Daily Times

John Bolton’s book has initiated a new discussion about the future of the United States, including its democratic system. According to it, US President Donald Trump has asked the President of China to help his re-election in general elections to be held this year. This statement has raised a question mark on the US political system and has compelled the US friends and allies to think on their respective and collective arrangement of relations with the “Sole Super Power” of the post-cold war period.

John Bolton is a former national security adviser. His disclosure is the insight of Trump politics, who raised a slogan of “America First.”According to media, Bolton has been asked to not publish his book.

Disclosure of asking China’s support for re-election by Trump has given birth to various questions. It has certain implications.

Firstly, whether the US democratic system is going to be rigged by its president! Whether this has happened previously or is it the first time that it has happened? Elections in a few countries of the third world are often alleged of being rigged. This would be the first time that the electoral system of the advanced and developed country may suffer rigging?

Secondly, the question arises whether the US political system is so weak that external force may influence it. If it happens, it may cause the gradual downfall of the edifice of the US democratic system.

Thirdly, it also compels to pay heed on whether China has inroad in US politics. Will it influence, any time, the US political system to have its favourite regime in the White House?

Fourthly, the trade war has lowered the bilateral relations between the US and China. President Trump requested such a country of which economic progress and achievements have created a delicate situation for the US economy. Will it be considered self-suicide by the US to further create a dangerous situation for its economy?

Fifthly, what will be the future of global politics? Whether China is going to dominate global politics? What will be future of protection of Europe under the US shield? Whether the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is going to lose its existence or would it be reshaped?

NATO is a product of the cold war period. The cold war ended with the disunion of the Soviet Union. Warsaw Pact a rival regional arrangement of NATO lost its existence. Thus, NATO looked at its new role in the changed global politics. Its forces were landed in Afghanistan in post 9/11 events.

Disclosure of asking China’s support for re-election by Trump has given birth to various questions

Sixthly, the US-Japan security arrangement may be re-defined. Irrespective of China’s help to Trump, Japan needs to re-think its security relations with the US. In the history of the U.S-Japan relations, this is the third time that situation has created apprehensions for Japan. Earlier were the US President’s tour of China in the early 1970s and then the oil embargo against the US. Japan also suffered from the oil embargo in 1973.

It is said that several summit meetings held between the US and Japan after the election of President Trump in 2016 were probably never witnessed earlier. Despite territorial disputes between China and Japan, the relations have improved between the two countries. Summit meetings have also taken place between the two countries. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid a first state visit to China in 2018, which was an indication that Japan is interested in gearing up its bilateral relations with China.

Another question arises whether China will help the US President for his re-election. In my opinion, the answer to this question may be in the negative. Because China might not afford to earn the bad mark of interfering in the democratic process of the US. It may create a trust deficit between it and its friendly countries. It may have also other implications.

It was said in the past that the difference of communism of the Soviet Union and China was that the former wanted to export it to other countries whereas the latter avoided doing so. Thus, China may not support Trump for his re-election in the U.S general elections.

The question relates to the Muslim countries that whether they will continue to rely on the might of the US. Whether they will revisit their policies and friendship with a capitalist superpower? Whether they will review their might and reassemble for their self-dependence, welfare and prosperity?

The question also arises how would the vacuum be created due to Trump’s policies in Europe. And who will do it? Whether European countries will do it at their level or external force will prevail?

I have raised questions and have tried to answer. This is my analysis and provides fruit for thought. Or a possible emerging global and regional scenario as after the cold war period, the world has never witnessed stability as was experienced during the cold war era.

The writer is an author and has a doctorate in Political Science