China: everything proceeding according to plan

August 24, 2020

by Pepe Escobar with permission by the author and first posted at Asia Times

Let’s start with the story of an incredibly disappearing summit.

Every August, the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) converges to the town of Beidaihe, a seaside resort some two hours away from Beijing, to discuss serious policies that then coalesce into key planning strategies to be approved at the CCP Central Committee plenary session in October.

The Beidaihe ritual was established by none other than Great Helmsman Mao, who loved the town where, not by accident, Emperor Qin, the unifier of China in the 3^rd century B.C., kept a palace.

2020 being, so far, a notorious Year of Living Dangerously, it’s no surprise that in the end Beidaihe was nowhere to be seen. Yet Beidaihe’s invisibility does not mean it did not happen.

Exhibit 1 was the fact that Premier Li Keqiang simply disappeared from public view for nearly two weeks – after President Xi chaired a crucial Politburo gathering in late July where what was laid out was no less than China’s whole development strategy for the next 15 years.

Li Keqiang resurfaced by chairing a special session of the all-powerful State Council, just as the CCP’s top ideologue, Wang Huning – who happens to be number 5 in the Politburo – showed up as the special guest at a meeting of the All China Youth Federation.

What’s even more intriguing is that side by side with Wang, one would find Ding Xuexiang, none other than President Xi’s chief of staff, as well as three other Politburo members.

In this “now you see them, now you don’t” variation, the fact that they all showed up in unison after an absence of nearly two weeks led sharp Chinese observers to conclude that Beidaihe in fact had taken place. Even if no visible signs of political action by the seaside had been detected. The semi-official spin is that no get-together happened at Beidaihe because of Covid-19.

Yet it’s Exhibit 2 that may clinch the deal for good. The by now famous end of July Politburo meeting chaired by Xi in fact sealed the Central Committee plenary session in October. Translation: the contours of the strategic road map ahead had already been approved by consensus. There was no need to retreat to Beidaihe for further discussions.

Trial balloons or official policy?

The plot thickens when one takes into consideration a series of trial balloons that started to float a few days ago in select Chinese media. Here are some of the key points.

1. On the trade war front, Beijing won’t shut down US businesses already operating in China. But companies which want to enter the market in finance, information technology, healthcare and education services will not be approved.

2. Beijing won’t dump all its overwhelming mass of US Treasuries in one go, but – as it already happens – divestment will accelerate. Last year, that amounted to $100 billion. Up to the end of 2020, that could reach $300 billion.

3. The internationalization of the yuan, also predictably, will be accelerated. That will include configuring the final parameters for clearing US dollars through the CHIPS Chinese system – foreseeing the incandescent possibility Beijing might be cut off from SWIFT by the Trump administration or whoever will be in power at the White House after January 2021.

4. On what is largely interpreted across China as the “full spectrum war” front, mostly Hybrid War, the PLA has been put into Stage 3 alert – and all leaves are canceled for the rest of 2020. There will be a concerted drive to increase all-round defense spending to 4% of GDP and accelerate the development of nuclear weapons. Details are bound to emerge during the Central Committee meeting in October.

5. The overall emphasis is on a very Chinese spirit of self-reliance, and building what can be defined as a national economic “dual circulation” system: the consolidation of the Eurasian integration project running in parallel to a global yuan settlement mechanism.

Inbuilt in this drive is what has been described as “to firmly abandon all illusions about the United States and conduct war mobilization with our people. We shall vigorously promote the war to resist US aggression (…) We will use a war mindset to steer the national economy (…) Prepare for the complete interruption of relations with the US.”

It’s unclear as it stands if these are only trial balloons disseminated across Chinese public opinion or decisions reached at the “invisible” Beidaihe. So all eyes will be on what kind of language this alarming configuration will be packaged when the Central Committee presents its strategic planning in October. Significantly, that will happen only a few weeks before the US election.

It’s all about continuity

All of the above somewhat mirrors a recent debate in Amsterdam on what constitutes the Chinese “threat” to the West. Here are the key points.

1. China constantly reinforces its hybrid economic model – which is an absolute rarity, globally: neither totally publicly owned nor a market economy.

2. The level of patriotism is staggering: once the Chinese face a foreign enemy, 1.4 billion people act as one.

3. National mechanisms have tremendous force: absolutely nothing blocks the full use of China’s financial, material and manpower resources once a policy is set.

4. China has set up the most comprehensive, back to back industrial system on the planet, without foreign interference if need be (well, there’s always the matter of semiconductors to Huawei to be solved).

China plans not only in years, but in decades. Five year plans are complemented by ten year plans and as the meeting chaired by Xi showed, 15 year plans. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is in fact a nearly 40-year plan, designed in 2013 to be completed in 2049.

And continuity is the name of the game – when one thinks that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, first developed in 1949 and then expanded by Zhou Enlai at the Bandung conference in 1955 are set in stone as China’s foreign policy guidelines.

The Qiao collective, an independent group that advances the role of qiao (“bridge”) by the strategically important huaqiao (“overseas Chinese”) is on point when they note that Beijing never proclaimed a Chinese model as a solution to global problems. What they extol is Chinese solutions to specific Chinese conditions.

A forceful point is also made that historical materialism is incompatible with capitalist liberal democracy forcing austerity and regime change on national systems, shaping them towards preconceived models.

That always comes back to the core of the CCP foreign policy: each nation must chart a course fit for its national conditions.

And that reveals the full contours of what can be reasonably described as a Centralized Meritocracy with Confucian, Socialist Characteristics: a different civilization paradigm that the “indispensable nation” still refuses to accept, and certainly won’t abolish by practicing Hybrid War.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

من البحر الأسود إلى شرق المتوسط المواجهة الأميركيّة الصينيّة تشتعل في تل أبيب

محمد صادق الحسيني

السفير الصيني في «إسرائيل» نشر مقالاً قبل يومين يعلق فية على تصريحات وزير الخارجية الأميركي، مايك بومبيو بشأن وصف الاستثمار الصيني في «إسرائيل» بأنة «خطر»…!.

ليتم العثور علية بعد وقت قصير، ميتاً بمنزله، في مدينة هرتسليا الساحلية شمالي تل أبيب…!

إن ظروف «موت» السفير الصيني (58 عاماً)، ما زالت غير واضحة ومبهمة ومريبة حتى الآن، رغم البيانات الإسرائيليّة الرسمية!

عُيّن دو واي سفيراً في الكيان في أوج جائحة كورونا، وكان عمل قبل ذلك سفيراً للصين في أوكرانيا.

الكيان الصهيوني ادّعى في بيان رسميّ لة بأنّ السفير مات في نومه…!

لا شك في أن البيان، الصادر عن الجهات الإسرائيلية المسؤولة عن التحقيق الجنائي، الذي فتح، لكشف ملابسات وفاة السفير الصيني، دو واي ( Du Wei )، الذي عثر علية متوفياً في شقتة في هرتسيليا، شمال تل ابيب، يثير الكثير من الشكوك وبيان سلطات تل ابيب زاد في ريبة الواقعة بدلاً من إلقاء الضوء على أسباب الوفاة الحقيقية، وذلك للأسباب التالية:

1

ـ إن المدة الزمنيّة التي أعقبت الوفاة غير كافية إطلاقاً لإجراء التحقيق المهني المتكامل وإجراء التحقيقات والفحوص الطبية اللازمة، بما في ذلك تشريح جثمان المغدور، للوقوف على أسباب الوفاة الحقيقيّة وليس للخروج ببيان باهت وبائس يدّعي أن سبب الوفاة هو السكتة القلبية.

2

ـ إن البيان صادر عن جهات حكومية إسرائيلية، من دون مشاركة أي جهة رسمية صيني، لا في التحقيقات ولا في فحوص الطب الشرعي، التي هي الوسيلة الوحيدة لتحديد أسباب وفاة أي إنسان بطريقة علميّة موثوقة ومُوَثَقَةً، وهذا لم يحصل.

وعليه فإن ما صدر عن السلطات الإسرائيلية حتى الآن لا يمكن التعامل معه سوى في اطار الاقاويل او التسريبات الصحافية، التي تمّت فبركتها من قبل جهات امنية، خدمةً لهدف واضح، الا وهو إخفاء السبب الحقيقي وراء وفاة المغدور.

3

ـ علماً أنّ هناك المزيد من عناصر الشك في الرواية الإسرائيلية والتي يعزّزها التاريخ الدبلوماسي للسفير المغدور ومواقفه المبدئيّة والمدافعة عن حقوق بلاده، جمهوريّة الصين الشعبيّة، في كل المجالات وتصدّيه الدائم لسياسات واشنطن المعادية للصين.

إذ إن تصدّيه، قبل أيام، وعبر تغريدة على تويتر، نشرت على موقع سفارة الصين في تل أبيب، ردّ فيها على تصريحات وزير الخارجية الأميركيّ الوقحة ضد سياسة الصين الاستثمارية في «إسرائيل»، حيث ادعى بومبيو ان الصين تقوم بشراء «إسرائيل» بشكل ممنهج، نقول إن تصدي السفير الصيني هذا، لسياسات واشنطن العدائية تجاه بكين، لم يكن موقفه الأول.

4

ـ فقد كان للسفير دو واي، الذي عمل سفيراً لبلاده في أوكرانيا من شهر 6/2016 وحتى نهاية عام 2019، نقل أنه كانت له نفس المواقف الدبلوماسية الدقيقة والثابتة والمعبرة عن مصالح بلاده، عندما انتقدت الإدارة الأميركية والعديد من المسؤولين الاميركيين، قيام شركةBeijing Skyrizon Aviation الصينية، في أواخر سنة 2017 بشراء حصة، بلغت 41 % من مصانع SICH الأوكرانية العملاقة، للصناعات الجوفضائية، وهي إحدى أهم مصانع محركات الطائرات العملاقة في العالم، مثل طائرات انطونوف / 124 / وشقيقتها الكبرى انطونوف / 225 / والتي تبلغ حمولتها 400 طن، الى جانب صناعة محركات الغاز العملاقة الخاصة بتشغيل محطات توليد الكهرباء.

5

ـ كان للسفير المغدور دور حساس وهام جداً في التصدي للحملة الاميركية، ضد الصين، وفي التصدي للضغوط والتهديدات الأميركية لحكومة كييف، التي خضعت في نهاية المطاف لتلك الضغوط وقامت بتجميد الصفقة، مع الشركة الصينية.

إلا أن الجهود الصينية، الدبلوماسية والتجارية التي قادها السفير المغدور، سنتي 2017 و 2018 قد تواصلت وأثمرت عن اتفاق بديل، صيني أوكراني، قامت بموجبه شركة Beijing Skyrizon Aviation الصينية باستثمار 250 مليون دولار في الشركة الأوكرانية، المذكورة اعلاه، لإقامة مركز تجميع وخدمات لمنتجات الشركة الأوكرانية، في مدينة شونغ كينك Chongqing في جنوب غرب الصين.

6

ـ وهذا يعني ان الدور، الذي لعبه السفير المغدور، في تحقيق هذه الصفقة التجارية التكنولوجية العالية الأهمية، كان دوراً مركزياً وغاية في الأهمية، وهو الأمر الذي جعل الإدارة الأميركية تطلق حملة من التهديد، قادها جون بولتون في حينه، بالعقوبات ضد كل من الصين واوكرانيا، الامر الذي جعل السفير الصيني يرد بما معناه ان العقوبات لن تجدي نفعاً في وقف تعاون مثمر بين بلدين ذوي سيادة.

وقد شاركه، في التصدي لهذه الحملة الجديدة، عضو البرلمان الاوكراني السابق، أوليه لايشكو Oleh Lyashko، عندما أصدر تصريحاً قال فيه: اذا كانت الولايات المتحدة لا تريدنا أن نبيع المحركات للصين فلتتفضل وتشتريها هي.

7

ـ وقد تأكد نجاح السفير المغدور، في إتمام تلك الصفقة، على الرغم من الضغوط والتهديدات الأميركية لأوكرانيا، وذلك على لسان رئيس شركة Motor Sich الاوكرانية، السيد فيياشيسلاف بوغوسلاييڤ Vyacheslav Boguslayev، الذي صرح لوكالة الانباء الوطنية الاوكرانية Ukrinform، بتاريخ 13/12/2019 ، وقال: لقد كانت لدينا مشكلة ووجدنا مستثمرين وبعنا أسهماً لهم (من اسهم الشركة الاوكرانية) وانا نفسي بعت أسهمي لهم.

8

ـ كما أن الرئيس التنفيذي لمجموعة شين واي التكنولوجية الصينية / Xinwei technology group، المملوكة للدولة الصينية ومقرها الأساسي في شنغهاي، السيد وانغ شينغ / Wang Jing / قد صرّح بان مجموعته قد اشترت 80 % من الشركة الاوكرانية منذ عام 2017 وبشكل قانوني تماماً، من خلال شراء حصص من قبل أفراد صينيّين، قيمة كل حصة أقل من 10% من قيمة أسهم الشركة الأوكرانية.

9 ـ من هنا فإن المناقصة التي دخلت اليها شركة CK Huchison Holdings الصينية، لبناء محطة تحلية مياه عملاقة في «إسرائيل» وإدارتها لمدة 25 عاماً، هي التي يجب التدقيق في الدور الذي لعبته في وفاة السفير الصيني المغدور وليس الجلطة القلبية. خاصة اذا ما أخذنا في عين الاعتبار ان هذا السفير قد تم تعيينه في تل أبيب اواسط شهر شباط 2020 وأنه كان مرشحاً أن يلعب دوراً مهماً في توسيع التعاون الاقتصادي والتكنولوجي بين الشركات الصينية والإسرائيلية، التي تتطلع الى (الشركات الإسرائيلية) للدخول مع الصين في تعاون يشمل الجيل الخامس من شبكات الاتصالات… إلى جانب أن كل ذلك يشكل خطوات هامة على طريق تحقيق المشروع الصيني العملاق طريق واحد وحزام واحد.

كل ذلك يؤكد لنا بأن ما جرى للسفير الصيني في تل أبيب ليست وفاة طبيعية حتى لو كانت، في الظاهر، ناتجة عن «مشاكل في القلب»…!.

لكن ثمة ما هو أهم كان قد حصل خلال زيارة بومبيو لتل ابيب قد يكشف حقيقة ما تعرّض له السفير الصيني في تل ابيب…!

فالمصادر المتابعة للزيارة تجزم بأن بومبيو هدد نتن ياهو بوقف التنسيق الأمني الأميركي مع «إسرائيل»، وان أجواء اللقاءات، التي عقدها وزير الخارجية الاميركية، مايك بومبيو، خلال زيارته قبل ايام للكيان الصهيوني، لم تكن هادئة أبداً وإن كانت سلطات تل ابيب قد أظهرتها على انها زاهية وأتقنت الإخراج، كما بدت الأجواء في مؤتمر بومبيو الصحافي، مع «صديقه» نتن ياهو، ومسؤولين إسرائيليين آخرين..!

اذ ان اجواء الاجتماعات الرسمية كما تؤكد تلك المصادر كانت اكثر بكثير من أجواء جدية، اذ سادها الكثير من التوتر والتهديد والوعيد لنتن ياهو، من قبل ضيفة «وصديقه» بومبيو.

ومواضيع البحث لم تكن، كما جرت العادة، مثل تفاصيل مؤامرة القرن، من ضم وقضم للاراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة، او تهنئة بنجاح نتن ياهو في تشكيل حكومة جديدة، يعتقد البعض أنها حكومة حرب، وانما تركزت الزيارة على موضوع أساسي واحد هو :

الحرب على الصين الشعبية..!

وهي صديق القضية الفلسطينية والشعب الفلسطيني، وخط الصد الأول، في مواجهة آخر محاولات الولايات المتحدة لاستعادة جزء من هيبتها التي يتسارع تآكلها بشكل كبير، وفي كل ميادين المواجهة على صعيد العالم كله…

لذا فإن البحث قد تركز، في لقاءات بومبيو مع المسؤولين الإسرائيليين، على قضيتين أساسيتين هما :

1-

وقف أو منع مشاركة شركة CK Huchison Holdings الصينية، في مناقصة طرحتها «إسرائيل» لبناء محطة تحلية للمياه، اطلق عليها اسم سوريك بـ / Sorek B / الواقعة قرب قاعدة بالماخيم الجوية الإسرائيلية، المقامة على اراضي مدينة يِبْنا الفلسطينية المحتلة، بالقرب من منطقة ريشون ليتسيون الإسرائيلية جنوب تل ابيب.

علماً أن تكلفة هذه المحطة ستبلغ ملياراً ونصف المليار دولار، وستنفذها الشركة الصينية، بالتعاون مع شركة IDE TECHNOLOGIES الإسرائيلية، اذا ما رست المناقصة عليهما والتي ستعلن نتيجتها يوم 24/5/2020.

2-

وفِي هذا الإطار فقد طلب الوزير الاميركي من نتنياهو وقف مشاركة الشركة الصينية، في تنفيذ هذا مشروع البنى التحتية المائية هذا، لما تشكله مشاركة شركات صينية من تهديد «لأمن المواطن الإسرائيلي والاميركي»، حسب ما قاله وزير الخارجية الاميركية لمحطة «كان» التلفزيونية الإسرائيلية، خلال مقابلة له معها، أجريت خلال زيارته لتل ابيب قبيل ايام.

3-

ومن الجدير بالذكر ايضاً ان هذا الخلاف، الإسرائيلي الاميركي، ليس وليد الزيارة، المشار اليها اعلاه، وانما تمتد جذورها الى العام الماضي، حيث كانت الادارة الاميركية قد طلبت من رئيس الوزراء الإسرائيلي إعادة النظر، في كل مشاريع التعاون الإسرائيلية الصينية، لما لها من أضرار على العلاقة بين واشنطن وتل ابيب. مما اضطر نتنياهو، في شهر 10/2019، الى تشكيل لجنة فنية، لبحث هذا الموضوع، خضوعاً للامر الاميركي.

4-

ولكن الادارة الاميركية لم تقتنع بالاجراءات الإسرائيلية الشكلية، حسب ما نشره مركز راند الاميركي للدراسات الشهر الماضي، خاصة في ظل موافقة الحكومة الإسرائيلية، على عقد لشركة موانئ صينية مختصة بادارة الموانئ، تتولى بموجبه هذه الشركة ادارة ميناء حيفا، الذي يضم، في جزئه الشمالي، قاعدة بحرية أميركية. وهو ما استوجب تدخلاً أميركياً. بشخص وزير الخارجية الاميركي نفسه.

5-

وبناءً على ما وصلت إليه الاتصالات بين الطرفين، بخصوص نشاط الشركات الصينية في «إسرائيل، فإن وزير الخارجية الاميركي، قد ابلغ نتنياهو، بان الولايات المتحدة ستقوم بتخفيض او حتى وقف التعاون الاستخباري مع «إسرائيل»، اذا لم تقم «إسرائيل» بالاستجابة للشروط الاميركية، حسب ما اكد مصدر خاص تابع الزيارة المذكورة. وهذا يعني امراً أميركياً لنتنياهو بوقف نشاط الشركات الصينية والاستثمارات الصينية في «إسرائيل».

علماً ان الحكومة الإسرائيلية منخرطة في مباحثات مع شركات صينية، لمنحها حقوق ادارة ميناء اسدود جنوب البلاد، الى جانب وجود تعاون صناعي عسكري بين شركات الصناعات العسكرية الإسرائيلية والعديد من الشركات الصينية، الامر الذي تعتبره واشنطن خطراً على أسرارها الصناعية وخاصة العسكرية منها.

6-

اذن فإن هذه الزيارة لم تكن زيارة مجاملة، او ذات طابع بروتوكولي او ما شابه ذلك، وانما كانت زيارة ميدانية لإصدار أوامر محددة، وتحت طائلة المسؤولية لنتنياهو. وبالتالي فإن من الضروري تصنيف هذه الزيارة في خانة إجراءات الحرب الاقتصادية على الصين، التي تؤشر الى أن الولايات المتحدة سوف ترغم أذنابها من أعراب وأوروبيين، في القريب العاجل، على الانخراط في حربها المتعددة الوسائل ضد الصين، والطلب منهم تخفيض تبادلاتهم التجارية معها إن لم يكن وقفها بالكامل.

وهي خطوات أميركية عدائية، لا تختلف عن إعلان الحرب، وان لم تكن بالوسائل العسكرية حتى الآن. هذه الخطوات التي لن تقف جمهورية الصين الشعبية مكتوفة الأيدي تجاهها وانما ستتخذ سلسلة من الإجراءات، المالية والتجارية والاقتصادية، التي ستكلف الاقتصاد الاميركي أثماناً، ليس بمقدور سمسار العقارات، دونالد ترامب، تقديرها ومواجهة تداعياتها.

العالم يشتبك، ومركز ثقلة ينتقل من الغرب الى الشرق، والسنن الكونية تفعل فعلها…!

بعدنا طيبين، قولوا الله…

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U.S. Relations with China Were Just Destroyed, and Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again

By Michael Snyder

Global Research, November 21, 2019

The Most Important News 19 November 2019

Our relationship with China just went from bad to worse, and most Americans don’t even realize that we just witnessed one of the most critical foreign policy decisions of this century. The U.S. Senate just unanimously passed the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019”, and the Chinese are absolutely seething with anger.

Violent protests have been rocking Hong Kong for months, and the Chinese have repeatedly accused the United States of being behind the protests. Whether that is true or not, the U.S. Senate has openly sided with the protesters by passing this bill, and there is no turning back now.

The protesters in Hong Kong have been waving American flags, singing our national anthem and they have made it exceedingly clear that they want independence from China. And all of us should certainly be able to understand why they would want that, because China is a deeply tyrannical regime. But to the Chinese government, this move by the U.S. Senate is essentially an assault on China itself. They are going to argue that the U.S. is inciting a revolution in Hong Kong, and after what the Senate has just done it will be very difficult to claim that is not true.

The Chinese take matters of internal security very seriously, and the status of Hong Kong is one of those issues that they are super sensitive about. China will never, ever compromise when it comes to Hong Kong, and if the U.S. keeps pushing this issue it could literally take us to the brink of a military conflict.

And you can forget about a comprehensive trade agreement ever happening. Even if a Democrat is elected in 2020, that Democrat is going to back what the Senate just did. That is why it was such a major deal that this bill passed by unanimous consent. It sent a message to the Chinese that Republicans and Democrats are united on this issue and that the next election is not going to change anything.

And the trade deal that President Trump was trying to put together was already on exceedingly shaky ground. “Phase one” was extremely limited, nothing was ever put in writing, and nothing was ever signed. And in recent days it became quite clear that both sides couldn’t even agree about what “phase one” was supposed to cover…

A spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry said earlier this month that both countries had agreed to cancel some existing tariffs simultaneously. Trump later said that he had not agreed to scrap the tariffs, lowering hopes for a deal.

“They’d like to have a rollback. I haven’t agreed to anything,” the president said.

On Tuesday, Trump was visibly frustrated by how things are going with China, and he publicly warned the Chinese that he could soon “raise the tariffs even higher”…

House and Senate Unanimously Support Destabilizing China

President Donald Trump threatened higher tariffs on Chinese goods if that country does not make a deal on trade.

The comments came during a meeting with the president’s Cabinet on Tuesday. The U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies, have been locked in an apparent stalemate in trade negotiations that have lasted nearly two years.

“If we don’t make a deal with China, I’ll just raise the tariffs even higher,” Trump said in the meeting.

Unfortunately, raising tariffs isn’t going to fix anything at this point.

In fact, Trump can raise tariffs until the cows come home but it isn’t going to cause the Chinese to budge.

That is because on Tuesday evening everything changed.

When they passed the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019” by unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate essentially doused our relationship with China with kerosene and set it on fire. The following comes from Zero Hedge…

In a widely anticipated move, just after 6pm ET on Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill, S.1838, showing support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by requiring an annual review of whether the city is sufficiently autonomous from Beijing to justify its special trading status. In doing so, the Senate has delivered a warning to China against a violent suppression of the demonstrations, a stark contrast to President Donald Trump’s near-silence on the issue, the result of a behind the scenes agreement whereby China would allow the S&P to rise indefinitely as long as Trump kept his mouth shut.

As we reported last week, the vote marks the most aggressively diplomatic challenge to the government in Beijing just as the US and China seek to close the “Phase 1” of their agreement to end their trade war. The Senate measure would require annual reviews of Hong Kong’s special status under U.S. law to assess the extent to which China has chipped away the city’s autonomy; in light of recent events, Hong Kong would not pass. It’s unclear what would happen next.

I am finding it difficult to find the words to describe what this means to the Chinese.

We have deeply insulted their national honor, and our relationship with them will never be the same again.

Many will debate whether standing up to China on this issue was the right thing to do, but in this article I am trying to get you to understand that there will be severe consequences for what the U.S. Senate just did.

There isn’t going to be a comprehensive trade deal, the global economy is going to suffer greatly, and the Chinese now consider us to be their primary global adversary.

Shortly after the Senate passed the bill, a strongly worded statement was released by the Chinese government. The following excerpt comes from the first two paragraphs of that statement…

On November 19th, the US Senate passed the “Hong Kong Bill of Rights on Human Rights and Democracy.” The bill disregards the facts, confuses right and wrong, violates the axioms, plays with double standards, openly intervenes in Hong Kong affairs, interferes in China’s internal affairs, and seriously violates the basic norms of international law and international relations. The Chinese side strongly condemns and resolutely opposes this.

In the past five months, the persistent violent criminal acts in Hong Kong have seriously jeopardized the safety of the public’s life and property, seriously trampled on the rule of law and social order, seriously undermined Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and seriously challenged the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” principle. At present, what Hong Kong faces is not the so-called human rights and democracy issues, but the issue of ending the storms, maintaining the rule of law and restoring order as soon as possible. The Chinese central government will continue to firmly support the Hong Kong SAR Government in its administration of the law, firmly support the Hong Kong police in law enforcement, and firmly support the Hong Kong Judiciary in punishing violent criminals in accordance with the law, protecting the lives and property of Hong Kong residents and maintaining Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.

For a long time I have been warning that U.S. relations with China would greatly deteriorate, and this is the biggest blow that we have seen yet.

The U.S. and China are now enemies, and ultimately that is going to result in a tremendous amount of pain for the entire planet.

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Michael Snyder is a nationally-syndicated writer, media personality and political activist. He is the author of four books including Get Prepared Now, The Beginning Of The End and Living A Life That Really Matters. His articles are originally published on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News. 

The original source of this article is The Most Important News

Copyright © Michael Snyder, The Most Important News, 2019

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7 Decades of China’s achievements

September 11, 2019

by Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan

China is an old civilization and has been passing through various ups and downs throughout history. Which is very much rational and the natural cycle of human history. There was a time when Romans were at the peak, but today they stand nowhere, British and French colonialized half of the world, but today squeezed to a small state only. Ottoman Empire in Turkey was in control of parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, but today is a small developing nation. Every peak has to pass through fall, it is a natural cycle in the history of nations. But China, the last 200 years have been suffering due to the colonializations, imperialism, and expansionism of Western World. Either it was opium war I or II or War of resistance, the Chinese suffered a lot. But with the establishment of the “The People’s Republic of China on the 1st of October 1949, China liberated finally. However, it did not end the Western world’s aggression against China. It was the economic blockade of China or war against communism threat, China was the victim in the early 1950s, 1960, and 1970s.

China spent almost 3 decades on internal reforms with a focus on ideology, unity, and change of mindset during the period 1949-1978, under the great leadership of Chairman Mao. Fight against feudalism and imperialism was at the top of the agenda. Equality was promoted, the farmers, workers, and soldiers were treated equally. In the eyes of the state, everyone was equal irrespective of its nature of job, profession, social status or qualification. It gave a lot of courage to people of China and hope for a bright future, which was a motivational force for them to struggle for a better life. As a net achievement of political reforms, the whole nation became united and stands on one page with the Government.

After having great success on the political front, China entered into a new phase of Economic Reforms, under the visionary leadership of Comrade Deng Xiao Ping, since 1978. During the last 4 decades, Chinese common man persistently worked hard, the visionary leadership has provided the incentive-based right policies and the Government has provided enabling environments. China made huge progress on the economic front, it has surpassed the German Economy in 2006, surpassed the Japanese Economy in 2010, and expected to surpass American Economy in 2026. Currently, China has gained the status of the second-largest economy just behind the USA only.

One of China’s major victories is on the “Poverty Elimination front”. Just within 4 decades, China has lifted around 750 million people from the line of poverty. No other nation or collectively whole world has not shown such huge achievements. It was a goal set up in the Millennium Development Goals by the UN and China has contributed a lot. In fact, China’s contribution to fighting against poverty worldwide has been recognized. Many nations are beneficiary of Chinese assistance to fight against poverty and hunger. Some of the nations are following the Chinese path to address the issue of poverty in their own countries and are successful to some extent.

The life of a common man in China has been improved to a huge extent. From the shortage of food and the basic necessities of life, China has turned into an abundance of food and a luxury lifestyle. I lived in China for 7 years in the 1980s and eye witness to the use of coupons and rationing of food and daily consumer products. Buying a bicycle, washing machine, electric fans were considered luxury and faced many difficulties. New clothes and shoes were purchased at festivals, especially on Chinese “New Year” only. Living standards and public transport were rather poor in condition. As a result of Economic Reforms, China has emerged as a net exporter of its excessive production and earning a huge amount of foreign exchange. Spiritual life for Chinese citizens has also witnessed a big change, entertainment Industry, Tourism, and luxury life has been witnessed in width and length of China.

Chinese people enjoy more freedom of expression and access to information as compared to 4 decades ago. Law and order situation has been ranked as one of the best in the global arena. Curse of Terrorism is a very common phenomenon all around the world, but in China, it is comparatively safe and under control. The legal system inside China has improved a lot and people feel more safe and secure inside China. Openness and modernity are very much visible on the streets of all big cities in China. Prosperity is prevailing and sense of comfort is visible from the faces of the common man.

The third phase of China is globalization which is currently prevailing in China, under the great leadership of President Xi Jin Ping.

Chinese progress in Agriculture and the Industrial sector has changed the whole world’s trading pattern and become a hope for developing nations. China’s trade surplus with the rest of world, especially with the developed world has set an example for all developing nations. Today, no other country compete in China in the price and surrendered its market to China.

With the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has been engaged in developing Infrastructure and connectivity among the BRI states. Today, there are more than 150 countries, regions and international organizations, recognizes BRI and most of them are beneficiaries of BRI fruits. BRI is a model for the future development of economy and trade. As a matter of fact, BRI has changed the whole pattern of geopolitics.

The growing recognition of BRI is witnessed around the world, many more countries have shown interest in joining BRI initiatives. As a matter of fact, China is the only country, having an excessive amount of foreign exchange and expertise in the development of Infrastructures. China is at the top position in the world in the field of Infrastructure development. For example, High-Speed Trains, China has built the longest and largest network inside China, especially its High-Speed Train to Tibet, in the high mountains, at an elevation of 4500 meters above the sea level is not less than a miracle. Motorways, High ways, Tunnels and Bridges all across the country are visible proof of China’s lead in the world. Many developing countries are inspired and impressed with the Chinese achievements and are willing to cooperate with China to replicate their experiences with them. High Rise buildings and architectures in China witness its strength.

Chinese companies are engaged in many countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe to develop infrastructure projects. The money and experience gained by China are useful for many developing nations. In fact, the Chinese model is one of the most successful models of developments in the current prevailing systems of governance in the world. It has produced much more than the Western Democratic model. It is time for the rest of the world to learn the best things from the Chinese-Governance model. I believe any system, which makes people prosper, society stable and safe, access to justice and freedom of expression, is a good model of governance.

BRI is a message of peace, harmony, and development. It promotes people to people contact, promotes mutual understandings, and promotes trade and tourism. Based on mutual understandings, relations among nations can be established more durable and beneficial. At least, it can eliminate misunderstanding to huge extent.

The growing number of Chinese Universities, among the top 500 Universities of the world is a good indicator of Chinese leadership in the Education sector. The increasing trend of R&D in China has made its leader in Telecommunication, IT, Artificial Intelligence, and many emerging technologies in the world. Chinese culture is dominant in the western world, many people are learning the Chinese language around the world, Chinese culture, movies, and dresses are getting more popularity globally. Chinese soft power has recognized as a force behind its success.

With the rise of China as a global power, China is equally contributing to world peace and proactively participating in international affairs positively. China understands its responsibilities and contributing its due share in geopolitics positively. China has not fought any war during the last four decades. Although there were many occasions, where the war was inevitable, China, played “Big Country Diplomacy” and averted t war. In 2017, when there was border stand-off between India and China at Doklam, it was China, who observed restrains and normalized the situation through diplomacy. Current, the situation in Hong Kong, is proof of continuity of China’s policy of openness, tolerance, and democracy (Chinese characteristic of Socialism). No one can imagine, in Socialist country, where the communist party enjoys full authority, allows its citizens to launch such violent and prolonged protests. In a matter of fact, regaining sovereignty of China over Hong Kong and Macao, was a big achievement of China, as without firing a single bullet or killing any one person, just with peaceful negotiation, China gained this victory of regaining sovereignty of its lost parts from Britain and Portugal after one hundred years.

China enjoys supremacy over the South China Sea, but never exercised its military hegemony. Instead, it always offered its doors of negotiations with any one of the stakeholders. In spite of interference from far away nations, China observed restrains and averted any war-like situation. China has the power to gain control over “Diao Yu Dao” disputed islands between China and Japan but prefers peaceful negotiation as a mode of resolving this issue too.

Regarding trade war with the USA, China always observed restrains and showed maximum tolerance, even in case of reciprocity, offered a mild response only. Many aggressive statements from the President Trump are on the record, but, Chinese side did not pass any derogatory remarks. China has the capacity and capability, but deliberately, as per its own policy, is not stretching its muscles.

As a civilizations of several thousand years, having experiences of wide variety, China has emerged as a mature, wise and tolerant nation. China has learned that wars and egos, may not solve the issues permanently, that is why, China has focused on its internal developments and overcame any possibility of war. China’s peaceful rise may be a role model for the rest of world to be followed. Chinese influence is visible around the globe and may increase in future too.

China will celebrate the 71st anniversary of its liberation on the 1st of October 2019. Preparations are underway and a massive program of celebration has been chalked out. Chinese Embassies in all world capitals will also celebrate this occasion. Chinese communities in various countries are also prepared well to enjoy the festivity of “National Day”. Please join me in congratulation the Chinese people and Government in the happiness of National Day.

Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomate), Academician, Researcher, Peace-activist, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), Islamabad, Pakistan. E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com)

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