What’s world future with China on top?

China will soon become the biggest economy in the world, an elevation that will come with power in other fields. But then, what is likely to happen next?

Power in history has, without exception, been gained via conquest. Consequently, it is not unusual for people to be suspicious of China’s meteoric rise. The foremost question in many minds concerning which way for emergent China is: does China pose a threat to the world order in the future?

There are four pertinent questions at play: What will the rise of China mean to the global environment? What values does China subscribe to? What has China done in the past? What situations will it face?

Ruling thought

A study of Chinese history reveals that it is the only nation whose language, traditions and customs have remained unchanged in the world, despite 5,000 years of development. This is attributable to geographical factors: mountains, plateaus, Gobi Desert and seas that cut China off from the rest of the world and protected it from attack in ancient times.

About 1,000 BC, China became a nation with a large territory and huge population. Since then, it has defended its territory mainly through wars against nomads and other minorities surrounding the country.

What are China’s values? Confucianism, the ruling thought throughout Chinese history, advocates benevolence and righteousness while strongly opposing war, force and hegemony. Taoism, the second-most important ideology in Chinese history, also opposes war and force.

Essentially, China’s national values are set upon the tenets of peace. China will remain peaceful if treated peacefully.

As for the deeds that line China’s past, the actions of its emperors across all dynasties show that their military actions were primarily defensive. China prefers to guard its homeland from invading forces because, according to Chinese traditional values invasion, hegemony or bullying are unjust and sinful.

Since China began its campaign of reform and opening up around 30 years ago, it declared that it would develop with peace and “treat neighbours with goodwill”.

Foreign powers often question China’s justice, democracy, freedom and human rights record. But are there universal or fixed patterns for all these issues?

Take freedom and human rights for instance. When people struggle for physiological needs, freedoms of speech and elections are unimportant, even irrelevant. And when basic rights conflict with lofty ones, the higher ones must give way to the basic ones.

Global prominence

When we examine contemporary Chinese politics, we may develop a different judgment from the popular one held by the West. China’s is a system of multi-party co-operation under the leadership of the Communist Party. According to Western standards, such a political system is unjust. The question is; just how can China develop so well in the ‘wrong way’?

The secret of China’s fast rise in global prominence and relevance is poised on the cultural foundations underlying the political system. Without a doubt, China’s effect on the world will not depend entirely on the economy but the culture, philosophy, beliefs and values behind it.

We must study the ideas underpinning China’s traditional autocracy and contrast these with the cultural factors of Western democracy if we are to fully appreciate what ideology works to what end for whom.

In that respect, the following ideas may be worthy of attention.

Tian ren he yi, the most important Chinese philosophical idea that has lasted more than 3,000 years, has at least three meanings: heaven, God and nature. Ren means human being; he means unify; and yi means one. It stresses the unity and harmony of the world.

Moralism is the most essential characteristic of traditional Chinese culture. It posits that the greatest essence of humanity is its morality. Consequently, the primary task of human beings is training ourselves to be moral people; and only then can we regulate our families, govern our states and pacify the world.

Humanism states that we are born to be the most noble between heaven and earth, and we have a duty to keep the universe alive, productive and peaceful.

Pacifism is embedded in Chinese humanism. Wars harm and destroy lives so we should avoid fighting as much as possible. Virtuous people solve problems with their mouth not their fists, goes a Chinese proverb.

Collectivism is derived from Chinese familism. This idea states that our personal interests should be subordinate to those of the collective.

Globally speaking, this idea implies that the interests of individual countries should subordinate themselves to those that seek collective good for the whole world.

Many ancient — but certainly not outdated ideas — held true by other civilisations are particularly worthy of our study and adoption for greater and sustainable world peace.

The writer is director, Confucius Institute, Kenyatta University.

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