Peace, development are what China really pursues

When discussing the Sept 3 military parade, held to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, it is necessary to know that for a century since the Opium Wars, foreign powers kept invading and occupying parts of China, committing atrocities on the Chinese people, and looting the country's wealth. Even today, US-led Western forces are using every possible method including encircling China militarily to contain its peaceful rise.

These facts are crucial for understanding China's current political, economic and foreign policies. Some Western powers still believe in the axiom, "might makes right", and thus assume that a stronger China would inevitably seek "revenge" for being invaded and partly occupied from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries. But that is not true.

China has chosen a development path distinct from that of the United States and the rest of the West. It has proposed to build a community with a shared future for humanity, emphasizing global cooperation, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence. This principle has been widely recognized and even included in United Nations General Assembly resolutions for eight consecutive years. Importantly, the term humanity encompasses people in the West.

Some Western politicians and observers assume that as China gains in national strength, it may seek to dominate other countries to maximize its own interests. But such assumptions don't align with China's foreign policy.

If China really has such intentions, why doesn't it emulate the US by resorting to unilateralism and pulling out of international organizations like United Nations agencies and international treaties? In reality, China has followed all the rules of the UN-led postwar world order while upholding international law, and is helping build a fairer global governance system.

The US and Japan accuse China of "challenging the world order" because it is calling for reforming the Western-dominated world order into a fairer and more inclusive rules-based system, which by no means is an attempt to establish a new world order led by China.

As part of its attempt to build a community with a shared future for humanity, China is implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, which is aimed at improving infrastructure connectivity among countries. The Belt and Road Initiative connects China with Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe by land, and Southeast Asia, Africa and even the Americas via maritime routes, promoting shared development.

While some Western countries view the BRI as China's tool for expanding its economic influence, they ignore an important fact: well-developed connectivity also facilitates the export and import of goods and services from and to China and the rest of the world.

By helping other countries improve their infrastructure, China is creating conditions for BRI partner countries to export and import goods and services to and from global markets. If China intended to pursue power politics, it would not be promoting such mutually beneficial projects.

So, why does China still advance the Belt and Road Initiative?

Unlike developed countries' attempts to maintain the economic cycle centered on the West, the globalization advocated by China aims to develop a two-way open economic environment, creating equal opportunities for developing countries to pursue economic development. China follows this development principle because it recognizes that balanced development is essential for long-term global stability and prosperity. When all countries share the benefits of development, the interconnectedness and shared destiny become a guarantee of security.

By adopting this approach, China seeks to end the structural injustices that have led to exploitation of developing countries. When countries can achieve economic growth following their own development path, they can help build an international community free from war and hegemony.

More important, China does not view Japan or any other country as a rival nor does it incite anti-Japanese sentiments. As the country that suffered the most from Japanese invasion and occupation, China knows the necessity of preventing the recurrence of such aggression. It is the countries that refuse to face their wartime past and even glorify their war crimes that pose a real threat to human existence. Remaining vigilant against the guile of military powers is the shared responsibility of all countries, and China is doing exactly that.

The Sept 3 military parade was by no means a show of force. Rather, it was a message to the world that the Chinese people, who once suffered wartime atrocities, are committed to joining hands with all peace-loving people to defend the hard-won independence and sovereignty, and build a future of peaceful coexistence.

The Victory Day commemoration reminded every country that their policy stance determined whether they would tolerate plunder and aggression or stand up against injustice, and pursue fairness and inclusiveness. The commemoration underscored Beijing's commitment to peace and its vision for development, international cooperation and shared prosperity.

In an era marked by uncertainty, China's choices and actions offer the world a new possibility, a model of global governance based on equality, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Through this vision and a series of robust, practical actions that transcend ideological, political and social differences, China is sending out an unequivocal message to the world: peace and development are the shared aspirations of all humanity, and only through collaboration and cooperation can we build a peaceful and promising future.

The author is an associate researcher at the School of Humanities, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.