At the recent COP27 gathering, China once again argued why it must be held to a different standard from other global powers. A different standard, that is, all while being the world’s worst pollutant. Time and time again, China shows why it cannot be trusted to act in good faith on the environment.
A damning example comes from China’s management of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This sees Beijing invest in emerging and frontier markets ostensibly to build out infrastructure. In reality, Beijing also conveniently uses this investment to facilitate its debt-trap diplomacy.
But while the investments sound great for the countries involved, the money hides a much darker truth. Take Papua New Guinea, for example, where a nickel processing plant owned by Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) had to be shut down briefly due to a slurry spill. Or consider Antigua and Barbuda, where the closed-off Yida project has increased the risk of flooding and hurricane damage by removing mangrove trees. A similar tale applies to China’s domestic record. China’s carbon emissions have risen steadily in recent years.
How does Beijing get away with its stunning lack of environmental responsibility?
Well, the Chinese Communist Party has successfully gamed the United Nations system by continuing to enjoy its designation as a developing country, a status bestowed upon it in 1992. Since then, however, China has gone on to become the world’s second-largest economy. It will sooner rather than later overtake the U.S. in becoming the world’s largest economy. But it’s clear that Xi Jinping’s regime acts in bad faith. Beijing is interested only in advancing its imperialist foreign policy no matter what the cost, including lasting environmental damage.
The U.S. must not fall for China’s empty promises at forums such as COP27. Beijing must be called out for its environmental malfeasance.
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Kelsey Callahan is a senior director for energy policy at the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy. Follow her on Twitter @Kelsetta.
