POBNEWS24, Dhaka Dec 28, 2022 : As in previous years, China was in discussion this year due to competition with the United States for global dominance. All eyes were on the role of Communist-ruled China, a close ally of Moscow, following Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February. However, Beijing has assumed a neutral role. The trade war between the United States and China has gone somewhat behind the scenes of this war. However, China, which is gradually expanding its influence in international economic aspects, has not been freed from the traditional pressure of the United States. Meanwhile, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan at the end of the year raised tensions between the two countries to new heights.
The world’s eyes were also on the ruling Communist Party’s congress this year. Xi Jinping has established his position after Mao Tse-tung, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, as the general secretary for the third term. However, his magnanimous image was somewhat tarnished by the rare protests that broke out at the end of the year against the strict ‘zero covid’ policy taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Chip War from Taiwan Tensions
China was displeased by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August. China did not stop at just protesting or reacting angrily, but during his visit, Beijing imposed a ban on the import of Taiwanese products and the export of silicon to the neighboring country. And the day after Pelosi’s visit ended, China began massive military exercises around Taiwan.
Warships, warplanes and missiles are deployed in it. It was China’s biggest military exercise since 1996. China has also imposed sanctions on Pelosi and her family.
The impact of China’s announcement of a ban on silicon exports to Taiwan was far-reaching. China’s ban on the export of silicon, an essential ingredient for making semiconductors, is believed to pose a threat to large and developed countries such as the United States. In particular, China’s announcement of a ban on silicon exports could be quite damaging for the United States. According to UN Comtrade data, Taiwan exported 10,570 billion US dollars worth of goods to the United States in 2021. Most of these exports were products of the information technology (IT) and electronics sector.
Chips are needed to make all types of electronic products from mobile phones to laptops and electric cars. US-based global technology companies such as Apple, Qualcomm and Nvidia rely heavily on chips made by Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers.
US technology and electronics companies were already suffering from a shortage of chips due to the Russia-Ukraine war after the impact of the Corona epidemic. In this situation, there is a fear that the ban on China’s silicon exports to Taiwan will make the ongoing chip shortage more pronounced.
The US took the initiative to form an alliance with alternative chip manufacturers to deal with the situation. Taiwan agreed to become active in the proposed chip manufacturing alliance Chip-4 Group. The country announced to work with the United States to protect the interests of its companies and ensure the supply of chips. Taiwan’s Deputy Finance Minister Chen Cher-chi announced the decision after a meeting with representatives of the United States, South Korea and Japan. The US, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan—these four countries produce most of the world’s semiconductor chips.
However, the G-20 conference played a role in reducing the tension between the United States and China. US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the alliance summit in Bali, Indonesia. In the meeting, the two leaders reached a consensus to reduce ongoing disputes between the US and China on various issues. Analysts believe that Biden and C have cooled down the heated relationship between the two countries for the time being through that meeting.
Xi Jinping is the most powerful person after Mao
The week-long National Congress of China’s ruling Communist Party (CCP) began on October 16. One of the points of curiosity around this congress was whether Xi Jinping will remain as the general secretary of the party or not. Ending all speculations, the central committee elected CK as the general secretary of the party for another five years. As a result, he is going to get the responsibility as the president of China in the next term as well. Xi became the second most powerful ruler in China, Mao Tse-tung, by securing a third term. Congress approves revised party constitution, increasing Sir’s powers. The purpose of this amendment was to enhance Sir’s status and guiding role of political thought within the party.
Former President Hu Jintao attended the closing session of the Congress in the Great Hall of Beijing. He was suddenly removed from there. A video of the incident appeared to show Hu Jintao being taken out of the Great Hall against his will. It has been alleged that in the name of anti-corruption campaign, Xi Jinping has removed all those who oppose him from the political arena. Prime Minister Li Keqiang and some influential leaders who have a distance with Xi have not been included in this committee.
Xi took power as China’s head of state in 2012. Many analysts believed that he was going to be the most liberal leader of the Communist Party in the history of China. A decade later, it appears that much of that attitude of analysts has been proven wrong. Xi has become an iconic leader of his country. Analysts now say Xi Jinping is relentless in his pursuit of his goals, intolerant of dissent and even ambitious to establish control over almost every aspect of modern China.
Surrender to rare protests
China’s Communist leadership has been touting the ‘zero covid policy’ as a major achievement in controlling the coronavirus. When various countries, including the United States, were caught in the epidemic, China, the epicenter of the coronavirus, kept the situation under control. However, at the end of this year, China’s Covid policy suffered a major blow due to rare protests. 10 people were killed in a terrible fire in an apartment building in Urumqi, the capital of northwestern Xinjiang province. Corona restrictions were blamed for their being trapped in buildings and hampering rescue operations.
Then rare protests spread in the country’s major cities, including Shanghai. A protester chanted, ‘Si Chin Ping!’ Later, hundreds of people chanted, ‘Step down (resign)!’ Demonstrators also chanted, ‘Leave the Communist Party/power!’ The significance of the protest of Chinese citizens this time, the expression of anger is different. It is difficult to explain how painful it is for the ruling party to hear slogans demanding the resignation of President Xi Jinping.
In the end, the Chinese government was forced to relax the corona restrictions. However, this decision did not bring anything good for the people of the country. Corona infection has spread widely in the country. Hospitals have increased patient pressure. There is a shortage of medicines. Western media claimed that the country’s crematories are struggling to cremate bodies. However, the extent of the infection is terrible, it has emerged from the words of the Chinese officials. As a result, the question arises as to what the results of almost two years of strict ‘zero covid policy’ will be in the end.
New messages around the Middle East
President Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia at the end of the year was discussed. After seven years in December, he visited the influential country in the Middle East. During his visit, China signed a strategic agreement with the world’s top oil exporting country. The Chinese president also met with the leaders of the Arab world. The Chinese president’s visit to Riyadh, amid Saudi-US tensions over oil, signals deepening economic ties between China and the Gulf region.
China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner. Beijing is also a source of growing investment in the Arab country. China is the largest consumer of energy in the world. However, beyond energy security, Saudi Arabia can help China increase its geopolitical influence in the Middle East. Riyadh can also provide additional benefits for transactions in Chinese currency. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, discussions are underway between the two countries to pay the price of oil in the Chinese currency yuan instead of the US dollar. Such a deal could boost Beijing’s ambitions to increase the global influence of the Chinese currency. This would damage the long-standing agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States.
The Biden administration’s approach to the Middle East has worried the Saudi government. For this reason, Riyadh may want to use the growing relationship with China as a bargaining tool to stay ahead of the United States. On the other hand, Beijing has already established itself in the African continent. Despite the pressure at home and abroad, on the way to become a superpower, this time Xi Jinping’s China also sent a message to the United States about the Middle East.
