While America is fighting for democracy, freedom of navigation and rules-based order, China is fighting at the core of all the above three and is trying to become an alternative to the US power in Africa and the Middle East
China has replaced the US as the biggest importer of energy resources from many main energy exporters in the Islamic world. Major members of the OIC, like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey, visited China, and Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun visited Saudi Arabia and met OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1969, consisting of 57 Islamic member states. The organisation states that it is "the collective voice of the Muslim world" and works to "safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony". It has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.
China has committed the world's biggest genocide in Xinjiang by cleansing, History, names, culture, thoughts, living, forced camps, torture, killings and change of household behaviour at the insistence of Pakistan, it was invited for the first time to attend the foreign ministers meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, that China and the Islamic world have a strong desire to build partnerships for unity, justice and development. On the other hand, negotiations between China and Gulf Cooperation Council for Free Trade Agreements are going on. With the increasing cooperation in trade, sci-tech and energy between the two sides, China has replaced the US as the biggest importer of energy resources from many main energy exporters in the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia wants its oil sales to China in Yuan. In January, major members of the OIC, like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey, visited China, and Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun visited Saudi Arabia from March 13-14 and met OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha.
While America is fighting for democracy, freedom of navigation and rules-based order, China is fighting at the core of all the above three. It is trying to become an alternative to the US power in Africa and the Middle East. Not only debt-trap diplomacy and the hunt for resources, but it is also getting energy guarantee in the Middle East. One should know that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) declined calls with President Biden as the war in Ukraine intensified. US relations with the two Gulf countries have been strained over the President Joe Biden administration's lack of support in the war in Yemen and the revived negotiations concerning the Iran nuclear deal. China wants a direct route of energy crossing land than flying from the Indian Ocean. As For India, it has pushed for the OIC to accept it as a member state, arguing that Indian Muslims comprise 11% of the world's total Muslim population. Pakistan has staunchly opposed the entry of India into the organisation. Historically, the Muslim world has largely lent its support to Pakistan over India during armed conflicts between the two states. Differences between India and Pakistan led Pakistan to keep India out for the final session of the 1969 conference and all OIC summits thereafter.
However, United Arab Emirates invited India as a 'guest of honour' to attend the inaugural plenary 46th meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Abu Dhabi on 1 and 2 March 2019, overruling protests by Pakistan. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj served as the head of the Indian delegation and attended the summit. India's ties with West Asia, especially UAE, has grown stronger in the last couple of years. Qatar had the first proposed observer status for India in 2002.
Earlier, Turkey and Bangladesh had asked for India's inclusion. India enjoys cordial relations with most OIC members individually. UAE, which issued the invitation and has Indians as one-third of its population, has invested heavily in India's infrastructure. It has also helped India's fight against corruption by deporting fraudsters like Rajiv Saxena and Christian Michel in the AgustaWestland case at India's request.
As India believes in Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, "World is one Family", any Nation or group organisation targeting India is unacceptable. Pakistan is trying to use OIC for its narrow personal foreign policy gain. Though millions of Islamic Religious people are hunted in Xinjiang, Pakistan has no guts or say to speak against China. The world knows how Pakistan destroyed Afghanistan by doing cross border terror, regime change and more. Pakistan with China has gone to the extent of matrimonial relations where Pakistan girls have fled immediately due to culture shocks. Pakistan's supply of arms and ammunition, training grounds, recruitment of jihadis, a safe haven for world dreaded terrorists have made to look down at it in world politics. Now it is playing religious card for China's gain, and the coming days will prove how these designs will collapse. For now, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sahel and more Islamic people are under threat because of the policies of their own religious leaders and administrators. As for India, in a given situation of interconnection and interlinked, we want to have coordinal relations with all. For now, OIC should not become a pawn for a few nations to play. It should work for the purpose it has been created.
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