Expert: China's global strategy offers alternative to U.S. hard power

In recent years, the global landscape has been shaped by different approaches to the future of international order. On one side are countries that prioritize military alliances and strategic dominance to maintain their influence, and on the other, there is a growing emphasis on fostering economic cooperation, shared development and cultural exchange.

Against this backdrop, China has become a key proponent of a more inclusive approach, advocating for global initiatives that aim to build a more equitable and interconnected world, according to Peter T. C. Chang, deputy director of the Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya. 

Writing in the South China Morning Post, Chang stated that these initiatives reflect China's strategy of establishing socioeconomic and civilizational foundations for a fairer world order, different from the United States' reliance on hard power to uphold a "rules-based international order."

China has been promoting its vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, which emphasizes cooperation and mutual development among nations, he pointed out.

Alongside this vision, China has launched initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative (GDI). These efforts include providing technical and financial support to developing countries and fostering global cooperation in various sectors, such as building renewable energy projects in African and Asian countries.

Chang noted that the U.S. has increasingly relied on its military power to maintain its global dominance, as seen in its recent actions of deploying warships and aircraft carriers to the Middle East and strengthening defense alliances in the Western Pacific to counter perceived threats from China.

However, this strategy may face challenges as the U.S. presidential election approaches, with the potential for reduced military commitments under different leadership, leaving allies uncertain about their future security, he wrote. This "inconsistent global leadership from a deeply divided US" could undermine its reliability in defending the existing international order, Chang opined.

Despite internal divisions, Chang observed that the U.S. remains unified in its stance against China's growing influence. Even if the U.S. avoids direct military confrontation, it is likely to explore alternative strategies to contain China's influence, he added. Meanwhile, China's initiatives, such as the GDI, are reshaping global dynamics by shifting the economic center from the Global North to the Global South, offering an alternative vision to the Western-dominated order, according to Chang.

Chang further discussed China's Global Security Initiative, which emphasizes the importance of global security in achieving a fair international order. He noted that while the U.S. continues to be the world's primary military power, its ability to sustain extensive global military commitments is becoming increasingly strained – a situation further complicated by calls from figures like Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump to reduce such commitments.

Furthermore, Chang addressed China's Global Civilization Initiative, which promotes mutual trust and cooperation between civilizations and offers a different perspective from Western theories like the "clash of civilizations" and the "end of history." This initiative presents an alternative worldview, suggesting that there are multiple pathways to achieving good governance beyond the liberal democratic model, he pointed out.

Chang's analysis suggests that while the U.S. relies on hard power and military alliances to maintain its global influence, China's strategy of economic cooperation, security initiatives and civilizational dialogue offers a different approach to shaping the future world order.

"True peace cannot be secured through military might alone," wrote Chang. "It requires the softer power of economic growth and mutual trust between civilizations to foster genuine security and stability."