Opinion | An America driven by fear of China is a danger to all

Amid a worsening environmental crisis compounded by a tense great power rivalry, a sense of gloom is permeating the 21st century. Unless the divided world collaborates to respond to the exigencies of our time, our worst fears may materialise as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In the West, democratic backsliding and upheavals in US domestic politics are aggravating feelings of apprehension. And the prolonged Ukraine war is casting a heavy air of weariness over the Global North.

Meanwhile, the prospect of conflict across the Taiwan Strait is also shrouding the East in clouds of uncertainty. But, unlike US President Joe Biden’s domestic conundrums, President Xi Jinping is maintaining a firm grip on China’s political landscape. In fact, Beijing is confident that the country remains on a trajectory of growth and can still wield significant influence as a global force for transformative change.

Notably, China’s massive investments in green technology are raising expectations that it could achieve a more sustainable model of development, both within and on a global scale.

This year, China is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, the initiative has not only expanded its geographical footprint, but has also diversified into various sub-initiatives, such as the “digital Silk Road” and the “health Silk Road”.

The initiative, unparalleled today in its scale and ambition, is set to have a momentous impact, particularly in the developing world. Africa, for instance, is experiencing socio-economic uplift through the belt and road network, overcoming decades of false starts and missed opportunities.