Diplomacy, mutual respect key to security
OVER the past few days, the world, including many in Africa, watched closely “the balloon episode” with growing concern that it could further complicate US-China relations and cause lasting damage.
The “balloon” and “objects” crisis has raised tensions between the US and China, the world’s two biggest economies, with the potential to damage crucial efforts to foster co-operative bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.
China is the biggest trading and development partner with Africa. The Biden administration has sought to woo African countries to bolster waning relations.
On February 4, the US military shot down what it reportedly claimed to be a “Chinese balloon” which hovered over North America for a couple of days, heightening tension with China.
The US army has since shot down three other flying objects which were not connected to the balloon.
According to the BBC, the White House eventually acknowledged that the flying objects may be “tied to commercial or research entities and therefore benign”. Washington said the three flying objects were shot down because they were flying at low altitude, risking potential collision with commercial aircraft.
CNN reported that US authorities were considering that the balloon may inadvertently have been diverted offcourse by heavy wind blowing it into US airspace.
The shooting of the civilian airship demonstrated a disproportionate show of force by the US, which may stump diplomatic efforts with China and many other countries.
While the Biden administration might have chosen to appease local constituencies, especially the hawkish camp of the Republican Party, by its show of force, a more measured diplomatic approach would have been the most appropriate.
Beijing said the balloon was a “civilian” craft collecting meteorological data which was blown off course.
China said the shooting of the balloon was irresponsible, and that the US had illegally flown over 10 balloons in the past year across the Chinese airspace without approval.
As reported by international media, in 2001 a US Navy spy plane strayed into Chinese airspace, resulting in a fatal crash with a Chinese jet. Two years before this, Nato planes accidentally bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing three people. Accidents do happen in international affairs, but require diplomacy more focused on fostering co-operation.
The balloon crisis threatens to toxify multilateral relations.
The US House of Representatives voted unanimously to condemn China for a “brazen violation” of US sovereignty, while Republican politicians and much of the Western media seized the balloon moment to stoke Sinophobia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled a planned visit to China. In November 2022, presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali, forging a semblance of mutual goodwill.
According to the BBC, bilateral trade between the two global giants hit a record-high at $690.6billion in 2022. China is the major development partner for African countries. Only peaceful diplomatic bilateral and multilateral engagements can sustain mutually beneficial relations.