Who Are China's Allies?

Chinese soldiers on the march in Tiananmen Square. Photo: Settamana News 

 Francesco Sisci, Asia Times: China without an army of friends 

China needs allies, people and countries who will stand for its universal values but it's not clear yet what they are 

As China celebrated its Army Day on August 1, the children of Sunzi, the strategist of victory without a fight, know there is something better than guns for national defense. Or they ought to know. 

China needs friends, people and countries who will stand for China’s universal values, as they stood in the past century for the values of the Soviet Union or the United States. 

The USSR narrative was of liberation from capitalist oppression. The American narrative is about freedom and liberty. These values lead to a lot of mistakes but they are part of the quest for freedom. These narratives are not “the truth” but they have a drive, a global appeal that goes beyond the single country.  

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WNU Editor: China's lack of having committed allies that will stand by its side in a crisis is a problem and weakness that China has had throughout its history. 

When I was working in China in the 1980s I told my Chinese hosts that they had no real allies. And the ones who support them do so because they have either been bought off and/or are in their debt. My Chinese hosts at the time did not disagree. And sadly .... 30+ years later .... I can say with confidence that they have made zero progress on this file. 

Case in point.

China's closest allies are Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea. To a lesser extent I would add Myanmar, Venezuela, and Cambodia. If a crisis should explode and a shooting war breaks out between China and the U.S., China's allies will keep their distance. This will not be the case for the U.S.. Most of America's allies will jump in to provide not only tangible military support, but also overwhelming political and economic assistance.

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