Ghulam Haider :
The new architecture of security between the United States and India is aimed at neutralizing and countering, China’s influence in South Asia as well as in the Middle East to maintain her (United States) hegemony as the sole super power of the world.
Pakistan’s Senator Mr. Mushahid Hussain Sayed expressed these views as the lead panelist at a webinar captioned “US-China Relations and Implications for Pakistan” arranged by the Centre for Peace and Security Research Studies (CPSR) — a Lahore-based think-tank focusing on issues of traditional and non-traditional security in South Asia, in particular in Pakistan.
Naveed Elahi, President, CPSR, moderated the webinar while DubaiNews.TV is a media partner of the event.
Countering Chinese influence
Mr. Sayed said that under the Strategic Competition Act passed by the Senate of the United States is the China-specific law is in the making which is meant for countering the Chinese influence in the region. The comprehensive yearly $300 programme is being dubbed as the Strategic Competition Act which enjoys the support of both the Republicans and Democrats. Senator Barni Sanders is the sole opponent of this Act.
“The new US response is based on the new architecture of security in the region,” he said, adding that Washington is roping in countries in the military alliance to counter China’s influence globally. He said that the Bidden dispensation entered into Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreement (BECA) with India (the lynchpin of the US strategic policy) for sharing real time intelligence with regard to the security concerns in the region.
“US is the forefront deployer on behalf of India when it comes to the Delhi’s core strategic concerns in the region. It is directed mostly at China but Pakistan is perceived as adversary and a friend of China and hence is always in the firing line,” Mr. Sayed said, adding that this security architecture is being dubbed as a new alliance from Hollywood to Bollywood.
China challenges US supremacy
He said that China is challenging the hegemony and supremacy of the United States politically and economically while the United States is countering it militarily.
“The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China is probably the most important diplomatic and development initiative of the 20th century which includes 140 countries of Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Europe. While China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the centre piece of the BRI,” Mr. Sayed said.
Last month, he said, President Bidden had a summit with European and NATO allies to launch a copy-cat of the BRI.
He said that in July 2011, Hillary Clinton dashed to Chenai (India) and announced the launch new silk route as envisaged by the Obama dispensation emanating from India to connecting Afghanistan, Central Asian States.
However, we all know that there exits only one 2000 years old silk route emanating from the Ancheon city of China to Pakistan to the Central Asian States to the Middle East to the Europe. Another important development in July 2011 took place when President Obama announced pivot to Asia —the opening salvo of a new policy to confront China, which is a rising super power.
Red lines drawn
He said that China has drawn red lines on three issues pertaining to the Asia–Pacific region i.e. South China Sea, Taiwan and Hong Kong besides building its Navy while two of its aircraft carriers are being launched.
“We can witness full-fledged competition between the two countries,” Mr. Sayed said, adding that the role of Pakistan is crucial as Islamabad has been through this situation historically.
“Pakistan would like to continue strong ties with the United States but fallout of this new conflict between the United States and China would prove to be the litmus test of Pakistan’s strategic and foreign policy,” he said, adding that the United States is on the wrong side of the history as it is not the sole super power and it must believe and understand that it is a multi-polar world.
Mushahid, a veteran journalist and geo-strategist
Mushahid Hussain Sayed is a journalist, geo-strategist, politician and an avid writer and reader. He received Master’s degree from the School of Foreign Service in Georgetown University at Washington.
After completion of studies in the United States, he returned to Pakistan and became Member, Directing Staff of the country’s prestigious training institution for civil servants, the Pakistan Administrative Staff College, where he trained new entrants to the Foreign Service.
He then joined Pakistan’s oldest seat of learning, the Punjab University, as Lecturer on International Relations in the Political Science Department. The world’s leading human rights organization, Amnesty International, declared him a ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ making him the first such Pakistani to be so honoured for the year 2000.
As a specialist on international, political and strategic issues, he has lectured widely and his articles have been published in various national and international publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, International Herald Tribune and Middle East International. He has also authored three books. He is a Member of the Board of Governors of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), a leading think tank.
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