December 12, 2024

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LESSONS FROM HISTORY

The Chinese Menace to the World

A New Threat of Aggressive Imperialism, Echoing the Dangers of Nazi Germany

THE EMINENT LAWYER and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal recently held a video discussion with three well-known individuals: Subramanyam Swamy, former Union Minister; Shiv Shankar Menon, former National Security Advisor to the UPA government; and Ashok Kantha, former Ambassador to China, to discuss the peril that China poses to India.

Kapil SwamyI watched the entire video in which these distinguished individuals pointed out that China has forcibly occupied much of our territory.

However, these individuals had no idea of the most important point—that Chinese imperialism, like that of Hitler, is expanding and aggressive. This makes it far more dangerous than the defensive imperialism of Britain and France in the 1930s. The latter merely sought to hold on to their colonies, while Hitler wanted to conquer the entire world. Thus, Nazi German imperialism, being expansionist and aggressive, was much more dangerous than British or French imperialism.

Similarly today, China’s expanding imperialism is the greatest danger to the world.

The essence of imperialism is not the occupation of a colony but rather the grabbing of its markets, cheap raw materials, and strategic advantages, which can be achieved without the need for military occupation, as the Chinese have done all over the world. This subtle yet expansive form of imperialism is, therefore, more pervasive and insidious than the traditional models of territorial conquest.

Nazi ChinaWhile the British and French empires were largely defensive in their approach—focused on preserving their colonies—Nazi Germany’s imperialism was marked by aggressive territorial expansion, aimed at global domination. China today mirrors this aggressive model of imperialism. Not satisfied with controlling its own region, it seeks to expand its influence worldwide through a combination of economic, political, and military strategies.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is one example of this expansion. By investing in infrastructure projects across Asia, Africa, and Europe, China is building strategic footholds around the world.

These projects often lead to debt traps for participating nations, making them increasingly dependent on Chinese loans and influence. In this way, China is not just seeking to dominate the region but is quietly establishing its control over global trade routes, markets, and vital resources.

China WorldChina’s imperialism is also evident in its aggressive stance in the South China Sea, where it has constructed military bases on artificial islands to assert control over key shipping lanes. This move is not just about regional dominance; it is a strategic effort to control one of the most important maritime trade routes in the world.

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This kind of imperialism, which is primarily economic and geopolitical rather than military occupation, is what makes China’s rise a global threat. China’s imperialism today is not just a challenge for India but for the entire world. Its growing influence over global markets, strategic alliances, and technological advancements has the potential to reshape the global balance of power.

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In conclusion, while Kapil Sibal and the other participants in the discussion rightly pointed out the immediate territorial threats posed by China to India, they missed the larger picture. China’s imperialism today is more akin to that of Nazi Germany—expansionist, aggressive, and aiming for global dominance. The world, therefore, must unite against China’s imperial ambitions before it is too late. Pt Logo

 

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