What does China want from The Bahamas

Wed, Apr 13th 2016, 11:07 AM

Dear Editor,

What China wants from The Bahamas is an essential question for those monitoring the implications and assessing the risk imposed on the nature of China's economic, social and political engagement with the Commonwealth.

There's a sustained perspective that China's growing presence in the region seeks to undermine the United States' strategic position and influence in this hemisphere. China's incredibly ambitious foreign policy in The Bahamas and other Caribbean countries is part of Beijing's continued effort to improve its geostrategic significance and unveil its economic strength.

Since the founding of the new China in 1949, The Bahamas and China have enjoyed sustained high-level exchanges; this has resulted in stronger political mutual trust relished with closer cooperation. The goals of China's policy in The Bahamas include: The promotion of mutual trust and respect built on shared ground; deepening cooperation with the aim of achieving win-win results; drawing on each other's strengths to boost joint progress and intensify exchanges; and, the One-China principle, which is the political basis for the establishment and development of relations between China and The Bahamas.

Those areas were developed to strengthen the communication and dialogue on core interest areas and common concerns. Currently, The Bahamas remains committed to the One-China policy and the position of supporting China's reunification and not having official ties or contacts with Taiwan. It is the intention of China in The Bahamas to exchange the consolidated experience of governance on a friendly political basis between The National People's Congress of China and the Bahamian Parliament. China will remain committed to the idea of exchanges between political parties in The Bahamas on the premise of independence, full equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs to learn from each other, increase mutual understanding and friendship, and to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) will pursue a balanced two-way trade between the two countries with an open consideration of free trade agreements justified in the context of win-win cooperation. The government of China will encourage Chinese companies with good reputations to invest heavily in The Bahamas in manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing, energy, mineral resources, infrastructure and the service sector with the aim of promoting the economic and social good of both sides. The PRC government indicates its interest of welcoming investment by Bahamian businesses in China.

Given the macroeconomic situation of The Bahamas and the financial pillar of the economy, Chinese commercial banks will set up branches in The Bahamas shortly. China will promote its capabilities in The Bahamas' agricultural industry through science and technology; there will be technical training programs and partnering in the effort of jointly upholding food security. In 2009, The Bahamas signed a memorandum of understanding with China, as well as an agreement of co-operation between the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and Ocean University of China.

China will use The Bahamas to demonstrate its infrastructure construction potential in various ways so as to contribute its share to further infrastructure development in the region. Thus far China has constructed Baha Mar, the national sports stadium, the North Abaco port project and the Nassau airport gateway. China also wishes to expand a beneficial cooperation with The Bahamas in the area of resources and energy with an understanding of The Bahamas' energy inefficiencies that consequently stifle economic growth.

The Chinese will expand their tourism cooperation with The Bahamas to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

With the impending opening of Baha Mar, Chinese airlines such as China Eastern and Hainan Airlines are considering the feasibility of direct flights from Beijing to Nassau. China will prolong its debt cancellation policy in The Bahamas if the situation presents to relieve the country's debts as China's ability permits. This tourism cooperation also includes the $250 million Nassau Pointe resort and the redevelopment of Downtown Nassau. The PRC government, according to its financial capability and level of economic and social development, will continue to provide economic and technical assistance to The Bahamas without attaching any political conditions. The government of China will work within its ability and gradually increase its assistance to The Bahamas to meet its needs.

Both countries will collaborate in the areas of culture, sports exchange, media, science, technology and healthcare. The government of China will increase the number of Chinese government scholarships. Currently, there are over 150 Bahamian students studying in China. China pledges its commitment to The Bahamas' climate change efforts and environmental protection. Both countries will cooperate in personnel training, education and capacity building in the fields of biodiversity conservation, as well as prevention and treatment of pollution and desertification.

China will actively provide military assistance to The Bahamas and defense dialogue. Recently through its agreed on obligations, China donated $1.2 million to The Bahamas to purchase military equipment so as to improve jointly the capacity to respond to non-traditional security threats. Without a doubt, The Bahamas must prudently manage the complexities within the relationship. China's growing presence in The Bahamas warrants active policy consideration. The Bahamas continues to be courteous to the advancement of China's political, economic, social and cultural integration with the view of safeguarding the country's long-term interest.

China's presence in The Bahamas does not represent a threat or deterioration in strategic relations between the United States and The Bahamas or the promotion of communist ideologies. A determined economic interest drives China's engagement with The Bahamas. The Bahamas must skillfully leverage itself against China's enormous appetite for primary commodities, natural resources and new economic growth opportunities. The rationale from our foreign policy relations with China comes from the phrase "no man is an island". Bahamians have to embrace The Bahamas' multidirectional diplomacy to fuel growth in an attempt to diversify our economy.

Diversified diplomacy is imperative for The Bahamas in a more connected global economy. The truth of the matter is despite legitimate anxiety and concern, China's presence in The Bahamas is here to stay.

- Latrae Rahming

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