‘China Feels Its Moment Has Come With Asia As The Prize’

NEW DELHI: This decade could be fateful for Asia: China has begun an ambitious power play with the goal of emerging as the predominant power on the Asian continent, says Dr. Srikanth Kondapalli, professor of Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

In a chat on StratNewsGlobal, he warned that Beijing sees the US as distracted by the Ukraine war while also not inclined to get involved in any campaign that involves troops on the ground. The US is turning increasingly inward as long neglected domestic problems mount.

Dr. Kondapalli argues that China therefore sees this decade as opportune to mount its bid to assume leadership of Asia. The US has acknowledged that China’s control of the South China Sea is a given. Russia has no real stakes in Asia except for some in Central Asia where Chinese money is already visible. The Arab Gulf states are looking for security assurances and Pakistan is firmly in China’s pocket.

Tune in for more in this conversation with Dr. Srikanth Kondapalli.