1. China's approach of the people-first
In early November 2020, the Chinese government stopped the IPO of Alibaba's Ant Group which would have been the largest IPO in the history with as mush as $34.5 billion worth. It happened only days after Jack Ma, Alibaba's billionaire founder and (at the time) controlling shareholder, had publicly criticized the country’s regulatory system for stifling innovation. [1][2]
This incident indicates that, in China, the government is stronger than private companies however big they are. In China, the communist government represents the people's interests, not the interests of big companies.
[Xi Jinping at his inspection in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, November 2020]
Market economy is the engine of development. It releases people's energies and ideas to craft innovative businesses, which leads to the wealth of the nation and better living standards of the people.
However, market economy creates the inequality between the haves and the have-nots. The wealthy people become even more wealthy while economically-impoverished people remain impoverished.
Also, fierce competition under market economy pressures each business entity to take extreme measures. Seeking for maximum profits, some companies ignore safety and welfare of people in the process of manufacturing and selling their goods.
That's the reason why a government representing people's interests needs to govern market economy by setting up regulations and redistributing tax revenues. Without the government control, market economy leads to disorder and social conflicts, which ultimately destroy societies.
In China, the communist government represents the people's interests. The communist government drafts and implements 5-year plans to guide the nation's economic development. The Chinese government setts up regulations to protect people's interests and redistributes tax revenues.
Especially, the Chinese government has been striving to alleviate poverty in the nation. Chinese central and local governments have been making meticulous efforts for decades to research, suggest and organize suitable jobs for each region, sector and individual.
As a result of that, China has already succeeded domestically in getting as many as 800 million people out of poverty over the last decades. And, in November 2020, China that has as many as 1.4 billion population finally achieved Zero Poverty. China eliminated absolute poverty one month before self-imposed deadline. This is unprecedented great accomplishment in the history of the mankind. [3]
This people-first approach of China has also brought about the world largest middle class expanding every year, which enables Chinese economy to grow in a robust, sustainable and stable way.
China is aiming at establishing Common Prosperity (共同富裕) where everyone enjoys fruits of prosperity and no one is left behind. Common Prosperity is not only simple income distribution. It is more comprehensive social conditions including organizing fulfilling jobs, accessible education and universal health care.
The one third of China's 1.4 billion population has already achieved a living standard of developed countries. China is trying to make the remaining two-thirds of her population achieve the same living standard.
So, China is now implementing and promoting such policies and projects as Rural Revitalization, the Eastern Data and Western Computing and Digital Economy among others.
2. China's people-first approach to be applied regionally and globally
China applies the people-first principle regionally and globally as well.
(a) China's Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative
China maintains the people-first principle in her trade and doing businesses with other countries as well.
China launched Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative to expand trade with other countries and facilitate development of nations.
[The Chinese-built Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway]
[The Chinese-built highway in Montenegro]
Under Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative, China has been constructing critical infrastructures for developing countries because they are exactly what people of developing countries really need. China has been constructing railways, highways, ports and communication networks.
These infrastructures work as the basis for developing nations' economies to grow by themselves. They also facilitate trade and doing businesses between China and the regional nations. From her own experiences, China knows that development of one region will lead to development of other regions. Constructing critical infrastructures for developing countries will lead to China's economic growth in return as well. China has a long-term perspective.
[The Chinese-built Gwadar port in Pakistan]
[The Chinese-built communication network in South Africa]
Applying the people-first principle to her trade and doing businesses, China respects other nations' sovereignty and their freedom of businesses. So, unlike the US and other Western nations, China does not use military forces or stage a coup to expand businesses. Instead, China seeks and establishes equal win-win relations in her trade and doing businesses. China procures what she needs at the prices her counterparts agree. China researches what people of other nations want and provide them at affordable prices.
China is steadily expanding her cooperation with Asia, Africa, Central & South America and Pacific Island countries. In these areas, supply chains are well organized so that goods, services and raw materials are shipped and exchanged efficiently. China's economy will grow continually.
China is applying AI and Big Data to effectively and correctly supervise trade with these vast areas and population. China ensures equal win-win relations among nations. Because of equal win-win relations among nations, countries in these areas are willing to cooperate and help each other.
As a result, China's trade and doing businesses with other nations have expanded rapidly and steadily. Consequently, China is now the largest trading partner for more than 130 countries worldwide. China has proved economic growth and people's welfare can be achieved through equal win-win relations without waging a war or enslaving someone.
In March 2022, under the Global Development Initiative framework, China co-organized a seminar program with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The program has trained over 1,000 people from nearly 100 countries on cross-border e-commerce. Digital economy and e-commerce will expand trade and businesses even more. [4]
As exemplified by the above program, in addition to infrastructures, education for people is critical for developing countries to facilitate and achieve economic growth by themselves. With this regard, China may provide extensive online education services for developing countries as a part of Global Development Initiative.
The online education services may include such areas as economics, business management, finance, business law, engineering, mathematics and so on.
China can also develop education chat AIs that people of developing countries can download and use for free. In this sense, AI can be a great equalizer.
Furthermore, China would be able to help developing countries to have universal healthcare, assisting them in designing and planning a healthcare system tailored for each country.
(b) China's Global Security Initiative
For achieving economic growth and poverty alleviation, peaceful conditions are indispensable. Also, if a war or a military conflict breaks out, it is people who suffered most. Therefore, peace is the most fundamental requirement that the people-first principle should fulfill.
The country with the people-first principle does not lead to a war of aggression.
The country with the people-first principle leads to peace-making.
Thus, China launched Global Security Initiative. China believes that communication and dialogue are the key to make peace. China suggests and persuade countries in conflict or confrontation that peaceful conditions are indispensable for economic growth and poverty alleviation. [5]
In the Middle East, Iran and Saudi Arabia had been in confrontation for a long time. In 2021, China made a 25 year agreement with Iran under which China would purchase Iran's oil and gas and build Iran's infrastructures. In 2022, China also made a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia under which China would purchase oil and gas and build Saudi Arabia's infrastructures.
Then, China has suggested and persuaded Iran and Saudi Arabia that peaceful conditions are indispensable for implementing the agreements and economic growth, which has resulted in a historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023.
[Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban (Left), Wang Yi, China's most senior diplomat and Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Beijing, March 2023]
As for Ukraine War, China released the 12 points peace plan in February 2023, in which China proposed a peace talk between Ukraine and Russia and reconstruction of Ukraine after the establishment of peace. China is the only great power that has proposed a peace plan on Ukraine War. [6]
Accordingly, when President Xi Jinping visited Russia in March 2023, President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement, stressing talks as the solution to the Ukraine crisis and calling for respect for the security concerns of all countries in resolving the crisis. [7]
[Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin]
With regard to the United Nations, China can reform the United Nations so that the organization would represent interests of all nations especially developing nations. Currently, the power of the United Nations is concentrated upon so-called Big 5 of victorious nations of the Second World War, i.e., the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China. Together with developing nations and with the support of the UN Secretary General, China can reform the United Nations to be more democratic and people-first.
[The Chinese peacekeeping force during the UN Peace Medal of Honor awarding ceremony held by MINUSMA in Mali, March 2019]
3. China has launched Global Civilization Initiative
(a) China's tradition of people-first
As mentioned above, market economy is the engine of development. It releases people's energies and ideas to craft innovative businesses, which leads to the wealth of the nation and better living standards of the people.
However, market economy creates the inequality between the haves and the have-nots. The wealthy people become even more wealthy while economically-impoverished people remain impoverished.
Also, fierce competition under market economy pressures each business entity to take extreme measures. Seeking for maximum profits, some companies ignore safety and welfare of people in the process of manufacturing and selling their goods.
That's the reason why a government representing people's interests needs to govern market economy by setting up regulations and redistributing tax revenues. Without the government control, market economy leads to disorder and social conflicts, which ultimately destroy societies.
This applies not only China but any countries of the world as well.
Thus, in March 2023, Chinese president Xi Jinping made a speech and proposed Global Civilization Initiative at the CPC Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. He called for more than 500 political parties and political organizations from more than 150 countries to seek and apply the people-first principle in light of each country's national conditions. Now at last, the people-first is to be pursued and promoted globally and decisively not only economic development and security spheres but political sphere as well. [8]
In his speech, President Xi Jinping asks:
"Polarization or common prosperity? Pure materialistic pursuit or coordinated material and cultural-ethical advancement? Draining the pond to catch the fish or creating harmony between man and nature? Zero-sum game or win-win cooperation? Copying other countries' development model or achieving independent development in light of national conditions?"
By the word "polarization", he seems to have implied inequality between the haves and the have-nots.
In his speech, President Xi Jinping emphasizes the people-first principle:
"We must put the people first and ensure modernization is people-centered. The people are the creators of history and are the strongest bedrock and force in advancing modernization. The ultimate goal of modernization is people's free and well-rounded development. For a modernization path to work and work well, it must put the people first."
This people-first and people-centered approach is deeply rooted in China's political tradition and history.
For example, the people-first and people-centered approach are the foundation of traditional thoughts of Confucianism, which is China's most prominent philosophy and system of thought originated by Confucius (c. 551 – c. 479 BC).
[Confucius and his disciples]
The Four Books and Five Classics (四書五經) are the authoritative books of Confucianism, which include the Analects (論語) and the Book of Documents (尚書).
Confucianism says:
民無信不立。《論語・顔淵第十二》
"Without the people's trust, the state will not stand." (The Analects of Confucius, Yan Hui Chapter 12)
Confucianism tells that the people is the basis of a country:
皇祖有訓, 民可近, 不可下, 民惟邦本, 本固邦寧。《尚書・夏書・五子之歌》
"It was the lesson of our great ancestral rulers: The people should be approached and communicated, and not looked down upon. It is only the people who are the basis of a country. If the base is stable, peace will reign in the country." (Shang shu (Book of Documents), Xia shu, Wu zizhi ge)
Confucianism emphasizes a ruler's morality:
子曰, 為政以徳, 譬如北辰居其所, 而衆星共之。《論語・為政》
The Master (Confucius) said, “A ruler should govern by virtue just like the north pole star keeps its place and all the stars turn around it.” (The Analects of Confucius, the Act of Governing)
For thousands of years, China's dynasties followed the wisdom of Confucianism in their act of governing.
For instance, in the 2nd century BC, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty enacted Balancing Transportation Act (均輸法) under which the government purchased goods in the regions where the supply was abundant and transported them to the regions where the supply was scarce so that prices of goods would be stabilized. Emperor Wu also enacted Leveling Price Act (平準法) under which the government purchased goods and stored them at the time when prices were low and sold them at the time when prices went up.
These acts were unpopular among merchants as their opportunities to speculate and take advantage of shortage of goods were lost, but the people were happy as prices of goods were stabilized.
Also, emperors of Chinese dynasties ordered to build critical infrastructures for the state including the Grand Canal. The oldest parts of the Grand Canal date back to the 5th century BC, but the most significant part was built during the Sui dynasty in the 6th and 7th centuries. During following dynasties, restoration and extension of the canal were made. The Grand Canal was built to facilitate transportation of goods so that the economy would prosper and people's lives would flourish. If the base is stable, peace reigns in the country. China was one of the largest and most prosperous countries in the world for centuries.
And, in the 20th century, as China was suffering from aggression of imperialism by the Western countries and Japan and went down to half-colonized conditions, Mao Zedong (1893 – 1976), a leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), combining and armed with revolutionary theories of Marxism, firmly established people-first principle as a core value of the party.
During the revolutionary war and confrontation against the Kuomintang government and Imperial Japan, Mao Zedong waged people's war.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1934:
"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; only mobilizing the masses and relying on them can wage it."
"What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion, which it is impossible, and impossible, for any force on earth to smash." [9]
[An art work on People's War]
Despite inferior arms and equipment, the CPC and its People Liberation Army (PLA) gradually pushed back Imperial Japan and the Kuomintang Army because millions of Chinese people enthusiastically supported the CPC and the PLA, providing supplies, foods and critical information. Consequently, the CPC and the PLA got victorious, overwhelming Imperial Japan and the Kuomintang Army.
Thus, "Serve the People" (Chinese: 为人民服务) has become a political slogan and the most fundamental core value of the CPC, which first appeared in a speech by Mao Zedong, delivered on 8 September 1944. [10]
[Mao Zedong talking with farmers]
In the speech, Mao Zedong said:
"Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies led by our Party are battalions of the revolution. These battalions of ours are wholly dedicated to the liberation of the people and work entirely in the people's interests."
"If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized, because we serve the people. Anyone, no matter who, may point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it. The idea of "better troops and simpler administration" was put forward by Mr. Li Ting-ming, who is not a Communist. He made a good suggestion which is of benefit to the people, and we have adopted it. If, in the interests of the people, we persist in doing what is right and correct what is wrong, our ranks will surely thrive."
Ever since, Chinese leaders have kept emphasizing the people-first principle. [11]
Mao Zedong said "serving the people wholeheartedly". [12]
Deng Xiaoping said "taking into account the support, approval, satisfaction, and consent of the people in carrying out its work". [13]
Jiang Zemin said "representing the fundamental interests of the broadest possible majority of the Chinese people". [14]
Hu Jintao said "putting people first". [15]
Xi Jinping said "people-centered philosophy of development". [16]
[President Xi Jinping and factory workers in Zhengzhou, Henan Province][17]
[President Xi Jinping and children of the Wa minority ethnic group in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong, Yunnan Province][18]
[President Xi Jinping talking with villagers in Shibadong Village, Hunan Province][19]
CPC leaderships have been enriching and transcending traditional people-oriented thinking. And, this great tradition of serving the people will continue indefinitely.
(b) The Western tradition of rich-people-first
On the other hand, the Western political statecraft and the Western modernization have been made according to the tradition of the ancient Roman civilization.
The Western political governing system is called democracy. Although the term democracy comes from the ancient Greek words "demos" meaning people and "kratos" meaning rule, it is the ancient Roman Republic that contributed significantly to many aspects of the Western democracy.
[The Roman Forum in Rome, Italy]
As a matter of fact, the Western democracy is only a "copy" of the governing system of the Roman Republic of more than 2,000 years ago. In the ancient Roman Republic, after ousting a bad king in 509 BC, there were separation of powers among a legislature (the Senate and the People's Assembly), an executive (the Consuls) and a judiciary.
But, real policy making was carried out through debate and discussion by the Senate that was a club of rich aristocrats. Some were owners of huge plantations, some were owners of merchant ships, some were owners of mineral mines, some were owners of arsenals, etc. Then, policies made in the Senate were ratified by the People's Assembly so that a formality could be attached as if they were people's will. Thereafter, the policies and the laws were executed by the Consuls who were elected by Roman citizens.
[The Roman Senate - A Rich aristocrats' club where real policy making was carried out through debate and discussion of rich people]
[The People's Assembly where any Roman citizens can attend]
[Roman Consuls - Two Consuls were elected for one-year terms]
So, Roman politics was essentially rich people's ruling. It was the government of rich people, by rich people, for rich people. Domestic policies, diplomacy, war plans, budgetary policies, everything was determined for the purpose of benefiting rich people. The ratification by the People's Assembly and election of the Consuls were used to provide legality and legitimacy to policies made by rich people.
And, in case people's power and demand became extraordinary, Roman rich people elected a Dictator to suppress, execute and subdue people, like Sulla's dictatorship (82–80 BC), so that interests of rich people could be protected.
Accordingly, there has been no people-first tradition in the Western politics. The Western politics has always been rich-people-first. Therefore, how to deceive, mobilize and suppress people for the interests of rich people has been a main theme of the Western politics even today.
Furthermore, the rich-people-first has been reflected and carried through in the Western countries' foreign policy too. Just like the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, the Western countries' foreign policy after the 15th century has been conquering, colonizing, enslaving and exploiting. There has been no equal win-win relations with developing countries in the Western foreign policy.
In Western civilization, the study of the Greek and Roman classics was traditionally considered to be the foundation of their activities, and has, therefore, traditionally been the cornerstone of a typical European and US elite education. [20]
The world people do not have to follow the Western governing system and Western modernization that are based upon the ancient Roman civilization of more than 2,000 years ago. Actually, it is a very peculiar, unfair, deceptive and cruel governing system.
The Western democracies' purpose is to protect the interests of their banking firms, military-industrial-complex, IT industries, semi-conductor industries etc. Therefore, the Western democracies impose economic sanctions, wage wars, stage coups, interfere other nations' internal affairs and disrupt other nations' supply chains.
The reason why the US maintains huge military forces is that US rich people want to monopolize and keep most of the wealth of the world by themselves while suppressing people who are without assets.
The Western countries like to call their political systems democracies. But, actually, they are not people-first but rich-people-first.
Western countries' democracies are "fake" democracies.
(c) Various civilizations, the people-first principle and shared future of the mankind
Historically speaking, before the age of Discovery of the 15th century, the Islamic world was far more advanced and prosperous than the Western world. For example, Islamic mathematics and Islamic medical knowledge were far superior than those of the Western world.
China was advanced in practical science. The four great inventions of ancient China that contributed significantly to world civilization are the compass, gunpowder, papermaking and printing.
There are various civilizations in various regions of the world. Each of them is important. Actually, diversity makes the mankind strong.
In proposing Global Civilization Initiative, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of diversity. History, culture, demography, religion differ from one country to another. Therefore, a path to modernization is different from one country to another.
China does not intend to impose the Chinese model to other countries. China only advises and suggests that the principle of people-first should be upheld for the sake of each nation's prosperity, peace and stability.
The world of people-first can not be realized by China alone. Every country in the world should establish a party that promotes the people-first principle.
Together with people-first political parties in the world, China is aiming at establishing Common Prosperity (共同富裕) in the world where everyone enjoys fruits of prosperity and no one is left behind. Common prosperity is not only simple income distribution. It is more comprehensive social conditions including organizing fulfilling jobs, accessible education and universal health care.
[President Xi Jinping and African leaders during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, September 2018]
[President Xi Jinping is welcomed in Pretoria, South Africa, December 2015]
Capitalists of the Western countries would try to prevent spread of the people-first principle and Common Prosperity because capitalists of the Western countries want to monopolize and keep most of the wealth of the world by themselves while suppressing people who are without assets.
In order to prevent spread of the people-first principle and Common Prosperity, capitalists of the Western countries would do anything and launch military warfare, proxy warfare, information warfare, economic warfare, political warfare, diplomatic warfare and clandestine warfare.
However, an ultimate triumph of the people-first and Common Prosperity is a sure thing because people's power will be invincible, once mobilized and awaken through Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.
[The SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2022]
Once again, allow me to quote Mao Zedong.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1934:
"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; only mobilizing the masses and relying on them can wage it."
"What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion, which it is impossible, and impossible, for any force on earth to smash."
Thank you.
References:
(1) "Jack Ma: Traditional banks are operating with a 'pawn shop' mentality", October 29th 2022, ThinkChina
(2) "Ant Group forced to suspend biggest share offering in history", November 3rd 2022, The Guardian
(3) Full Text: Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution, April 2021, The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China
(4) "Global Development Initiative -- a path to sustainable development", September 22nd 2022, Xinhua
(5) Full text: The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, February 21st 2023, The Global Times
(6) China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, February 24th 2023, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
(7) "Xi, Putin stress talks as solution to Ukraine crisis", March 21st 2023, CGTN
(8) "Full text of Xi Jinping's keynote address at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting", March 16th 2023, Xinhua
(9) Quotations from Mao Tse Tung, 8. People's War, Marxists Internet Archive
(10) Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung, SERVE THE PEOPLE
, Marxists Internet Archive
(11) People First - Political Commitment of the Century-Old Communist Party of China, June 2021, New China Research, Xinhua News Agency
(12) Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. III, Chin. ed., People's Publishing
House, 1991, p.1094.
(13) Deng Xiaoping's remarks, cited in a speech by Xi Jinping at the 7th group
study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee,
June 25, 2013.
(14) Speech by Jiang Zemin at a national meeting to mark the 80th founding
anniversary of the CPC, July 1, 2001.
(15) Report delivered by Hu Jintao at the 18th CPC National Congress,
November 8, 2012.
33
(16) Report delivered by Xi Jinping at the 19th CPC National Congress, October
18, 2017.
(17) "Xi inspects manufacturing enterprise, Yellow River ecological protection in central China", September 17th 2019, Xinhua
(18) "Xi visits Yunnan on inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year", January 19th 2020, Xinhua
(19)
"Xi Jinping and China's anti-poverty war he commands", October 17th 2020, Xinhua
(20) Classics, Wikipedia
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect nor represent the policy or position of any government, party, or organization.
In early November 2020, the Chinese government stopped the IPO of Alibaba's Ant Group which would have been the largest IPO in the history with as mush as $34.5 billion worth. It happened only days after Jack Ma, Alibaba's billionaire founder and (at the time) controlling shareholder, had publicly criticized the country’s regulatory system for stifling innovation. [1][2]
This incident indicates that, in China, the government is stronger than private companies however big they are. In China, the communist government represents the people's interests, not the interests of big companies.
[Xi Jinping at his inspection in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, November 2020]
Market economy is the engine of development. It releases people's energies and ideas to craft innovative businesses, which leads to the wealth of the nation and better living standards of the people.
However, market economy creates the inequality between the haves and the have-nots. The wealthy people become even more wealthy while economically-impoverished people remain impoverished.
Also, fierce competition under market economy pressures each business entity to take extreme measures. Seeking for maximum profits, some companies ignore safety and welfare of people in the process of manufacturing and selling their goods.
That's the reason why a government representing people's interests needs to govern market economy by setting up regulations and redistributing tax revenues. Without the government control, market economy leads to disorder and social conflicts, which ultimately destroy societies.
In China, the communist government represents the people's interests. The communist government drafts and implements 5-year plans to guide the nation's economic development. The Chinese government setts up regulations to protect people's interests and redistributes tax revenues.
Especially, the Chinese government has been striving to alleviate poverty in the nation. Chinese central and local governments have been making meticulous efforts for decades to research, suggest and organize suitable jobs for each region, sector and individual.
As a result of that, China has already succeeded domestically in getting as many as 800 million people out of poverty over the last decades. And, in November 2020, China that has as many as 1.4 billion population finally achieved Zero Poverty. China eliminated absolute poverty one month before self-imposed deadline. This is unprecedented great accomplishment in the history of the mankind. [3]
This people-first approach of China has also brought about the world largest middle class expanding every year, which enables Chinese economy to grow in a robust, sustainable and stable way.
China is aiming at establishing Common Prosperity (共同富裕) where everyone enjoys fruits of prosperity and no one is left behind. Common Prosperity is not only simple income distribution. It is more comprehensive social conditions including organizing fulfilling jobs, accessible education and universal health care.
The one third of China's 1.4 billion population has already achieved a living standard of developed countries. China is trying to make the remaining two-thirds of her population achieve the same living standard.
So, China is now implementing and promoting such policies and projects as Rural Revitalization, the Eastern Data and Western Computing and Digital Economy among others.
2. China's people-first approach to be applied regionally and globally
China applies the people-first principle regionally and globally as well.
(a) China's Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative
China maintains the people-first principle in her trade and doing businesses with other countries as well.
China launched Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative to expand trade with other countries and facilitate development of nations.
[The Chinese-built Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway]
[The Chinese-built highway in Montenegro]
Under Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative, China has been constructing critical infrastructures for developing countries because they are exactly what people of developing countries really need. China has been constructing railways, highways, ports and communication networks.
These infrastructures work as the basis for developing nations' economies to grow by themselves. They also facilitate trade and doing businesses between China and the regional nations. From her own experiences, China knows that development of one region will lead to development of other regions. Constructing critical infrastructures for developing countries will lead to China's economic growth in return as well. China has a long-term perspective.
[The Chinese-built Gwadar port in Pakistan]
[The Chinese-built communication network in South Africa]
Applying the people-first principle to her trade and doing businesses, China respects other nations' sovereignty and their freedom of businesses. So, unlike the US and other Western nations, China does not use military forces or stage a coup to expand businesses. Instead, China seeks and establishes equal win-win relations in her trade and doing businesses. China procures what she needs at the prices her counterparts agree. China researches what people of other nations want and provide them at affordable prices.
China is steadily expanding her cooperation with Asia, Africa, Central & South America and Pacific Island countries. In these areas, supply chains are well organized so that goods, services and raw materials are shipped and exchanged efficiently. China's economy will grow continually.
China is applying AI and Big Data to effectively and correctly supervise trade with these vast areas and population. China ensures equal win-win relations among nations. Because of equal win-win relations among nations, countries in these areas are willing to cooperate and help each other.
As a result, China's trade and doing businesses with other nations have expanded rapidly and steadily. Consequently, China is now the largest trading partner for more than 130 countries worldwide. China has proved economic growth and people's welfare can be achieved through equal win-win relations without waging a war or enslaving someone.
In March 2022, under the Global Development Initiative framework, China co-organized a seminar program with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The program has trained over 1,000 people from nearly 100 countries on cross-border e-commerce. Digital economy and e-commerce will expand trade and businesses even more. [4]
As exemplified by the above program, in addition to infrastructures, education for people is critical for developing countries to facilitate and achieve economic growth by themselves. With this regard, China may provide extensive online education services for developing countries as a part of Global Development Initiative.
The online education services may include such areas as economics, business management, finance, business law, engineering, mathematics and so on.
China can also develop education chat AIs that people of developing countries can download and use for free. In this sense, AI can be a great equalizer.
Furthermore, China would be able to help developing countries to have universal healthcare, assisting them in designing and planning a healthcare system tailored for each country.
(b) China's Global Security Initiative
For achieving economic growth and poverty alleviation, peaceful conditions are indispensable. Also, if a war or a military conflict breaks out, it is people who suffered most. Therefore, peace is the most fundamental requirement that the people-first principle should fulfill.
The country with the people-first principle does not lead to a war of aggression.
The country with the people-first principle leads to peace-making.
Thus, China launched Global Security Initiative. China believes that communication and dialogue are the key to make peace. China suggests and persuade countries in conflict or confrontation that peaceful conditions are indispensable for economic growth and poverty alleviation. [5]
In the Middle East, Iran and Saudi Arabia had been in confrontation for a long time. In 2021, China made a 25 year agreement with Iran under which China would purchase Iran's oil and gas and build Iran's infrastructures. In 2022, China also made a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia under which China would purchase oil and gas and build Saudi Arabia's infrastructures.
Then, China has suggested and persuaded Iran and Saudi Arabia that peaceful conditions are indispensable for implementing the agreements and economic growth, which has resulted in a historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023.
[Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban (Left), Wang Yi, China's most senior diplomat and Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Beijing, March 2023]
As for Ukraine War, China released the 12 points peace plan in February 2023, in which China proposed a peace talk between Ukraine and Russia and reconstruction of Ukraine after the establishment of peace. China is the only great power that has proposed a peace plan on Ukraine War. [6]
Accordingly, when President Xi Jinping visited Russia in March 2023, President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement, stressing talks as the solution to the Ukraine crisis and calling for respect for the security concerns of all countries in resolving the crisis. [7]
[Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin]
With regard to the United Nations, China can reform the United Nations so that the organization would represent interests of all nations especially developing nations. Currently, the power of the United Nations is concentrated upon so-called Big 5 of victorious nations of the Second World War, i.e., the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China. Together with developing nations and with the support of the UN Secretary General, China can reform the United Nations to be more democratic and people-first.
[The Chinese peacekeeping force during the UN Peace Medal of Honor awarding ceremony held by MINUSMA in Mali, March 2019]
3. China has launched Global Civilization Initiative
(a) China's tradition of people-first
As mentioned above, market economy is the engine of development. It releases people's energies and ideas to craft innovative businesses, which leads to the wealth of the nation and better living standards of the people.
However, market economy creates the inequality between the haves and the have-nots. The wealthy people become even more wealthy while economically-impoverished people remain impoverished.
Also, fierce competition under market economy pressures each business entity to take extreme measures. Seeking for maximum profits, some companies ignore safety and welfare of people in the process of manufacturing and selling their goods.
That's the reason why a government representing people's interests needs to govern market economy by setting up regulations and redistributing tax revenues. Without the government control, market economy leads to disorder and social conflicts, which ultimately destroy societies.
This applies not only China but any countries of the world as well.
Thus, in March 2023, Chinese president Xi Jinping made a speech and proposed Global Civilization Initiative at the CPC Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. He called for more than 500 political parties and political organizations from more than 150 countries to seek and apply the people-first principle in light of each country's national conditions. Now at last, the people-first is to be pursued and promoted globally and decisively not only economic development and security spheres but political sphere as well. [8]
In his speech, President Xi Jinping asks:
"Polarization or common prosperity? Pure materialistic pursuit or coordinated material and cultural-ethical advancement? Draining the pond to catch the fish or creating harmony between man and nature? Zero-sum game or win-win cooperation? Copying other countries' development model or achieving independent development in light of national conditions?"
By the word "polarization", he seems to have implied inequality between the haves and the have-nots.
In his speech, President Xi Jinping emphasizes the people-first principle:
"We must put the people first and ensure modernization is people-centered. The people are the creators of history and are the strongest bedrock and force in advancing modernization. The ultimate goal of modernization is people's free and well-rounded development. For a modernization path to work and work well, it must put the people first."
This people-first and people-centered approach is deeply rooted in China's political tradition and history.
For example, the people-first and people-centered approach are the foundation of traditional thoughts of Confucianism, which is China's most prominent philosophy and system of thought originated by Confucius (c. 551 – c. 479 BC).
[Confucius and his disciples]
The Four Books and Five Classics (四書五經) are the authoritative books of Confucianism, which include the Analects (論語) and the Book of Documents (尚書).
Confucianism says:
民無信不立。《論語・顔淵第十二》
"Without the people's trust, the state will not stand." (The Analects of Confucius, Yan Hui Chapter 12)
Confucianism tells that the people is the basis of a country:
皇祖有訓, 民可近, 不可下, 民惟邦本, 本固邦寧。《尚書・夏書・五子之歌》
"It was the lesson of our great ancestral rulers: The people should be approached and communicated, and not looked down upon. It is only the people who are the basis of a country. If the base is stable, peace will reign in the country." (Shang shu (Book of Documents), Xia shu, Wu zizhi ge)
Confucianism emphasizes a ruler's morality:
子曰, 為政以徳, 譬如北辰居其所, 而衆星共之。《論語・為政》
The Master (Confucius) said, “A ruler should govern by virtue just like the north pole star keeps its place and all the stars turn around it.” (The Analects of Confucius, the Act of Governing)
For thousands of years, China's dynasties followed the wisdom of Confucianism in their act of governing.
For instance, in the 2nd century BC, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty enacted Balancing Transportation Act (均輸法) under which the government purchased goods in the regions where the supply was abundant and transported them to the regions where the supply was scarce so that prices of goods would be stabilized. Emperor Wu also enacted Leveling Price Act (平準法) under which the government purchased goods and stored them at the time when prices were low and sold them at the time when prices went up.
These acts were unpopular among merchants as their opportunities to speculate and take advantage of shortage of goods were lost, but the people were happy as prices of goods were stabilized.
Also, emperors of Chinese dynasties ordered to build critical infrastructures for the state including the Grand Canal. The oldest parts of the Grand Canal date back to the 5th century BC, but the most significant part was built during the Sui dynasty in the 6th and 7th centuries. During following dynasties, restoration and extension of the canal were made. The Grand Canal was built to facilitate transportation of goods so that the economy would prosper and people's lives would flourish. If the base is stable, peace reigns in the country. China was one of the largest and most prosperous countries in the world for centuries.
And, in the 20th century, as China was suffering from aggression of imperialism by the Western countries and Japan and went down to half-colonized conditions, Mao Zedong (1893 – 1976), a leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), combining and armed with revolutionary theories of Marxism, firmly established people-first principle as a core value of the party.
During the revolutionary war and confrontation against the Kuomintang government and Imperial Japan, Mao Zedong waged people's war.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1934:
"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; only mobilizing the masses and relying on them can wage it."
"What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion, which it is impossible, and impossible, for any force on earth to smash." [9]
[An art work on People's War]
Despite inferior arms and equipment, the CPC and its People Liberation Army (PLA) gradually pushed back Imperial Japan and the Kuomintang Army because millions of Chinese people enthusiastically supported the CPC and the PLA, providing supplies, foods and critical information. Consequently, the CPC and the PLA got victorious, overwhelming Imperial Japan and the Kuomintang Army.
Thus, "Serve the People" (Chinese: 为人民服务) has become a political slogan and the most fundamental core value of the CPC, which first appeared in a speech by Mao Zedong, delivered on 8 September 1944. [10]
[Mao Zedong talking with farmers]
In the speech, Mao Zedong said:
"Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies led by our Party are battalions of the revolution. These battalions of ours are wholly dedicated to the liberation of the people and work entirely in the people's interests."
"If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized, because we serve the people. Anyone, no matter who, may point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it. The idea of "better troops and simpler administration" was put forward by Mr. Li Ting-ming, who is not a Communist. He made a good suggestion which is of benefit to the people, and we have adopted it. If, in the interests of the people, we persist in doing what is right and correct what is wrong, our ranks will surely thrive."
Ever since, Chinese leaders have kept emphasizing the people-first principle. [11]
Mao Zedong said "serving the people wholeheartedly". [12]
Deng Xiaoping said "taking into account the support, approval, satisfaction, and consent of the people in carrying out its work". [13]
Jiang Zemin said "representing the fundamental interests of the broadest possible majority of the Chinese people". [14]
Hu Jintao said "putting people first". [15]
Xi Jinping said "people-centered philosophy of development". [16]
[President Xi Jinping and factory workers in Zhengzhou, Henan Province][17]
[President Xi Jinping and children of the Wa minority ethnic group in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong, Yunnan Province][18]
[President Xi Jinping talking with villagers in Shibadong Village, Hunan Province][19]
CPC leaderships have been enriching and transcending traditional people-oriented thinking. And, this great tradition of serving the people will continue indefinitely.
(b) The Western tradition of rich-people-first
On the other hand, the Western political statecraft and the Western modernization have been made according to the tradition of the ancient Roman civilization.
The Western political governing system is called democracy. Although the term democracy comes from the ancient Greek words "demos" meaning people and "kratos" meaning rule, it is the ancient Roman Republic that contributed significantly to many aspects of the Western democracy.
[The Roman Forum in Rome, Italy]
As a matter of fact, the Western democracy is only a "copy" of the governing system of the Roman Republic of more than 2,000 years ago. In the ancient Roman Republic, after ousting a bad king in 509 BC, there were separation of powers among a legislature (the Senate and the People's Assembly), an executive (the Consuls) and a judiciary.
But, real policy making was carried out through debate and discussion by the Senate that was a club of rich aristocrats. Some were owners of huge plantations, some were owners of merchant ships, some were owners of mineral mines, some were owners of arsenals, etc. Then, policies made in the Senate were ratified by the People's Assembly so that a formality could be attached as if they were people's will. Thereafter, the policies and the laws were executed by the Consuls who were elected by Roman citizens.
[The Roman Senate - A Rich aristocrats' club where real policy making was carried out through debate and discussion of rich people]
[The People's Assembly where any Roman citizens can attend]
[Roman Consuls - Two Consuls were elected for one-year terms]
So, Roman politics was essentially rich people's ruling. It was the government of rich people, by rich people, for rich people. Domestic policies, diplomacy, war plans, budgetary policies, everything was determined for the purpose of benefiting rich people. The ratification by the People's Assembly and election of the Consuls were used to provide legality and legitimacy to policies made by rich people.
And, in case people's power and demand became extraordinary, Roman rich people elected a Dictator to suppress, execute and subdue people, like Sulla's dictatorship (82–80 BC), so that interests of rich people could be protected.
Accordingly, there has been no people-first tradition in the Western politics. The Western politics has always been rich-people-first. Therefore, how to deceive, mobilize and suppress people for the interests of rich people has been a main theme of the Western politics even today.
Furthermore, the rich-people-first has been reflected and carried through in the Western countries' foreign policy too. Just like the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, the Western countries' foreign policy after the 15th century has been conquering, colonizing, enslaving and exploiting. There has been no equal win-win relations with developing countries in the Western foreign policy.
In Western civilization, the study of the Greek and Roman classics was traditionally considered to be the foundation of their activities, and has, therefore, traditionally been the cornerstone of a typical European and US elite education. [20]
The world people do not have to follow the Western governing system and Western modernization that are based upon the ancient Roman civilization of more than 2,000 years ago. Actually, it is a very peculiar, unfair, deceptive and cruel governing system.
The Western democracies' purpose is to protect the interests of their banking firms, military-industrial-complex, IT industries, semi-conductor industries etc. Therefore, the Western democracies impose economic sanctions, wage wars, stage coups, interfere other nations' internal affairs and disrupt other nations' supply chains.
The reason why the US maintains huge military forces is that US rich people want to monopolize and keep most of the wealth of the world by themselves while suppressing people who are without assets.
The Western countries like to call their political systems democracies. But, actually, they are not people-first but rich-people-first.
Western countries' democracies are "fake" democracies.
(c) Various civilizations, the people-first principle and shared future of the mankind
Historically speaking, before the age of Discovery of the 15th century, the Islamic world was far more advanced and prosperous than the Western world. For example, Islamic mathematics and Islamic medical knowledge were far superior than those of the Western world.
China was advanced in practical science. The four great inventions of ancient China that contributed significantly to world civilization are the compass, gunpowder, papermaking and printing.
There are various civilizations in various regions of the world. Each of them is important. Actually, diversity makes the mankind strong.
In proposing Global Civilization Initiative, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of diversity. History, culture, demography, religion differ from one country to another. Therefore, a path to modernization is different from one country to another.
China does not intend to impose the Chinese model to other countries. China only advises and suggests that the principle of people-first should be upheld for the sake of each nation's prosperity, peace and stability.
The world of people-first can not be realized by China alone. Every country in the world should establish a party that promotes the people-first principle.
Together with people-first political parties in the world, China is aiming at establishing Common Prosperity (共同富裕) in the world where everyone enjoys fruits of prosperity and no one is left behind. Common prosperity is not only simple income distribution. It is more comprehensive social conditions including organizing fulfilling jobs, accessible education and universal health care.
[President Xi Jinping and African leaders during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, September 2018]
[President Xi Jinping is welcomed in Pretoria, South Africa, December 2015]
Capitalists of the Western countries would try to prevent spread of the people-first principle and Common Prosperity because capitalists of the Western countries want to monopolize and keep most of the wealth of the world by themselves while suppressing people who are without assets.
In order to prevent spread of the people-first principle and Common Prosperity, capitalists of the Western countries would do anything and launch military warfare, proxy warfare, information warfare, economic warfare, political warfare, diplomatic warfare and clandestine warfare.
However, an ultimate triumph of the people-first and Common Prosperity is a sure thing because people's power will be invincible, once mobilized and awaken through Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.
[The SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2022]
Once again, allow me to quote Mao Zedong.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1934:
"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; only mobilizing the masses and relying on them can wage it."
"What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion, which it is impossible, and impossible, for any force on earth to smash."
Thank you.
References:
(1) "Jack Ma: Traditional banks are operating with a 'pawn shop' mentality", October 29th 2022, ThinkChina
(2) "Ant Group forced to suspend biggest share offering in history", November 3rd 2022, The Guardian
(3) Full Text: Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution, April 2021, The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China
(4) "Global Development Initiative -- a path to sustainable development", September 22nd 2022, Xinhua
(5) Full text: The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, February 21st 2023, The Global Times
(6) China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, February 24th 2023, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
(7) "Xi, Putin stress talks as solution to Ukraine crisis", March 21st 2023, CGTN
(8) "Full text of Xi Jinping's keynote address at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting", March 16th 2023, Xinhua
(9) Quotations from Mao Tse Tung, 8. People's War, Marxists Internet Archive
(10) Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung, SERVE THE PEOPLE
, Marxists Internet Archive
(11) People First - Political Commitment of the Century-Old Communist Party of China, June 2021, New China Research, Xinhua News Agency
(12) Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. III, Chin. ed., People's Publishing
House, 1991, p.1094.
(13) Deng Xiaoping's remarks, cited in a speech by Xi Jinping at the 7th group
study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee,
June 25, 2013.
(14) Speech by Jiang Zemin at a national meeting to mark the 80th founding
anniversary of the CPC, July 1, 2001.
(15) Report delivered by Hu Jintao at the 18th CPC National Congress,
November 8, 2012.
33
(16) Report delivered by Xi Jinping at the 19th CPC National Congress, October
18, 2017.
(17) "Xi inspects manufacturing enterprise, Yellow River ecological protection in central China", September 17th 2019, Xinhua
(18) "Xi visits Yunnan on inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year", January 19th 2020, Xinhua
(19)
"Xi Jinping and China's anti-poverty war he commands", October 17th 2020, Xinhua
(20) Classics, Wikipedia
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect nor represent the policy or position of any government, party, or organization.