by Burree Sultan and Dr Hamid Iqbal 5 January 2024
It was December 1823, when President James Monroe in his annual message to the congress enunciated the cornerstone of the USA’s effective foreign policy bedrock. With the declarations of that the new world would be distinct from the old-world system and must remain on their distinct spheres. Monroe made four basic points here to note, one is the USA would not interfere in the internal matters or affairs of European powers, second the USA recognized and would not interfere with the existing colonies and dependencies in the Western Hemisphere, third the Western Hemisphere was closed to future colonization and forth any action from European states against the Western Hemisphere would be viewed as hostility against the USA.
There can be a built perspective study in this analysis by looking into both of the factors of whether China is following the true footprints of the Monroe Doctrine or is moving against it altogether in this regard. There is thematical and proportional evidence that claims that China is not indulging in global affairs and looking forward to its sole purpose of national sovereignty, the policy of noninterference.
First, there is a perspective that claims that China is following the policy of the Monroe Doctrine for its national interests and ultimate attempt to become a global superpower, there may be the intentional whimsical positioning of China in this way to hide its intentions, as for some of the analyst approach that China believes in not showing its muscles until it reaches the distinctions. A ten-point “declaration on promotion of world peace and cooperation” was adopted during the Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung, Indonesia, in 1955 with the backing and promotion of Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Self-interest in advancing non-interference standards inside international governance structures forms the basis of China’s non-interference policy. China should work towards standardizing its normative conception of the inviolability of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and non-interference in domestic matters. Governments with a colonial heritage, such as many of those present at the 1955 Bandung Conference, and authoritarian in general, have embraced the concept.
As an accountable regional force, China is dedicated to strengthening ties and collaboration with its neighbors. Some people in the international community have been complaining about China’s “show of muscle” lately. They allege Beijing is trying to use force and break international law to alter the status quo in the East and South China seas. Additionally, they have criticized China’s recently proposed Asian security concept, calling it an Asian take on the Monroe Doctrine and claiming that its goals include re-establishing the regional order and sphere of influence that China’s imperial dynasties once established as well as creating a new framework for cooperation in regional security that will be dominated by China. Meanwhile, there are claims that China is trying to create China-dominated multilateral financial institutions to topple the current regional and global financial systems by establishing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an Asian infrastructure construction bank, and a development bank for the BRICS nations.
On the other hand, the other side of the story is also important to know to make conclusions. As far the regional policies are concerned, China is very susceptible in terms of its regional agendas of integration like that of concerns in the South China Sea, and firms’ views regarding Tawain as a part of mainland China. China’s principal objective is to amass “comprehensive national power,” which it defines as “global leadership in economics, military, technology, and diplomacy,” to maintain its position of dominance in world affairs. It has set out on four converging strategic pathways for a long time to achieve this goal. First and foremost, maintaining the Chinese Communist Party’s (CPC) hegemony and rigid internal political and social code. Second, establishing a disciplined domestic environment in addition to attaining high economic growth. To “reduce regional anxieties,” the third strategy is to “pacify the periphery” by strengthening economic connections with its Asian neighbors. Lastly, China wants to solidify its position as the main player in the global arena.
Graham Allison has wisely warned his fellow Americans to be careful in what they wish for China. He writes, “Americans enjoy lecturing Chinese to be ‘more like us.’ Perhaps they should be more careful about what they wish for. Historically how have emerging hegemons behaved? To be more specific, how did Washington act just over a century ago when Theodore Roosevelt led the U.S. into what he was supremely confident would be an American century? In the decade that followed his arrival in Washington, the U.S. declared war on Spain, expelling it from the Western Hemisphere and acquiring Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines; threatened Germany and Britain with war unless they agreed to settle the disputes on American terms. China’s actions to date have defied historical norms if America’s actions throughout its rise to prominence as a major power are any indication. Only China, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (who represent the great powers), has not engaged in hostilities in the last 40 years.
In making the concluding remarks, there can be perspective that there are both sides of the study with impactful evidence while at the same time, China claims its historical positions regarding its internal metaphorical territorial issues, similarly, China never claimed any external lands despite the fact on the other hands, there is evidence which shows that China ingress globally, regionally has been increasing for some last years, especially after the projections of the physical links of Chona with the globe through BRI. Similarly, the impactful mobilizations of SCO and the sending of the military to foreign lands are signs that China is no more in disguise while rightfully showing its muscles. While these things show that China is moving in a calculated direction to get its global position at the same time China is not ready to take responsibility for the work or even for the region if less to be talkative.
Authors Burree Sultan MPhil Scholar at NDU, ISB and Dr Hamid Iqbal, Asst Professor at NDU, ISB.