ALMOST EVERY PUBLIC and some private sector officials have been promoting China as the best thing for Barbados in its foreign relations.
It is seen as the country for almost everything – from niche markets for our exports to a potential tourist market and training and educational opportunities. Investments and aid and grants are also heavily promoted.
Unfortunately, the same China is not the place to look if we want to foster the kind of democratic values to which we have become accustomed and cherish.
Despite the spectacular advances China has advanced over the past 40 years, it remains a one-party state. The dissidents on the mainland and the pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong can speak with eloquence on this subject.
In the efforts to grow the economy, the Communist Party of China has found itself in a bit of a bind, having been forced to take on some of the trappings of western capitalism. It has allowed many Chinese, including those in the hierarchy of the Community Party, to accumulate wealth and live a comfortable lifestyle and the middle class has reaped some benefits, including the ability to travel overseas.
Barbados is no different to most Caribbean nations which have embraced China, which is undoubtedly the legitimate representative of the Chinese people, and not the administration in Taiwan. However, the Taiwanese should be able to co-exist with China and we must not condone China’s expansionist ambitions in the South China Sea.
This is why we should not embrace China – even as the Caribbean is attracted by its money at the expense of other Far Eastern and Asian nations which also have a great deal to offer this island and indeed the entire region. The two nations of special note are India and Japan.
India shares a lot in common with Barbados, ranging from being a member of the Commonwealth to love of cricket. Most importantly, India must be admired for being able to successfully hold democratic elections.
It has also been enjoying a strong annual economic growth rate; it was 7.24 per cent in 2014-15 and estimated to go to 7.56 per cent for 2015-16. This has led to burgeoning middle and upper classes based on wealth and not on trading caste structure. This has resulted in a growing number of people exploring the world and buying luxury brands and exotic products.
India, with a population of 1.3 billion or roughly the same as China is, however, increasing its population faster than its rival. Both of these nations have people with established roots in the Caribbean, but India has the stronger bond and this should give it reasons to look to this region as it seeks to establish itself as a world powerhouse.
Then there is Japan which has been pumping huge sums into Africa by way of the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development held last month in Kenya where US$30 billion was pledged in public and private support. Yes, the same way the Japanese have their eyes and focus on Africa, so too they are looking at the small but important Caribbean nations which can be critical to its agenda.
Barbadians should take note that Japan has established a mission in our country which is not a whaling nation and has a very small economic base. But Japan understands that Barbados can play a role in counterbalancing the growing influence of the Chinese, including pushing to get the UN Security Council reformed.
This country needs to make full use of the Japanese presence, whether seeking direct investment opportunities or capitalising on both short- and long-term training and educational opportunities, or even for joint ventures which will allow for such things as exploiting the full use of the sea island cotton.
The Japanese too are upholders of the plural political system we have come to accept.
Barbados must truly follow that old dictum of being friends of all and satellites of none, even in a world in which being non-aligned is no longer an agenda item.
