AS Western mainstream media raises hell against bogey monsters like Russia’s perceived interventionism and North Korea’s belligerence, what is ignored by media are huge developments related to the forthcoming historic One Belt and One Road Initiative Summit in Beijing on May 14 and 15, which expects US President Donald J. Trump’s participation, a event seen uniting the top three superpowers (with China and Russia) leading to the likely end of the century-old East vs. West geopolitical conflict.
So far, some 28 heads of nations are participating, plus top-level representatives from 110 nations, or some 1,200 delegates, including those from 60 international organizations, says Helga Zepp Larouche, founder of the Schiller Institute. Helga makes headlines in China, being known as the ”New Silk Road Lady” for pushing, with her husband Lyndon Larouche two decades ago, the Eurasian or World Land Bridge or New Silk Road, renamed by China as “One Belt, One Road” and “Maritime Silk Road Initiatives”.
She urged Trump to attend the summit, anchored on Xi Jinping’s “win-win cooperation” agenda, a total contrast to the “zero-sum dog-eat-dog game” of “trade globalization” and “geopolitics” that result in “winners and losers” or massive poverty amid pockets of rising wealth for a few. Rabid neo-liberal economists still argue for freer trade vs. protectionism, but the real issue is between productive development in physical wealth creation vs. monetarism, which is a separate discourse altogether.
China’s exploding global projects
China is exploding in development projects, with so far over 130 bilateral and regional transport agreements; 356 international road routes; over 4,200 direct flights connecting China with 43 Belt and Road countries; and 39 China-Europe freight-train routes.
It is building six major industrial development corridors radiating from China, namely: 1) China to central and western Asia, which will be extended through Iraq, Syria and Turkey, into Europe and into Africa; 2) China to western Europe all the way to Hamburg, Rotterdam and Madrid; 3) Mongolia-China-Russia corridor involving 32 large projects; 4) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, with China investing $46 billion and creating 700,000 new jobs in Pakistan; 5) Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar corridor; 6) China-Indochina Peninsular corridor.
Moreover, it is building railways and water systems in eastern and central Africa, reversing centuries of colonialism, poverty and ignorance. At the summit, 20 more agreements with 20 countries will be signed. Also significant is the Kra Canal south of Thailand, connecting the Gulf of Thailand to the Indian Ocean, shortening travel by 1,200 kilometer, but affecting ships passing Singapore. It will create 3 million jobs. Another project is the 173-mile Grand Nicaragua Canal, involving over $40 billion, mostly in China investments. It will be wider, deeper and 3.5 times the Panama Canal’s length. It will also be involved with Russia in linking Siberia and Alaska at the Bering Straits, followed by massive projects all the way down to South America.
Trump can’t refuse China, Russia offer?
AS a businessman, Trump can’t refuse offers for peace and development. He promised America $1 trillion in infrastructures, but Chinese experts estimate $8 trillion are needed. US owes China $1.4 trillion in US Treasuries, which China can use as collateral to finance infrastructure investments.
In Europe, Greece, Serbia, Hungary, Czech, Belarus, Italy and Portugal also want to join the New Silk Road, also tied up with Russia as part of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa coalition.
In the Middle East, many want to go developmental too with Egypt building its new Suez Canal. Turkey, which shot down a Russian plane, is now friends with Russia.
Truth about North Korea’s belligerence
Executive Intelligence Review editor Mike Billington says North Korea is not crazy enough to go to war, as it knows it could easily be wiped out. It already abandoned its nuclear war program in 1994, and by 2000, the two Korean leaders met, with former US President Carter even visiting Pyongyang, to facilitate instead a nuclear plant for power. In 2002 President Kim Dae-jung adopted the “Iron Silk Road” to build railroads from Busan, through North Korea, all the way to Rotterdam, plus two more railways. An industrial complex was also set up at the border in Kaesong, employing over 50,000 North Koreans by 123 South Korean companies.
But Bush and Cheney blocked all plans, while Obama followed it up with his “Pivot to Asia” policy, resulting in Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missiles set up in South Korea, not really aimed at North Korea, but at China and Russia, owing to their distance capability. The Kaesong industrial complex was also dismantled. Locally, we had Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the resulting China buildup at the West Philippine Sea.
As Trump is influenced by conflicting forces, it is worth watching whether he will be in Beijing next week for peace and development, or will we see escalation of conflicts, which could dangerously lead to a nuclear war that could decimate the entire civilization in an hour or two?
E-mail: mikealunan@yahoo.com