, gives it leverage in trade disputes with the US. However, economic performance remains crucial for Xi Jinping's legitimacy, making any significant economic downturn a significant internal threat. A potential decline could lead to actions like an attack on Taiwan to distract from domestic issues.
- How does China's leadership analyze the current world order, and what are its strategic goals?
- China, under Xi Jinping, views the global order as shifting from Western dominance to a multipolar system, seeing the West's decline and the rise of the East. This view is reinforced by Trump's perceived acceptance of Western decline, contrasting with Biden's approach. China's strategy emphasizes economic strength through trade and the Belt and Road Initiative, alongside military modernization.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing consistently favors the Chinese perspective, presenting the country's actions and goals as largely positive and justified. The questions themselves often guide the responses towards a favorable portrayal of China's geopolitical ambitions.
Language Bias
While the language is largely neutral in its description of events, the choice of terms like "authoritarian states" versus "democracies" may reveal a subtle bias towards China's system of governance, given the context of its opposition to western hegemony.
Bias by Omission
The interview focuses heavily on China's perspective and omits detailed analysis of other countries' viewpoints, potentially neglecting the complexities of international relations. The limitations of the interview format should be acknowledged, but more balanced sourcing would improve the analysis.
False Dichotomy
The interview presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between a rising East and a declining West. While China's rise is undeniable, the analysis overlooks the nuances and complexities within both the East and West, presenting an oversimplified view of global power dynamics.
Sustainable Development Goals
China's economic policies, while boosting its own growth, may exacerbate global inequality by prioritizing its own interests and potentially leaving other nations behind in the global economic race. The article highlights China's dominance in areas like rare earth processing technology, giving it significant leverage in global trade but potentially disadvantaging other countries. Furthermore, China's approach to economic development, which includes suppression of labor rights and a focus on manufacturing for export, doesn't address income inequality internally.