Source: Global Times

On April 27, an article on the website of South China Morning Post noted that as the world gradually faces up to the reality of US tariff hikes, the anniversary of the Bandung Conference serves as a timely reminder: during the height of the Cold War, a group of like-minded nations worked together to strive for a fairer international order.

From April 18 to 24, 1955, Indonesia's first president Sukarno welcomed leaders from 28 countries in Asia and Africa to the Bandung Conference held on Java Island. Since most participating countries were either newly independent or in the final stages of decolonization, this conference was seen as a significant milestone in the development of "Global South" nations.

The Final Communique of the Afro-Asian Conference outlined a vision with far-reaching implications for international relations. In addition to advocating deeper economic, cultural, and political cooperation among Afro-Asian countries, the communique also called for building a fair international system based on the United Nations, respecting decolonization, and abandoning the bipolar structure of the Cold War era.

Although the Bandung Conference was highly successful from the perspective of "Global South" nations, sowing the seeds of the Non-Aligned Movement, the then-US administration also pressured Japan, Turkey, Lebanon, the Philippines, and other countries with clearly unequal strength to align their words and actions with its stance.

China's participation in the Bandung Conference was significant, with Premier Zhou Enlai playing a pivotal role. At that time, China and Indonesia were key forces in uniting "Global South" nations. The two countries had signed an agreement containing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in 1954, which were not only crucial for both countries but also held extraordinary significance for the entire "Global South."

However, the Second Bandung Conference scheduled to be held in Algiers in 1965 was canceled due to the overthrow of the Algerian government, and the spirit of the Bandung Conference and the momentum of the Non-Aligned Movement gradually weakened in the mid-1970s. Nevertheless, the desire of "Global South" nations to unite against colonialism has never faded away.

The United Nations has taken active actions, most notably by proposing the Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order in 1974, aiming to end the economic dependence of "Global South" nations on "Global North" nations. Although this initiative was passed at the UN General Assembly, it was struck down by the United States. Nowadays, facing the "zero-sum game" economic philosophy upheld by the US, the spirit of the Bandung Conference may find fertile ground in some corners of "Global South" nations and even "Global North" nations.

As the first meeting demonstrated its historical responsibility, China still possesses the potential to play a leading role. As a super-large economy and the only medium-sized power capable of competing with the US on all fronts, China holds significant influence among "Global South" nations—especially among partner countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Since Trump's first term, America's unilateralism and protectionism have continued to escalate, while China's international influence has been growing day by day. With Trump returning to the White House, many countries' primary trading partners have shifted from the US to China. Against this backdrop, China is fully justified in positioning itself as the guardian of globalization.

Although the current US administration claims that "reciprocal tariffs" are based on domestic political considerations, observers believe that the US may use this opportunity to isolate China. However, Trump's actions have not been seen as a clever negotiation strategy but rather as making many countries view the US as an unpredictable and unreliable partner, turning them toward China. In recent weeks, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and even the EU have reached out to China.

The legacy of the Bandung Conference's spirit is particularly meaningful at this moment: for a long time, cooperation rather than coercion has always been the preferred principle for handling bilateral relations among Afro-Asian countries. If China can truly revitalize the spirit of Bandung and replace the "America First" doctrine, China will not only further solidify its relations with "Global South" nations but also take a more proactive position in its interactions with most "Global North" nations. (Tracy Fallon and Nicholas Ross Smith, respectively assistant professor at the School of International Studies, University of Nottingham Ningbo, and visiting researcher at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, translated by Qing Gui)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498130853063574016/

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