China After Covid 19: Projections And Reality

China after Covid 19: projections and reality

- Aneek Chatterjee

Introduction

There are many conjectures, of late, over the future of China in international politics and economy after COVID-19. One popular proposition, as aired by statesmen like the U.S. President and reported by the media, and as observed in the social media (supported by a few academics, and somehow believed by the common man), refers to China’s loosening grip over international affairs post COVID-19. In simple words, these persons believe that China will no longer be the powerful voice in international politics as it is today, due to its, what they think, mishandling of the COVID-19 issues. Their projections are bolstered by the U.S. stand on China after the outbreak of the coronavirus, which indicates tough measures including strengthening of a trade war where the U.S. would hike tariffs substantially on Chinese goods. China is already under attack from the U.S. for suppressing facts about the coronavirus, and the U.S. would continue to mount pressure on China on this issue through economic and political maneuvering after the pandemic eases somewhat. The U.S., as the perception goes, will likely to get moral and political support from many countries for its ‘tough’ position in China. In other words, there may be shifting power equations in international politics where the Washington consensus will emerge victorious as opposed to the Beijing consensus.

Pressure scenario and China