Georgia forging a friendship with China — What does this mean?
China seeks to establish a framework that aligns with its own governing model, wherein authoritarian systems find a congenial environment. Georgian Dream Government is contributing to this endeavor.
Throughout its history, Russia has consistently failed to take action in Georgia's favor. In 1783, a so-called "friendly treaty" was established between the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti, known as the Treaty of Georgievsk. According to this treaty, the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti acknowledged the "supreme authority and patronage" of the Russian Emperor. In return, the Russian Emperor pledged perpetual protection for the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti and its territories against external threats. Regrettably, Russia did not uphold its commitments; in fact, it emerged as a primary adversary to Georgia, and this antagonism has persisted for over two centuries. Despite the assurances of the Georgievsk treaty, Georgia lost its sovereignty, and the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Georgia saw its autonomy eroded.
Since then, the blood of thousands of Georgian citizens has been shed in the struggle against Russia. The 240-year history has vividly demonstrated that Russia consistently fails to honor its commitments, neglecting the terms outlined in various agreements. Instead, it leverages concessions from Georgia as tools for manipulation, control, and fostering dependency.
History, along with numerous examples, has consistently demonstrated that Georgia is a nation whose people lean towards the West.
Nonetheless, the present administration in Georgia exhibits an anti-Western stance and displays a strong inclination towards Russia, to the point of being essentially aligned with Russian interests. Members of the Georgian Dream party openly express skepticism about Ukraine's prospects in its conflict with Russia, voicing their doubts directly. They not only openly slight the ambassadors of the United States and the European Union, along with other foreign envoys, but also contrastingly, no such incidents involving Russian politicians have occurred. Furthermore, their authoritative approach to governance contributes to the perception that the Georgian Dream government is effectively modeling itself after Russian practices.
Amidst all these developments and concurrently with ongoing events, the Georgian Dream government has also pursued intentions to foster closer ties with China.
While the United States and the European Union offer support and financial assistance to Ukraine in its struggle against Russia, with the U.S. identifying a concern in the growing influence of China, Georgia, on the other hand, aligns itself with Russia and cultivates a friendship with Communist China.
In late July 2023, a delegation from Georgia led by Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili visited China. On July 28th, Gharibashvili held talks with Dzhipin, during which he noted that "China-Georgian relations are progressing positively." In an interview with Chinese television, he praised Dzhipin as "a sagacious individual with a broad visionary outlook and an exemplary leader."
On July 31st, a joint statement by the two nations outlining the establishment of a strategic partnership was released. The statement highlighted four key areas of collaboration:
Political engagement
Economic cooperation
People-to-people and cultural relations
International cooperation
Earlier, on April 21, the Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shae, questioned the sovereignty of Ukraine and, in general, of all post-Soviet countries in a television interview. Unlike other Western countries, the Georgian government opted for silence in response to this statement. Neither individual politicians nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered any comments on the matter.
Irakli Gharibashvili expressed gratitude to Xi Jinping "for his enduring support of Georgia and his recognition of its sovereignty and independence." In return, Gharibashvili emphasized, "Georgia equally stands by the principle of one China."
This implies that Georgia acknowledges Taiwan as an integral part of China and does not consider it a separate entity under international law.
Additionally, the document stipulates that "Georgia unequivocally upholds the principle of a unified China," signifying its acknowledgment that Taiwan, which has operated independently from mainland China since 1949, is an intrinsic component of China. This stance underscores its endorsement of China's reunification.
Despite Gharibashvili's statement, the document says nothing about China's support for Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence within its internationally recognized borders, which would indicate China's consideration of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region as part of Georgia.
China has not explicitly acknowledged Russia's aggressive actions towards Georgia in 2008, refrained from endorsing Georgia's resolutions concerning the conflict within the United Nations, and abstained from condemning Russia's policies at Georgia's borders.
China's stance on NATO, particularly viewing it as an embodiment of the "Cold War mentality," conflicts with Georgia's foreign policy objective of joining NATO. This contradiction has raised doubts about Georgia's aspiration to attain NATO membership. Recent statements from ruling party members have further cast uncertainty on Georgia's pursuit of NATO accession.
The political part of the Georgia-China agreement also states that:
Georgia believes that China's modernization offers a new way and a new choice for humanity to achieve modernization.
The parties express their readiness to exchange experience in the field of governance to ensure common development and prosperity.
The Chinese conception of modernization does not encompass political liberalism and democracy, concepts integral to the Western interpretation of modernization.
China aims to reshape the current rules-based global order, aspiring to attain significant political influence. It seeks to establish a framework that aligns with its own governing model, wherein authoritarian systems find a congenial environment. Georgia is contributing to this endeavor.
Drifting away from the West and drawing closer to Russia and China, the Georgian Dream government aims to repudiate democratic principles and reinforce the prevailing authoritarianism which currently governs the nation.