The Tao of Terra: the fate of East and West are intertwined as never before
Jul 15, 2024
In our highly interconnected world, the fates of both the East and West are intertwined as never before. In the face of existential challenges, it becomes imperative for humanity to work together for the common good. Our survival now hinges on our ability to foster mutual understanding, promote global cooperation, and embrace our shared humanity.
Central to the future of the planet is an age-old question: what constitutes good and moral governance? In recent times, Western observers have often judged the legitimacy of other political systems through the lens of a neo-liberal status quo, dismissing alternatives as inherently flawed. However, the moral competence of a government cannot be reduced to the machinery of its processes; it must also be measured by its record. By this measure, China, drawing on its own philosophical traditions, has demonstrated remarkable successes.
Since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, China has undergone a dramatic transformation. From widespread poverty and deprivation, China has significantly improved nutrition, education, health, and economic opportunities for hundreds of millions of its citizens. Under the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), China’s progress has been consistently above the world average since 2015. Extreme poverty has been eliminated, a profoundly moral achievement that aligns with Confucian principles emphasising the moral character of leaders and their duty to improve the lives of the masses.
China’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 exemplifies its dedication to sustainable development. The 14th Five-Year Plan outlines comprehensive strategies to transition to a green economy, emphasising renewable energy, technological innovation, and environmental protection.
The inspiration for Xi Jinping’s sustainable “ecological civilisation” is rooted in a traditional philosophy that emphasises harmony and reflects Confucian commitment to environmental stewardship. As I discussed in my review of Chinese PV development, it is a serious mistake to underestimate the scope and scale of Chinese commitment as it turns to the electrification of everything.
Within the Communist Party of China (CPC), legitimacy is derived from delivering tangible improvements in the lives of citizens, not merely through the formalities of democratic elections. President Xi Jinping’s slogan “Serve the People” encapsulates this tradition of measuring a government’s worth by the welfare of its subjects. This concept echoes the Age of Enlightenment when thinkers like Voltaire and Leibniz praised China’s meritocratic system. The imperial examination system, admired by Western intellectuals, inspired the British East India Company to adopt competitive exams for selecting colonial administrators. This eventually led to the professional civil service system in Britain and the Commonwealth, showcasing a significant Western reform derived from Chinese practices.
Of course, China’s current system has flaws and critics. Issues such as limited political freedoms and human rights concerns are valid points of critique. However, from a utilitarian perspective, if a system significantly enhances the wellbeing of the majority, this must be acknowledged in any ethical judgment.
Despite lacking familiar democratic processes, China is not devoid of mechanisms of accountability. The Confucian tradition mandates that officials address grievances and consider suggestions, implemented through the petition system and local People’s Congresses. This resonates with the ancient Chinese notion of the Mandate of Heaven, where the CPC’s legitimacy rests on meeting its ambitious economic and development goals.
China’s political framework includes elaborate consultation processes and is, in its own way, multiparty. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) allows representatives from various parties to discuss major policies and national issues, contributing to a larger socialist framework. This system promotes diverse input and oversight under the leadership of the CPC.
As China’s economic and geopolitical influence grows, it is vital for the West to engage in good faith, with humility and empathy, acknowledging China’s success in uplifting its people. The West must accept that our way is not the only way and that we do not have the right to impose our values on others. Our imperial grandstanding should give way to supporting new systems that foster a more harmonious and cooperative world order.
In an era of global interdependence, win-lose thinking is dangerous. Viewing the East and West as complementary parts of a greater whole—the yin and yang of a world system—emphasises our interconnectedness. Our worldviews may differ, but our fates remain inextricably bound. In a world of nuclear weapons, there can be no winners. As Halford Mackinder and Joseph Needham have argued, the East and West together form a system, each contributing essential elements to our collective development. If we are wise enough to accept that nations and civilisations have their place, we open the door to more enlightened statecraft based on historical insight.
Within the “Tao of Terra,” national primacy is temporary, but the game is eternal. We are players on a larger stage, holding the limelight only until the next act begins.
Kari McKern, who lives in Sydney, is a retired career public servant and librarian and IT specialist. She has maintained a life time interest in Asian affairs and had visited Asia often, and writes here in a private capacity.
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