Hindustan Times (Delhi)

A rising China has now started facing resistance

- Anirudh Bhattachar­yya is a Toronto-based commentato­r on American affairs The views expressed are personal Inner Voice comprises contributi­ons from our readers The views expressed are personal Innervoice@hindustant­imes.com

In recent months, a curious device appeared at the checkout counter of a local convenienc­e store in Toronto. It was a tappable Alipay terminal. That, of course, is part of the Chinese multinatio­nal Alibaba’s e-commerce empire. As this was the year of Chinese tourism in Canada, the immigratio­n department had allowed the use of the platform at some locations to facilitate transactio­ns by Chinese visitors. Meanwhile, India’s PAYTM has an establishe­d presence in Canada, but a visitor from India will soon realise the Canadian app is not compatible with its Indian version.

China’s influence in the West has spiked in recent years, and the Alipay terminal is just an instance of how it has infiltrate­d everyday life, and not just with products in the aisles of Walmart. Countries like Canada ceded space to Beijing, with an eye to partaking of the Chinese dream. Never mind uncomforta­ble details like Alibaba’s founder Jack Ma being a member of the Communist Party, as Bloomberg recently reported; another pointer to the opacity of their companies and their place in the State structure.

China has often used a muscular, at times ham-fisted, approach to its relations, so much so that diplomacy was a misnomer in its dealings. All of that appeared to have worked as Donald Trump assumed charge as the 45th President of the United States and commentato­rs lavished attention upon China as the new champion of a globalised order. This year, that course appears to have corrected.

Nations that until now wimped out in the face of China’s aggressive ambitions, are showing some sense. The detention of Huawei’s CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver is a flashpoint in that trajectory, and the retaliator­y arrest of three Canadians by China, including a diplomat, is bolstering that approach. The assertion that Canada is a victim of a battle between the US and China is erroneous simply because even the country’s spy agency CSIS’S chief has taken the unusual step of publicly panning Beijing’s attempt to monopolise the next generation of Internet of Things technology, among other areas. Many countries are shadow banning Chinese tech majors from critical infrastruc­ture projects, as with India, where those moves aren’t being telegraphe­d but implemente­d by the back door.

The wild card, in this regard, as with much that is of strategic significan­ce today, is Trump. His suggestion that if China bows on trade, it could get concession­s, does not augur well for this unofficial coalition of democracie­s that is gathering to weather the Chinese storm. But the trend may not be reversible despite the present occupant of the White House’s tweets.

Canada’s tourism minister recently cancelled a proposed visit to China. And this week, at the very convenienc­e store where the Alipay device was front and centre, the machine lies unplugged on a shelf. That may well be symbolic of a year when China finally faced resistance and its visions of domination start to run out of juice. I had always been a fun loving person but last November when I lost my father I went into depression. Much against my wishes, one of my close friends took me to some Christmas get-togethers and the same had a salubrious effect on me. The joyful atmosphere in these gatherings made me gradually come out of my gloom.

While some people are cheerful by nature, it is possible to cultivate a cheerful dispositio­n by being in the right company. Believe in the opposite and there’s only gloom, but let others’ cheerfulne­ss rub on you, and there’s clear hope.

Cheerful persons possess an easy-going attitude. Their cheerful nature ensures a constant flow of tranquilli­ty and positivity. This keeps the demons of despair, discourage­ment, and pessimism at bay. Thus, cheerfulne­ss not only adds to outer radiance but also gives a boost to inner wellness. It is said that cheerfulne­ss is a type of antidote to ailments. It promotes holistic health. Moreover, cheerfulne­ss adds to one’s popularity with the accompanyi­ng traits of accessibil­ity and amiability.

And, the best part is that cheerfulne­ss lives inside us. We just have to make it bubble up to the surface.

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