The recently held SCO Summit and Tiananmen Square parade in China trumpeted the onset of a new world order based on China's rise, as America retrenches at the global scene. On both events, China showcased her political, military and economic capability for resetting the world order through is 'Global Governance Initiative' aimed at equal and orderly system and economic globalisation.

As China unveiled her global vision, foreign leaders' attendance was carefully choreographed, claiming realignment of Global South and others along the rising China. On the parade, the conglomerate of China, Russia and North Korea referred to as "Axis of Upheaval" was prominent, whereas Modi avoided the parade venue, reinforcing India's posturing as counter to China.

President Xi Jinping was projected as an unchallenged global leader representing China — a country poised to replace the prevailing unjust unilateral global governance system that is characterised by chaos, insecurity and uncertainty. Such a system is led under the "law of jungle" wherein the oppressed loses justification to exist, with institutions like the UN rendered as mere debate forum.

As the global stability crumbles, China's incredible military and economic consolidation enables her to openly challenge the US, the receding superpower. On the military side, with China technologically pacing in key capabilities — including hypersonic regimes, aerospace, naval power projection, etc — the US has been forced to retreat from strategy based on 'Primacy & Dominance' to one of 'Deterrence', admitted first time in the 2018 National Defence Strategy. Succeeding reviews realise China as "most consequential strategic competitor", or No 1 threat. The Tiananmen Square power-show reinforced America realistic........

© The Express Tribune