For the motion
- Following its domestic response to the COVID-19 outbreak, China positioned itself as a global leader by sending medical supplies and personnel to nations struggling to contain the virus.
- The United States is abdicating its leadership role as the global superpower. Rather than coordinating a multilateral response and working alongside the World Health Organization, Washington has embraced “America First,” stepping away from international alliances and outbidding allies for medical supplies.
- China and India have been the world’s largest economies for 1,800 of the past 2,000 years. The modern American-led world order is not guaranteed.
Against the motion
- The international community has criticized the Chinese Communist Party for suppressing news about coronavirus and silencing whistleblowers. This raises concerns about Xi Jinping’s credibility and China’s reputation on the world stage.
- China does not have the economic capacity to fill the American leadership vacuum. After investing in the costly Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese government faces growing debt. Further, a looming global recession promises to undermine China’s influence at home and abroad.
- The pandemic has highlighted the drawbacks of global supply chains based in China. As countries reshore manufacturing, China risks losing trade opportunities and economic influence. Meanwhile, the dollar remains the dominant world currency.