Jamaica and China, let's engage!

Ronald Mason, Guest Columnist

On July 30, 1854, the first Chinese migrants numbering 267 came to Jamaica from Hong Kong. They arrived on a ship named Epsom and were destined to replace the emancipated slave population to work on the plantation.

This proved to be less than desirable. They were to soon gravitate to the wholesale business and retail grocery shops. The presence of the Chinese has been an appreciated value on the fabric of our social scene. They still influence our cuisine, place great importance on the value of family, and show a willingness to preach and practise thrift and industry.

As such, they have been integrated 'Jamaican'. This is a factor recognised and appreciated by the current China leadership. While China was relegated to the fringe of world leadership and treated with benign contempt or even ostracised, Jamaica, more than 40 years ago, established diplomatic relations with that country. This relationship was started by the People's National Party and has endured to this time.

The enthusiasm has not been historically equal for both our parties, but it has endured. Now China is in a period of international ascendency and Jamaica, having established the 'Friendly' Partnership for Development with China, is participatory in the endeavours.

Jamaica is a middle-income country according to the international criteria. The reality is we are an underdeveloped country with a debt burden. We are low in productivity and are undereducated. We are a society in need of help, and lots of it.

Over the recent past, the Chinese have adapted to the geopolitical changes in the world and are now emerging as dominant economic force to be accorded notice. They are excelling in manufacturing, commodity trading and the creation of a transformed society where the middle class in China is larger than the population of the United States. They now have the second-largest economy and a stock of US dollars designated revenue in excess of US$3 trillion. This money must be put into economic activity designed to earn a satisfactory rate of return.

Here comes the convergence: China's wealth and its need for world-player status. China, formerly, was focused on its intraregional Asian ambitions. Engaged in war through North Korea and Vietnam, engaged in primarily internal trade. Having fought in the internal conflict that led to the rise of Mao and the breakaway Taiwan, the rest of the world rarely afforded it much attention.

Welcome to the current reality. The world now trades with China for just about everything. The larger trading partners, including US and Europe, now have deficits with China. Everyone wants a share of the 1.3 billion person consumer market that is China.

Little more than veto power

However, on the other side of the coin, the international status that should be available to China for its economic success is still not at the level it should be. The Chinese do have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council with veto power, but not much else. Here comes China with US$3 trillion to spend, in quest of influence in the non-Asiatic world.

Enter stage door left, Jamaica. We have a voice internationally far beyond our size. We are persuasive in the Third World. We are low-hanging fruit on the international stage that is accessible to China. Jamaica needs help and China has lots of money.

However, we have been, and continue to be, in the camp of the West. The US considers our location its third border and seeks no undue influence. We no longer figure prominently on the American agenda as we did in the 1980s. Hence, the decreased attention from the US.

Here comes China again. It is not now 1854. The Chinese come not as purveyors of indentured labour, but as potential investors and benefactors. They come possessed of skills in engineering, trade and in need of raw material. They come to build our infrastructure and to offer economic partnership.

Are we ready?

Are we ready for this? What are the implications of China's influence on Jamaica? Will it be duplication of their presence in Africa? Recall there is anxiety and cries of exploitation coming from the African continent regarding China. Are we ready to fashion a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship? There are signs in Jamaica of the two scenarios.

We trade with China. Our commercial traders travel there frequently. Both sides benefit. On the reverse is the disquiet in the construction arena in Jamaica. Too many Chinese labourers are depriving capable Jamaican workers of jobs. There are endless allegations of breach of commonly accepted construction standards regarding hours of work, wages, and lack of bargaining good faith for contracts.

Let us have a national focus on the future of the Jamaica and China marriage. I vote for our full and informed interaction. We have things that the Chinese need. Let's bargain! The gaze into the optimistic crystal ball provides some hope. The Chinese continue to invest in Jamaica. They are participating in the logistics hub dream.

Chinese companies involved in export will be directed to use Jamaica's facilities, where feasible. Voila! Thousands of jobs. However, the gaze provides an even more befitting spin-off. The Jamaican labour force has been adapting to the Chinese work ethic. They now value time and set and achieve work-related targets. Productivity is trending up. Money, hard currency, is being earned. There is hope for Jamaica.

Ronald Mason is an immigration attorney/mediator. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and nationsagenda@gmail.com