China in the chess of international politics

In the game of Chess, players race to checkmate each other with the use of complex strategies and tactics in order to win -- but sometimes, though inadvertently, players also end up being in a stalemate (draw situation).

In a macrocosmic view, the entire world is similarly the chess board for states to check and balance each other while vying for influence in order to achieve their strategic interests. It is an amalgamation of allies, friends, competitors, and even adversaries in a world where resource is scarce and national interests are paramount. This either happens deliberately (stately) or unconsciously (systemic).

This also includes the initiation of Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) to make subtle the approaches of politics as an end-game and institutional liberalism as the wherewithal. This is because the usage of just hard power to exercise dominance is already an outmoded strategy. Power thus comes in many ways and in many forms, and is likewise used in many ways and in many forms.

In this case, it’s not just a chess game involving two players, but one that involves multi-players because of the many states in an international system. Realistically, being unsaid, states aim to secure their interests in each and every domain of the world for their sustenance, development or hegemonic ends. Big players want to safeguard and maximize their interests in the ‘global hotspots’ because each and every area of the chess board counts; for it could either serve as strategic turning points that could have favorable or unfavorable outcomes. The greater and bigger the power, the greater and bigger its interests are, and the greater its power to maneuver in the different parts of the world. Therefore, an ideal goal is to dominate or balance the spaces on the chess board so that one can prevent being checkmated (cornered).

Presently, the current global chess hotspots would be Syria, North Korea, Iran, and the post-Arab spring states because these are the states that are in their nascent stages which make it crucial as to how the geopolitical landscape in their region would change. Even China and Russia are also being put in the crosshairs of global hotspots because they have always balanced the US strategically which gives the US a wishful thinking of political leadership changes within them so that they would no longer go against US interests. If so, there will be less balancers -- and with less balancers, there will be less antagonists, less players, and thus less headache for the US (unipole) eventually enabling it to easily win the game and maintain its dominance.

The US being the world’s lone superpower has a global reach and involvement. This has been evident through the extent of their sprawling military bases abroad, and their recurring politico-military interventions and sponsorships. This expansive posturing and entrenchment leads to a great leverage in terms of the geopolitical clout and economic gains that could be gleaned from the establishment and maintenance of close ties and regional organizations. This thus allows it to put the subjected state, states, or region under its sphere of influence. The accomplishment and maintenance of these activities commonsensically preserves the unipole’s dominance regionally or globally. This also empowers their status as a global chess player that enjoys an advantageous position. The rationale for such is that whatever happens in one area directly or indirectly, and favorably or unfavorably affects the interests of the unipole.

Therefore, states just like chess pieces have different values, capabilities, and purposes. Some states (especially small ones) are regarded as pawns or “allies” towards achieving a great strategic objective because it gives them a supporting role. Support could be linked through state to state (bilateral) relations or through IGOs (multilateral), such as the US’ bilateral system of alliances in East Asia or the US-led NATO in Europe. These support networks are then tools that could be used to checkmate other states.

This is how chess is played and how states score on an international level.

The opinions expressed do not represent the views of the China Daily website.