China’s aspirations
I read the article by Yu Dunhai, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (‘Addressing global challenges together’, January 21), with much interest.
He states that the People’s Republic of China “calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation”. He expands further by stating that such goals should come hand in hand with “support for sovereign equality and greater democracy in international relations and resistance to hegemony and power politics”.
This he does by referring, in his introductory paragraph, to the worrying developments in Ukraine and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, presumably implying that China’s aspirations, if shared globally, are a solution to all these conflicts in the long run, which is encouraging.
Yet, while, at face value, China’s aspirations may seem laudable, if not praiseworthy, I cannot help but feeling baffled if not totally bemused by the fact that the same China is persistently rattling its sabres against Taiwan; had broken its 50-year promise to Hong Kong; not to mention the list of human rights allegations for which there is no space to enumerate in this letter.
If China aspires for “sovereign equality” globally and “greater democracy”, it does have to respect smaller democracies like Taiwan, in the first instance, and show respect for the individual by acknowledging “…different social systems, ideologies, historical and cultural backgrounds…”
Ambassador Dunhai writes: “Trade should never be politicised or weaponised.” Though I am all for free trade between Malta and China, this should not result in economic dependence by stealth, years down the line.
As it happens, Dunhai is right in saying that we need “true multilateralism, instead of exceptionalism and double standards for the sole purpose of selfish interests”.
If these are his own aspirations, I am sure they should be equally shared with the government he represents.
I remain thankful that Malta is in the Mediterranean and not in the China Sea and I would welcome to see Dunhai’s aspirations becoming reality by seeing China keeping its promise to Hong Kong, address the human rights concerns and give Taiwan a break.
HENRI GRECH