Middle kingdom and the middle belt

The first time I publicly voiced my support for the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative was in the capacity of a speaker at the G20’s Young Scholars Salon held in Beijing, August 2016. The 'belt' includes countries situated on the original Silk Road through Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. South Asia and Southeast Asia are seen as extensions of this ‘belt’. This China led initiative calls for the integration of the region into a cohesive economic area through building infrastructure, boosting cultural exchanges and aggressive trade expansion.

As an international author, performing artisan and culture enthusiast, I believe in the strengths of OBOR and its irrefutable relevance in the 21st century. With thousand years of history serving as its firm foundation coupled with the dynamism of modern commercialism, it is a regional model that cleverly leverages on the lessons of the past with untold possibilities of a shared future. The successful progress of a civilization is not confined only to the human race as a collective, but its individual ethnic groups as well.Leadership gurus have echoed the same ethos – the team is only as strong as its weakest link.

Many of the countries that are part of this belt are also members of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). North, central and south belts are in deliberation. The North belt goes through Central Asia, Russia to Europe. The Central belt goes through Central Asia, West Asia to the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean. The South belt starts from China to Southeast Asia, South Asia to the Indian Ocean.

The Central belt has been neglected recently due to complex religion problems and separation movement along the belt. It is my opinion that this Central belt deserves closer scrutiny and attention due to this recognized problem. It is often human nature to bypass the most difficult task for fear of opening up a Pandora’s Box of gargantuan complexity.If so, then OBOR has already failed in my eyes for not mustering enough courage to redefine and reinvigorate the ideology behind the ancient Silk Road.

A dawn of a new era sees the Middle Kingdom rising up from centuries of growth and transition. With growth and transition it often involves pain and great discomfort. Akin to a caterpillar breaking out from its tight cocoon, the struggle is necessary, inevitable and pivotal in its eventual flight of glory.The magnificent flight of a beautiful butterfly.

For without struggle, the human race cannot evolve and become what it was destined to be – God’s most brilliant creation.This brings me back to the dire straits afflicting Central belt and OBOR’s role in it.

It has become an undesirable piece of media attention when almost on a quarterly basis we read news of acts of terrorism across the globe. What has been labeled as acts of extremism and terrorism, I see as acts of severe desperation and twisted sense of self-righteousness. For the fine line that divides an extremist and vigilante is utterly thin, is it not? What is more important, in my humble opinion, is understanding their root causes and the motivation behind their actions. What are they truly championing for? Justice?Equality?Vindication?Recognition?

OBOR, having economic prosperity as its core mission, ought to review its expansion on a holistic level. By encompassing economic, cultural, trade, goodwill and peace into its master plan, then the world can truly be China’s oyster and the Middle Kingdom’s ongoing mantra of a ‘Shared Destiny’ will become a glorious reality.

With power, comes great responsibility. For power and influence goes hand-in-hand with safeguarding peace. Peace within the Middle Kingdom and also with her neighbors. No country is an island, and China has gone through tumultuous times before opening up to the world. For peace often comes with sacrifice, and a vehement fight to protect what is most precious. Her culture, identity, livelihood, heritage, wisdom and her truth.

China is my Motherland, not only because of my lineage as a Malaysian Chinese. It is also out of my sincere reverence to this country which has transitioned from dynasties to a socialistic capitalist empire. Dr. Sun YatSen’s‘Three Principles of the People’ is one of my guiding principles in life – love for our country, democracy and peoples’ welfare. I believe this same principle has strong relevance across other countries, for which genuine ruler do not want the same for his or her own country?

With this ‘Three Principles of the People’ in mind, perhaps the champions behind OBOR can focus more attention on the neglected Central Belt. I believe the root cause behind the current religious problems and separation movement stems from a desperate cry for help. A desperate plea to have a share in the same prosperity which developed nations are enjoying. I believe citizens have a right to place an expectation towards their leaders to provide and equip them with the basic needs to thrive. Shelter, food, clothing, medicine and ongoing support. Maslow theory dictates that in order for humans to become fully actualized, we must have all these basic needs covered. If a government sets the expectation for its citizens to jointly build the nation, then the same government has the duty to ensure the citizens are well equipped to perform this patriotic role.

I believe in the power of OBOR and the government of China backing it. I believe in the influence of the PLA and the strategic clout it can command. I have faith in the sincerity of the grandiose OBOR plans for we Chinese are guided by a sense of shared destiny for all, and leaving no one behind.

I believe China can make a real difference through OBOR in curbing the problems afflicting the Central Belt. I will support the OBOR as best as I can, from wherever I may be, for we Chinese are born leaders, explorers, innovators and peacemakers.

We can make a difference.