Why China favours diplomacy, partnerships against military alliances – Comrade Charles Onunaiju
Story by Susan Mbamah
While China’s diplomatic relations and activities have not been in the form of military interventions or involvement in the Middle East, the country has however, been having significant impact on the course of events in the region.
The Director of the Nigeria Centre for China Studies, Comrade Charles Onunaiju who made the assertion during a courtesy visit to the Neptune Prime head office in Abuja, pointed to the resolution of the long and complex face-off between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as among the landmark diplomatic achievements of China in the Middle East.
On the conflict between Israel and Palestine, particularly with regard to Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, Comrade Charles Onunaiju said, China had been actively participating in the efforts to bring the crisis to an end, through diplomatic contacts with the leaderships of both Israel and Palestine, including Hamas and other strategic stakeholders.
Also, he said China has been foremost in the provision of relief materials, such as food and medicines, to victims of the Israeli military activities in Gaza and that, China has suspended certain trades with Israel as a form of protest. China’s diplomacy, he said, “favours dialogue and humanitarian relief, unlike the USA which has often vetoed UN Resolutions on cease-fire.”
In addition to advocating for a two-state solution to the Israeli Palestinian logjam, Comrade Onunaiju said, China has since recongnised Palestine as an independent state with full-fledged and functional embassy in Beijing. Also, he said China has been consistent in voting in all United Nations resolutions in favour of the Palestinian course.
The Director of the Nigeria Centre for China Studies, said China under the Communist party since the 1949 revolution, has consistently maintained a foreign policy of partnerships against alliances with other nations with the aim of promoting global peace, stability and development.
Coming from the background of a nation that had experienced colonialism, he said that the Chinese Communist party, was consciously structured to steer the country away from becoming an imperialist nation to one that promotes global cooperation and stability and at the same time, maintaining its independence in the international community.
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He described the relationship between China, Russia and Iran, as not a military alignment but, a platform to foster friendship and co-operation for mutually beneficial partnerships among the three nations. This, he said, is because, “China does not aspire to replace the United States or become a global super power.”
He said, contrary to widespread misconception, the BRICS, (an economic forum for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), was not intended to compete with Western economic blocs and systems. He explained that BRICS was created to offer a voice to developing countries, promote South-South cooperation and to offer partner nations prospects of investment and market access.
Nigeria, according to Comrade Onunaiju, has been listed as a partner nation, but, however, “the country must reform its economic governance and take these opportunities with all seriousness to benefit meaningfully.”
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