Concern about Chinese autocratic and control system challenging democracy and rule of law systems in leaderless world today
Europe Once Saw Xi Jinping as a Hedge Against Trump. Not Anymore., https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/world/europe/europe-china-xi-trump-trade.html, 4th March 2018.
A few short extracts from the above article:
Few still believe China is moving toward the Western values of democracy and rule of law.
...
Last month, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel of Germany warned that China was pursuing its own model of world order and attempting “to put a Chinese stamp on the world and impose a Chinese system, a real global system but not like ours, based on human rights and individual liberties.”
...
Now Mr. Xi’s open-ended tenure could give China a chance to plan long-term and carry out its policies systematically with “a steady hand on the helm of a great power,” Mr. Schell said. “But it is rooted in Leninism, autocracy and control, which will make it a tremendous challenge for liberal democracies rooted in a different value system, especially in a world reeling with no leadership.”
--- end short extracts from article ----
Ravi: My own view as an India based and Internet based observer of world events over the past few years, is that the above article's concerns seem to be grounded in reality and the history of China in the past few decades. As a beneficiary (I was born in democratic India in 1962 and have lived only in democracies - India, USA, Western Europe and South Korea), a lover and an open supporter of democracy, I share these concerns.
I think democracy lovers and supporters in democratic countries worldwide should be alert to threats to their democracies. Of course, if China ensures that it does not subvert democracies in the world and try to introduce their authoritarian and control system in other countries then I think these concerns will get addressed. But democratic countries need to be on their guard. I think democracy and its wonderful freedoms, including freedom of religion, is a fragile thing and needs protection and alertness from its citizens for survival.
[I thank nytimes.com and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above short extracts from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
A few short extracts from the above article:
Few still believe China is moving toward the Western values of democracy and rule of law.
...
Last month, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel of Germany warned that China was pursuing its own model of world order and attempting “to put a Chinese stamp on the world and impose a Chinese system, a real global system but not like ours, based on human rights and individual liberties.”
...
Now Mr. Xi’s open-ended tenure could give China a chance to plan long-term and carry out its policies systematically with “a steady hand on the helm of a great power,” Mr. Schell said. “But it is rooted in Leninism, autocracy and control, which will make it a tremendous challenge for liberal democracies rooted in a different value system, especially in a world reeling with no leadership.”
--- end short extracts from article ----
Ravi: My own view as an India based and Internet based observer of world events over the past few years, is that the above article's concerns seem to be grounded in reality and the history of China in the past few decades. As a beneficiary (I was born in democratic India in 1962 and have lived only in democracies - India, USA, Western Europe and South Korea), a lover and an open supporter of democracy, I share these concerns.
I think democracy lovers and supporters in democratic countries worldwide should be alert to threats to their democracies. Of course, if China ensures that it does not subvert democracies in the world and try to introduce their authoritarian and control system in other countries then I think these concerns will get addressed. But democratic countries need to be on their guard. I think democracy and its wonderful freedoms, including freedom of religion, is a fragile thing and needs protection and alertness from its citizens for survival.
[I thank nytimes.com and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above short extracts from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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