How the CCP is Shaping a New Global Order (IANS Insight)

New Delhi, Feb 25 (NationPress) The CCP is strategically positioning itself as not merely a regional force but as a pivotal player in the formation of a new global order. With each action, Beijing is making a resounding declaration: the era of Western supremacy is nearing its conclusion, and the time for China has come.

In recent times, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has launched a series of audacious initiatives that are fundamentally altering the global landscape and reinterpreting the notion of national security.

Seizing the moment, Beijing has implemented a comprehensive plan designed to bolster its status while contesting the post-Cold War world order that has traditionally been dominated by Western nations.

The breadth of Beijing's aspirations has reached unprecedented heights—encompassing extensive infrastructure endeavors across continents alongside advancements in technology and energy sectors.

Each initiative reflects a concerted effort to establish China at the heart of a new global hierarchy. We are witnessing a time characterized by calculated maneuvers, technological innovations, and strategic positioning, all poised to profoundly alter global power dynamics and shape the international landscape for years ahead.

This journey began with a subtle yet significant incursion into Africa's core. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, a multitude of 30 clean energy projects is emerging across the continent, weaving a complex network of CCP influence in regions long overlooked by the West. Solar energy farms, wind turbine installations, and hydroelectric facilities are sprouting where darkness and poverty once dominated, promising economic advancement and energy self-sufficiency.

To many observers, this appears to be the type of philanthropy that the world needs—Beijing is assuming the role of a benevolent superpower, providing solutions where others have faltered.

However, as Beijing’s presence grows, its intentions become increasingly apparent. This endeavor is not merely about illuminating communities or constructing infrastructure—it’s about establishing a sphere of influence.

The so-called Green Silk Initiative is a means of political leverage, an economic dependency disguised under the guise of environmentalism and mutual benefit. For the CCP, Africa's energy future is not solely about progress; it’s about aligning an expansive continent with its own vision for the global order, a vision that excludes Western hegemony.

Simultaneously, high in the Tibetan plateau, another monumental CCP initiative is unfolding—one that threatens to transform the region’s future and leave critics scrambling for responses.

The CCP’s proposed hydropower dam, anticipated to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours per year, is on track to become the world’s largest hydropower installation, with an estimated cost of $137 billion.

Beyond the staggering figures, the enormity of this project has ignited fierce debate. Tibetan exiles and environmental advocates warn that the dam could irreparably harm delicate ecosystems and desecrate landscapes that have been sacred for centuries.

The Dalai Lama, who has been in exile since the CCP’s takeover of Tibet, has consistently expressed concerns, warning that such extensive developments, disguised as progress, would scar a land rich in ancient culture and unparalleled natural beauty.

For many, the dam transcends being an energy project—it symbolizes cultural and ecological devastation, a stark embodiment of a regime willing to sacrifice the sacred in its relentless quest for power.

However, the ambitions of the CCP extend far beyond energy and infrastructure, reaching deep into the realm of technological progress.

The launch of the CR450 high-speed train serves as a remarkable testament to China’s growing engineering capabilities, as well as a symbol of its strategy to dominate the global transportation sector.

The CR450, now acknowledged as the fastest train in the world, is more than an engineering marvel—it directly challenges the West's technological preeminence.

Engineered to connect major cities across China with unmatched speed and efficiency, the train traverses the landscape with such intensity that it feels less like a transportation system and more like a bold declaration. The rapid development and deployment of such projects position Beijing not only at the forefront of infrastructure but also in a strategic role to export its technology globally, further entrenching its economic and political influence worldwide.

This isn't merely an infrastructure competition. As much as the CCP aims to impress the world with its technological achievements, it also seeks to control the future of energy and power itself. The “Artificial Sun” project, another CCP innovation, has captivated global attention.

Under the banner of the Celestial Fusion program, Chinese scientists recently set a world record by sustaining plasma for an astounding 1,066 seconds.

This accomplishment, presented with great fanfare by the Chinese state, positions China as a frontrunner in the race for clean, limitless energy. However, the artificial sun represents more than just a scientific milestone.

For many critics, it is a carefully orchestrated piece of state-sponsored propaganda, intended to project power and technological superiority. The CCP is positioning itself not only as a global economic powerhouse but as a potential monopoly on the energy sources of the future.

The ramifications of such a shift cannot be underestimated. The capability to control global energy markets and dictate terms for future energy access will fundamentally reconfigure the power dynamics of the 21st century.

Beijing's naval ambitions have also surged. The introduction of the Type 075 amphibious assault ship serves as a powerful indication of the CCP's People's Liberation Army (PLA) expanding military might and its intent to assert maritime dominance. This vessel, one of the largest of its kind, is equipped to deploy substantial forces swiftly and efficiently across vast oceanic expanses.

The message is unmistakable: the CCP is prepared to establish itself as a maritime force capable of safeguarding its interests in critical regions such as the South China Sea, where tensions with Southeast Asian nations and the United States have been escalating over the years.

The Type 075, with its state-of-the-art technology and formidable size, epitomizes Beijing's broader naval ambitions to challenge both South Asian and Western naval forces in the region.

More than just a weapon, the ship stands as a floating emblem of Beijing's power projection—an embassy on water, reinforcing the notion that China’s influence now extends beyond its borders to crucial strategic locales worldwide.

As these monumental initiatives unfold, the CCP’s digital aspirations have also come to light. The rollout of Deepseek R1, an open-source artificial intelligence model, sent shockwaves through global financial markets. In a surprising turn of events, the disruptive potential of Deepseek R1 is credited with instigating a massive revaluation that reportedly wiped out nearly a trillion dollars in U.S. stock market value.

What makes Deepseek R1 particularly disconcerting is its origins.

The CCP is not simply advancing its own AI research—it is harnessing tools that were once considered the exclusive domain of Western technology giants. Deepseek R1 relies on open-source research and platforms, implying that the next wave of AI innovations, instead of emerging from trillion-dollar Western corporations with exclusive access to computing power, will arise from those who can best refine, iterate, and optimize open-source research.

This ability to leverage open-source research and platforms places the CCP in a commanding position in the race for the future of AI. Its success underscores a critical aspect of the CCP's broader technological strategy: the CCP is not merely constructing its own technological infrastructure; it is actively reshaping the rules of global technological competition, undermining Western superiority in the process.

While the world grapples with the transformative potential of 5G, the CCP is already advancing toward 6G.

With prototypes reportedly surpassing even Elon Musk’s Starlink, the advent of 6G could signify a pivotal moment in global communications.

The CCP’s technological advantage in this domain is not solely about enhanced speeds and more reliable connections; it is about controlling the infrastructure that will define the future of global communication, commerce, and security. The mere notion that a nation-state could govern the flow of information globally is a chilling prospect, emphasizing the stakes of the ongoing technological rivalry between East and West.

The military aspect of the CCP’s ascent cannot be overlooked. The unveiling of the PLA's inaugural sixth-generation fighter jet is a clear indication that the country is not merely catching up with Western military technology—it is aiming to surpass it.

Equipped with cutting-edge stealth technology and designed for operation in the most contested airspaces, this new aircraft promises to alter the balance of power in the skies. With the PLA's expanding fleet of high-tech weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and advanced air defense systems, the global military order is increasingly appearing multipolar.

The era of unchallenged American and Russian military supremacy is nearing its conclusion, and China's military rise represents one of the most significant challenges the West will confront in the coming decades.

CCP's actions over recent years have garnered attention. From energy projects in Africa to vast infrastructure investments in Tibet, from record-breaking trains to groundbreaking military technology, the CCP is establishing itself not merely as a regional force but as a pivotal player in a new world order.

With each action, Beijing is broadcasting a clear message: the era of Western dominance is ending, and the moment of China has arrived. The world now finds itself at a crossroads, with the outcome of this high-stakes geopolitical chess match poised to shape the 21st century in ways that are still challenging to fully grasp. What is certain, however, is that the race for global supremacy has entered a new, crucial phase—one where every move holds significance, and the stakes have never been higher.

(Rahul Pawa is an international criminal lawyer and director of research at New Delhi based think tank Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies.)