Once, the roads that led to Rome now lead to Beijing, a central point where the United States finds its existence threatened. Russia, China, and Iran have become threats to the US. On one hand, the European Union is on the verge of disintegration; on the other, there is growing fear in the US about China's rise, which has become a question of survival in the global arena. For the US, presence does not matter; dominance does. The US can survive with China as a global power, but it may lose its dominance, which is more concerning. History is now striking back at those who once ruled, and their rule is being overturned, particularly with China's ascent. Consequently, US policymakers are confused because keeping China behind the US has become a pressing concern.
The New Silk Roads and Global Realignment
The New Silk Roads are reshaping the global order, with many countries racing to secure a better future and economy. The question of China haunts the United States, which seeks to alleviate this concern through sanctions and restrictions. Meanwhile, major developments are unfolding along the Silk Roads, with China central to cooperation in multiple countries simultaneously. It invests in Asia, Africa, and Europe. In these regions, China's Belt and Road Initiative has driven economies and lifted people out of poverty.
China's Vision: Cooperation Over Conflict
In a speech at the Davos summit in 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for nations to work together rather than against each other. He stated that our real enemies are hunger, poverty, ignorance, superstition, and prejudice, not neighboring countries. These words convey that China does not seek war, conflicts, or geopolitical changes in countries where its projects are underway. When former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was asked about the Belt and Road Initiative, he remarked: "Other countries have lots of ideas but no money. But for China, when it comes with an idea, it also comes with the money."
China's Challenge to US-Led Rules
China is not only reshaping the world order but also stands antithetical to US-led rules. For a long time, China has opposed Western-led norms and will likely continue to do so. One thing is clear: there are no permanent friends for states that assist aligned nations in difficult times. States change alliances when they feel at a crossroads. Even US allies, such as some European countries, trade with China, despite Washington's warnings against trading with China, Tehran, or Russia, threatening sanctions.
Lessons from History
Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said: "America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars." Considering America's past wars in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq—especially Iraq, where it lost an estimated $2 trillion—it is ironic that the US has not learned from history. History itself is a lesson in focusing on the future by learning from the past, which is a saddening story. Therefore, America must reflect and work to cooperate with states rather than use force.
