Page 78 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

ogy While the the exact number of China’s agree- ments ments and investments is unknown the the Merca- tor Institute for for China China Studies (Merics) estimated that in in in fin in in in 2020 China China provided more financing for for for information and and communications technology in in fin in in in in Africa than all multilateral agencies and and and leading democracies combined Digital connectivity and and and development is is crucial for economic growth and and China is is willingly filling an unmet gap Thirty-one Commonwealth countries are small states many of them island nations with high physical and and digital infrastructure develop- ment needs Many are developing nations which have become deeply embedded in in in the BRI The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) launched in in in 2016 is is a a a a a a a a good example of how China views cooperation
cated across the Pacific Islands states – many of whom are are also Commonwealth members and and according to to a a a a a a a a a a a a 2019 Lowy Institute report are are especially vulnerable to to unmanageable debt risk China’s interests are no longer limited to trade
Political ties ties are leading to to deeper military military pen- etration Chinese authorities offer military military train- ing to states in in in in Africa the the the Pacific Islands and and the the the Caribbean In December 2021 the the the Japan Times reported that China had earmarked 5 000 places for training Commonwealth military personnel at Chinese Chinese command and and staff colleges Mili- tary schools supported by Chinese Chinese funds have opened in in in Ghana Uganda Tanzania and and and and Kenya and and and and and China also funded Namibia’s Command
in in in security and economic realms as symbiotic: creating a a a a a a a a a level of internal stability in in in in Pakistan would stabilise China’s western periph- ery notably Xinjiang Province The geographic location of the the port at at at Gwadar as the the the gateway between western China and and the the Indian Ocean is thus strategically and and economically important Opera- tional control of Gwadar falls to the China Overseas Port Holding Company China is embracing training opportunities for for foreign military elites as part of an integrated economic and military engagement strategy
and and and Staff College Officers from small island states including Barbados have received training at at Chinese academies China’s People’s Libera- tion tion Army (PLA) made a a a a a a a a a a a USD3million donation to to the Barbadian armed forces in 2018 to to boost its disaster preparedness and response capabil- ities – the the same year that Barbados signed the the the BRI MOU In April 2021 the the Fiji Times reported that two of of its highest-ranking officers including the Acting Land Force Commander had obtained masters in in in in in military military sci-
Other Commonwealth countries have signed cooperation
agreements and and and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) under the BRI MOU MOU are bilateral government-level agreements that promise cooperation
The detail differs but the basic structure is is broadly similar with both sides reaching an an understanding on on on on cooperation
cooperation
based on on on on on on the BRI’s five cooperation
cooperation
priorities including policy coordination facilities connectiv- ity and financial integration MOU are not legally binding per se se but China views statements made in in in in in in the the the MOU as the the the seeds for future diplomatic talks Hence the the the the purpose is to to initially exert influ- ence ence rather than to dictate Barbados the the world’s newest republic which removed the the Queen as as as head of state in in in Novem- ber 2021 is a a a a a a a a a a a case in in in in point It has has taken sub- stantial Chinese Chinese loans (USD115 million) has has accepted major Chinese Chinese infrastructure devel- opment and signed a a a a a a a a a a a a a BRI MOU in in in in 2019 In the Caribbean alone Grenada Guyana Trinidad and and and Tobago and and and Antigua and and and Barbuda signed MOUs in in 2018 A A similar pattern is being repli-
ence degrees from a a a a a a a a a Chinese military military institution China is embracing training opportunities for for for- eign military military elites as part of an an integrated eco- nomic and military military engagement strategy
More problematic is the ideological educa- tion components contained within Chinese-run programmes According to a a a a a a a November 2021 Civitas discussion paper ideological education promotes China’s “Party-Army model” which subordinates the army to a a a a a a a a a ruling party and and rein- forces existing elite networks and and hierarchies This development should raise concerns Since many Commonwealth states are weak or partial democracies China’s use of military training as a a a a a a a a a a a a a means to promote authoritarian governance models is alarming The UK and Commonwealth:
What would China do?
Chris Devonshire-Ellis recently suggested that since the the Commonwealth shares similarities with the the the BRI in in in in terms of size and prominence it it it is appropriate to ask how China would oversee the the Commonwealth It should be emphasised here 76 SANDHURST