When you see an affable and smiling Xi Jinping meeting a tired Blinken -- after all the Secretary of State had been through six hours of negotiations -- why is it that Xi gives one the distinct impression of a cat that has just gobbled the canary?
We
are told of understandings and agreements to avoid any conflict between
the superpowers, of future meetings at the highest levels to resolve
issues that might arise. However, China withheld the contacts between
the militaries that used to take place when problems arose. These were
canceled by Biden after the Chinese spy balloon incident in February
this year. So the game of one-upmanship continues... like the dance
of a pair of scorpions; they seek to measure each other up.
Biden
is attempting to restrict the leak of sensitive technology except the
leak is more in the nature of a flood. American companies like to take
advantage of lower costs, and so if, for example, Apple manufactures
cell phones in China, the Chinese naturally have access to some of
Apple's technology and methods.
China
appears to be moving fast in several directions. Friendship with Iran
means easier access to the Gulf. Through its old ally Pakistan and its
excellent roads (courtesy of the US and its materiel needs during the
Afghan war) its exports have a road link through Pakistan supplementing
the laborious sea route down the Pacific and across the Indian ocean.
From the modern Pakistan port of Gwadar, built by China needless to say,
it has close access to the Arabian peninsula and the eastern seaboard
of Africa. Remembering of course, that where goods go, arms can also
flow thus supplementing economic influence with political leverage.
Mr.
Xi Jinping has successfully managed China into a position where it is
exceedingly well prepared for the world stage. For, in addition to all
of the above, it has just signed an agreement with Russia that will
bring the two even closer together.
And,
of course, through Russia, China will have a road link to Europe
avoiding the circuitous journey through several oceans and seas. Will
that make its exports even more competitive and will Europe face another
onslaught on its auto industry from Asia? A reminder that China is
making a substantial investment in electric vehicles is a trifle
unnecessary.
China's horizon is global and as a member of BRICS, it has ties with Brazil, India and South Africa. And then there is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which embraces the four Central Asian countries plus Russia, India, Pakistan and China, comprising the current eight members. That number is likely to increase to ten when the applications of Iran and Belarus, currently under consideration, are approved.
At the recent Foreign Ministers' meetings (May 4, 5) of the SCO in Panaji, Goa designed to set the agenda for the July summit in New Delhi, the Chinese representative Qin Gang talked to the Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers on the sidelines about the two countries settling their major differences. Both have been noticeably close-mouthed since. Imagine China playing peacemaker to two countries comprising almost a quarter of the world's population.
And
the US has been busy trying to set up India as a bulwark against
China! Who is kidding whom? The answer is as usual... 'Follow the
money.'
