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Communist Party of China’s Mounting Foreign Policy Failures

South Gate of Zhongnanhai, imperial garden housing central headquarters of Communist Party. Xi Jinping carry out of his day-to-day administrative activities inside the compound. (Photo:© Tonyv3112/Dreamstime.com)

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By Aakansha Malia

December 18, 2023
3:47 pm
Los Angeles, CA

The future of the central pillar of China’s foreign policy, the Belt and Road initiative, seems dim as Italy decides to leave the project after being a part of it for four years. In a signal of leaders maintaining diplomatic distance with China, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni communicated its decision to China on December 3, citing that BRI has no clear benefits for the Italian economy. On the other hand, China gave a sharp rebuttal to Italy by issuing a statement on December 7, opposing the “smearing and undermining of cooperation on the joint construction of the Belt and Road.” Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also said that Beijing is opposed to “confrontation and division among camps that causes separation.” Experts consider it a huge setback for China nearly

On the other hand, China gave a sharp rebuttal to Italy by issuing a statement on December 7, opposing the “smearing and undermining of cooperation on the joint construction of the Belt and Road.” Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also said that Beijing is opposed to “confrontation and division among camps that causes separation.” Experts consider it a huge setback for China nearly a decade after the “project of the century’s” inception. Its momentum is slowing and drawing down due to lending slumps and stalled projects.

Spanning more than 100 countries, the BRI proposes massive investments in infrastructure to recreate the ancient silk route linking Europe and Asia. However, critics have cast the scheme as a vehicle for Beijing to expand its geopolitical influence, including by saddling poorer countries with unsustainable debts. Taking a different path from its European peers, Italy became the only G7 nation to push China’s ambitions in Europe by signing onto the Belt and Road Initiative.

An Italian Government source told Reuters, “Other G7 nations have closer relations with China than we do, despite the fact they were never in [the BRI].” Foreign Policy.com said that amid an ongoing technology battle, other European nations are also reassessing their long-standing economic ties with China.

Russian Invasion of Ukraine- A Bone of Contention

China’s Foreign relations with Europe are also being affected by China’s ongoing refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has reshaped European security perceptions. Even after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron and EU chief Ursala Von Der Leyen this year, China’s position on the war in Ukraine remains a thorny issue in Europe as it refuses to denounce Putin and categorize it as an “invasion,” instead referring to it as a “crisis.” Xi has also touted a “no-limits” friendship between China and Russia.

China’s Border Disputes in Asia

China’s growing belligerence in Asia is creating a problem for the neighboring nations. After claiming various parts of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh in India on a new Chinese nation standard map, Beijing has gone ahead to call dibs on Bhutan’s remote Jakarlung Valley, part of the Beyul Khenpajong region by unilaterally seizing the territory.

Shockingly, the development comes as Bhutan is currently on the path of making progress in border talks with China. Satellite imagery shows “an extensive road network” under construction in Jakarlung Valley. Speaking to The World Today, Robert Barnett, a Tibet expert at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, said, ”We know that the Chinese authorities are energetically recruiting Tibetans to move to these new locations and putting a lot of money into major construction efforts there.”

In short, China’s wolf warrior diplomacy is yet to take a back seat as experts believe China’s foreign policy is based on creating a more favorable environment for itself on the world stage and having a high moral ground.