It proves that this war is not an imperialist war for the redivision of the world, and the redivision of imperialist booty. We cannot mechanically apply the lessons of Leninism from 1914-18, pat ourselves on the back and say how revolutionary we have been even if the people do not listen, and the peace movement in the core NATO countries is getting nowhere.
This is not an inter-imperialist war. It is a war by a unique and unrivalled hegemonic bloc not striving for territory but striving for the opening of all countries to the global "free" market with rights of access for the giant capitalist companies. The moral justification for this is an agenda of human and ethnic rights that is opposed to all discrimination between people as sellers of their labour power, and spenders of their wages.
Even if the odds are less that 4 to 1 against Chinese troops going to Kosovo, the very fact that the idea can be raised is a demonstration of the politics of this war. It shows China and Russia working closely together to enhance their global political leverage.
The text of the plot is how can an occupation of Kosovo be given the stamp of international legitimacy even after it has been initiated by NATO and in particular the US and Britain.
That is why the suggestion of Chinese involvement cannot be ruled out as absurd. Therefore it is *not* absurd. Therefore China has instantly tonight become a player on the world scene, and not a mere sub-regional power.
But if this was a war for the imperialist division of the world like 1914, the allies would have *openly* declared war on Yugoslavia instead of wriggling that this is not a war. They would have decided ruthlessly the best way to win, without worrying too much about public opinion, because the most bellicose arguments would have been used from the beginning. And any foreign legations remaining in Yugoslavia would have been openly warned that they stay there at their own peril.
It now seems that the Serbs are trying to talk up a UN controlled force with Russian and Chinese backing and participation. NATO may decide to ignore this except in so far as they would like Russian participation on NATO's terms.
The calculus of financial and political costs will be how long NATO wants the war to go on and what concessions does it want to make, to win legitimation of the occupation.
But yes, this war has seen the first openly proclaimed attack on a sovereign country (Grenada is assumed somehow not to count); the first use of the German armed forces in aggressive action outside Germany for over 50 years. And the first possibility in world history that Chinese troops will serve outside China to bring peace to another continent!
Globalisation is accelerating.
Chris Burford
London