Guide
The "Global South" is emerging as a major force influencing the global governance landscape. In the face of China's rising influence in the "Global South" and its own declining influence, Western countries have provoked a "cognitive war" to concoct narratives such as China's "neocolonialism" and "debt trap". A series of initiatives put forward by China are in line with the principles of South-South cooperation and are committed to mutual benefit and win-win results, but they have been misinterpreted by Western countries with a "zero-sum" mentality. China should maintain exchanges with other countries in the Global South, grasping the pluralism within the Global South and the interplay of interests at all levels, as well as the intricate and intertwined relationship between China and the West due to historical reasons.
Author
Li Xing is a distinguished professor at the Guangdong Institute of International and Strategic Studies, and a professor of international relations at the Department of Political Science and Sociology, Aalborg University, Denmark
Li Qing is the executive director and professor of the Guangdong Institute of International and Strategic Studies
In recent decades, the "Global South" has risen significantly in the evolution of the international order. While some have criticized the concept of the "Global South" for simplifying the reality of global diversity, it is important to recognize that these countries of the South have their own autonomy in judgment, choice and decision-making on global issues.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell recently admitted: "The era of Western dominance is indeed over. He warned that the EU should not define global relations as "the West against all other countries" and made it clear that "improving relations with the countries of the Global South" is "one of the four main tasks on the EU's geopolitical agenda."
John Ikenberry, an exponent of American liberal international relations theory, redivides the world into the "Global West," the "Global East," and the "Global South." He considers China and Russia to be the main representatives of the "Global East", thus positioning the competition between the so-called "Global East" and the "Global West" as the main driving force for the construction of the international order. He also believes that the "Global South" will be a potential ally in the competition between the two. This division is essentially a continuation of the Cold War concept, but it also has the problem of conceptual confusion. Like many Western opinionmakers, Ikenberry deliberately classifies China as a "superpower" – a relatively independent pole that is not part of the "Global South."
The ongoing development of the Ukraine crisis and the Gaza conflict reveals the decline of Western influence in the "Global South". It is noteworthy that none of the countries of the Global South have imposed sanctions on Russia. The West has tried to enlist the support of the international community against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, but has encountered obstacles with the countries of the Global South. This is due in large part to the Global South's aversion to double standards: for a long time, Western countries have often treated conflicts in different regions, such as human rights and sovereignty, free trade, nuclear proliferation, climate change, refugees, and other issues, with often inconsistent and "double standards".
Image source: Xinhua News Agency
Over the past few decades, the Global South has played an increasingly important role in China's international relations architecture. China has a similar recent history to other countries in the Global South, so China sees itself as a "natural part" of the Global South. Countries in the Global South have also played an important role in China's international relations, from providing political support to China during the Cold War and pushing for China's rightful seat in the United Nations to promoting economic cooperation over the past few decades.
As the engine of world economic growth, China is bringing positive impetus to the development of "upward mobility" to the countries of the Global South. Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has made significant investments in countries in the Global South, especially in infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, ports, and energy.
To be sure, the political and economic relationship between the West and some countries in the Global South is more complex and intertwined than China's relationship with them, based on the legacy of colonialism. In addition, some Western politicians and public opinion promote China's "neo-colonialism", "neo-imperialism" and "debt trap" narratives, which is a distortion of the real situation and distorts China's relations with relevant countries.
Against this backdrop, it is not surprising that some countries in the Global South consciously consider China a "superpower" given China's strong combined national power.
Therefore, China must expose and deconstruct the misconceptions generated by Western "cognitive warfare" that spread biased information and influence the consciousness and position of the global public.
Image source: China Daily
Competition in the Global South is multifaceted and often driven by economic, political and strategic interests, so it is important for China to maintain exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the Global South. To be effective in these complex dynamics, it is necessary to recognize the diversity of actors and to develop a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay of interests at global, regional and local levels.
Over the past decade, the Chinese government has launched a series of global initiatives aimed at benefiting countries in the Global South. These measures demonstrate China's efforts to promote the integration of countries in the Global South into a community with a shared future for mankind.
China has no intention of overthrowing the current international order, but its series of global initiatives, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative, are often seen by Western powers as an attempt to build a "world order with Chinese characteristics." The West views the Belt and Road Initiative from the perspective of "institutional competition", which is characterized by a "zero-sum game" mentality to understand geopolitics, geoeconomics and global governance. However, for countries in the Global South, the Belt and Road Initiative aligns with the principles of South-South cooperation and seeks to provide opportunities for cooperation, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity.
In the bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to promote South-South cooperation, China has demonstrated its unique advantages. China's economic development model has become a major target for many countries in the Global South to emulate. China has shown more understanding, compassion and respect for countries in the Global South than in Western countries. At the same time, countries in the Global South are more receptive to China's global initiatives and cherish the deep historical ties that China has built up over decades.
Image source: China Daily
Producer: China Daily, China Watch Think Tank
Editor-in-charge: Song Ping, Liu Xia
Editor: Zhang Zhao
Interns Cheng Piaoran and Qin Ke also contributed
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