Brics and beyond: Global South's bid for economic sovereignty | The Manila Times

THE geopolitical dynamics of 2024 underscored a world in flux. From the relentless Russia-Ukraine war to mounting tensions in the South China Sea, external provocations have fueled global uncertainty. Yet, amidst the turbulence, China has maintained a steady hand, leveraging its resilience to foster an environment conducive to high-quality development. By projecting stability in a fragmented world, Beijing has reinforced its role as a crucial pillar for global equilibrium. China's growing influence within the Global South signals a shift in the global balance of power. Once a marginalized bloc, the Global South is now ascending, with Beijing at its forefront. Through initiatives promoting peace and sustainable development, China has amplified its leadership in shaping a multipolar world.

This rise has not gone unnoticed in Washington, where a waning unipolar dominance faces unprecedented challenges. For decades, the United States wielded unparalleled global power, but China's ascent has forced a recalibration of this dynamic. Determined to maintain its primacy, the US appears intent on curbing China's ambitions, a strategy that reflects an entrenched resistance to relinquishing its status as the world's preeminent power. In the days of the Cold War, the world was divided into two camps, and the Non-Aligned Movement emerged as a third force. Back then, it was about politics -- an assertion by the Global South that it wouldn't be co-opted by either side. The South had its own priorities, its own problems, and a fierce desire for independence. But today, the conversation has shifted. The battleground isn't ideology anymore; it's economics.