Although there is an ongoing war in West Asia that started when the United States and Israel launched coordinated missile strikes on Iran last February 28, China, just like other big countries, has refused to be involved.
This, despite the recent listing of China as among the future rivals or threats of US national security, along with Russia, North Korea, Iran and Pakistan.
Tulsi Gabbard, chief intelligence official of the US, identified these countries in a recent presentation at the US House of Representatives, mainly because these are the countries that possess nuclear bombs which are the modern nemesis of America.
These security concerns, while important for China, are not enough to distract it from pursuing its peace, growth and development initiatives for the whole Chinese nation, and for the Asian regional and international communities.
This is most evident when, despite the noise, propaganda, and actual shooting war (with missiles and drones), in other parts of the globe, China has unveiled its 15th Five Year Plan which lays down the trajectory of this superpower’s growth in the next half-decade.
The plan ushers China to a new age of technological innovation and growth while fostering new quality productive forces to attain self-reliance.
China will aim for high-quality development in several key industries such as advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, 6G, biotech, robotics and new energy vehicles.
Since China is a huge and influential neighbor of the Philippines, one might ask if Filipinos will be impacted by these positive developments. Dr. Li Shi, assistant dean of the China Institute for Development Planning, recently made a presentation saying there are several opportunities for various nationalities wanting to participate in China’s growth plans.
Li said they want to upgrade industrial systems for the Chinese and their regional partners. He mentioned the Lao people who have improved their local economy by shipping minerals and agricultural produce to China through the China-Laos Railway.
He noted that Vietnam and Thailand have strong advantages in electronics manufacturing and auto assembly, and “China’s automation equipment and industrial robots can reach these countries more affordably and efficiently, helping them smarten up their factors—that’s mutual progress.”
Professor Li also noted that since China and South Korea are facing the same problem of caring for elderly, the two countries can fuse their efforts. “China’s robotic technology and South Korea’s smart elderly care systems can combine together to develop robots that chat with seniors, deliver medicine, and monitor health conditions. That will be a kind of trillion-dollar market solution.”
Other countries may play the role of suppliers of China’s food needs, such as durian from Thailand, basa fish from Vietnam, avocados from Kenya and coffee from Ethiopia. And why not durian from Mindanao, the Philippines, and our bananas, oranges, mangosteens, pineapples and watermelons—these will command good prices in various Chinese markets.
The window for opportunities in trade, innovation and people-to-people engagements China is opening wide and Filipinos are well advised to grab the change for their own benefit and growth.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #ViewfromCalumpang