In recent years, the global economic landscape has been shaken by China’s aggressive maneuvers through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China’s grand project is not merely a series of infrastructure investments; it is a calculated strategy by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to establish world dominance through economic dependency. While some might characterize it as a pathway to development, the reality is that it serves as a vehicle for CCP expansionism and economic domination.
The BRI aims to revive a modern-day Silk Road, connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa through a vast network of investments and infrastructure. On the surface this initiative seems innocuous, promising economic growth for participating nations. However, beneath this façade lies a more troubling reality. Participating countries eventually find themselves ensnared in a debt trap, leading to a loss of sovereignty and an increased dependency on China.
The CCP uses financial leverage to exert control over these nations, binding them into agreements that prioritize China’s interests over their own development. The CCPs long game approach is brilliant in its own right; it’s a masterclass in coercive diplomacy, however, it’s also one that threatens the core principles of free and fair trade.
It is imperative that the world wakes up to this threat and prioritizes strategic measures such as tariffs to restore balance and fairness in international trade. Tariffs, or the threat thereof, can play a pivotal role in countering China’s aggressive economic policies. First, it would protect domestic industries from unfair competition fueled by state sponsored subsidies that give Chinese companies an overwhelming advantage. Second, and probably the most important, it would signal to other nations that aligning with China in the BRI comes with significant economic and strategic repercussions.
Many critics argue that tariffs may lead to increased prices for consumers as retaliatory measures escalate. There’s plenty of truth to that statement, but this perspective misses the big picture. The very essence of fair trade is predicated on equality and mutual benefit. The CCPs manipulation of trade dynamics on multiple levels creates an unequal playing field that harms not just the nations directly, but the global economy as a whole. Understanding this, tariffs can be strategically implemented to incentivize positive change in trading practices, an outcome often overlooked by economists.
It's critical to educate smaller nations about the hidden costs of engaging with Beijing’s BRI. Many countries are lured into agreements with promises of economic growth, but they often overlook the ramifications of accepting Chinese investment without safeguards. The Panama Canal is one of the more glaring examples; and was made a top priority for rectification by the Trump administration.
The hope for a future where free trade reigns supreme is indeed possible but requires resolute action. The United States and the European Union, and other likeminded nations must unify in their approach in combatting the CCP’s attempt at global economic domination. By establishing a coalition of nations committed to employing tariffs against unfair trade practices, they can create a robust front that signals a commitment to preserving free and fair-trade market principles.
China’s Belt And Road Initiative is a stark reminder to the lengths to which China will go to dominate the world economic stage. A proper use of tariffs enables nations to resist economic coercion, protects domestic markets, and promotes an international economic environment based on equality and mutual respect. By uniting against the CCP” s ambitious expansionism, we can forge a path where trade flourishes; built on equitable grounds and reciprocated benefits.
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer.
