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Opinion
How China is making the most of the US’ faltering global leadership
As the US’ latest foreign adventures weaken American legitimacy, the world needs a political force that can act as a neutral arbitrator
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Following the US oil blockade of Cuba, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian recently asserted that “the US has severely violated Cuba’s right to survive and thrive, and the basic norms in international relations”. The reference to “basic norms in international relations” underscores the position that China has taken in recent years.
The liberal world order is currently suffering from a crisis of legitimation. The current hegemon, the United States, has failed to retain the trust of many countries, particularly those eager to reform the existing order.
Not only does the US pursue its own economic interests aggressively, but it has also violated or endangered the sovereignty of other countries by starting and supporting wars that shatter global norms.
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The latest foreign adventures of US President Donald Trump – imposing a blockade on Cuba, fighting a war against Iran with Israel and abducting the Venezuelan president – have further weakened American legitimacy.
China seems to be benefiting from the mistakes of the US and other powers. Beijing has realised that its position on Palestine, Iran and the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict can boost its image. As Chinese President Xi Jinping noted recently: “How a country treats international law and the international order reflects its world view, its vision of order, its values and its sense of responsibility.”
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China is using the crises caused or facilitated by the US. In the case of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Iranians have been reluctant to trust the Americans, who have betrayed the diplomatic process time and again in recent years. Beijing played a crucial role in convincing Tehran to announce a ceasefire and negotiate with Washington. Consequently, the US and Iran held talks in Islamabad on April 11.
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