April, 17, 2025
By Prof. Samitha Hettige
The US electorate picked Donald Trump as their President for a 2nd term. Though some view that USA has a track record of de-establishing democratic processes of many countries including Sri Lanka (Ref 2022 July), those who respect democracy should respect the rights of the US citizens to elect the President of their choice. At a time when Trump’s trade policies are creating global ripples, China-US trade tax increases are more discussed. Long before the USA came into being, the Chinese civilization was trading with the then known world. The ancient Silk Road which connected Great China with the Persian Empire was also known as the ‘Envoy Road’ as it was the highway which connected two global trade powers (China & Persia). Historic records indicate China-Persia trading even in Sri Lanka as early as the 2nd Century BC. Persians were active at ‘Godawaya Port’ while Chinese at ‘Trincomalee’ or ‘China Harbour’ traded with Sri Lankans as well as the ‘Chola Empire’ (Ref. Sri Lankan history). At the same time Chinese chronicles refer to the ‘Holing’ (Kalinga or Klung) kingdom nestled within the Malayan & Javanese kingdoms trading with the ancient maritime Silk Road (Ref. records of Chinese Admiral Zheng He). Zheng He, a Muslim (AKA Ma He) who represented the Chinese Emperor in; Far East, South Asia & the Indian Ocean rim has had very relations with Buddhist, Hindu & Muslim kingdoms in the region resulting in high volumes of trading 700 years ago.
China & ASEAN
President Xi Jinping’s visits to Vietnam, Malaysia & Cambodia recently shall further increase the 700 year old win-win trading & cultural relations negating Donald Trump’s law of the jungle attitude with Asian values of; peace, cooperation, openness, & inclusiveness responding to instability & uncertainty with stability & certainty. As the Chinese President mentioned in Malaysia, the Asian bond shall defuse the undercurrent of geopolitical & camp based confrontations. It shall also be the countercurrent of unilateralism & protectionism in the face of shocks to global order & economic globalization. The 6 million individual visits between Malaysia & China (during 2024) simply indicate the level of Asian cooperation which will take place in the coming decades along the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation (Ref. Media).
Islam in ‘Conflict Prevention’
During President Xi’s state visits, Asian scholars had expressed views on the advantages of their civilizations being exposed especially to; Buddhism, Hinduism, & Islamic teachings among other beliefs. Confucianism which affects more than one fifth of the global population is equally contributing to peace among humans especially along the BRI as China is the 2nd largest economy of the world. It is therefore, important for conflict managers to study the similarities between these social management tools. Islam plays a key role in the ASEAN & as China, India & the Far East will be key players in the coming centuries, it is important to use these social tools to prevent conflicts in the region. Islam which emerged from the Arab world is now practiced globally especially in ASEAN, South & Central Asia & Africa. Scholars have identified below similarities between the core values of Islam & Confucianism. More awareness on below in turn will ensure economic prosperity.
Sri Lankans may do a comparative study on above with; Buddhism, Hinduism & Catholicism to prevent interfaith conflicts. It will help prevent internal conflicts when they connect globally along the BRI. Since Sri Lankans have a recorded history conflicts due to cultural divides, preventing internal conflicts is necessary to ensure economic recovery. It will prepare them to face short term shocks from external individuals affecting export income etc.
(Views expressed are personal/ Photo source www)
Video Story
