On Monday, 13th May, the Sylvans debated the motion:
This House views the rise of China as a global threat.
It was proposed by Ina Negoita and opposed by Mehregan Ameri.
The debate focused on a number of dimensions of China’s rise as a world power. The proposer introduced several areas where China has the potential to cause harm on a global scale. The opposer rebutted these points and argued that the rise of China provides a useful counterweight to the US’s recent hegemony, providing a non-Western viewpoint which was particularly valuable. Floor speeches added a number of other perspectives, including the recent trade spat between China and the US and the collectivist culture of the East relative to Western individualism. There was little focus on China’s growing military strength and increased global military presence.
The final vote saw the motion carry by the narrowest of margins.