From the ashes of World War II, three institutions were created as linchpins of a new global order. Now, in an unusual move, the top official in one — the U.N. secretary-general — is pressing for major changes in the other two. Antonio Guterres says the International Monetary Fund has benefited rich countries instead of poor ones. And he describes the IMF and World Bank’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a “glaring failure” that left dozens of countries deeply indebted. Guterres’ criticisms were issued ahead of meetings called by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris next week to address reforms of the multilateral development banks and other issues.
The handling of debt in African countries recently is a perfect example of how the IMF and China are different in their handling of “aid”. China has forgiven a large amount of loans, and restructured an even larger amount to prevent undue burden. There are no “sanctions” put on them here. The original motivation was mutual benefit, and when things happened that caused the default on the debt, pricesely because mutual benefit was the original motivation, they were not punished as the West does. The West uses sanctions, and uses them for punishment, not China. China routinely condemns sanctions, and not just those against it. I think the fact that you asked what sanctions China can put on them, not what sanctions it has put on them, is telling: it’s been some time now and they haven’t done anything of the sort.
I’m also not painting China as “benevolent” or “self-less”. Yes, of course what they’re doing is in their interest. But that doesn’t deny that it can be mutually beneficial. Doing something good for yourself and someone else, that helps you both, is not “self-less” but is also not nefarious. Also “above reproach” came out of nowhere: valid criticism is welcome but baseless accusations, including paranoic projection (“the West uses sanctions to destroy economies, what if China decides to as well”) is not.
Again what kind of sanctions do you think China could place on Africa or any other country? Its easy to say they don’t sanction when they aren’t in a position to sanction. The simple fact is China gives money to countries to get votes in the UN and to secure resources it needs, this is how the world works. Why do you feel the need to defend a superpower like China? I don’t feel the need to defend the US or any other country.
You’re not doing anything here by dealing in hypotheticals without basis. Why should I assume China would sanction countries, if only they were in such a position? Just because the West behaves so maliciously? Moreover, why do you think they aren’t in a position to sanction? What would need to change for them to be in such a position?
Let’s say they aren’t in a position to sanction per se; they still have other power due to the fact that they own the debt. The fact that instead of causing collapse and destruction via debt-trapping, China has forgiven and restructured a large number of loans, is even more evidence that your paranoic hypotheticals are just that: paranoid. Someone having the capacity or means to do bad doesn’t mean they will.
I’m defending someone who’s stated goal is mutual aid, and whose actions help validate their stated goal. I’m also defending them in the comparative context where they’re put against alternatives such as the IMF, not in a vacuum.