From the 1905 Portsmouth Treaty to Shenzhou V 2003

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From the 1905 Portsmouth Treaty to Shenzhou V 2003 For several centuries the people of Asia and Africa suffered under the yoke of Western colonisation. Almost all Asian countries enslaved by the White colonists were foisted upon with the myth that the White man is the superior race and that the Asians were destined to be their subordinates. Japan's victory over Russia in the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War became a crucial point in the conscience of Asian history and nationalism. The Portsmouth Treaty between Japan and Russia sponsored by America in 1905 gave concessions to Japan to colonise Korea and parts of China, while America was accorded the right to colonise the Philippines. Japan's ability to vanquish a white nation inspired a nationalist awakening throughout Asia in that Asians are able to meet the challenge of the White race. 16 October 2003, the Chinese spaceship Shenzhou V manned by astronaut Lieutenant-Colonel Yang Liwei made a smooth landing in the Gobi Desert in Inner Mongolia. He was welcomed home as a national hero. China's success in launching a manned spacecraft into outer space has led to multifarious reactions. There are those who are amazed, overjoyed, proud, cynical and distraught. Those who are amazed appreciate China's achievement as that of an Asian nation becoming the third country to join the elite spacefaring club. Those who are overjoyed see it as a sign of Asia's reawakening as she enters the 21st century. Cynics say that China rather use her resources to alleviate poverty which according to them affects 27% of her population. Those who are angered and distraught claim China's advancement in the economic and technological fields to be a threat to the security of her neighbours and the world. This 'China Threat' mentality imbued since the Cold War period still is present in the minds of many people. Learn from History The world often identifies China as the country where is located the Great Wall built by Emperor Qin Shihuang (221-206 BC). The legitimisation for the construction of the Great Wall was to protect China's frontiers from Xiongnu tribes to the North. In her long and colourful history, China does not only pride herself on the Great Wall Builder but amongst others has the Great Ocean Voyager Zheng He who navigated the Seven Seas. Gavin Menzies, a retired British naval officer wrote a book entitled '1421, the Year China discovered the World' which has given rise to a historical polemic. He writes that during the Ming era, Emperor Zhu Di sent a massive armada under the command of Admiral Zheng He which consisted of 62 ships and 27.000 crew members. The Chinese armada was much bigger than that led of Spain led by Columbus in 1492. During the expeditions that took place, Zheng He and his entourage are believed to have travered the Straits of Hormuz, landed at the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa, the Falkland Islands and the Northern coastline of Australia. Gavin Menzies believes that the Chinese armada at that time beat Columbus in discovering America as well as landed at the Cape of Good Hope before Vasco da Gama did and crossed the Pacific Ocean before Magellan was able to do so. An interesting facet to note is that during the expeditions of the Chinese armada led by Zheng He, Hong Bao, Yang Qing, Zhou Man and Zhou Wen, the Chinese purchased and brought home plant seeds and exotic animals from areas where they landed for scientific and economic purposes but never were local inhabitants brought to China as slaves. Apart from that, they left behind plant seeds, animals as well as technology from China in places where they landed. Colonisation was not the ultimate motive behind these naval expeditions. This differs from the European fleets that landed in America, Africa and the Pacific which led to colonisation and suffering for the natives, the effects of which many of them still suffer until this very day. Futurologist John Naisbitt from the US says the 21st century is an Asian century. Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in a speech he gave recently at a Business Conference in Melbourne, Australia, warned Australia not to be America's deputy sheriff in the region. He sees that Australia ought to orient itself with Asia for within this century China with her economic growth rate averaging 8 percent per annum and astounding technological advancements is on the course of becoming a superpower nation on par with and more likely superior to the current position of the United States. Keating then continued saying: "The only country with the cultural confidence and military unity to deal with the United States is China. The Chinese know who they are and what they are and they don't need the approval of the United States to know what to do." (South China Morning Post, 14 October 2003). On another occasion, former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, who, in his younger days was supposedly anti-Chinese, said to ASEAN leaders that based on history, China's advancement has never been a threat to anyone. China does not try to hegemonise other nations such as the Americans in their occupation of Iraq. In the meeting of the Organisation of Islamic States in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held this month. Mahathir spoke of how the world is dominated by Jews by borrowing other people's hands, therefore the Islamic countries should counter it by using their brains (technology) and economic progress along with military advancement, not through terrorism. One consequence of the success of the Shenzhou V mission is that it will not be possible for a monopolar power to turn China into another Kosovo or Iraq without a chance of putting up a most formidable resistance. Will the succes of Shenzhou V at the dawn of the 21st century give inspiration to the people of Asia to free themselves from political, social, economic and technological colonialism? Not by means of terrorism and hatred but through technological and economic advancement. Indeed, as its name implies (Shenzhou meaning Divine Vessel), China's successful mission of putting a manned spacecraft into outer space was a spectacular mission of peace and humanity as a reflection of its Godlike quality. If all missions to space follow the spirit of Zheng He's voyages of friendship and not be inspired by Columbus' desire for conquest, space will then be free from excessive militarisation and new colonisation that is uncalled for. Indian, Jewish, Palestinian, Vietnamese, Afghan, Iraqi and other victims from whatever people will be a vestige of the past. It is not wrong at all that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said to his followers: "Uthlubul Ilma bi Shîn" (Seek Knowledge in China).