China is a natural member of the "global southern" family. International | Developing Countries | Global

International Observer Xing Yu

Recently, "Global South" has become a hot topic in the international community. The "Global South" originated from the "South", and in the 1950s and 1960s, some developing countries that were liberated from colonial shackles and embarked on the path of independent development began to use the concept of the "South". These countries are mostly located in the southern part of the Earth, and their cooperation with each other is called "South South cooperation". "Global South" is an extension of this concept, referring to developing countries with relatively backward economies that have non Western, anti intervention, and development oriented political attributes. China is the world's largest developing country and a natural member of the "global southern" family!

But the United States questions my identity as a developing country and advocates that China is not a developing country or a member of the "global south". Recently, the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee passed the "End China's Status as a Developing Country" bill, calling for the cancellation of China's status as a developing country. At the same time, American and Western leaders frequently visit developing countries and accelerate their layout in the "global south". The Group of Seven, led by the United States, held a summit in Hiroshima, Japan this year. In addition to Western countries, leaders from developing countries such as India, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Comoros, and Cook Islands were invited to attend as observers, aiming to demonstrate that these countries represent the "global south".

On the one hand, the United States is increasing its efforts to woo the "global South", and on the other hand, it is vigorously denying China's status as a developing country and excluding China from the "global South". What is its intention?

Through the anxious operation of the United States, like ants on a hot pot, we can clearly see the urgency and sense of crisis of the United States in maintaining its existing hegemony and order. Due to an increasing number of southern countries saying "no" to the United States, the United States needs to rebalance the global order and regard the pursuit of "global South" as the key to the success or failure of order competition. It should not only strengthen cooperation with the "global South", but also curb suppression, regulation and assimilation of the "global South". The United States wants to label China as a "developed country", and its true intention is for China to assume international responsibilities beyond its own capabilities, instigate the division of China's relations with developing countries, and curb China's development. However, whether China belongs to a developing country or not, and whether it is a member of the "Global South", is it up to the United States the final say?

Independence and autonomy are the political foundation of the global South. Throughout human history, no nation or country can achieve strength and revitalization by relying on external forces, copying foreign models, and following others step by step. Many developing countries have a history of being invaded and enslaved, and they deeply understand the importance of independence and autonomy. China firmly adheres to an independent and peaceful foreign policy, opposes hegemonism and power politics, upholds international fairness and justice, opposes imposing its own will on others, opposes interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and opposes bullying the weak with strength. This is also the common aspiration of the vast number of developing countries. China has put forward the Global Civilization Initiative, jointly promoting the common values of all mankind with developing countries, advocating respect for cultural diversity, opposing ideological delineation and camp confrontation, supporting countries in exploring development paths based on their own national conditions, respecting the social systems chosen by people of all countries, strengthening governance and political exchanges and mutual learning, promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and making contributions to human progress.

Development and revitalization are the historical mission of the global South. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, we firmly stood with other developing countries and solved the problems they faced through common development. In the new era, China insists on placing development at the center of the international agenda, further consolidating international consensus to promote development, and safeguarding the legitimate development rights of developing countries. China has always helped developing countries gain equal development rights in rulemaking, global governance, geopolitical conflicts, climate change, and food and energy crises. In the new round of global governance system reform, China is expanding the voice and representation of countries from the "global south" and safeguarding common interests. China has successively put forward the "the Belt and Road" initiative and the global development initiative, practiced joint consultation, joint construction and sharing, focused on the most urgent livelihood needs of developing countries, and promoted practical cooperation in key areas such as poverty reduction, food security, industrialization, connectivity, etc., bringing tangible benefits to other developing countries. China has successfully promoted and expanded Chinese path to modernization and broken the myth of "modernization=westernization", which provides an important reference for other developing countries to independently explore the modernization path in line with their national conditions.

Justice and fairness are the common beliefs of the global South. Only by adhering to fairness and justice can there be lasting peace.China is the only country in the world that has included "adhering to the path of peaceful development" in its constitution, and has always been the "ballast stone" of world peace and stability. China has proposed a global security initiative, advocating a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, and playing a positive role in promoting world peace and security. Since the comprehensive escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, China has always upheld justice and morality, actively advocated for peace and promoted talks, and has gained universal recognition and praise from the international community. With China actively mediating and promoting the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, there has been a wave of reconciliation in the Middle East region. The international community can clearly see who is a truly responsible major country and who truly cares about developing countries.

For so many years, some countries have always wanted to play a wedge and make small moves between China and other developing countries, but none of them can change the fact that China belongs to a developing country, nor can they dilute the deep friendship between China and other developing countries. China cannot do without developing countries, and developing countries also need China. No matter what the name of the developing country team is, China has always been an indispensable member of it.