Understanding ChinaArtical Name :

Arabs should find it easy to understand China

Artical Subject :

27/01/2020Publish Date:

Dr. Narayanappa JanardhanAuther Name:

As 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’sRepublic of China, the most often repeated statement around the world,including the Arab region, about the Asian rising superpower is: ‘It is verydifficult to understand China’. Why and how difficult is it to understand a country that is rooted intraditional Confucianism and follows modern policies rooted in the maxim: “Itdoesn’t matter whether the cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice”? WhenChinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who is credited with the ‘cat and mice’ saying,launched the ‘Reform and Opening’ programme in 1978, China’s GDP was merely USD150 billion (against the US’s USD 2.5 trillion). Forty years later, it is anastounding USD 14 trillion (against the US’s USD 20 trillion).China’s TransformationIf understanding this transformation is difficult, one needs to justlook back at the economic history of China. For 1800 of the last 2000 years,China (and India) was among the biggest economies in the world, according toBritish economist Agnus Maddison. The steady return of China to No. 2 in theglobal economic leaders table (and perhaps No. 1 over the next decade or two)means that a prosperous West over the last 200 years is an exception and not arule. In the process of this transformation China hasachieved the following feats: become the largesttrading country worldwide, with about 130 countries being No.1 trade partners;lifted about 800 million citizens out of poverty; is referred to as the“world’s factory”; and manages the largest social security system, with basicold-age pension covering more than 900 million.If these realities do not help Arabs understand China better, here iswhat is in the pipeline. Its economic sea-land connectivity plan called the Beltand Road Initiative (BRI) – which is spread across Asia, Africa and Europe – isreportedly worth over USD 1 trillion (compared to the US-led post-World War IIMarshall Plan to counter the Soviet Union’s influence, which was valued at USD 13billion in 1950 or equivalent of USD 176 billion in 2015). And, China boasts ofa fleet of nearly 350 ships and counting (compared to the US’s declining tallyof 250 ships), which makes it a potential naval/military superpower of thefuture.Arab-China TiesIn relation to the Arab world, the volume of trade between China and theregion was nearly USD 250 billion in 2018. Chinese companies also signed newcontracts worth about USD 35 billion.China’s first ‘Arab Policy Paper’ published in 2016 stated that jointefforts will be made with Arab countries to promote the initiative under theprinciple of “wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit”.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[i]<!--[endif]--> Italso stated that China and Arab countries will adopt the ‘1+2+3 cooperation’pattern where energy cooperation is the core; infrastructure construction andtrade and investment facilitation are the two wings; and hi-tech fields ofnuclear energy, space satellites and new energy as the three breakthroughs.A part of this intention has already been fulfilled. After the BRI wasunveiled in 2013, high-level exchanges of visits between the leaders of Chinaand Arab countries have become frequent. China has signed strategicpartnerships and BRI-related construction agreements with a host of Arabcountries. Further, several Arab countries are founding members of theBeijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.Heading EastDespite such an impressive record of Chinese achievements and Arab-Chinaties, China still finds itself poorly understood.David Faure, a social historian at The Chinese University of Hong Kong,feels it is very important for everyone to understand China’s culture tounderstand the country and its policies better. “We have a world history thatis very much centred on Europe and North America…What you have to do is reworkyour history to get to understand how China has interacted with the rest of the

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world. There is a lot of rethinking required...”<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[ii]<!--[endif]-->This takes us to the core of the debate between Occidentalism andOrientalism or West versus East. It appears that the world mistakenly views thephenomenon of modernization anywhere, including China, from the prism ofWesternisation. Few actually remember that China’s four great inventions – thecompass, gunpowder, papermaking and printing – spread to other parts of theworld, including Western countries, which eventually helped them become leadersin various fields.Faure’s research stresses that “China has not simply copied the West inthe changes of the past three decades, as many Western observers assume….it hasdrawn on its own history and traditions as it learns from the West – a processthat will see China evolve not into a clone of the United States but into adifferent kind of global power.”<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[iii]<!--[endif]-->While this assertion is still far from being realized, it cannot beruled out either. If this were to indeed happen then Easternisation orAsianisation could become the buzzwords of the future.The United States is no doubt the most powerful country in the world, butChina is slowly but surely challenging US hegemony. In doing do, it is important for the Arab world to note that Beijing’sstrategy is to further peace and stability abroad to ensure its own economicgrowth, which is key to maintaining domestic power. As part of this agenda, twoprinciples have been fundamental in West Asia. One, non-interference either indomestic or inter-state political affairs; and two, emphasis on dialogue anddevelopment, as opposed to the use of force, as the solution to the region’sproblems. Hence, it has followed a ‘risk averse’ policy, without taking sidesin any regional conflict.To their credit, Arab-China relations have evolved better thanWest-China relations. While economic ties are at the centre of Arab-Chinabonhomie, Arabs can also take comfort from the fact that China has no colonialbaggage or ambitions.But as historian Faure notes: “The Chinese government realises it is notjust your money that is going to change the world. No successful state in anypart of the world has advanced its interests simply by military power orfinancial power alone. You need something that appeals to common people.” <!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[iv]<!--[endif]-->This is true because while China’s economic utility is well understoodin the Arab world, China is less active on the cultural diplomacy frontcompared to several other Asian countries. Historical &amp; Cultural RelationsThe 2016 Arab Policy Paper notes that the Arab-China friendship datesback to more than 2000 years, when land and maritime Silk Roads linked the twocivilizations. It also points out that during this period, “peace andcooperation, openness and inclusiveness, learning from each other, mutualbenefit and win-win results have always been the main theme of exchanges” <!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[v]<!--[endif]--> betweenthe two sides.But with Western colonization, followed by the processes of industrial revolutionand modernization, and the finding of oil in West Asia, the Arab world’s tieswith the West grew at the expense of the East. But this is changing again asthe Western economies decline and the Asian economies, led by China, are makinga comeback, thus enticing the Arab world to recalibrate their ties with theEast.As part of this recalibration process, the Arab world should be able toeasily relate to Confucianism, a philosophical and religious system of beliefsthat emphasises the importance of respect for rulers, family and socialharmony. These values are not very different from the basic tenets of Islam.China is aiding in this effort too. As part of its soft power approachit now manages 540 Confucius Institutes in 160 countries, including the Arabworld. These promote Chinese language and culture globally and enhancescommunication between China and other countries. Besides language diplomacy, cultural diplomacy is also at play throughChina organizing academic conferences, cultural, food and book festivals, filmshows and even student exchange programmes.On the other hand, Arab countries like the UAE have also usedinstitutions like the Beijing Foreign Studies University to start institutionslike the Sheikh Zayed Centre for Islamic and Arabic Studies to promote Arablanguage and culture. TourismTourism is another tool in achieving better cultural understanding. Thenumber of Chinese tourists travelling to the Gulf Arab countries is forecast tojump from 1.6 million to 2.9 million between 2018 and 2022. On the flip side,in order to attract Arab tourists, China is unleashing a new strategy of the ‘Sino-Arabcultural bridge’ in, for example, Yinchuan, where a ‘World Muslim City’ isbeing constructed. These are bound to improve people-to-people ties in thefuture.Looking AheadMoving forward, three factors will determineArab-China ties. First, China will be the biggest buyerof fossil fuel from the Arab world. Second, the oil-economicinterdependence will also encourage a new security relationship, thus diversifyingthe current US-centric security scenario. And, finally, Chinese policytowards its 20 million Uighurs and other Muslims especially in Xinjiang, willalso be a factor, though the first two will be the overbearing determinants.In such a milieu, the Arab understanding of China can improve by being

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considerate about commonalities rather than differences, especially byidentifying each other as Asian and understanding that both are seeking toachieve economic success without political reforms. These will help the Arab worldview the rise of China as an opportunity rather than a threat, encourage betterEast-East integration and ensure a win-win situation.

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<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[i]<!--[endif]--> Full text of China Arab Policy Paper available at www.xinhuanet,13 January 2016.

<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[ii]<!--[endif]--> Parry, S. (2018,August 2). To understand China and its future, look to its past, socialhistorian says. PostMagazine . doi:https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2157904/understand-china-and-its-future-look-its-past

<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[iii]<!--[endif]--> ibid

<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[iv]<!--[endif]--> ibid

<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[v]<!--[endif]--> Cai, F., &amp;Nolan, P. (2019). Routledge handbook of the belt and road. Abingdon:Oxon.

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