In this day and age, as the world is becoming increasingly connected due to the Internet and globalization, it is economic might that now determines the politics of nations, and no longer military might as it used to be. Today’s world order sees China fast overtaking America to become the world’s leading economic power and they are not afraid to flex this muscle.
Botswana is a landlocked nation in Africa, just north of South Africa. Click to enlarge.
These days, there is not a single country that does not depend heavily on trade with China. Inevitably, thanks to their economic prowess, China is able to exert their influence over many countries, especially the smaller and poorer African states that depend heavily on foreign aid and investment. Since trade is key to their survival and prosperity of their citizens, many of these countries will do whatever is in their power to maintain bilateral relations with China.
The truth however, is that China has never really shown any interest in the internal affairs of any country. When China does take a keen interest, it is in countries who have received a state visit from His Holiness the Dalai Lama or any Tibetan leaders like Lobsang Sangay. China sees it from the perspective of national security because the Dalai Lama has in the past advocated independence of Tibet, which is part of China today.
Such independence would be tantamount to the separation of the Chinese state, which the central government has been fiercely protecting. For any nation to meet with the Dalai Lama, it would therefore be viewed as supporting instability within the Chinese nation. What nation would not be wary of this, and do their best to ensure all the factors remain in place for stability for their people? Hence, in this way, any meeting with the Tibetan leadership has the potential to jeopardize trade relations with China who, like any responsible government, will use their strengths to their advantage.
The San hunter-gatherers, a tribe of bushmen who live in an area spanning South Africa to Botswana.
In today’s world, it is not the form of government (like socialism, monarchy or democracy) that is important anymore, but it is more important to see if it works or not. China, for example, may adhere to a Marxist system that has been labelled as Communism, but for the Chinese nation it appears that this form of governance is turning out better than many so-called democracies. China is showing that not everything from the West is applicable to every nation on this planet. So people can criticize and knock China’s form of Communist government as much as they want, but it sure has worked in making them into a superpower.
It is this superpower status that every nation in the world wants to link up to and benefit from. This was made clear about Botswana in the article Dalai Lama Protégé Chickens Out of Botswana Event. It notes that “some top government officials (of Botswana) are said to be on the side of the Chinese government as they feel Botswana benefits more from China that it can ever benefit from its friendship with the Dalai Lama“. It may be glamorous to meet the Dalai Lama, and perhaps religiously and morally compelling to do so but it does virtually nothing for the nation itself.
On the other hand, maintaining ties with China may not be glamorous. It may even seem to be an unpopular choice but the truth is, fostering a relationship with China does bring economic prosperity that will trickle down to every sector of society and hence, tremendous benefit for any country.
Botswanan women in traditional church-going dress
Since all nations depend on trade in order to sustain their economies, very few states big or small will want to jeopardize this important relationship with China. Many governments around the world can relate to this sentiment. At the end of the day, a leader of any country will have to prioritize their country’s interests over other ‘peripheral’ interests like that of Tibet and the Dalai Lama. The fact is that there is no obligation for any country to abide by any particular style of governance, except for the one that benefits them.
Botswana has a strong and varied culture that has existed for thousands of years, including unique forms of dance and art
In light of all this, the recent and very last-minute rejection of Lobsang Sangay of the so-called Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) makes sense. As the President of the CTA (Tibetan exiled leadership based in Dharamsala), this rejection is a huge slap on his face. Even Botswana, a country with a population of just over two million and a GDP equal to some billionaires’ personal incomes, now rejects the Tibetans. Such a rejection should be a wake-up call that fewer and fewer nations and people are going to support the corrupt regime of the CTA. The CTA in Dharamsala has been losing grip on their own Tibetan people’s support as well as the support of many nations around the world, who are realizing that being friends with the Tibetan government in-exile reaps no rewards because they are extremely corrupt.
Even when the CTA talks about honor, integrity, human rights and what is supposedly just, they have scandal after scandal in their day-to-day dealings. With so many scandals of their own to contend with, what tangible benefits can the CTA offer to other nations?
Botswanans have turned their backs on Lobsang Sangay and the Tibetans in favor of China
Of course, there are pockets of people around the world who are fooled by the CTA’s externally-touted ‘noble cause’ when in fact, this cause is actually abused to raise funds which they line their pockets with. This is a truth that everyone is waking up to, even as the CTA continues to cry wolf as many times as they like. The rapid decrease in support for the CTA shows clearly that in the end, every single sane government realizes a healthy relationship with China will tremendously boost their economy. This garners more votes so that these governments can stay in office. After all, politics is about money, power and votes. If you are friends with China, you get more power and you get more money, but when you are friends with the CTA, you lose votes and the voters themselves.
Dalai Lama Protégé Chickens Out of Botswana Event
Click to enlarge (Source: http://www.thegazette.news/dalai-lama-protege-chickens-out-of-botswana-event/)
Botswana is a landlocked nation in Africa, just north of South Africa. Click to enlarge.
The Zu/’hoasi tribe in the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana live in one of the most remote wildernesses in Africa
MORE NEWS LIKE THIS
