Asia Still Ignored
Asian states are increasingly moving to the forefront of the world. Militarily, economically, and technologically – China and its counterparts are now global players. Here, attention remains strongly West-centric. A mistake. A commentary by Stefan Haböck, International Officer of the Paneuropean Movement Austria.
Currently, Davos is attracting a lot of attention. The renowned World Economic Forum is taking place there, which this year has placed its clear focus on climate protection. It would be polemical to point out that 1,500 private jets and 2,000 limousines are in use. Far more interesting, however, are the priorities set in the reporting.
The fact that ORF broadcasts live and analyses the speeches of Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg from the World Economic Forum in Davos, but not the speech of the representative of a country with 1.4 billion inhabitants, is not solely due to the obvious “Trump and Greta polarise”. The disinterest in the statement by Han Zheng, Vice Premier of China, highlights a problem that Paneuropa has often pointed out. A strong media fixation on US daily politics, as well as a lack of understanding for the world that lies to our east.
It shows a West-centric, almost fixated view, in which a military, economic, and digital superpower still commands significantly less attention. Yes, Donald Trump, as President of the USA, is one of the most important politicians in the world. Yes, Greta Thunberg is a very well-known activist. But the world does not revolve solely around the USA and Europe.
Four Billion People
Asia is home to 47 states and over four billion people. Many of them have never heard of Greta Thunberg (even if one doesn’t believe the TikTok CEO when he claims not to know the young Swede). Indonesia alone has around 270 million people, which, incidentally, makes it the largest Muslim state in the world.
With the ASEAN states (650 million inhabitants), Vietnam (100 million people), South Korea, and Japan, the EU (thankfully!) was able to conclude agreements without populist-motivated resistance. Interestingly, this resistance only occurred with agreements involving states on the American continent (USA, Canada, Brazil), again demonstrating a strong focus there.
Asia holds – despite all its problems – many success stories, especially when it comes to poverty reduction. China’s rise alone is breathtaking: the East Asian nuclear power has 1.4 billion inhabitants. Within ten years, its GDP has almost doubled. With 2.2 million soldiers, the country fields the world’s largest army. In terms of defence spending, it ranks second – behind the USA.
China Has Rare Earths
China is responsible for over 90 per cent of the global production of so-called “rare metals” – an indispensable component of modern electronics. The USA imports 80 per cent of its demand for these metals from China. At least 52 states worldwide use Chinese technology in the security sector. Huawei, a Chinese corporation, is a leader in 5G technology. The state invests in most African states through a comprehensive financing programme. In the Forbes Global 2000 Ranking, five of the top 10 companies are from China (and four from the USA).
All of this receives little attention in the public debate in Austria. In the Balkans, a region close to Austria’s heart, China has concluded a security cooperation agreement with future EU member Serbia. With OBOR – the One Belt One Road Initiative – China is investing in various Southeast European states. China is an enormously important player economically, politically, geostrategically, and technologically. It is time for Asia to receive the attention it deserves.
What Vice Premier Han Zheng has to say is of great global relevance.
Listening not only to Prince Charles, but also to him, would be in all our interests if we wish to grasp the developments in this world more comprehensively.
