بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Nation State and Alliances with States of Kufr Must be Buried
The Khilafah Will Unify the Muslim Lands from Morocco to Indonesia and Ensure Liberation from Colonialism
On 28 August 2023, China officially issued its new “standard” map which is named as ‘10-Dash line Map.’ In this map, China shown its new borderlines while encircling maritime areas including few territories of India and East China. Since then the map is publicized, the countries including India, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Muslim country, Malaysia, expressed their anger and described it as an illegal claim over their borders. This is to note that the map was released just a week before this year's G-20 summit.
On 31 August, it was reported that the Malaysian foreign ministry said in a statement, “Malaysia does not recognise China’s claims in the South China Sea as outlined in the ‘2023 edition of the standard map of China’ which extends into Malaysian maritime area,”... “The map has no binding effect on Malaysia.” The Malaysian government said that despite of the threatening behavior of China, they would continue the exploration of oil and gas near the Islands of Borneo. In 2021 also, Malaysia called in the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia due to the infiltration and activities of Chinese ships near the island of Borneo.
Other countries of the region also expressed their anger over this map. These countries also include Philippines and Vietnam that claimed that China had already occupied their islands. The island of Philippines, Scarborough Shoal was occupied by China in 2012. Mischief Reef had already been taken by China in 1995. The Paracel Islands of Vietnam were occupied by China in 1974. India is also among the list of those countries who raised concerns on this map, although none of Indian maritime boundaries fall within the domain of ‘10-Dash Line’. However, in this map, two of the regions, Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin Plateau, are shown as part of China. This is although both are disputed territories, contested over by China and India at an international level. Most of the area of Aksai Chin Plateau is occupied by China, whereas Arunachal Pradesh is under Indian occupation.
China publishes its standard map each year. It apparently presents this as a measure of internal reference, or standard map. However, the purpose of this process is not only to limit the use of this map at a domestic level. It is also to present China’s priorities in the region. It reveals some of its aims and ambitions at a geo-strategic level. Historically, this claim of China is nothing new. In 1947, the then released map of China depicted a “11-Dash line” drawn within the boundaries of South China Sea. Later, after establishing an agreement with Vietnam in 1953, China removed two “Dash lines” and released a map containing Nine Dash lines. And now once again, China has released its standard map containing 10-Dash lines. China has again claimed its right over some territories. At the same time it has included some new area under its domain.
The map has been released at a time when the contention in China’s Eastern waters, between US and China, has aggravated to an extreme level. The cold war between US and China, over US agreements with countries in the region, and on the matter of Taiwan, has come to head. China intends to keep US out from its waters whereas the US wants to establish its control over key sea routes, whilst collaborating with peninsular countries, such as Taiwan and Thailand, as well as regional actors, such as Australia, Japan and India. As an overarching geostrategic vision, the US intends to control China and its trade routes. This map is a fresh attempt by China to claim rights over these maritime areas, as a form of pushback.
While regional countries presented a tough stance instantly with the release of this map, the US refrained from taking a position directly in this context. During talks on a program of G-20 Summit of VoA (Voice of America), when the anchor asked the Spokesman of US National Security Council, Mr. John Kirby, about the 10-Dash Line map, he said; “We have been very, very consistent about pushing back on these false maritime claims of the PRC. This map doesn’t change that policy. But it’s not just what lines they draw on the map. It’s about their coercive behavior. It’s about the way they intimidate [their] neighbors and some of our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, to try to advance these false maritime claims.”
Apparently, it seems that US is seeking more condemnation from its allies and partners in the region, rather than raising condemnation by itself, alone. So the issue can be presented, by Washington, as China’s intransigence against its regional neighbors. The US can then project itself as a protector, whose presence in the region is not for its own interests, but to protect the countries of the region from Chinese transgressions.
In August, just a few days prior to the release of this map, US coastguard had signed a security agreement with the Republic of Palau. According to the agreement, the US will protect an economic zone. It will provide security to Palau in case of any illegal fishing or interference in the area. In accordance to this agreement, the US Coastguard will now be able to patrol in the area without an accompanying Palau naval officer. This agreement is a continuity of the 2022’s agreement with the Federated States of Micronesia.
In May 2023, the US Coastguard also signed a bilateral security agreement with Papua New Guinea which would allow the US access to several naval bases in Papua New Guinea. Pursuant to this agreement, the presence of the US Navy will increase. It will eventually raise fears of instability in the region. Some parliamentarians in the Indonesian Parliament also raised concerns over this risky development. However, any official statement in this regard was avoided at a state level. In July, China had also signed a treaty with the Solomon Islands, which is seen as a controversial agreement, by the countries of the region.
Whilst closely monitoring the situation of the region, it becomes clear that the region is currently turning into a battleground among the world’s major powers. Tensions do not seem to be coming to an end in the near future. China will not accept the US dominance over its maritime borders and trade routes. The US will not refrain from interfering in the region.
These developments are a serious concern for Muslim countries within the region, and particularly for the people of power within them. Whether they stand with one power of Kufr or another, the region will destabilize. It will have direct impact on them. The US is wary today about China’s economic expansion today and aim to contain it. So, what if tomorrow the US decides to strongly deter the development of Indonesia or Malaysia? The naval presence of the US in this region will be as detrimental to Indonesia and Malaysia, as it is for China today. On the other hand, if China becomes strong, then it has already expressed its expansionist ambitions for the region.
All forms of colonialist expansions are dangerous, imperiling the security of Muslims. The demarcation of China in its territory to the islands of Malaysia. The deployment of the US naval fleet, thousands of kilometers away from its own country, in the eastern waters of China. The US establishing so-called ‘independent’ agreements with weak countries, including small island states, and then turning them into its naval bases. Maintaining the power to attack any country of the world in the name of protecting its own interests, under the banner of NATO or the UN. The Russian occupation of Crimea and its war on Ukraine. The American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. China’s claims for its rights over Taiwan and the occupation of islands in East China Sea. All these evidences show that the nation state borders, whose sanctity is binding on the nationalist, secular rulers of Muslims, are of no significance in front of the major powers. They violate them or even sabotage them, whenever they need to do so.
It is time for the Muslims of the region to get rid themselves of these nation state borders, maintained by the colonialist powers. Nation state sovereignty has been buried. It had never been an obstacle for major powers, in any case. The nation state construct was built for the interests of the colonialist states. When colonialists withdrew, it was ensured that the visions of the former colonies were confined to nations state borders. The nation state borders limited thoughts and ambitions within the lines the colonialists had drawn for the former colonies. Global agreements, international resolutions and international organizations that maintain the nation state construct are only to keep Third World states in control. These organizations and agreements did not restrain either Britain, France or Italy from colonializing states around the world. These international organizations did not restrict US from invading Afghanistan and Iraq. Whenever these powers want, they interfere in any region under the garb of NATO or the UN. At the same time, they preach to the rest of the world regarding the importance of nation state borders and the order they built upon the nation state construct.
It is the high time for Indonesia and Malaysia to re-establish the Khilafah (Caliphate) on the Method of Prophethood. They must re-establish the ruling by the Deen of Allah (swt) on the waters over which Muslims ruled for centuries. They must bring this region, and the wider Muslim world, out of the exploitation of the major powers. Allah (swt) has made it obligatory on the Muslims to ensure that this Deen to dominant over all others.
Allah (swt) said,
[هُوَ الَّذِیْۤ اَرْسَلَ رَسُوْلَهٗ بِالْهُدٰى وَ دِیْنِ الْحَقِّ لِیُظْهِرَهٗ عَلَى الدِّیْنِ كُلِّهٖ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ]
“He is the one Who has sent His Messenger with ‘True’ guidance and the religion of Truth, making it prevail over all others, even to the dismay of the polytheists.” [TMQ Surah As-Saf 61:9]. If the establishment of the Khilafah bothers the major powers, it is not our concern. In this war with the powers of Kufr, instead of being an ally of anyone of them in their plans for domination, why do we not align ourselves with Allah (swt) and His Deen? Instead of accepting the humiliation of slavery to the colonialists, we must loyal servitude to Allah (swt). It alone is the guarantee of great success in the Hereafter and honor before all humanity in this world. Allah (swt) said;
[وَأُخْرَىٰ تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ] “He will also give you another favor that you long for help from Allah and an imminent victory. So, give good news, ‘O Prophet’ to the believers.” [TMQ As-Saf 61:13].
O People of Power ! Come forth, strive and sacrifice, so you can earn the the glad tidings of the Prophet (saw), the Khilafah (Caliphate) on the Method of Prophethood. Inshaa’Allah, the Lord of all Humanity (swt) will destroy these leaders of disbelief by your hands, in the same manner as the leaders of the Quraish were destroyed, and their corpses were thrown into the well of Badr.
Allah (swt) said,
[یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْۤا اِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللهَ یَنْصُرْكُمْ وَیُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ] “O believers ! if you support Allah, He will support you and make your foothold firm.” [TMQ Muhammad 47:7].
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Abbas Siddiqui – Wilayah Pakistan