Is China a responsible citizen of the World?

Since the beginning of the 1900s, China had long closed itself off to the world. Preferring an independent economy over liberalizing trade, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has centralized its power to the government. With the image of the Great Wall and media censorship apparent, China is a country with high barriers to entry.

And yet it imposes a looming presence to the rest of the regions. With its large population numbers and its exponential growth in the ‘90s, China has proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Only by the turn of the 21st century and under the helm of President Xi Jinping have they taken an interest in the world, albeit an aggressive one. With increasing authoritarian measures and the erosion of rule of law, the Chinese administration uses their economic clout to not only repress private ownership but also influence the world market.

The CCP has imposed heavy-hitting foreign policies that place pressure on smaller countries in Asia and by extension undermines democratic rule. One such example is the dispute over the South China Sea.

This modern-day imperialism with China “preying on the weak” via its aggressive policies is indicative of a clear lack of regard to universal rights. There seems to be little consideration of the footprint and social repercussions their actions generate to the community at large.