China doesn’t export ideology – including in the global south – its focus is economic partners not military allies

[Percy, “Why China is not planning to conquer other nations” John Menadue’s Public Policy Journal, Sep. 30, 2023, https://johnmenadue.com/why-china-is-not-planning-to-conquer-other-nations-part-2/ Accessed 7.19.24 GDI-HB]

China is not exporting ideology

China no longer exports communism. The Marxist Leninist (Pro-China) Communist Parties that existed in many countries during the Mao era have long closed. As the world’s factory and largest trading nation, China wants respect and influence so that its vital export markets, essential raw material sources and valuable overseas investments are not imperilled.

It also wants a navy big enough to protect its international shipping from disruption by US and allied navies. China’s new vision of “Shared Prosperity” (redistributing wealth) is designed for domestic consumption, not international audiences. By contrast America’s quest to spread freedom and liberty has seen it blunder into foreign wars, most of which it lost because local peoples had their own cultural and national aspirations and resented foreign troops on their soil.

China’s biggest international thrust has been its Roads and Belt Initiative (BRI) launched in 2013 which involves more than 3,100 projects across almost 150 countries worth over US$1 trillion. It seeks to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks to improve regional integration, increase trade, and foster economic growth. Unlike the USA, China’s focus is on global economic partners not military allies.

China’s appeal to the Global South is threefold; it has not invaded any of them or subverted their governments, its BRI offers both grants and cheap loans for vital economic infrastructure such as roads, airports, seaports, and railways, and it is open to free trade agreements with poorer countries which the European Union and the USA are reluctant to do because of their industry protection policies.