

Let us return to the present. Today, with the development and predominance of capitalist relations of production in China, with its participation in imperialist organizations such as the WTO and its assimilation into the imperialist system, its stance does not differ from that of the imperialist powers. Whatever disagreements it has with the USA are related to the “division of the loot”, while there exists “harmony” over the question of labour rights, which are being reduced for the “good” of the market economy, and also against states whose action offend any of the leading imperialist powers’ monopolies.

One example is the attitude of China concerning the nuclear programme of Iran. As we know, China has developed a close economic cooperation with Iran, which is one of its basic suppliers of oil. Despite this cooperation, in September 2010 China, as well as Russia, joined together with the USA, France, Germany and Great Britain (“the group of 6”) on the question of Iran’s nuclear programme, demanding that Iran back down and accept the conditions of the UN Security Council concerning its nuclear programme. Earlier in June of 2010, China had agreed in the UN Security Council to new sanctions against this country.35

A second example is the stance of China in relation to Kosovo. Even if China and other imperialist powers have not yet officially recognized Kosovo, it is worth noting that in the UN security council it did not have a consistent and decisive position against the NATO assault in the Balkans, while it abstained from the voting on the peace-keeping mission, in which NATO plays the leading role (the notorious KFOR)36and later it participated in the NATO occupation by sending police forces.

Furthermore, in 2010 we had the despicable decision of the International Court in The Hague, which stated that Kosovo’s declaration of independence was not in violation of international law. Some judges held a different position concerning this very important decision. Thus, the judges from Russia, Slovakia, Brazil and Morocco were against the legitimization of Kosovo, which was supported by judges from the USA, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Mexico, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Jordan. As it is mentioned in the published documents, the Chinese judge did not take part in this very important decision that seeks to change the borders in Balkans, opening up a “Pandora’s box” for the instigation of other controversies related to national minorities, because of ‘procedural matters”37. This was followed by the appeal of Albania to Peking to recognize the independence of Kosovo and to use its influence in the UN Security Council so that other member-states support its recognition.38

A third example is the visit of China’s Prime minister, Wen Jiabao, to Greece in October 2010. In his speech to the Greek parliament, the Chinese Prime minister stated that China supports a stable Euro, because “we have the belief that a united and strong Europe can play an irreplaceable role in the world’s development” and added that he felt “joy when he saw Greece escaping from the shadow of its foreign debt, reducing its deficit and opening up prospects for its economic development.”39 In these two phrases the prime minister of China, and full member of the PB of the CC of the CP China, managed to summarize the support of his country’s leadership for the European imperialist centre of the EU and for the social-democratic government of PASOK, which under the pretext of reducing the deficit is implementing a harsh anti-people programme in order to reduce the cost of labour power in Greece.

The Chinese leadership signed a raft of agreements with the Greek government, which will constitute a source of profits for certain sections of Greece’s plutocracy and nothing more. The notorious Chinese investment of 5 billion is nothing more than a shot in the arm for Greek ship-owners which serves the shipbuilding industry of China, as well as its goal for further penetration to the European market through Greece. The related construction, use and operation of ports and railway lines, as well as shipbuilding infrastructure by Chinese monopolies and certain Greek companies will sharpen uneven development at the expense of the needs of the people. The expansion and strengthening of the activity of capital in crucial infrastructure, in combination with anti-people policies, has led to even cheaper workers with reduced labour rights and wages. The olive oil exports will benefit only the big businessmen who control them and not the poor farmers, whose position is continually deteriorating. Nevertheless, this visit was utilized by the “social-democratic” PASOK government with the aim of making the popular strata believe that thanks to the Chinese investments (as well as those of Qatar, Israel etc) there will be development and consequently the GDP will increase and so will the crumbs which fall from the table of the capitalists to the people. In reality of course we are talking about the prospect of a capitalist exit from the crisis which will not reduce development in favour of big capital, nor the poverty and unemployment of the people. We are talking about development which undermines the productive capabilities of our country and involves it in dangerous imperialist rivalries. In any case we certainly cannot speak about the “internationalist contribution” of China to the struggle of the Greek people.

Finally, the Communist Party of China may for the time being maintain its title as a “communist party”, nevertheless it is well known that it has developed close links with the Socialist International. In 2009 the CPC organized in Peking a joint seminar with the Socialist International, with the theme “a different development model, that of green economy”. In his speech there, the president of PASOK and the Socialist International, G. Papandreou expressed “the desire of the International to further enhance relations between the two sides, which is proved by today’s seminar”.40The question of “the wider cooperation within the framework of the Socialist International” was also discussed during the meeting between PASOK and the CPC in July 2010.41

In 2009 the book “China is not Happy”42 which deals with China’s position in the world was released in China (-in three months it had sold 700,000 copies and many millions more afterwards). Amongst other things it notes:

“We are the most suitable people to undertake the world’s leadership”. Since, as it argues, China manages global natural resources more efficiently than any other country it should undertake global leadership. It is also noted that the Chinese army should defend the sovereignty of the country outside of its borders, direct to countries where China has “fundamental interests” and defend them43. That is to say it proposes the mobilization of the Chinese army in the places where Chinese capital is active. We should remind ourselves that China plays an active role in the so-called “war against piracy” (in the “Joint Statement”44 signed between the Greek government and China during the recent visit of the Chinese Prime minister to Greece, the Greek government thanked China for the protection of Greek ships in Somali waters by the Chinese Navy), attempting to control important military international naval passages.

In the aforementioned books there is a discussion concerning the “need for living space” for China and it is pointed to the vast expanses of Siberia which “must be cultivated by the great Chinese people”.45

It goes without saying that such a book could not be released in China today without the approval of the CPC. For whoever doubts they only have to look at what the organ of the CC of the CPC, “People’s daily” wrote: “Apparently, China is ready to place the Russian Far East under its own fundamental influence, but in such a way so as not to alarm Moscow. The strength of this influence will not be based on a large scale influx of Chinese settlers, but the sudden “chinisation” of Russians… One fine day there will be a serious crisis and in the face of the weakened political and military influence of Moscow, these Russians may turn to Peking and not to their own government. In such hypothetical situation the Russian Far East could become a province of China.”46

In line with the above we should remind ourselves that at the beginning of August 2010 the representative of the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam, Nguen Fwong Nga, made the following statement: “Vietnam demands that China immediately cease its violations of Vietnam’s Sovereignty”47. In the South China Sea where there are energy deposits, there have emerged “grey zones” and regions of disputed sovereignty.

Of course, within the framework of competition emerge both “axes” of cooperation and “anti-axes”. So we can see that the Prime minister of Italy, Berlusconi, who habitually refers to every political opponent with the grave accusation of …. “communist”, has no problem in lighting up the Colosseum in Rome with “communist” red colour in honour of the Chinese Prime minister who visited the “Eternal city” aiming at doubling trade between the two countries to 100 billion dollars by the year 2015, as well as at the “development of ports and other investments”, as they are seeking a strategic “gateway” into Europe.48