The annual United Nations General Assembly ended in New York in September with world leaders talking of their policy ideas and their outlook on international commitments under the UN flag.
What became clear was that Asia is on the rise and the Asian model of global governance will be the order of the day. During the session, Asian countries, led by the People’s Republic of China, took a very balanced, measured and comprehensive stance on preserving established norms of multilateralism in world affairs. This contrasted with the approach of the United States President, Donald Trump, who has proposed a change of direction toward individualism and to exercising sovereignty at the expense of everybody.
The foundation of the UN was the victory of the global liberal world order, its core principles being international justice, non-intervention, common development, shared peace and prevention of conflicts. The US and other Western countries have long adhered to such principles and have been the major beneficiaries of the established world order. Now this era seems to have run its course, and the 73rd General Assembly observed that these UN principles are under assault from the forces of populism, protectionism and individualism.
As this century began, China became a standard bearer for Asia and began to shine as a star of global economic growth even as Russia became resurgent after the demise of the Soviet Union. There is no doubt that the terrorist attacks in the US on Sept 11, 2001, are important historically and geopolitically, but these events have been less influential on world politics and economics than China’s entrance to the World Trade Organization three months later. The rise of China and of the Asian century continue apace, and no country can match the change and progress that China is making for the betterment not only of its own people but of the region as a whole.
By the time the phenomenon of regionalism had emerged and free trade areas were being established, following the UN principles of collaboration and shared growth, China and Russia took an initiative towards a regional organization that subsequently led to the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with a few Central Asian partners. Other Asian states established their economic base and gave rise to their economies, i.e. Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea through the platform of the Association of South East Asian Nations. This has brought Asia in direct competition with the West in economic growth in what the US perceives as a confrontation.
Why does everybody seem to be preoccupied with Asia? Because it includes four recognized nuclear armed states with shared borders, a region rich in natural energy resources, a hub of natural deep water sea ports, the rapidly growing connectivity across the region and encircled in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, a gateway to the outer world. Asia will continue to become more important, and it is China that will lead this Asian century and age. That century will be characterized by Asian social, economic, political, religious and technological innovation and change.
When China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, addressed the UN General Assembly he said “international rules and multilateral mechanisms are being attacked”. The West was undermining multilateralism, he said, which was destabilizing, and a policy of confrontation rather than collaboration would not work. China highlighted the need for adherence to international agreements that were the fruit of negotiations and basic governing norms of an international system and for multilateralism instead of a protectionist, unilateral approach. It ought to be noted that protectionism harm only those who are engaged in it, while unilateralism harms the whole system. Wang Yi recalled President Xi Jinping at the General Assembly three years ago calling for the building of “a community with a shared future of mankind”. By its very nature, international trade in a liberal economic order benefits all and is complementary to all trade partners in the Belt and Road Initiative. So China advocated multilateralism, shared peace and development.
On the other hand, at this year’s General Assembly Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, expressed his concerns, saying “polycentric principles are growing and new economic centres are taking shape”. He spoke out against West pulling back from a multilateral approach, calling it “political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force”. He expressed his concern about meddling in the internal affairs of states, double standards in international affairs and forcefully making economic and military alliances against the will of people – without naming the US. The attacks of some Western countries on international institutions might result in less constructive multilateral collaboration and more unpredictability, which would undermine the potential of the UN.
At the General Assembly, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, endorsed the BRI, saying it was a symbol of collective growth, and he underlined the importance of regional and extra-regional collaboration, saying “forces of protectionism, populism and isolationism are gaining currency”. He warned the world about the likely collapse of global order, saying “the principles on which the edifice of global order is constructed are under assault”. On the other hand, India’s Foreign Minister, Sashma Swaraj, proposed reforms in the UN to make it work, unlike its predecessor the League of Nations. The world is a family, she said, and the UN must work like a family, and she praised multilateralism. “In the UN we cannot say this is me, mine or I; it is us, ours and we.”
Thus Asia addressed this year’s UN General Assembly the way the West addressed the first General Assembly after the UN was founded. The notion that the West is more responsible than others is vanishing and Asia is exerting its position in calculated way. Those who spoke said what they felt, rather than what they intended to say, and the world listened. In defending basic UN principles at the General Assembly they emerged as winners. All the countries mentioned above are Asian neighbors that are nuclear capable, have large standing armies and are members of the powerful Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In the era of regionalism, even as the European Union grapples with Britain’s withdrawal and with differences of opinion over refugees, Asian countries offer more positive prospects for integration, collaboration and responsibility. In his book Heart Land Theory, Halford J. Mackinder said that whoever ruled the heartland commands the World-Island and whoever rules the World-Island commands the world. This outlook on the world is appearing before our very eyes as China makes its benchmark in the heartland that covers the SCO. Views that Asia, led by China, expressed at this year’s General Assembly cannot be ignored; indeed they need to be valued and followed. Asia is not going to dictate to the world, something the West has made a practice of since the UN was founded. It believes in President Xi’s vision, “to build a community with a shared future of mankind”. All hail Asia.
The writer is director of Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies and Centre for Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC, Islamabad Pakistan, & Secretary General, Pakistan-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Friendship Forum. The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.
All rights reserved. Copying or sharing of any content for other than personal use is prohibited without prior written permission.
Muhammad Asif Noor
The annual United Nations General Assembly ended in New York in September with world leaders talking of their policy ideas and their outlook on international commitments under the UN flag.
What became clear was that Asia is on the rise and the Asian model of global governance will be the order of the day. During the session, Asian countries, led by the People’s Republic of China, took a very balanced, measured and comprehensive stance on preserving established norms of multilateralism in world affairs. This contrasted with the approach of the United States President, Donald Trump, who has proposed a change of direction toward individualism and to exercising sovereignty at the expense of everybody.
The foundation of the UN was the victory of the global liberal world order, its core principles being international justice, non-intervention, common development, shared peace and prevention of conflicts. The US and other Western countries have long adhered to such principles and have been the major beneficiaries of the established world order. Now this era seems to have run its course, and the 73rd General Assembly observed that these UN principles are under assault from the forces of populism, protectionism and individualism.
As this century began, China became a standard bearer for Asia and began to shine as a star of global economic growth even as Russia became resurgent after the demise of the Soviet Union. There is no doubt that the terrorist attacks in the US on Sept 11, 2001, are important historically and geopolitically, but these events have been less influential on world politics and economics than China’s entrance to the World Trade Organization three months later. The rise of China and of the Asian century continue apace, and no country can match the change and progress that China is making for the betterment not only of its own people but of the region as a whole.
By the time the phenomenon of regionalism had emerged and free trade areas were being established, following the UN principles of collaboration and shared growth, China and Russia took an initiative towards a regional organization that subsequently led to the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with a few Central Asian partners. Other Asian states established their economic base and gave rise to their economies, i.e. Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea through the platform of the Association of South East Asian Nations. This has brought Asia in direct competition with the West in economic growth in what the US perceives as a confrontation.
Why does everybody seem to be preoccupied with Asia? Because it includes four recognized nuclear armed states with shared borders, a region rich in natural energy resources, a hub of natural deep water sea ports, the rapidly growing connectivity across the region and encircled in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, a gateway to the outer world. Asia will continue to become more important, and it is China that will lead this Asian century and age. That century will be characterized by Asian social, economic, political, religious and technological innovation and change.
When China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, addressed the UN General Assembly he said “international rules and multilateral mechanisms are being attacked”. The West was undermining multilateralism, he said, which was destabilizing, and a policy of confrontation rather than collaboration would not work. China highlighted the need for adherence to international agreements that were the fruit of negotiations and basic governing norms of an international system and for multilateralism instead of a protectionist, unilateral approach. It ought to be noted that protectionism harm only those who are engaged in it, while unilateralism harms the whole system. Wang Yi recalled President Xi Jinping at the General Assembly three years ago calling for the building of “a community with a shared future of mankind”. By its very nature, international trade in a liberal economic order benefits all and is complementary to all trade partners in the Belt and Road Initiative. So China advocated multilateralism, shared peace and development.
On the other hand, at this year’s General Assembly Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, expressed his concerns, saying “polycentric principles are growing and new economic centres are taking shape”. He spoke out against West pulling back from a multilateral approach, calling it “political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force”. He expressed his concern about meddling in the internal affairs of states, double standards in international affairs and forcefully making economic and military alliances against the will of people – without naming the US. The attacks of some Western countries on international institutions might result in less constructive multilateral collaboration and more unpredictability, which would undermine the potential of the UN.
At the General Assembly, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, endorsed the BRI, saying it was a symbol of collective growth, and he underlined the importance of regional and extra-regional collaboration, saying “forces of protectionism, populism and isolationism are gaining currency”. He warned the world about the likely collapse of global order, saying “the principles on which the edifice of global order is constructed are under assault”. On the other hand, India’s Foreign Minister, Sashma Swaraj, proposed reforms in the UN to make it work, unlike its predecessor the League of Nations. The world is a family, she said, and the UN must work like a family, and she praised multilateralism. “In the UN we cannot say this is me, mine or I; it is us, ours and we.”
Thus Asia addressed this year’s UN General Assembly the way the West addressed the first General Assembly after the UN was founded. The notion that the West is more responsible than others is vanishing and Asia is exerting its position in calculated way. Those who spoke said what they felt, rather than what they intended to say, and the world listened. In defending basic UN principles at the General Assembly they emerged as winners. All the countries mentioned above are Asian neighbors that are nuclear capable, have large standing armies and are members of the powerful Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In the era of regionalism, even as the European Union grapples with Britain’s withdrawal and with differences of opinion over refugees, Asian countries offer more positive prospects for integration, collaboration and responsibility. In his book Heart Land Theory, Halford J. Mackinder said that whoever ruled the heartland commands the World-Island and whoever rules the World-Island commands the world. This outlook on the world is appearing before our very eyes as China makes its benchmark in the heartland that covers the SCO. Views that Asia, led by China, expressed at this year’s General Assembly cannot be ignored; indeed they need to be valued and followed. Asia is not going to dictate to the world, something the West has made a practice of since the UN was founded. It believes in President Xi’s vision, “to build a community with a shared future of mankind”. All hail Asia.
The writer is director of Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies and Centre for Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC, Islamabad Pakistan, & Secretary General, Pakistan-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Friendship Forum. The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.
All rights reserved. Copying or sharing of any content for other than personal use is prohibited without prior written permission.
