The US election became the basis of chaos in America
JUNGSHAHI, DISTRICT THATTA: It has been always a game of power between the East and the West. The East dominated the West for a millennium and the West subjugated the East for centuries. Formerly, these power alterations were contingent on battles and wars, cultures and civilisations. But, it is a new era and now, the game changer is the economy. The economy is the major asset of modern war, an economic war, where trade partners are more important than bombing allies.
The US election became the basis of chaos in America. With the slogan, “America first”, Mr Trump did what he promised. Most importantly, he abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which was key for America’s multilateral business with 11 nations, including Japan, Canada and Australia. America is becoming isolated with her pseudo-patriotism and racist policies.
The same is the case with Europe. Britain has already decided to leave the European Union and England’s parliament is not being seen to overrule its people’s decision. Other nations are in this race, too. Tomorrow’s Europe will be much different than today’s Europe. There are going to be elections in 2017 and 2018 in major European countries, including France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany, so the governments of these nations will fall into the hands of leaders who are not far from Trump’s vision of bilateral trade — racism and isolation in the name sovereignty.
In this era, when the West is fearing for is sovereignty, the East is ready for an economy war by opening the gates of trade for all. Canada believes the TPP can survive without America signalling that they will approach some Eastern country for the TPP. The UK is knocking on Turkey’s door for trade. Australia has shown her willingness to trade with China. China has already fastened economic ties with Eastern countries and some Western countries, including the UK. These ties are empowering the East. In the upcoming decades, China will further flourish its trade in the Middle East through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, in the West through the Silk Route and in Central Asia through Afghanistan. This will cause the West to be contingent on the East and the East will become dominant again through this giant economy war and China will become its nexus.
Qadeer Palijo
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2017.
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