Panel Discussion: International Relations
Moderator: Welcome to our panel discussion on international relations. Today, we have with us three experts in the field who will be discussing various aspects of international relations and their impact on global politics. Let’s start with our first speaker, Dr. John Smith.
Dr. John Smith: Thank you for having me here today. In my opinion, one of the most important issues in international relations today is the rise of China as a superpower and its impact on the current world order.
China has been rapidly expanding its influence across Asia, Africa, and Latin America through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This initiative aims to connect China with other countries through infrastructure development projects such as ports, railways, highways, and telecommunication networks. However, many countries are concerned about this initiative because it gives China undue leverage over them.
We’ve already seen how Sri Lanka had to hand over control of its Hambantota port to China after failing to repay loans taken from Chinese banks for infrastructure development projects. Similarly, Pakistan is also facing a debt crisis due to Chinese investments in its infrastructure projects under the BRI.
This raises questions about whether these countries are being trapped into debt by China or if they genuinely benefit from these investments. The BRI has also led to tensions between India and China over their territorial disputes along their shared border.
Moderator: Thank you for your insights on this issue Dr.Smith.Let’s move onto our next expert Ms.Katherine Lee.What do you think about US-China trade war?
Ms.Katherine Lee :Thank you for having me here.Talking about US-China trade war,it has been going on since 2018 when President Trump imposed tariffs on various Chinese goods.The aim was to reduce trade deficit between two nations but it escalated quickly which caused economic harm not only between US-China but also globally.It all started when Trump administration accused Beijing of stealing intellectual property rights from American companies.
The US also accused China of manipulating its currency to gain an unfair advantage in international trade.China retaliated by imposing tariffs on US goods such as soybeans, automobiles and chemicals.The result has been a significant decline in global trade and economic growth.
Currently, the Biden administration is taking a more conciliatory approach towards China but it remains to be seen if this will lead to a resolution of the trade war. However, both countries need to realize that they are economically interdependent and should work towards finding common ground for the sake of global economy.
Moderator: Thank you Ms.Lee for your insights on this crucial issue.Lastly I would like to bring our third expert Mr.Joseph Harris.What do you have to say about Middle East crisis?
Mr.Joseph Harris :Thank you for having me here.The Middle East has been facing numerous crises for decades now with no end in sight. Some of these crises include political instability, terrorism, sectarian conflicts, oil price volatility and refugee crisis. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine is one such example where peace talks have failed repeatedly despite international efforts.
Moreover,the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq has led to widespread violence and displacement of people which has affected neighboring countries too.The recent normalization deal between UAE,Bahrain,and Israel brokered by Trump administration was an important step forward but still there are many issues that needs attention from world leaders.
In conclusion,it’s become increasingly clear that resolving these issues will require cooperation among nations rather than unilateral actions or interventions.Therefore,it is imperative that we work together towards creating a more peaceful,sustainable,and prosperous global order.