June 2024

LETTERS – JUNE 2024

‘Getting’ China

I watched with interest the Democracy Forum’s round-table discussion on faultlines in China’s economic policies (as reported in the May issue of your magazine) and was impressed by the scope and nuance of the debate.

From inherent failings in China’s (and others’) economic model and the dangers of relying on deadgrowth, to big geopolitical issues such as the current pushback against the BRI and China’s relationship with (and huge attraction for) the developing, resource-rich yet very diverseGlobal South, there was so much insightful food for thought here. I was especially interestedin the points raised about the ‘chicken and egg’ aspects of China’s economic downturn and Xi Jinping’s autocratic rule,and about how productivity and subsequently entire economies are liable to falter when initiative and power is taken away from the grassroots and relocated centrally.

Yet most Chinese people, and some Western commentators, believe that China’s economic achievements, most notably large-scale poverty reduction and technological innovation, have happened as a result of, not in spite of, China’s authoritarian form of government, and the ‘social contract’ that exists between it and its citizens.

Discussions such as the one held by The Democracy Forum not only help to remind us of the similarities and interconnectedness between China’s economic life and our own, but also underscore the sweeping differences between the West, in particular, and China, whose culture and history have led tothe state’s handbeing present – and legitimate – in every single aspect of life.

It seems likely that, even allowing for blips,China will continue on the path of economic progress and reform without political liberalisation. We do not have to ‘like’ China’s system of governance and how that ties in to economic policy; but it will be in our interests economically to ‘get’ it.

 

Nathalie McFadden

Durham

 

Negative perceptions

Sir

Tanya Vatsa gave some valid arguments about saving face and shaping global opinion in her piece about the Iran-Israel spats that stopped short of full-blown conflict, despite the two countries’ long history of antipathy (‘A game of perceptions’, May 2024 issue).

Sadly, though, such posturing is essentially meaningless and the undercurrent of hostility is always flowing, as the situation in the Middle East spirals out of control in a way that leaves no room for ambiguity.

Israel’s now inevitable ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gazais in large part a response to the 5th of May rocket attacks by Hamas. But I wonder: is it also, in part, Israel’s response to Iran, on which it places some blame for last year’s deadly 7th of October assault by Hamas?

Playing the blame game must stop. The levels of hatred on both sides of this conflict will have generational repercussions even as it is; if the situation continues, all-out war could be a very real possibility.

I am no apologist for Hamas and recognise the fears that must be felt by the Israeli people. But, with Netanyahu apparently intent on the annihilation of the Palestinian people as ‘collateral damage’ in the (comprehensible) desire to eliminate Hamas, who is facing the most urgent existential threat?

On the matter of global perceptions and opinion, Israel’s reputation is plummeting even among some of its once most ardent defenders. If only Netanyahu would listen.

 William Ingle

Madrid

 

Open options in the Indian Ocean

Thank you to Mr Amit Agnihotri for his astute piece on China’s expansion into the Indian Ocean region, and the importance of that region for energy and other types of security. Ultimately, while countries such as Sri Lanka have had bad experiences with China over ‘debt-trap diplomacy’, and India understandably wants to keep an eye on the ‘Chinese checkers’ in the Indian Ocean, all nations will inevitably incline towards those that will help them most economically, or at least keep all options open.

 

SR Perera

Sheffield

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