Abu Tahir Mustakim :
No one knows when, where and how the ongoing death procession will stop. No one knows when Coronavirus will stop, when the world will come back to normalcy. Yet, the world politics and the attempt to capture the world arena are moving forward with the virus.
Politicians, diplomats and various quarters are pointing to the post-Corona world order. According to them, the virus is sure to change the world. But there is a lot of debate about whether China or the United States will be the leader in that changing world.
But there is no doubt the countries that can best deal with the Coronavirus epidemic and that can extend their helping hand to others would run ahead of others in the race.
According to the International Crisis Group, based in Brussels, the current situation has not only emerged to be an acid test for international organizations like the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund but also it would have a far-reaching impact on ideological and political fights.
Under these circumstances, the dispute has widened between north and south Europe over the issuance of common debt. What surprised everyone was the lack of European Union readiness and power to deal with the pandemic. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said without any reservation that the European Union could collapse if it fails.
And Professor Adam Tooze of Columbia University has said what he has to say in his article titled ‘America Is Ailing-and Leading the World.’ Referring to former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt’s tweet, he wrote in Foreign Policy Magazine that this is the first great crisis of the post-American world. The UN Security Council is nowhere to be seen, G20 is in the hands of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the White House has trumpeted ‘America First’ and Everyone Alone for years. Only the virus is globalized.
Professor Stephen M. Walt of International Relations at Harvard University is still betting on the United States. His hope is: though Trump administration has made one mistake after another-and, with some foreign-policy changes, it could emerge with more global power anyway.
According to his article in Foreign Policy Magazine, if the United States maintains an ‘America first’ approach to this global problem, if it fails to exhibit the kind of global leadership that it showed after the World War II, the 9/11 attacks, or the financial crisis of 2008, there is nothing to be expected.
However, Professor Walt admits that the Coronavirus will strengthen the trend of change in power and influence from west to east. South Korea and Singapore have responded best, and China has handled the situation well, correcting its initial mistakes.
He further acknowledged that the reaction of the European and US government to the matter was highly questionable and probably undermined the power of Western fame.
By leaving behind corpse procession in home, China has extended its support to the international humanitarian crisis, such as the Coronavirus. His compassionate hands have reached from Bangladesh to Europe, to various parts of Africa.
Many have already claimed that the ‘East’ is ahead of the West in this competitive war. Without hesitation, South Korean philosopher Byung-chul Han claims, Asian regions like Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan or Singapore can be called victorious.
According to the Korean philosopher, China will now be able to sell its ‘digital police’ concept for success against the pandemic. China will proudly highlight the superiority of its state system. That is why Western voters might agree to give up a lot. China, a silent geopolitical player, has used every global crisis for the last 20 years as an opportunity to further strengthen its diplomatic relations.
US President George W. Bush and Barack Obama both identified China as America’s main rivals and competitors. But in both cases, China was able to reverse the situation. First by collaborating on anti-terrorism programs following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, and then by helping to stimulate global demand and calm financial markets in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis.
Similarly, during the Eurozone debt crisis, China strengthened its ties with Europe by purchasing Greek, Portuguese, and Spanish bonds. It also boosted imports from Europe and increased investments there.
And it was the People’s Bank of China that provided rescue packages and took on credit risk to help Portugal, Argentina, and Egypt during their respective financial crises.
The US has limited capacity to produce the swabs, ventilators, face masks, and protective gear that its hospitals need. China should therefore offer to send supplies and equipment, and share its data and clinical experiences regarding Coronavirus. In addition, China should guarantee the continued operation of its medical supply chains the US, as some Chinese have suggested.
By helping to lead the global response to the Coronavirus crisis, China can turn its defensive, reactive stance toward the US into a more open, proactive one. Fortunately, China’s leaders understand both the challenge and the opportunity before them.
(Abu Tahir Mustakim, journalist, [email protected])
