Think Tanks Provide Intellectual Support for China

Apr 22, 2023

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The 12th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tank Forum (CATTF) was held in Jinhua, Zhejiang province on May 30-31, with the theme of "Centennial History of China-Africa Rejuvenation and Cooperation". Nearly 400 political, academic and business representatives from 45 countries attended the forum online and offline.

Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe, former president of South Africa, said that "in the current world situation, it is necessary to hold the China-Africa think tank forum and carry out constructive dialogue." He added that Africa and China share a common vision of benefiting all mankind and have maintained sound cooperative relations. The Belt and Road Initiative has provided diverse options and strong driving forces for global development, and has created opportunities for Africa's sustainable development.

Liu Yuxi, special representative of the Chinese government on African affairs, said that China-Africa relations have entered a fast-track of all-around high-quality development. In 2022, two-way trade between China and Africa reached $282 billion. African agricultural exports to China recorded positive growth for six consecutive years and China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 14 years in a row.

Pierre Gomez, minister of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Technology of Gambia, said: "…it is better to teach one how to fish rather than give him a fish". The China-style cooperative philosophy is welcomed by Africa and the path China has taken provides valuable experience for the reform, opening-up and development of Gambia. Onunaiju Charles, director of Center for China Studies of Nigeria, also said that Chinese path to modernization has set a good example for the world, especially for African countries.

Mwendanga Musengo Desire-Salomo, director of the National Institute of Arts and advisor to the Prime Minister of Congo-Kinshasa, said that, in the new era, Chinese and African people need to better understand each other and cooperate with each other. Wang Wen, executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China, said the common historical task of China and African countries has not yet been fully completed. The two sides should maintain long-term strategic mutual understanding, mutual exchanges and mutual benefits.

Wang Heng, chair of the Institute Affairs Committee and vice-president of the Institute of African Studies of Zhejiang Normal University, said that, in view of the African Union Agenda 2063 and China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, China-Africa think tank cooperations should be further expanded to provide intellectual support for China-Africa cooperation.

CATTF, founded in 2011 by Zhejiang Normal University, was included in the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It has successfully held 12 sessions in China and Africa by 2023 and has effectively promoted exchanges and mutual understanding between the two sides.

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The China-Central Asia Summit, which took place recently in Xi’an on May 18-19 was every bit a geopolitical event as much as the G7 summit in Hiroshima that it overlapped. The symbolism was profound, notes M.K. Bhadrakumar, Indian Ambassador and prominent international observer.

China and Russia were the elephants in the room for both summits but the Xi’an summit distinguished itself as an inclusive affair, whereas, the G7 event was, regrettably, an exclusive gathering of wealthy countries of the Western World dripping with cold war-era animosities, and it didn't hide its intentions even in its choice of "special invitees" — one ASEAN country; two BRICS countries; one tiny African state; a Pacific island etc. — borne out of the old colonial mindset of "divide and rule."

The biggest difference was that the Xi’an summit was substantive and focused on a positive agenda that is quantifiable, while the Hiroshima summit was largely prescriptive and partly declarative and only marginally tangible. This was because the China-Central Asia summit took place on native soil while the G7 has no habitation and name in Asia except that one of the seven member countries is of Asian origin and the summit itself was a thinly-veiled attempt to insert the alien Western agenda into the Asian setting.

The China-Central Asia Summit was motivated by the growing realisation that the countries of the Eurasian region must play a proactive role in the common task of pushing back the United States, the driving force of the G7, which they perceive to be attempting to destabilise the common neighbourhood of Russia and China in Central Asia. Simply put, the Xi’an summit tacitly signalled that Russia and China are unitedly circling the wagons for a common purpose — to borrow an idiom which was employed by the Americans in the 19th century to describe a defensive manoeuvre.

From a historical perspective, it is for the first time ever that Russia and China are explicitly joining hands to stabilise the Central Asian region — a momentous happening by itself — with Beijing assuming a leadership role, given Russia's preoccupations in Ukraine. This paradigm shift belies the western propaganda that Russian and Chinese interests collide in the Central Asian region. There is a strategic convergence between Moscow and Beijing that stability in Central Asian region, which is vital for both capitals in their own interests, is best achieved through ensuring security, boosting economic development or international political backing.

The Xi’an Declaration released after the summit includes 15 points, divided into several blocks of issues: security, logistics, trade and economic cooperation, humanitarian cooperation and ecology.

China's thesis is that security is best strengthened through economic development and for that reason, therefore, the region is important from the point of view of economic cooperation and regional development — although in aggregate terms, Central Asian economic resources are nowhere near sufficient for meeting China's needs.

Suffice to say, terrorist threats emanating from the region, posing threat to Xinjiang, are China's main concern and Beijing is willing to openly invest its resources in the security of the region and take part in the training of the anti–terrorist forces of the Central Asian states. Geographically, three out of the five Central Asian countries, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, share borders with China. As for Russia, it has long regarded the region as its traditional sphere of influence and a strategic buffer zone, and thus prioritised the security of its southern border. Therefore, a safe and secure Central Asia aligns with China and Russia's respective national interests.

In the context of the Ukraine crisis, Central Asia has emerged as a frontline for the US strategy to contain and weaken Russia. However, although Central Asian countries have adopted a neutral stance on the Ukraine situation, Russia's influence in the region remains strong and is unlikely to be largely disrupted. Three key factors are at work here.

First, Russia is seen as the provider of security and Russia's defence capabilities continue to play a crucial role in maintaining stability in the region.

Second, Central Asian states heavily depend on Russia in regard of labor migration, market access, transportation, and energy resources, and no other outside power foots the bill.

Third, do not underestimate that the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union continues to systematically build up regional economic integration.

The Xi’an Declaration talks about resisting religious extremism and attempts by external forces to impose their own rules on the region.

It stands to reason that China and the Central Asian states and Russia felt the need to create more effective mechanisms and plans in their common space so as to impart a new quality of cooperation, and supplement the SCO if need arises.

So far, Russia was engaged in strengthening political integration, while China systematically and powerfully interacted with the governments of Central Asian countries for the development of energy and infrastructure projects within the framework of a full-fledged economic expansion. That division of labour worked rather well, but then, the regional security environment changed dramatically of late.

For example, it has become vital for Moscow in the context of the rupture of Russia's energy ties with Europe to divert its oil and gas exports to the Chinese market, and that requires Central Asian infrastructure in transit mode — a novel idea altogether.

Suffice to say, a high level of harmonisation and synchronisation of the national plans of the Central Asian countries is needed. Currently, there are no agreed common strategies in the Central Asian region, which has a population of 75 million, M.K. Bhadrakumar stresses.

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Chinese Defence Minister General Li Shangfu delivered a thinly veiled criticism of the United States on Sunday, saying "some country" liked to force its rules on others in its "rules-based international order".

"Its so-called rules-based international order never tells you what the rules are, and who made these rules," Li said in a speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, without naming the US or its partners.

"It practises exceptionalism and double standards and only serves the interests and follows the rules of a small number of countries," he told Asia's biggest defence conference.

In his first public statement to an international audience since becoming defence minister in March, Li highlighted China's Global Security Initiative, a set of foreign policy principles and directions in line with Beijing's style of diplomacy announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in April last year.

They include opposition to unilateral sanctions and the use of economic development to stem instability and conflict.

China has accused the US of using sanctions without getting United Nations approval, but Beijing has imposed unofficial retaliatory trade embargoes on Australia, Canada, Lithuania, South Korea and Taiwan.

"We in China believe that the key for countries to live in harmony is mutual respect and treating each other as equals," he said.

"We are strongly opposed to imposing one's own will on others, placing one's own interests above those of others and pursuing one's own security at the expense of others."

He said some unspecified countries had "wilfully interfered in other country's internal affairs".

China has criticised Western countries for expressing concerns about human and civil rights in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang, as well as promoting Taiwan's international engagement.

He said ties between the two countries – China and USA – in the past few years had reached a "record low" since 1979, when the countries established official relations. "It is undeniable that a severe conflict or confrontation between China and the US would be an unbearable disaster for the world," he said.

"China believes that a big power should behave like one instead of provoking bloc confrontation for self-interest."

He said the US needed to act with sincerity and "take concrete action" with China to stabilise and prevent further worsening of ties.

Asked about an incident on Saturday in which a Chinese navy ship manoeuvred near a US destroyer sailing through the Taiwan Strait, Li said: "What is key now is that we must prevent attempts to use freedom of navigation … as a pretext to exercise hegemony of navigation."

On Saturday, the USS Chung-Hoon guided-missile destroyer and the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal sailed through the strait. The US Indo-Pacific Command said a Chinese destroyer had overtaken the Chung-Hoon on its port side and crossed its bow at 150 yards (137 metres) in an unsafe way. The Chinese ship crossed the Chung-Hoon again on at 2,000 yards and stayed off the US ship's port bow.

"Chung-Hoon maintained course and slowed to 10 knots to avoid a collision," it said, accusing the Chinese navy of violating rules on safe passage in international waters.

Li said: "Every day, I see a lot of information about foreign vessels and fighter jets coming to areas near our territory. They are not here for innocent passage. They are here for provocation."

Li praised cooperation between countries in the Asia-Pacific that allowed the waterway to remain stable.

"However, we do see some countries outside the region exercising their hegemony of navigation in the name of freedom of navigation," he said.

"They want to muddy the waters so they can rake in profits. Regional countries should stay highly vigilant and firmly reject these acts."

Li repeated Beijing's position on Taiwan, saying the island was "core of China's core interests", and remained an internal issue for China, out of bounds for foreign governments.

"Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and how to resolve the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese to decide," he said.

Li said Beijing would not renounce the use of force to put Taiwan under its control.

"If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will not hesitate for a second, we will fear no opponents and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity regardless of any cost."

In response to the Chinese minister's statement, the American side showed nervousness.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's comments earlier came at a tense time for relations between the US and China, as China rejected an offer from Austin to meet at the summit in Singapore, citing US sanctions on Chinese officials and companies.

Austin addressed the lack of communication in his speech on Saturday, saying that he is "deeply concerned" that the People's Republic of China "has been unwilling to engage more seriously on better mechanisms for crisis management."

"For responsible leaders, the right time to talk is anytime. The right time to talk is every time. And the right time to talk is now," Austin said. "Dialogue is not a reward. It is a necessity."

Austin reaffirmed that the US will "continue to stand by our allies and partners as they uphold their rights," and maintain "our vigorous, responsible presence across the Indo-Pacific."

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CIA director Bill Burns travelled to China last month, a clandestine visit by one of President Joe Biden's most trusted officials that signals how concerned the White House had become about deteriorating relations between Beijing and Washington. Bill Burns’ trip last month was most senior to Beijing by Biden administration official, writes "The Financial Times".

Five people familiar with the situation said Burns, a former top diplomat who is frequently entrusted with delicate overseas missions, travelled to China for talks with officials.

The visit, the most senior to China by a Biden administration official, comes as Washington pushes for high-level engagements with Beijing to try to stabilise the relationship. The White House and CIA declined to comment. But one US official said Burns met Chinese intelligence officials during the trip.

"Last month, director Burns travelled to Beijing where he met with Chinese counterparts and emphasised the importance of maintaining open lines of communications in intelligence channels," said the US official.

Burns’ mission took place in the same month US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Wang Yi, China's top foreign policy official, in Vienna. The White House did not announce that meeting until it had concluded. Burns’ trip was also the highest-level visit to China by a US official since deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman went to Tianjin in July 2021.

Biden has on several occasions asked the CIA director to conduct delicate missions, at home and overseas. Burns travelled to Moscow in November 2021 to warn Russian officials not to invade Ukraine.

Several people familiar with the situation said Biden last year sent Burns to Capitol Hill in an effort to persuade then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not to travel to Taiwan. The White House has been trying to kick-start exchanges with China after a particularly turbulent period that started in February when a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over North America.

The incident derailed an effort to set "a floor" under the relationship that Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping had agreed was necessary when they met at the G20 in Bali in November. Biden last month said he expected an imminent "thaw" in relations without providing any detail.

Burns travelled to China before Biden made the comment at a G7 summit in Hiroshima. "As both an experienced diplomat and senior intelligence official, Burns is uniquely placed to engage in a dialogue that can potentially contribute to the Biden administration's objective of stabilising ties and putting a floor under the relationship," said Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at the German Marshall Fund.

Paul Haenle, a former top White House China official, said one advantage of sending Burns was that he was respected by Democrats and Republicans and also well known to Chinese officials. "They know him as a trusted interlocutor. They would welcome the opportunity to engage him quietly behind the scenes," said Haenle, now director of the Carnegie China think-tank. "They will see a quiet discreet engagement with Burns as a perfect opportunity."

While Burns is widely viewed as one of the most trusted figures in the US government, his trip continues a tradition of CIA directors being used for sensitive missions. "CIA directors have a long history of secret diplomacy. They are able to travel in complete secrecy and often have strong relationships with the host intelligence services built over time," said Dennis Wilder, a former CIA China expert who also served as the top White House Asia official during the George W Bush administration.

The US has been trying to resurrect a trip to China that secretary of state Antony Blinken abruptly cancelled over the balloon incident, but Beijing has so far refused to give it a green light. Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu has also refused to meet US defence secretary Lloyd Austin in Singapore this weekend because Washington has refused to lift sanctions on him. The two men are attending the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference where they are slated to give speeches.

While the two ministers were not expected to have a formal meeting, the Pentagon said they "spoke briefly" at the opening dinner of the forum, which is held by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "The two leaders shook hands, but did not have a substantive exchange," the Pentagon said.

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