Opinion | Why are so many countries rethinking their relations with China?

Last year, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte surprised many by taking a stance on the rivalry between the United States and China. In an opinion piece calling for greater support for Ukraine, he expressed doubt about China’s dominance in the 21st century, declaring it to be the century of democracy and America.

The allure of China is fading as its main strategies, such as providing loans or building infrastructure, struggle to keep countries in Beijing’s corner. With the Covid-19 pandemic waning and global conflicts reshaping geopolitics, nations are reassessing their relationship with China.

This reassessment is evident worldwide. In South America, Argentina’s new president Javier Milei campaigned on distancing the country from socialist nations, including China, and refrained from joining the Brics bloc. In Asia, the Philippines has scaled back Chinese investments tied to the Belt and Road Initiative while Australia is aligning more closely with the US.

In Africa, Kenya and Zambia are seeking alternatives to Chinese financing. In Europe, Italy has withdrawn from China’s signature infrastructure initiative. Trade between China and Lithuania is almost nonexistent – with China importing just US$60,000 worth of Lithuanian goods at the beginning of 2022 – after the latter allowed a “Taiwanese” representative office to open in its capital.

It is not just Western nations pushing away from China, and neither is it only competitors such as India. Also rethinking China are “domino nations” on which China was betting. Equally surprising is that large economies, who can withstand a showdown with China, are treading a fine line while smaller economies, who have far more to lose, are turning away from Beijing.