Nassau, The Bahamas — The People’s Republic of China, in the span of two decades, has transformed itself into an economic superpower the world can scarcely function without. This was one of the perspectives that added context to crucial conversations about the US-China outlook at the Central Banking Summit held at University of The Bahamas (UB) on Tuesday.

“China has gone from being, conceptually, a non-economy. It has gone from being a $2 trillion economy in 2000; today it is a $20 trillion economy. There has never been growth like that anywhere on the planet,” said Michael Drury, chief economist, McVean Trading.

In the Caribbean region and for The Bahamas, China has become both a critical link in the global supply chain and, at times, a financial partner when the price tag of major infrastructure projects proves difficult to carry alone.

During the summit, facilitated by UB’s Government and Public Policy Institute (GPPI) in partnership with the Global Interdependence Center (GIC), the outlook on US-China relations and how the world will be impacted was a key topic of discussion.

Drury appeared on a panel with Zhivargo Laing, Executive Director of UB’s GPPI. Both gave insight into China’s rapid economic rise and its growing influence over global manufacturing and trade.

“The wish was that China would become a capitalist democracy, and it was on its way there until President Xi Jinping took control of the country in 2012. [Xi] is a Marxist. When you are a Marxist, you believe capitalism will destroy itself,” Drury explained.

Drury, who also serves as an executive and assistant program director with the GlC, noted that the statistics surrounding China’s meteoric manufacturing expansion often evoke strong reactions when presented to audiences across the US.

“The solution for the United States in freeing itself from China’s manufacturing dominance is to find somewhere it can produce goods without depending on China. There is no such place on earth. China produces 30 percent of all manufactured goods,” he said.

The discussion also examined recent efforts by the US to reclaim manufacturing capacity and reverse trends Washington believes could compromise national security.

“The spoken goal of wanting to return manufacturing to the United States essentially means restoring enough production capacity to support national defence,” Drury explained. “The auto industry built the bombers and tanks during World War II. If you don’t have an auto industry, you don’t have an industry you can flip into national defence production.”

For The Bahamas, the geopolitical dynamics has become increasingly challenging to navigate with the latest example being the proposed specialty hospital project for which the Government of The Bahamas has secured Chinese financial backing. In response, the US, through its newly appointed ambassador, has publicly encouraged The Bahamas to reconsider the arrangement.

Laing, former Minister of Economic Affairs and a UB graduate, offered this contextual view: that The Bahamas understands the importance of maintaining strong relationships with both global powers.

“If we were going to have concerns about any country being overly influential in The Bahamas, it would be the United States of America. Why? Eighty-plus percent of our tourism comes from the United States. We have one of the only U.S. pre-clearance facilities in the world. There are substantial American investments in The Bahamas. Our currency is pegged to the United States. And if we ever needed help in this country, we have no doubt who we would turn to,” Laing said.

Laing noted that the influence of the United States extends beyond economics and geopolitics into the cultural and personal realms.

“We love to go to the United States. We go for education, healthcare, and socializing. But for practical reasons, we also nurture relationships with countries around the world. The Bahamas is not a war state.”

As competition between the two global giants intensifies, Laing offered this advice for policymakers navigating the geopolitical landscape.

“It will continue to be very competitive between these two giants, and if I were advising policymakers in The Bahamas, I would say: keep hugging your friends and shaking the hands of your associates.”

Save Exuma Alliance (SEA) — a coalition of Central Exuma business owners, tour operators and residents — has warned that the issue of dredging in the North Bay of Sampson Cay, Exuma, is not just about the number of acres being dredged – but what exists within the proposed dredge area. SEA describes the site as an ecological treasure trove filled with seagrass, coral, turtles and abundant marine life.

This comes after foreign developer Yntegra agreed to reduce the scope of its dredging following government warnings that it would impact The Bahamas carbon credit status, which shows the importance of the marine habitat.

“It is easy to point to other developments and say they are dredging more, but that is not comparing like with like,” SEA said in response to comparisons made by Yntegra. “If one area is largely sand with little marine life, that is very different from what we have in North Bay. Anyone who has spent time there can tell you it is filled with turtles, fish, and — critically — the seagrass and coral that provide essential habitat.”

Miami-based investment group Yntegra is seeking to construct a large-scale Rosewood-branded resort on Sampson Cay. Since its announcement, the project has generated environmental, social and economic concerns among residents and business operators in Central Exuma.

The proposed development includes dredging in North Bay, construction of a substantial seawall that would alter natural water flow, more than 100 structures, two mega yacht marinas, and an industrial dock serviced by fuel and supply ships in an area currently used by swimmers. Opponents argue that the scale and design of Yntegra’s Rosewood Exuma project are incompatible with the fragile ecosystem and cultural character of the Central Exumas.

SEA noted that the government’s Climate Change Unit has also raised concerns about the environmental cost of dredging associated with Yntegra’s Rosewood Exuma project.

“The government has acknowledged that this is an area of significant importance,” SEA said. “While the financial implications are serious, for us here in Exuma this is about more than money. It underscores how valuable this marine ecosystem is — the seagrass, coral and marine life that make Exuma exceptional. This is what attracts visitors from around the world. We should not minimize the concern by comparing this bay to areas that do not have the same remarkable underwater ecosystem. It is simply not the same.”

Experienced boat captain Tito Baldwin also questioned the feasibility of the marine infrastructure proposed as part of this plan. He warned that the dredging currently outlined would not be sufficient to accommodate the vessels required to service the project.

“It’s going to have to be at least four times larger than what has been proposed,” Baldwin said. “As designed, it is beyond possibility.”

He explained that vessels supplying fuel, construction materials and provisions for a projected 300-person workforce would require significantly greater depth and maneuvering space.

“For supply vessels delivering hundreds of thousands of gallons of diesel, you’re looking at ships with a 10-foot draft,” Baldwin said. “To operate safely, you would need at least 13 feet of depth. That means dredging far deeper than what has been proposed. With currents running east and west in that area, you would also need a much wider turning basin to maneuver safely. As it stands, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.”

SEA is urging individuals concerned about the environmental impact of dredging connected to Yntegra’s Rosewood Exuma project to visit www.saveexumaalliance.org for more information. A petition calling for a halt to approvals is also available on the site, with more than 7,100 signatures collected to date.