China is building new settlements in disputed border areas along the thousands of kilometers long border - with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos. This was reported by the “New York Times” and showed satellite images that prove the existence of the newly built settlements. People are sent to the remote mountain places with the promise of generous compensation. Xi Jinping calls the people who choose to live there “patriots” and “border defenders”.
Since coming to power in 2013, Xi Jinping has fueled existing conflicts with China's neighbors and ignited new ones. His goal is to expand China's territory and continue to "sinify" those regions which had already been conquered in the past, such as Tibet and Xinjiang, i.e. to settle them with ethnic Han Chinese.
Even the once-semi-autonomous metropolis of Hong Kong is part of the plan for ideological infiltration with people loyal to Beijing. And when Xi's army one day invades and takes over Taiwan, mainland Chinese will also be settled there.
A concept from European colonial times
Xi's idea is to occupy the “empty places” through settlement. This is a concept that comes from European colonial times. British colonialists, and others, viewed North America as a “empty place” that could be settled. Those who have lived there for centuries remain disenfranchised simply because they are not white and not Christian.
Xi Jinping adheres to the logic of European colonialism. This reveals a certain hypocrisy as he has risen to the position of leader of the once colonized states of the Global South. According to the dictator, ideas such as freedom, human rights and democracy are not universally recognized values, but simply tricks that the West uses to colonize the people of the world. Using this rhetoric, Xi wants to win over countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
A new global conflict?
For now, however, the Chinese leader is not reaping much success with this strategy. Many of the countries it wants to bring into Beijing's orbit seek economic proximity to China, but they do not want to find themselves at the epicenter of a new global conflict between the authoritarian world led by Xi Jinping and the democratic world led by the United States.
Chinese settler colonialism can also lead to escalation - especially with India. In 2020, there have already been clashes between soldiers on both sides of the Indo-China border. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also an ardent nationalist. It emphasizes not that India is a democratic country, but the characteristic that it is a Hindu country. That is why two hundred million Muslims in the country are harassed and subjected to discrimination. If the conflict between India and China escalates, neither side will back down.
Cause for concern
For the time being, the newly built settlements are civilian. However, Beijing can always use its new infrastructure for military purposes. This option exists for Xi Jinping and for long stretches of the "New Silk Road" - officially a global investment project that will build roads, ports, airports and power plants.
This, as well as China's nuclear and conventional armaments, should cause concern among the leaders of the free world. Beijing may want peace, but only and only on Xi's terms and within the limits that he defines.
Author: Alexander Goerlach