There is hardly any doubt in anyone’s mind about the rise of the East. However, India so far has been unable to be a part of the rising East. One of the most obvious signs of the rise of the East was the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the UK. England can be called the birthplace of western capitalism. Adam Smith and David Ricardo can be called the founders of capitalist economics. England can also be called the country which established western domination over the entire world, as evidenced by the phrase, “the Sun never set in the British empire.”
The way the Chinese President was treated in England is symbolic of the rise of the East. It looks like the British leaders were anxiously waiting for the Chinese President to spend money there and help them out in the tough economic times. The Chinese leader made deals worth billions of dollars. Even the British nuclear industry was opened to Chinese investment. The British left no doubt in anybody’s mind that they are extending real royal treatment to the Chinese visitor. He was given all of the honors which are normally given to royal guests. However, President Xi Jinping also received unique treatment; he was escorted to all of the places he went by a member of the royal family.
Russia has reestablished its leading position in the fields of weaponry and military technology. Actually, even after the fall of the Soviet Union and the time of deep crisis in Russia, it never lost the edge in these fields. Russia continued to possess the biggest stockpile of the nuclear weapons in the world. Now, Russia has shown the whole world that it not only has maintained its traditional lead in the fields, but it has continued to widen that lead. Russia is clearly establishing itself as the most important military power in the Middle East. At present, the balance of power is clearly shifting from America and its allies to Russia and its allies.
It is very sad that while Russia and China have taken their places in the rising East; India has been unable to take its place. Traditionally, India has led the world in the fields of philosophy and spirituality. The Indian lead was based upon concepts such as universal thought and global perspective. The essence of these concepts was secularism and its extension the policy of non-alignment; unfortunately, India seems to have abandoned both secularism and non-alignment. Domestically, we are embracing radical religious fundamentalism. In our foreign policy, we are aligning with America and Israel and becoming a part of an anti-Russia, anti-China and anti-Islamic alliance.
We can see that America and Israel are facing growing isolation in the world. Just look at the recent U.N. vote on the issue of American trade sanctions on Cuba. Out of the 191 member countries, only two—America and Israel—voted against the resolution. All of the other countries, including India, voted in favor of the resolution. There was not even one country which abstained. I feel this is an unprecedented situation in the U.N. We can also see that a vast majority of the countries of the world voted in favor of the Palestinians as opposed to the countries which voted in favor of Israel. On that issue also, America and Israel were almost completely isolated.
China continues to build institutions parallel to the American-dominated institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF. BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route, all are such institutions. America is seeing its influence being eroded and is unable to do much to stop this process. The only option America seems to have is to get China entangled in a military conflict. The American policy seems to incite countries such as Japan, Philippines, and India against China. However, when China retaliates, will America risk an all-out war with China? I have serious reservations. These countries may have to face the Chinese wrath by themselves. These countries should try to learn from the Punjabi proverb that if you want to live in the river, then do not make the crocodile your enemy.
An alliance with America and Israel is not in India’s interest. India can play a much more constructive role by adhering to the pillars of its traditional policy: secularism and non-alignment. These policies alone can assure India of its proper place in the new world order which is based upon the reality of the rise of the East. Instead of religious fundamentalism and fanaticism, India should propagate the concepts of pluralism, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. These principles form the basis of positive secularism of the East as opposed to the negative secularism of the West. The biggest difference between the two is that the Eastern concept promotes respect for all religions whereas western secularism is opposed to religion. Western secularism grew out of the struggle to take away power from the Church. India is the seat of evolution of the concept of positive secularism. The concept started in traditional Indian philosophy and spirituality and was taken to its climax in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The policy of non-alignment is also an extension of this concept. Therefore, secularism and non-alignment are the two pillars of our policies. When India starts propagating these policies, it is going to get its rightful place in the new world order.
The rise of the East will be complete when India joins Russia and China to play its role just like the other two countries are playing to restore the balance of power in the world. The balance of power is heavily tilted to the West under western domination and American hegemony. Russia, China and India together can take the world to a new world order based upon equality, justice and mutual respect. In this new world order all nations can become equal partners and share the benefits of scientific and technological progress as well as development. So far, only few countries have monopoly over the resources of the world and reaped benefits of globalization. That should be a true globalization.
Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at [email protected].
