Geo-Strategic Trend - 194. page

On June 20, the government think tank, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), in its publication China Social Science Today, reported on a forum held at Henan University. It was a "high-level forum on Israel and hot issues in the Middle East." The article quoted the points that a number of participants made.

"Tang Zhichao, a CASS researcher, believed that, although, since World War II, internal problems have not been lacking in the Middle East, the intervention of the U.S.-led Western countries has been the main reason behind the turmoil in the Middle East."

 "’The resurgence of the war in Iraq is, in large part, the aftermath of the 2003 U.S. war in Iraq.’ Regarding the regime change that the U.S. forcibly pushed, Yu Jianhua, a scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, believed that the U.S. blindly implemented the Western model while neglecting the Middle East’s actual situation. It has thereby broken the political and strategic balance in the region."

"Yu Jianhua believed that the United States, with a utilitarian purpose, has been deliberately leading the changing situation in the Middle East. It has caused more instability, left a mess, and made it a disaster zone for the convergence of terrorism."

"According to Yu Jianhua, the U.S. has often taken advantage of local crises and pushed from behind with the help of local social forces in the form of non-governmental organizations. This so-called civil diplomacy serves as its own strategy. The practice, which has focused on infiltration using cultural influences and intentional guidance and support of the local culture, is one of the reasons behind the social unrest. Nowadays, many countries and regions have cautioned against the activities of U.S. NGOs and prohibited their illegal activities."

"An Huihou, a scholar with the China Institute of International Studies, pointed out that the root cause of the unrest in Egypt is not the so-called lack of democracy, but the difficulties with people’s livelihood and social injustice. Western democracy and freedom are not a panacea for developing countries. Western people often talk about free elections and street politics. Events in Egypt showed that free elections do not necessarily create an authoritative government that delivers what people expect. Street politics can overthrow a tyranny, but can also create anarchy, leading to a torn society and violent wars."

Source: China Social Science Today, June 23, 2014
http://www.csstoday.net/xueshuzixun/guoneixinwen/90166.html

Study Times published an article on the significance of the recent Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The article mentioned several points.

"In 2013, China’s contribution to the world’s economic growth came close to 30 percent. Its trade with neighboring countries reached US$1.3 trillion, more than the total of the Sino-EU and the Sino-U.S. trade. For example, Sino-Russian trade amounted to nearly US$90 billion. China has become the largest trading partner for and an important investor in most CICA member states."

"China’s desire to ‘go out’ has become increasingly stronger. In recent years it has also needed to seek more international cooperation in areas such as energy and security. As Russia’s excessive dependence on energy and raw material has not fundamentally changed, and as international political factors constrain its own economic development, Russia is moving to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with China and other Asia-Pacific countries. On May 22, the US$400 billion gas deal between China and Russia highlighted the desire and sincerity for bilateral cooperation."

"Due to the impact of the South China Sea territorial disputes and the Diaoyu Islands issue, the U.S.’s military and political ‘return to Asia,’ the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership), and the PSA (Plurilateral Services Agreement) that have altered global trade patterns, China’s eastward ‘opening-up’ situation faces a serious challenge, with its strategic space being threatened. At the same time, Russia and Central Asian countries’ willingness to look toward the East and other Asian countries’ willingness to ‘hook’ up with China’s economic engine continue to grow. In addition, China has no territorial disputes with Russia or with Central Asian countries. The common strategic interests in the economy and security allow an easier consensus and a mutually beneficial cooperation. Therefore the ‘open-up to the West’ strategy is likely to stand side by side with the original ‘open-up to the East’ strategy."

"Geopolitical wise, there are two routes in the open-up to the west strategy. The first route, also known as the "Maritime Silk Road," is from inland China, via southwest border provinces and southern coastal province, then Southeast Asia and South Asia countries, to West Asia and even Africa. This route is essential to our energy security and expansion in emerging markets. Another route, or "Silk Road," starts from China’s economic hubs such as the Yangtze River Delta, Beijing, Tianjin and the Hebei area, via the vast central and western regions, and via the Central Asian countries to Russia. If the international political circumstances permit, the route can extend to EU countries, forming a "Silk Road" economic corridor across Europe and Asia. Among them, Russia and Central Asian countries are energy and resource powers; China is the world’s second largest economy, the country with the largest foreign exchange reserves and the largest country in trade in goods; the EU is the world’s traditional economic and technological center. Along this route, these countries have common interests and mutual needs. The EU has so far failed to get rid of its debt crisis amid its weak recovery. EU countries are obviously willing to seek cooperation from China in the East, while they also have a considerable degree of reliance on Russian energy and resources."

Source: Study Times, June 2, 2014
http://www.studytimes.cn/shtml/xxsb/20140602/5128.shtml