With the decline of Britain's influence

China uses military diplomacy with Commonwealth countries

Beijing began reaping the fruits of its policies in the Commonwealth of Nations.

archival

China has systematically targeted countries participating in military exercises with infrastructure investment funds through the Belt and Road Initiative, in order to gain influence and diplomatic support in international institutions such as the United Nations, and in an effort to halt broader recognition of Taiwan.

Almost every Commonwealth of Nations, and many others, have taken part in the Belt and Road Initiative, the distinguished foreign policy project of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In this, the chairman of the British House of Commons Defense Committee, Tobias Ellwood, says, “China has tempted dozens of countries, which currently contribute a quarter of global GDP, through long-term economic programs, which they cannot afford, while gradually reshaping the international scene,” he continued. "It is not surprising to know that China's growing influence now extends to the military training academies, as the British Defense Academy (Sandhurst and Shrevenham) have been replaced by China's elite military institutes."

investment cost

Ellwood said the escalating cost of infrastructure investment may be one reason for the shift.

China simply cannot afford to continue making huge loans at its current pace, especially with the high default rate.

Beijing has turned to the private sector to finance international projects, underlining the increasingly perilous bottom line for China.

But the country is also facing growing resentment, and a backlash in some smaller countries, which it has sought to influence with expensive economic promises it cannot keep.

A few days ago, Australia and New Zealand sent troops to suppress anti-Chinese riots in the Solomon Islands.

Anger also erupted in Kiribati, over the absence of an open-door policy towards Chinese citizens, who enter the capital, while Kiribati residents are locked up under epidemic laws.

This mirrors the resentment seen in other Commonwealth island nations, such as Barbados, where Chinese workers enjoy many advantages and take on all construction jobs.

These developments raised the question of whether Barbados had simply given up the British crown, to pursue a new colony.

Poor, small island states are easy targets for China, especially when it seeks support in arenas such as the United Nations General Assembly, which operates a "one country, one vote" system.

The Solomon Islands and Kiribati were persuaded to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan and align themselves with China, after exorbitant promises of assistance.

Kiribati opposition leader Tessa Lambourne confirmed to The Times that her party intends to cut ties with Beijing if he returns to office. "Frankly, I don't trust our government when it comes to dealing with the Chinese government," she said. the Chinese government.”

fear

Analysts fear that Beijing's courtship of military elites in developing countries may stunt the growth of young democracies and prevent voters from having the final say in outside influence.

Robert Mugabe, one of China's most staunch supporters, ruled Zimbabwe for three decades before he was ousted in a party coup suspected of having Chinese backing.

Since then, his successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has softened calls for a return of Western investment, speaking of a "hybrid economy", with Chinese policies in mind.

Zimbabwe, which was suspended from the Commonwealth in 2002, is seeking its return to the 54-member union.

Later, those who made a trip to China for training showed the required loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party.

After his participation, the Secretary-General of Kenya's ruling party, Rafael Tujo, said he saw nothing wrong with "learning from the most successful and best parties" in the world.

Ellwood said: "Britain is slowly but surely being excluded from 'favorite country' status across the Commonwealth, and until we wake up and confront China's emerging grand global strategy, the West will continue to shrink in size as more and more countries look to the East."

• China simply cannot afford to continue making huge loans at its current pace, especially with the high rate of default.

• Analysts fear that Beijing's courtship of military elites in developing countries may stunt the growth of young democracies and prevent voters from having the final say in outside influence.

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