As the planet tilts east…

With America slowly losing economic and political ground, many see China as a counter-power that will even-up the playing field long left one-sided.

The center of our world’s gravity seems to be changing, deviating to the East. China and India are no longer the over-populated, under developed countries of yesteryear. China especially, which became the third largest economy (after the US and Japan) with a GDP of $3.42 trillion, and is hailed as the “fastest growing major nation,” with an annual GDP growth rate above 10%. China is now among the world economic competitors as a producer, but both China and India are now being seen as a fresh source of consumers for international products.

Many countries can benefit from a relationship with China. Underdeveloped countries rich in resources, can take advantage by exporting energy resources to China, which is still poor in energy resources and has a demand that is considerably increasing. China could also become not only a producer and a market, but also an investor, and they have already begun on this track, investing in the energy fields of Sudan, building their refineries, and receiving 60% of Sudan’s oil exports.

Besides the great economic role Asian countries like China and India play, they enjoy an adequate influence on the political arena. China is among the five permanent members at the United Nations Security Council, India possesses a nuclear program, and they both have an interesting geopolitical position, with maritime access, strategic depth and other attributes. Both have almost all the requirements to be a superpower, and might be able to end the era of the uni-polar system, and create a multi-polar system.

There are two opinions concerning the end of the American hegemony, and the rising Chinese counter-power: one opinion undermines those expectations, saying that the Chinese economy could have the same fate as the Asian tigers, and is suffering now because of the decreasing value of the dollar, which has a negative impact on their own dollar reserves. China also faces a lot of challenges, and was “cursed” with several natural disasters, which might weaken its economic infrastructure, which is already not so strong. The other opinion is confirming that an international system with one superpower cannot go on any longer.

It seems that all international actors are looking towards the East, but from different perspectives. In some circles, Chinese products are perceived as a threat, saturating the European and the American markets, and presenting an excellent imitation of “fancy” brands: Dior, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, among others. Attempts to impose protectionist policies in European markets to keep their products competitive seem to hold no sway over the economic powerhouse.

In addition to the threat Europe sees in China, the relationship is complex and tense after 15 years of attempting to create ties. European Union deficit with China is considerable (170 billion EURO in 2007), and European corporations are claiming that China is conducting discriminatory measures against them, and has no respect for intellectual property. Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown and Angela Merkel all have skeptical relations with China, and are unsure how to feel about China taking its place on the world stage.

Syria quickly became aware of the importance of creating ties with the Far East, but tried to do so without diminishing the importance of its relationships with other international powers. It is true that both Syria and China are members of the G-77, founded in 1964, at the United Nations, and which gathers the developing nations “to promote the members’ collective economic interests.” It was not until few years ago, however, that the diplomatic and economical relations were activated between Syria and China.
The future of the Syrian-Asian relationship could be very promising for several reasons. Neither country is impeded by a bad precedent with the other, the first contact between the two sides being in 2001, when Hu Jintao, then vice president of China paid a visit to Syria. In June 2004, President Bashar al-Assad carried out the first visit to China by a Syrian president. During his stay, the two sides signed a package of cooperation agreements, which boosted the bilateral relation to a new level.

Besides the recent amicable relationship, China and Syria have some similarities that could allow a better mutual understanding. Internally, they are both initiating reforms and opening their markets. Some analysts suggest the “Chinese Model” for reform could be a good model for Syria to follow. Syria could benefit from having a “friendly” voice at the Security Council, and from increased Chinese investment.
Everyone is looking towards the East, observing their developing economy, social structure, and political participation in the international issues, with political analysts are throwing their bets over the future of the growing Asia. Will it swallow everything on its path, or will it collapse under the pressure of the upcoming challenges?