The situation with China -- Is-sitwazzjoni maċ-Ċina

You know that a subject is a wide preoccupation when friends or family members start mentioning the same thing almost immediately upon meeting with you.

That’s what happened this week, when my friends mentioned the fragile relationship between Australia and China, and what might be its implications on our lives.

China is the country with the highest population globally, this year estimated at 1.4 billion, or 18.7% of the global population.1 It is the second highest economy in the world in nominal terms, which in 2019 was measured at $14 trillion, a bit more than half that of the United States ($21 trillion). By another measure, an estimate of how much a country is able to purchase (Purchasing Power Parity - PPP), the Chinese economy ($23.4 trillion) is already larger than that of the United States ($21.3 trillion).2

What is extraordinary is how this country has managed to develop in this way and come out of the country status so-called ‘second world’ (a derogatory moniker by western countries), and a so-called ‘developing country’ (self-applied with the World Trade Organisation - WTO), without much fanfare, in a manner that can well be described as peaceful and without involvement in many bloody wars here and there after the Second World War, that the US and its allies entered into with gusto.

The mouse became the elephant in the room that everybody pretended did not exist, and all of a sudden everybody is in a panic running around not knowing what to do. Everything seems to have been brought to a head when China in a blink of an eye build several artificial islands in the South China Sea, and established a military facility on them.3 Against international law? Yes, that was established by an international tribunal in 2016. Against what had been promised by China itself? Without a doubt.

A hostile act? Before answering that, consider that the United States has (or at least had by 2015) 800 military bases in more than 70 countries around the world.4

Are the latter necessary, for the United States? If yes, why are the former not necessary, for China?

Are you scared of nuclear armaments under the control of Xi Jinping? And what about those under the control of Donald Trump?

It is known that China has built huge centres of ‘re-education’ in Xinjiang province, where it is thought are being kept around a million Uighurs, a minority Muslim group in this region. China has for years been accused by several countries with human rights abuses, including the forced sterilisation of women. China does not like receiving these accusations, initially denying the camps’ very existence, later saying they were necessary because of separatist violence, and continued denying the forced sterilisation.5

Closer to us, Australia this week woke up to the news that a military investigation over a period of 4 years found that the Australian special forces were involved in the unnecessary killing of 39 civilians, including throat cutting, and the malicious planting of firearms next to bodies to justify the killings. It was concluded that these actions had not been done in the heat of battle.6

To the country’s credit, the Australian authorities, both military and civil, did not hide the acts and seem to be considering what serious steps can be taken in these circumstances against those that perpetrated and/or failed to act.

Then China, uncommonly, made a declaration on Twitter that condemned the alleged acts and, furthermore, retweeted a modified photo showing an Australia soldier cutting the throat of a boy on his knee.

Was this photo unnecessary and inflammatory? Of course, it was better if it didn’t happen. Nevertheless what was interesting for me was the official Australian reaction, which was quick to come out. Prime Minister Morrison asked the Chinese government for an apology, that the writing on Twitter be removed and saying that the Chinese government should be ashamed of the text.7

It seemed to me that the tone of the Australian official reaction to the Chinese criticism was stronger than the tone of the Australian official reaction to the alleged atrocities by the military special forces.

It is not enough to say you are transparently taking action. From my viewpoint, we have lost an opportunity to show in practice that when ugly cases come about on our side, we are able to have a discussion with our international partners, even when these are critical in our regard. Isn’t this what we expect from others?

We could keep on going. China these days is considering ordering the limitation of export of advanced technology, like artificial intelligence and cryptography, on the basis of the country’s national security.8 This will naturally affect other countries that would like to use similar technologies in their industries, who will see this as a tough measure.

Is it bad that such a step is taken? The United States has for many years been limiting the export of supercomputer technology to China, and this activity is still under way.9

Who will throw the first stone? Or rather, who has already done so?

I’m sorry to say that when the Chinese accuse the West of hypocrisy, I have to say they are right.

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Tkun taf li suġġett qiegħed jippreokkupa l-imħuħ meta ħbieb jew familjari jibdew isemmu l-istess ħaġa miegħek kważi mallewwel li jkun ltaqgħu miegħek.

Hekk ġrali din il-ġimgħa, meta ħbieb tiegħi semmewli r-relazzjonijiet mwiegħra bejn l-Awstralja u ċ-Ċina, u x’jistgħu jkunu l-implikazzjonijiet fuq ħajjitna.

Iċ-Ċina hija l-pajjiż bl-ikbar popolazzjoni fid-dinja, f’din is-sena stmata li hi 1.4 biljun persuna, jew 18.7% tal-popolazzjoni dinjija.1 Hija t-tieni l-ikbar ekonomija fid-dinja f’termini nominali, li fl-2019 kienet imkejla 14 triljun dollaru, ftit iktar minn nofs dak tal-Istati Uniti (21 triljun dollaru). B’kejl ieħor, dak li jistma kemm il-pajjiż kapaċi jixtri (Purchasing Power Parity – PPP), l-ekonomija taċ-Ċina (b’$23.4 triljun) diġà hija ikbar minn dik tal-Istati Uniti ($21.3 triljun).2

Li huwa straordinarju huwa kemm il-pajjiż irnexxielu jiżviluppa b’dan il-mod u joħroġ mill-istat ta’ pajjiż hekk imsejjaħ (derogattivament mill-pajjiżi tal-punent) tat-tieni dinja (jiġifieri dik kommunista), u stat hekk imsejjaħ (minnu nnifsu mal-WTO – World Trade Organisation) li qiegħed jiżviluppa, bi ftit daqq ta’ trombi, b’mod tista’ tgħid paċifiku u mingħajr involviment f’ħafna gwerer ‘l hawn u ‘l hemm mdemmija sew wara t-tieni gwerra dinjija li l-Istati Uniti u l-allejati tagħha daħlu għalihom bi ħġarhom.

Il-ġurdien sar iljunfant li għal ħafna snin kulħadd għamel tabirruħu li ma jeżistix, u f’daqqa waħda kulħadd qiegħed f’paniku ma jafx x’se jaqbad jagħmel. Kollox qisu beda meta ċ-Ċina f’ħakka t’għajn bniet diversi gżejjer artifiċjali fis-South China Sea, u stabbiliet faċilità militari fuqhom.3 Kontra l-liġi internazzjonali? Iva, hekk stabbilixxa tribunal internazzjonali fl-2016. Kontra dak li ġie mwiegħed miċ-Ċiniżi stess? Iva dażgur.

Aġir ta’ pajjiż ostili? Qabel ma twieġeb din, ikkunsidra li l-Istati Uniti għandha (jew talinqas kellha fl-2015) 800 bażi militari f’iktar minn 70 pajjiż madwar id-dinja.4

Dawn tal-aħħar neċessarji, għall-Istati Uniti? Jekk iva, għaliex dawk tal-ewwel mhux neċessarji, għaċ-Ċina?

Ibeżżgħuk armi nukleari taħt il-kontroll ta’ Xi Jinping? U xi tgħidli għal dawk taħt il-kontroll ta’ Donald Trump?

Huwa magħruf li ċ-Ċina bniet ċentri kbar ta’ ‘ri-edukazzjoni’ fil-provinċja ta’ Xinjiang, fejn huma maħsubin li jinżammu madwar miljun Ujgur, grupp Musulman ta’ minoranza f’dan ir-reġjun. Iċ-Ċina ilha snin akkużata minn diversi pajjiżi b’abbuż tad-drittijiet umani, inkluż sterilizzazzjoni sfurzata tan-nisa. Iċ-Ċina ma tieħux gost tirċievi dawn l-akkużi, fil-bidu caħdet li l-kampijiet jeżistu, imbagħad qalet li huma neċessarji minħabba l-vjolenza separatista, u kompliet tiċħad l-isterilizzazzjoni sfurzata.5

Iktar qrib tagħna, l-Awstralja din il-ġimgħa qamet għall-aħbar li investigazzjoni militari fuq medda ta’ erba’ snin sabet li l-forzi speċjali Awstraljani kienu nvoluti fil-qtil bla bżonn ta’ 39 persuna ċivili, inkluż allegatament il-qtugħ tal-gerżuma, u t-tqegħid makakk ta’ armi mal-iġsma biex jiġġustifika l-qtil. Ġie konkluż li dawn l-azzjonijiet ma kinux saru fil-qilla tal-battalja.6

Għall-kreditu tal-pajjiż, l-awtoritajiet Awstraljani, kemm militari kif ukoll ċivili, ma ħbewx l-aġir u jidher li qegħdin jikkunsidraw x’passi serji għandhom jittieħdu f’dawn iċ-ċirkstanzi kontra minn wettaqu u/jew ma qediex dmiru.

Imbagħad iċ-Ċina, b’mod mhux komuni, ħarġet stqarrija fuq Twitter fejn ikkundannat dan l-allegat aġir u, iktar minn hekk, reġgħet ippubblikat ritratt modifikat li juri suldat Awstraljan jaqta’ l-gerżuma ta’ tifel fuq irkobbtejh.

Kien żejjed u inflammatorju dan ir-ritratt? Dażgur, aħjar ma sarx. Madankollu għalija l-interessanti għalija kienet ir-reazzjoni uffiċjali Awstraljana, li ma damitx biex toħroġ. Il-Prim Ministru Morrison talab apoloġija mill-gvern Ċiniż, li l-kitba li timbuttak fuq Twitter tiġi mneħħija, u qal li l-gvern Ċiniż imissu jistħi bil-kitba.7

Jien deherli li t-ton tar-reazzjoni uffiċjali Awstraljana għall-kritika Ċiniża kienet iktar qawwija mit-ton tar-reazzjoni uffiċjali Awstraljana għall-allegat atroċitajiet infushom tal-forzi speċjali militari.

Mhuwiex biżżejjed li tgħid li qed tieħu azzjoni b’trasparenza. Għalija, tlifna opportunità biex nuru fil-prattika li meta jinqalgħu każijiet koroh min-naħa tagħna, aħna kapaċi jkollna diskussjoni mal-imsieħba internazzjonali tagħna, anke meta jkunu kritiċi fil-konfront tagħna. Aħna mhux hekk nippretendu mingħand ħaddieħor?

Nistgħu nibgħu sejrin hekk. Iċ-Ċina f’dawn il-ġranet qiegħda tikkunsidra ordni biex tillimita l-esportazzjoni ta’ teknoloġiji avvanzati bħall-intelliġenza artifiċjali u l-kriptografija, abbażi tas-sigurtà nazzjonali tal-pajjiż.8 Dan naturalment jaffettwa pajjiżi oħra li jkunu jridu jużaw teknoloġiji simili fl-oqsma industrijali tagħhom, li se jarawha bħala pass iebes.

Ħażin li jittieħed pass bħal dan? L-Istati Uniti ilhom għal snin kbar jillimitaw l-esportazzjoni ta’ teknoloġiji ta’ superkompjuters liċ-Ċina, u din l-attività għadha sejra.9

Min se jitfa l-ewwel ġebla? Jew min tefagħha diġà?

Jiddispjaċini ngħid li meta ċ-Ċiniżi jgħajru lill-Pununt b’ipokrezija, ikolli nagħtihom raġun.

1https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/china-population/, retrieved 1/12/2020

2https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true, retrieved 1/12/2020

3https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/world/asia/south-china-sea-navy.html, retrieved 1/12/2020

4https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/us-military-bases-around-the-world-119321, retrieved 1/12/2020

5https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037, retrieved 1/12/2020

6https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/19/australian-special-forces-involved-in-of-39-afghan-civilians-war-crimes-report-alleges, retrieved 1/12/2020

7https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/30/australia-china-pm-scott-morrison-demands-apology-fake-chinese-tweet-adf-soldier, retrieved 1/12/2020

8https://www.china-briefing.com/news/chinas-new-export-control-law-restrictions-imposed-23-items-technology/, retrieved 1/12/2020

9https://www.engadget.com/2019-06-21-us-export-restrictions-blocks-china-supercomputer.html, retrieved 1/12/2020

1https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/china-population/, retrieved 1/12/2020