THE rise of China and India, which is threatening the US’ dominance as the world’s sole superpower, may create a significant economic and political impact on the rest of the world. The collapse of the Berlin Wall and the “defeat” of the Soviet Union, with its territories becoming independent countries have solidified the US’ position as the world’s unipolar power.
During the Cold War, the two
superpowers put their strength to the test by waging a proxy war against one
other on foreign soil. For instance, like the Korean conflict, Indochina war,
Hukbalahap Rebellion (Philippines), Malayan Emergency, Cuban Revolution,
Algerian War, Suez Crisis (Egypt), Bay of Pigs Invasion (Cuba), Communist
insurgency in Thailand, Cambodian Civil War, Soviet–Afghan War, invasion of
Grenada and the Afghan civil war, with the nations’ infrastructure and people
suffering the most.
In 1993, Samuel P Huntington, a
political scientist in the US, debated the “Clash of Civilizations” theory,
which would later become the cornerstone of future US foreign policy. This
theory was further elaborated in his 1996 book (The Clash of Civilizations and
the Remaking of World Order).
As he argued in his article
published in Foreign Affairs, ‘It is my hypothesis that the fundamental source
of conflict in this new [post-Cold-War] world will not be primarily ideological
or primarily economic. The great divisions among humankind and the dominating
source of conflict will be cultural. Nation states will remain the most
powerful actors in world affairs, but the principal conflicts of global
politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilizations. The
clash of civilizations will dominate global politics. The fault lines between
civilizations will be the battle lines of the future.’
He stressed that, after the clash
of ideologies between capitalism and socialism had ended, eastern civilisations
will pose a threat to western civilisations. He emphasised that in order to
preserve Western civilisation’s supremacy over others, particularly Sinic
civilisation, the West must always have the edge in terms of economic,
political and military superiority in world affairs.
For instance, the US and its
allies declared war on terrorism based on this theory, which argues that a
“new” adversary must be discovered in order to sustain Western civilisation’s
hegemony over global issues. The defeat of Al-Qeada, Taliban and Islamic State,
together with the killings of its key leaders shifted the Western powers’
attention to other civilisations, particularly China and India.
China’s economic growth, which
has surpassed Japan as the world’s second largest economy, and Western
countries’ increasing reliance on Chinese-made goods, as well as aggressive
investments in blue-chip companies in the West, had alarmed Western leaders
resulting in them trying to contain China’s influence in the global arena.
Further, the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) is a brainchild of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and has become
the focal point of his administration’s foreign policy. This initiative is a
global infrastructure development strategy in which more than 170 countries and
organisations are expected to participate. According to silkroadbriefing.com,
the BRI’s investments include 1,590 projects valued at US$1.9 trillion.
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan,
Malaysia, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda are among the countries that
would benefit from this massive Chinese undertaking.
Proxy war
The BRI has been considered a
direct threat to the Western powers’ hegemony, led by the US. One of the first
actions taken by ex-President Donald Trump was to prohibit US companies from
using Huawei networking equipment in 2012.
In 2019, Huawei was added to the
US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List, effectively
banning the company from using US communications networks. The Joe Biden
administration is still upholding this Executive Order signed by his
predecessor.
China’s dispute with Brunei,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, in which it had staked claim on
South China Sea’s energy wealth as its extended territory. Other nations, with
the exception of Taiwan, are members of Asean, which allows them to
collectively express their discontent on China’s encroachment.
However, Asean has failed to
build a comprehensive response to China’s claims in the South China Sea,
according to a recent report issued by the Council on Foreign Relations.
China is Asean’s most important
trading partner. However, that cannot be used as a platform for China to impinge
on the sovereignty of friendly nations like Malaysia, Brunei and the
Philippines.
The recent incursion of Chinese
military aircraft into Malaysian airspace and the encroachment of a China Coast
Guard (CCG) at Beting Patinggi Ali (also known as Luconia Shoals) should never
have happened, especially with Malaysia being a close ally of China.
China has been constructing
military bases on manmade islands in this disputed area in recent years.
Furthermore, the claimed area may have natural resource reserves, as well as
huge fishing grounds and a prominent shipping route.
Former US Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo recently criticised China’s claim to the seas around Vietnam, Malaysia,
and Indonesia, and rejected it. He also stated that the international community
will not permit China to consider the South China Sea as its territory.
China, on the other hand, has
strenuously challenged the US assertions, claiming that the US embroiders the
situation in the region in order to cause friction between China and other
surrounding coastline countries. Both countries have recently conducted a
series of naval manoeuvres that have heightened tensions in the region.
Moreover, China’s continuous claim to Taiwan, a close ally of the US, as its
territory adds to the tensions between the two giants.
In addition, the ongoing trade
war with the US, as well as issues over China’s engagement in territorial
conflicts with countries in the region which are considered allies of the US,
have caused considerable disquiet.
Malaysia, as an Asean member,
must tread carefully in this conflict. Asean is part of the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM). After the United Nations (UN), this forum is the world’s second
largest organisation. The primary goal of this forum is not to support or
oppose any superpowers. The Havana Declaration of 1979 stated that the member
states’ independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity,
Malaysia needs a clear foreign
policy
In a nutshell, as one of Asean’s
founding members, Malaysia must play a pivotal part in pressuring the
organisation to take a firm and collective approach by declaring our region a
non-militarised zone and not to take sides with superpowers in line with NAM’s
aspiration.
Nevertheless, if territorial
disputes cannot be remedied through bilateral or multilateral negotiations, the
parties involved must take their case to an international tribunal such as the
International Court of Justice. China’s claims in the region were found to be
without any legal backing by an international tribunal in The Hague five years
ago. Meanwhile, as demonstrated by France’s, the US’, and China’s recent defeats
in Vietnam, superpowers should not underestimate Asean’s endurance and
unwavering opposition.
On the other hand, countries with
limited military capabilities, such as Malaysia, must understand the
geopolitical games played by these superpowers, in which they no longer conduct
war within their own borders, with vulnerable third-world countries ending up
being pawns for their world hegemony.
Malaysia, as a sovereign nation,
must not engage in the proxy conflict initiated by these superpowers, either
voluntarily or involuntarily. Furthermore, we must have a clear and cohesive
foreign policy which will enable other countries to understand our approaches
on matters involving international relations.
Unfortunately, Malaysia’s foreign
policy has become more ambiguous and lacking in direction since the
administration of former Prime Miniter Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Foreign
policy must be concrete and conclusive for other countries to grasp Malaysia’s
position on global issues.
As a consequence, I am appealing
with the current administration to look into this issue as quickly as possible.
This is because drafting a coherent foreign strategy to address the country’s
current challenges is an arduous task. – June 19, 2021.
Source: https://focusmalaysia.my/the-clash-of-civilisations-asean-and-malaysias-foreign-policy/
Comments