Farish A. Noor
While the simplistic thesis put forward by Samuel Huntington in his work The Clash of Civilizations reads like a paltry script from a bad movie, it has to be said that bad scripts are often the most believable and effective. It was Huntington who predicted that in the wake of the Cold War a new sort of conflict would arise, namely one configured along cultural-civilizational differences between the developed Western world and the mysterious, exotic and threatening East.
The two cultural blocs that were said to be the future adversaries to the West were the Muslim world and China, respectively. In the case of the former, it was opined by Huntington that with the demise of Communism, the potential threat of Islam would be realized sooner or later for the simple reason that Islam and the West shared ‘bloody frontiers’ that were marked by centuries of conflict. This thesis, however, is patently false to anyone who has even the slightest idea of the history of Islam and the non-Muslim world, for the fact is that the frontiers of the Muslim world are not marked by violence nor stained by blood, but rather remain porous horizons marked by the eclectic culture of Islamic mysticism or Sufism: From Southeast Asia to China, from Africa to Europe, the furthest frontiers of the Muslim world are precisely where mysticism and the Muslim practice of inter-cultural dialogue and cultural cross-fertilization flourished the most.
Related to Huntington’s fear of Islam was his fear of China, dubbed the ‘sleeping giant’ by Napoleon more than a century ago and which till today has yet to truly realize and demonstrate its full economic potential. Huntington’s crude thesis argued that in time the West would have to realize that non-negotiable cultural differences exist between the Western world and the Orient, and that these cultural differences would ultimately serve as the catalyst for an all-out confrontation between the West and China.
As the world stands on the brink of a global recession and as we witness what may soon become a global food and resource crisis, the lens of Western policy-makers and media analysts are already looking eastwards to locate the new ‘threat’ to the global order, namely China.
It is with this thought in mind that we reflect on the rather curious assortment of media tit-bits that have been served to us lately. In a space of a month, the international media has focused on the internal and external developments in China of late. Needless to say, the human rights record of China – not only in its dealings with Tibet but also internally in terms of its treatment of local dissidents – leaves much to be desired. China was and remains an authoritarian state with a brutal policing apparatus that works to ensure that the regime remains in power at all costs, regardless of the loss of basic freedoms and civil liberties to its people.
But having said that, it should also be remembered that the Chinese government is not the only despotic regime on the planet at the moment. Nor should we forget that the Western governments have been willing and able to work with many equally brutal regimes the world over, from the despots of the Arab states to the dictatorships in Latin America and Africa. So why single out China for now? And if China’s record is something to be looked at closely, we might as well take some time out to look at America’s own human rights record in dealing with the detainees in Guantanamo Bay as well.
The latest craze seems to be the focus on China’s economic dealings with Africa and how Chinese companies have been investing in the development of natural resources and infrastructure in the African continent. Several reports in the international media – including the BBC and CNN – have painted the picture of an aggressive China moving into the African continent to suck its resources dry and to secure monopolies in areas such as oil and gas.
Yet it has to be remembered that in the wake of the Second Gulf War and the invasion of Afghanistan in 2002, it was America that took the lead in the race to re-establish its presence in the African continent. Fearful of the prospect that the oil and gas reserves in the Arab-Muslim world were being depleted too fast, and that Arab oil and gas will run out for good in less than two decades, American and other Western oil and gas companies have begun to turn to Africa as another source of vital resources for their industrialized economies. Soon after the invasion of Afghanistan the Washington-based African Oil Policy Initiative Group (AOPIG) was set up to promote American oil and gas company interests in Africa. Already many of these companies have secured for themselves lasting monopolies in African countries like Nigeria.
So is all this talk of an ‘aggressive China’ moving into Africa simply a smokescreen to hide the fact that American oil and gas companies are already there, exploiting the natural resources of Africa to serve their own domestic industrial needs? And if China is to expand and develop its economy, then surely it also needs to secure a steady supply of vital resources such as oil, gas and steel?
This, then, appears to be the real reason and agenda behind the spate of China-bashing that we are seeing in the international media today. For if the governments of the West are really concerned about the standard of human rights in China at present, they would do just as well to apply the same standards to themselves and to their strategic allies in the Arab world, Africa and Asia. For now however, this hypocrisy of the highest level will continue as long as the international community remains blissfully ignorant of the real geo-political maneuverings that are taking place in this latest media skirmish between the West and China. A global economic crisis is in the making, as well as a global race for rapidly depleting resources. The media campaign to demonize China today is just the opening round to what will surely be a long-term conflict whose human costs will be borne by the rest of humanity as well.
Dr. Farish A. Noor is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore; and one of the founders of the www.othermalaysia.org research site.
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April 25th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Dr Farish Noor has as usual written an excellent article and I commend him for it. However there is one very critical point of dissent that I will take issue with him. I want to make my point that his acceptance of HUMAN RIGHTS is still largely a western construct and my bone of contention is that we in Asia, Africa and Latin America (non European & USA centric nations need to stick to our distinct cultural definition of moral equivalence, and define our value of HUMAN RIGHTS !) have to realize that this western construct of HUMAN RIGHTS IS NOT EVERY ONE’S CUP OF TEA. Take an example like what had been the practice in Tibet for those who face the death penalty under their feudal society, execution was to tie the victim in a “gunny bag” and toss him into the fast flowing waters of their mountain stream and let him drown. It has been widely debated in the west that the death penalty is cruel & unusual punishment (the USA still practices it by the way) and in many western nations death penalty has been suspended. Let me raise it here how many Asian, African or Latin American nation will consider this issue according to the prescription ?
Take the most cherished holy grail of the much touted FREEDOMS, freedom of expression. This is the dictate of the USA and the European nations, but when you pose this moral value against the USA, do the USA even respect this practice at all ? To limit the so called right free speech, they introduce the bullshit Patriot Act, then there is the limitation placed by operation of the OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT which in truth abolished totally all the much touted bullshit about FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION and much much more.
What about a prisoner’s right to remain silent and that it is the duty of the prosecution to prove GUILT BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT ? Did Guantanamo prisoners get their right to require the USA prove their guilt ? What about the right of accused persons to face charges and prosecution within the time limited by law, did those detained in Iraq & Afghanistan get this right and is there any avenue to enforce their right ? There are countless examples that the USA & the west do not treat all NON WHITES OF EUROPEAN & AMERICAN DESCENT WITH DUE RESPECT.
It is in this respect that I take issue with Dr Farish Noor, that we NON WHITES HAVE OUR OWN STANDADS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. China has been on this goos earth for over 10,000 years as a highly civilized people. The USA has been on this earth since 1774, they are mere infants and yet they have the arrogance to dictate to us.
I want also to make the point that human rights as dictated by the west IS A CAREFULLY CALCULATED CUDDGEL TO BEAT CHINA & ALL NON WHITE PEOPLES TO ACCEPT EUROPEAN & AMERICAN VALUES THAT EXAMPT THEY, THEMSELVES FROM ENFORCEMENT; therefore it is for us in these non white nations to hold our ground and to practice OUR OWN MORAL EQUIVALENCE AND TO DISCARD WHATEVER RUBBISH THAT THE WEST IS TRYING TO FORCED FEED US WITH.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:50 am
If China is the overall champion in this coming Olympics, all these China bashings will prove unfounded.
The world/ Olympic champion is worthy of praises and a paradigm of the world.
April 26th, 2008 at 10:27 am
TO DR.FARISH A. NOOR
ASSLAMOALIKUM
I have read with great interest your article”OPEN SEASON ON CHINA” in the Daily Times (Friday 25th April 2008) It is a cooincident that I had similar thoughts when our recently built Gwadar port was leased out to Port of Singapore for forty years, on quite humble terms. Gwadar is about 270 Nms SW of Musqat and almost the same sea distance to the west of Karachi. It is atop the shipping lanes of the black gold ie oil ex Persian / Arabian gulf. Chinese built this port but were not the contenders for operating the same yet all the western dignatories visiting Gwadar were more interested in China/CAS connection by road as also by sea. Perahps Chinese were apprehensive of US concerns ie having a foothold at this strategic location with a base to permeate their influence on the Mideast oil producing countries and possibly balked or because of their extended activities in Africa - or - perhaps both.
Having said that kindly analyse the situation further should you find my thoughts of some merit. It would be interesting if you also discuss the special relations of Singapore and the US and that of Israel with the Singapore armed forces. Was it likely of Singapore bidding for Gwadar as the front man of USA. Cooincidently Gwadar is also on the flank of Iran.
Regards,
April 26th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
China is a vast country with naturally rich resources and fast becoming a super power thus is perceived a threat to the West’s domination of the world. Obviously they don’t want to see that happens.
Dallai Lama is just a tool used by the West to create chaos/ division in China. Dalai Lama does not have the support of the Chinese people but just a small segment of Tibetans.
Dalai Lama is just a parasite who is only interested in power, wealth, land and women. Could Damai Lama bring prosperity to Tibet? Will Tibetans be happy under Dalai Lama? Tibet will be like a useless backward part of China and China doesn’t want to see that.
Dalai Lama will be like the sultans in Malaysia draining unnecessary resources/ wealth to support their hedonistic and decadent lifestyles. The Tibatan people will be treated like animals a la the people of Malaysia under the reign of Umno led BN.
Malaysian people are feeling fed up with the inequality/ blatant corruptions by the Umno led BN. So the Malaysian people want the BN and sultans to be kicked out from their daily lives.
Will the Tibetans want to bring back this wolf in sheepskin the West so fervently supported and making their life miserable like the Iraqis in Iraq? Obviously the West would want to see China in chaos and destabilized China. The Biejing Olympic is just a card for the despicable West to attain their machinations. Do you think the West will care/ interested if Damai Lama rule Tibet efficiently and the people of Tibet living in good life?
Could the Red Indians in America rule USA effectively and demanding autonomy kicking the Whites back to Europe?
Why that clown prince of Kelantan would want the Malay privilege/ special rights to last eternally? Isn’t this clown prince is like the Dalai lama, creating division among the people so that they could live a lifestyle perpetually like a king?
In Malaysia- Kick the sultans + Umno led BN out from our daily lives.
In China- Don’t let this Tibet wolf and the West dividing China.
In Iraq- Boot the US illegal occupied soldiers out from Iraq and stop colonizing Iraq / siphoning black gold out of Iraq!
April 26th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Dalai lama is not a parasite ..he just want to restore his country to its original ‘position’..Dun need the prosperity…want to live the simple life cannot meh ?
It is like saying why kelantan so backward..they should be prosperous then onli be happy. But hv u really been to kelantan n see ..for urself..? they r happier than those ppl from other states..all races..mind u…
China is in a veri vulnerable position rite now..scared of boycotts etc…so kena hantam left n rite..n those yankees n their goons..sure know how to exploit this weakness..
politics onli lor
April 26th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
The Western Media have just been awarded the first GOLD medal of the Beijing Olympics - for China bashing.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
This China-bashing spree, just ahead of the Beijing Olympics, will be a good reminder for China that even after after two centuries the barbarians are still at the gates, waiting to pounce, plunder, steal her national treasures and rape her women should the occasion arise again. And when will the occasion arise again? When China is weak again, like she was during the Ching dynasty.
In past years China has pleaded with the European countries to return the treasures looted from the Summer Palace when combined might of 7 European nations and Japan sacked Beijing, not once but twice, in the mid-19th century. If you are lucky enough to visit some of the museums in the European capitals you will see some of the treasures stored there. When China asked Britain, when Tony Blair was PM, the arrogance of the British was in their reply – the Chinese treasures are safer tin a British museum than in China. Fuck the Brits for their arrogance.
So China resorted to buying back her stolen national treasures through auction houses like Christies and Sothebys. It’s OK; the millions that China pays for a single item of national treasure can be earned back in less than a day through exports. It’s a small price to pay for national pride, a concept alien to a lot of other countries in this world .
If the fucking Brits are so concerned about human rights and national sovereignty she should have the decency to return the Falklands Isles to Argentina. And boy, did you see the way the Brits tried so hard to hold on to Hong Kong? And the Yanks have yet to apologise for their military aggression in Vietnam, just as they need to apologise for their ill-advised Iraq adventure – and get the hell out of there before it’s too late..
Tibet has always been a part of China. But she has been such a remote outpost that China, almost on the verge of being carved up and shared between the European powers and Japan, could not bring development to it. Now that she can, with the linking of Tibet to China via a railway to high in the Himalayas that passengers need to don oxygen masks, the Tibetans have achieved a standard of living and educations they could never dream of under the Dalai Lama and his cronies.
The West’s envy of China for her rise as a global power is now finding its outlet though perverse China-bashing.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Singapore is a small country and was bashed by the West in the 80’s and 90’s for its socialism but in the end the West was converted.
And now China a giant is taking the blows from the same West and most likely it will prevail and re-balance the geo-politics of the world and re-define the universal humanistic values.
But how would Malaysia ever learn from them so as to preserve and build on its good values? Hahahaha………………
April 28th, 2008 at 9:20 am
By the way of BBC and CNN report on the affairs of China, you can sense the Anglo-Saxons are VERY AFRAID of the rise of China, which may herald the renaissance of ASIA and its associated values not exactly the same as the West.
From the global perspective, Russia is a wounded bear in the zoo; Japan meek and insular, Arabs lost in the sands of time; Latin America at best a hedonist and Africa a lost course. Only left with the Asians who are able and ready to synthesize the values of the West with its own and take the lead out of it.
And so you can imagine the civilisation edge of the Asians in pitting with the West now that put fears in their minds after the West had been “defeated” by the Chinese MILITARILY in the Korean War first and the Vietnam War next with the help of the Russians as well.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:29 am
yes, western media is bias. but that doesn’t mean chinese government is right. oppression in tibet is very real. just because the western media bias, does that mean we malaysian should give a full support to an oppressive goverment in china? we hate oppression done by malaysian government but why on earth we want to support china oppression on tibet? isn’t that ironic? we can bash the western for their war for oil but why we malaysian want to support china even though they oppressed their people freedom much more than malaysian government? i smell a sense of hypocrite here.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:47 am
malaysians are idiot hypocrite. they hate the oppression done by malaysian government and at the same time they support the oppression done by chinese government to their people, paticularly tibet. bloody hypocrite.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:08 am
If you can imagine how Orang Asli being “oppressed”, only then you can REALLY understand Tibet la!