China-ROK Ties - New Book on Xi's Thought on Armed Forces - State Council Signals Greater Support for Economy - Wei Talks GSI at SCO - Xi's Economic Thought - 'Facts' on Pelosi's Taiwan Visit
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Thursday, August 25, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a report about Xi Jinping and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol exchanging letters to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties.
Xinhua’s report says that Xi’s letter first summarised why the two sides had enjoyed fruitful relations:
“The past 30 years have witnessed great changes in the world, as well as fruitful achievements, Xi pointed out, adding that the reason that China and South Korea have made such remarkable accomplishments in their relations is that the two sides stick to looking ahead with a long-term perspective, following the trend of the times and enriching bilateral ties continuously. It is because the two countries respect and trust each other, accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and enhance understanding and trust through sincere communication, Xi said. Xi noted that another reason for the remarkable achievements is that the two countries adhere to cooperation and win-win outcomes, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as exchanges and mutual learning, so as to achieve mutual success and common prosperity. It is also because the two countries have insisted on openness and inclusiveness, and have worked together to safeguard regional peace and stability, promote regional integrated development, and preserve the basic norms governing international relations, Xi said, adding that those valuable experience above should be cherished with greater care and adhered to on a long-term basis.”
Then, we come to what has to be done now:
“At present, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation under the combined impact of global changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century. At this critical moment, the international community, including China and South Korea, can only overcome crises and tide over difficulties through solidarity and cooperation, said Xi, adding that the two countries should be good neighbors, good friends and good partners. Noting that he attaches great importance to the development of China-South Korea relations, Xi said he would like to strengthen strategic communication with Yoon and guide the two countries to take the 30th anniversary as a new starting point while grasping the general trend, eliminating disturbances (or interference 排除干扰), consolidating friendship and focusing on cooperation, so as to jointly create an even better future of bilateral relations and bring more benefits to the two countries and their people.”
Second, there’s a new book “Q&A on Xi Jinping’s Thought on Strengthening the Armed Forces.” Xinhua says that the book, which illustrates Xi’s thought in Q&A form, consists of 63 questions on 16 topics. It provides readers with a panoramic and systemic view of the significance, scientific system, rich connotations and practical requirements of the thought. Also on the page, is a report about a circular issued by the Propaganda Department and the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission. Xinhua English says:
“The book serves as important reading material for officers, soldiers, officials and the general public in enhancing their understanding of the thinking. Party organizations at all levels should study and utilize the book, so as to help Party members, officials and the general public improve their understanding of the thinking, noted the circular. All levels of the armed forces should organize military personnel to read the book and study its contents, said the circular. It added that leading officials should take the lead in studying the book and set good examples for others in this regard.”
In PD, the report adds that it is necessary to focus on ‘loyalty to defend the core, be determined to strive to strengthen the armed forces’, deepen education, consolidate and expand the achievements of the study and learning of Party history, and focus on comprehending the power of the thought from the vivid practice and great achievements of strengthening the armed forces in the new era; deeply comprehend the decisive significance of two establishments, strengthen four consciousnesses and four self-confidences, and achieve the two safeguards; implement the Chairman Responsibility System of the CMC, resolutely obey the command of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and Chairman Xi, and taking practical actions greet the Party’s 20th National Congress, in order to realise the Party’s goal of strengthening the armed forces in the new era, build the people's army into a world-class forces in an all-round way, and make unremitting efforts to realise the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 要聚焦“忠诚维护核心、矢志奋斗强军”深化主题教育，巩固拓展党史学习教育成果，注重从新时代强军事业的生动实践和伟大成就中感悟思想伟力，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，坚决听从党中央、中央军委和习主席指挥，以实际行动迎接党的二十大胜利召开，为实现党在新时代的强军目标、把人民军队全面建成世界一流军队，为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而不懈奋斗.
Third, there’s a report on the weekly State Council meeting. Xinhua says:
“The meeting noted that the economy at the moment has continued the momentum of recovery and growth registered in June, yet marginal fluctuations still remain, and the foundation of economic recovery is not solid. It's imperative to fully apply the new development philosophy, coordinate COVID-19 response with economic and social development with high efficiency, uphold development as the basis of and key to solving all problems in China, and seize the current critical moment. Swift and decisive steps will be taken, the appropriate policy scale maintained, and the policy instruments at disposal in the toolkit better harnessed, to further strengthen the foundation of economic recovery and growth, without resorting to massive stimulus or compromising longer-term interests.”
It adds:
“On top of delivering the policy package for stabilizing the economy, an additional 19 follow-up policies will be rolled out to shape greater synergy. The goal of such policy mix is to promote economic stabilization and upturn, keep major economic indicators within the proper range and work for the best results possible.”
And then:
On the basis of channeling the 300 billion yuan (about 43.87 billion U.S. dollars) of the policy-backed and development-oriented financial instruments to specific projects, quota of such instruments will be increased by 300-plus billion yuan.
The balance of the special-purpose bond quota worth over 500 billion yuan should be well utilized pursuant to law and issued by the end of October.
The effect of the loan prime rate reform will continue to be harnessed, to lower the costs of corporate financing and consumer loans.
A set of infrastructure projects with mature conditions will be approved and launched. The projects should generate returns and have good quality. Embezzlement of the funds will be guarded against.
Measures will be introduced to support the development and investment of private businesses and advance the sound and sustained development of the platform economy.
Local governments will be allowed to adopt city-specific policies, including flexible credit loans to meet people's basic housing needs and the need for improved housing conditions.
The border entry and exit of business personnel will be facilitated.
Payments of government-levied charges will be deferred for one quarter.
Localities will be encouraged to set up risk compensation funds for loans extended to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed households.
Measures will be taken to support electricity producers under central administration in issuing 200 billion yuan of special bonds for energy supply.
On top of the agricultural supplies subsidies delivered this year totaling 30 billion yuan, an additional 10 billion yuan will be distributed. Sustained efforts will be made to keep logistics open and smooth.
The report adds: “Departments concerned should promptly roll out detailed implementation plans by the end of September, and localities should introduce support measures. The State Council will dispatch taskforces without delay to supervise and assist the work for stabilizing overall economic performance. These teams, led by leading officials of bodies under the State Council, will work jointly in several provincial-level regions with a fairly large economic size.”
The meeting also discussed the drought-related concerns in Sichuan. Four tasks are outlined:
First, scientifically adjust the water resources of rivers and water conservancy projects, artificially increase rainfall in a timely manner, and increase the number of motorised wells in order to increase drought-resistant water sources.
The second is to give priority to ensuring drinking water for the masses, and to pull and deliver water when necessary.
The third is to do everything possible to ensure agricultural irrigation water, and guide farmers to fight drought and protect autumn crops.
Fourth, 10 billion yuan will be allocated from the central reserve fund for drought relief, with emphasis on supporting the current drought relief of mid-season rice.
Fifth, pay close attention to the measures to promote the harvest of late rice; the central government will continue to support them.
一是科学调度江河和水利工程水资源，适时人工增雨、增打机井，增加抗旱水源。二是优先保障群众饮用水，必要时拉水送水。三是千方百计保障农业灌溉用水，指导农户抗旱保秋粮. 四是从中央预备费中拿出100亿元抗旱救灾，重点支持当前中稻抗旱。五是抓紧研究推动晚稻丰收的举措，中央财政持续予以支持.
Next, a report on Li Zhanshu’s meeting with Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop. Xinhua reports:
“Li pointed out that political mutual trust and mutual support should be further strengthened to develop China-Türkiye relations. He noted that China firmly supports Türkiye in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, respects Türkiye's choice of development path in light of its national conditions, and supports Türkiye in its fight against terrorism. Li noted that the one-China principle is the political foundation for China's exchanges with other countries. He expressed appreciation for Türkiye's long-standing adherence to the one-China principle and its repeated statement that it will not allow anyone to engage in anti-China separatist activities on Turkish territory. China and Türkiye, both major developing countries, share the responsibility for promoting regional and international security and stability, Li said, calling on Türkiye to actively support and participate in the Global Security Initiative put forward by the Chinese side. Hailing Türkiye as the first country to sign an intergovernmental agreement with China on Belt and Road cooperation, Li also called on the two sides to further synergize their development strategies, advance mutually beneficial cooperation on economy, trade, investment and other fields, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges. The NPC of China is willing to carry out communication and exchanges with the Turkish Grand National Assembly at multiple levels and through multiple channels, and to strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral parliamentary organizations, so as to safeguard each other's core interests and major concerns.”
The piece has Sentop saying that Turkey firmly adheres to the one-China principle.
Next, a report on the conclusion of the 23rd meeting of the 13th Standing Committee of the National Committee. Wang Yang spoke at the session on the employment-first policy.
Wang Yang pointed out that the implementation of the employment-first policy is determined by the basic supporting role of employment in the overall situation of economic and social development, by China’s basic national conditions and development stage, and by the people-centred ruling philosophy of the Communist Party of China. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has insisted on implementing the policy of giving priority to employment. The current employment situation is complex and severe, and difficulties and risks cannot be underestimated. However, China has a resilient economy, a large employment market, various policy tools to expand employment, and the political, institutional and cultural strengths to overcome the current difficulties…汪洋指出，实施就业优先政策是由就业在经济社会发展大局中的基础支撑作用决定的，是由我国基本国情和发展阶段决定的，也是由中国共产党以人民为中心的执政理念决定的。中共十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的中共中央坚持实施就业优先政策，近年来坚持把就业放在“六稳”“六保”之首，我国就业工作取得重大成就。当前就业形势复杂严峻，困难风险不可低估。但我国经济韧性强、就业容量大，促进就业的政策手段多，具有克服困难的显著政治优势、制度优势、文化优势...
Wang added that “Wang Yang emphasised that in order to implement the employment-first policy, it is necessary to thoroughly understand General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition on employment, and implement the relevant decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, both based on the current situation and focusing on the long-term. 汪洋强调，实施好就业优先政策，要深入领会习近平总书记关于就业工作的重要论述，贯彻落实中共中央相关决策部署，既立足当前、又着眼长远. The majority of CPPCC members should give full play to their respective advantages and make due efforts to stabilise economic expectations, stabilise employment and maintain the bottom line of preventing mass unemployment. 广大政协委员要发挥各自特长优势，为稳定经济预期、稳住就业岗位、守住不发生规模性失业的底线作出应有努力.
He added that relevant authorities should enhance research and planning to cope with long-term influences brought by industrial and technological changes and an ageing population, while raising the quality of the whole labour force to address structural employment problems. The meeting also voted to add Wang Wei, Liu Hui, Xu Yousheng, Gou Zhongwen and Huang Ming as National Committee members.
Finally, there’s a piece on reform and opening up. While Li Keqiang might have gone to Guangdong and talked about reform and opening up, in this piece, we have Xi Jinping’s old comment saying that:
“reform and opening up is an important magic weapon for the Party and the people to make great strides to catch up with the times; it Is the only way to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics; it is a key measure to determine the fate of contemporary China; and it is also a key measure to achieve the second centenary goal and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 习近平总书记指出，改革开放是党和人民大踏步赶上时代的重要法宝，是坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的必由之路，是决定当代中国命运的关键一招，也是决定实现“两个一百年”奋斗目标、实现中华民族伟大复兴的关键一招.
The piece basically says that since the 18th Party Congress, under Xi Jinping, reform and opening up have been comprehensively deepened and advanced in breadth and depth.
Page 2: A report on yesterday’s press briefing by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on cultural industry development. CGTN has an English report, if you are interested. Some data from the report:
By the end of 2021, there were 3,215 public libraries, 3,316 cultural centers, 40,200 cultural stations, and 575,400 village-level comprehensive cultural service centers nationwide. Meanwhile, all public libraries, cultural centers, art galleries, and 91 percent of museums are open to the public for free.
Red tourism has also significantly increased, with national red tourism-related scenic areas expanding from 100 to 300 in the past decade. In 2019, it realized an average annual growth rate of more than 11 percent in visitors, reaching 1.41 billion visitors. Red tourism is a subsector of the tourism industry where people visit locations with historical significance to China's "red" past and is very popular among young Chinese.
In 2019, the added value of culture and related industries reached 4,436.3 billion yuan, and that of tourism and related industries reached 4,498.9 billion yuan, accounting for 4.50% and 4.56% of GDP, respectively.
By the end of 2021, there were 108 million pieces (sets) of state-owned movable cultural relics, and about 767,000 immovable ones. The total number of world heritage sites in China has reached 56, ranking second in the world.
In the past ten years, the number of cultural enterprises above designated size has increased from 36,000 to 65,000, and the annual operating income has increased from 5.6 trillion yuan to 11.9 trillion yuan. By the end of 2021, there will be 42,000 travel agencies, 14,000 A-level scenic spots, and 8,771 star-rated hotels nationwide.
In 2021, China’s foreign cultural trade volume exceeded $200 billion for the first time.
Page 3: A few reports to note. First, Wang Yi’s comments at the reception celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Republic of Korea. Xinhua says that:
“Wang said that in face of today’s changing international situation, both sides should cherish the achievements of cooperation and promote the valuable experience accumulated since the establishment of diplomatic ties, remain committed, avoid distractions, respect each other's social system and development path, and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns. Wang called on the two sides to synergize development strategies and deepen cooperation in areas such as high-tech manufacturing, big data and green economy. He said both sides need to jointly oppose decoupling or severing supply chains, jointly safeguard the free trade system, and jointly maintain the integrity, security, stability, smoothness, openness and inclusiveness of the industrial and supply chains. The two sides should strengthen exchanges among local governments, think tanks, media and non-governmental organizations, promote cooperation in youth, culture, education and sports, so as to enhance the friendship between the two peoples, Wang added. Wang said that the two sides need to firmly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, practice true multilateralism and advance the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.”
Second, a report with comments from the Foreign Ministry regarding China’s support to Pakistan amid the floods in the country. Xinhua reports:
“China has taken note of the severe floods raging across Pakistan and the heavy casualties and loss of property that ensued, and expresses sincere condolences to the victims and sympathy to the bereaved families, the injured and the affected people. Under the social and livelihood cooperation framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China has provided 4,000 tents, 50,000 blankets and 50,000 pieces of waterproof canvas, which have been delivered to the frontlines of disaster relief in Pakistan, the spokesperson noted. The spokesperson added that Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed sympathy to Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over the disaster. Considering the current situation, China has decided to provide another batch of emergency humanitarian supplies, including 25,000 tents and other supplies in dire need, the spokesperson said, adding that the Red Cross Society of China will provide 300,000 U.S. dollars in emergency cash assistance to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.”
Third, a report on Wei Fenghe’s comments (English report) at the SCO Defense Ministers meeting. Wei did not travel to Tashkent for the meeting, but spoke via video link. The report says:
“Wei said that the human society is facing multiple crises and severe challenges rarely seen in history. The more (we face) times of difficulties and crisis, the more we must work together to overcome difficulties. The Global Security Initiative (GSI) proposed by the Chinese President Xi Jinping has provided a right solution to international security challenges. China is willing to work with other countries to uphold international fairness, justice and world peace and tranquillity.”
“He stressed that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan and the Taiwan question is China's internal affair. China firmly opposes, condemns and takes resolute countermeasures to the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to China's Taiwan region in early August. China's position has been widely understood and supported by more than 170 countries and international organizations in the world, which China appreciates.”
He added that “the defense departments and militaries of the SCO member states should foster the concept of a security community, lay a solid foundation for cooperation, improve operational systems and enrich cooperation contents, deepen SCO defense and security cooperation, and make joint efforts to build a solid barrier for common and universal security.”
Next, there’s a one-line report about Xia Baolong, vice-chairman of the CPPCC’s National Committee and president of the Chinese side of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development, met with Russian ambassador Andrey Denisov.
Page 4: A report informing us that the number of trade associations and chambers of commerce in China has reached 113,900. This includes 886 national trade associations, 16,300 provincial trade associations, 45,500 municipal trade associations and 51,100 county trade associations. The national trade associations and chambers of commerce have more than 7.46 million corporate members with total assets worth around 350 billion yuan. The report adds that as of 2021, 70,428 trade associations and chambers of commerce had been decoupled from administrative organs.
Page 8: A report on bond issuance in July. The report says that in July, China’s bonds worth a total of 4,859.03 billion yuan were issued Among them, central government bonds were at 1,053.58 billion yuan, local government bonds were at 406.31 billion yuan, financial bonds were at 762.96 billion yuan, corporate credit bonds were at 1,138.69 billion yuan, the issuance of credit asset-backed securities were at 9.74 billion yuan, and interbank certificates of deposit were at 1,464.50 billion yuan.
By the end of July, the balance of custody in the bond market was 141.9 trillion yuan. This included:
balance of treasury bonds is 23.5 trillion yuan
balance of local government bonds is of 34.5 trillion yuan
balance of financial bonds is 32.8 trillion yuan
balance of corporate credit bonds is 32.2 trillion yuan
balance of credit asset-backed securities is 2.5 trillion yuan
balance of interbank deposit certificates is 14.4 trillion yuan
balance of over-the-counter bonds of commercial banks is 43.22 billion yuan.
In July, the cash transaction in the interbank bond market was 23.5 trillion yuan, with an average daily transaction of 1,120.59 billion yuan, up 21.8% year-on-year and 4.4% quarter-on-quarter. Transactions in the interbank money market totaled 146.5 trillion yuan, up 37.8% year-on-year and 4.7% quarter-on-quarter. In July, the monthly weighted average interest rate of interbank pledged repo was 1.33%, down 24 basis points from the previous month; the monthly weighted average interest rate of interbank lending was 1.35%, down 21 basis points from the previous month.
本报北京8月24日电 （记者吴秋余）中国人民银行发布的金融市场运行情况显示，7月份，我国债券市场共发行各类债券48590.3亿元。其中国债发行10535.8亿元，地方政府债券发行4063.1亿元，金融债券发行7629.6亿元，公司信用类债券发行11386.9亿元，信贷资产支持证券发行97.4亿元，同业存单发行14645.0亿元。 截至7月末，债券市场托管余额为141.9万亿元。其中，国债托管余额23.5万亿元，地方政府债券托管余额34.5万亿元，金融债券托管余额32.8万亿元，公司信用类债券托管余额32.2万亿元，信贷资产支持证券托管余额2.5万亿元，同业存单托管余额14.4万亿元。商业银行柜台债券托管余额432.2亿元。 7月份，银行间债券市场现券成交23.5万亿元，日均成交11205.9亿元，同比增加21.8%，环比增加4.4%；银行间货币市场成交共计146.5万亿元，同比增加37.8%，环比增加4.7%。7月份，银行间质押式回购月加权平均利率为1.33%，环比下降24个基点；同业拆借月加权平均利率为1.35%，环比下降21个基点.
Page 11: On the theory page, the lead article is in praise of the new outline on Xi’s economic thought, which is a scientific guide to the high-quality development of China's economy in the new era. The first section of the article praises Xi’s theoretical contribution to Marxist economic thought. The second section points out the key aspects of Xi’s thought:
Adhere to innovation as the “primary driving force for development and the strategic support for building a modern economic system…put innovation at the core of the overall national development, promote scientific and technological self-reliance, strengthen the national strategic scientific and technological strength, lay a solid foundation for key core technologies, further highlight the dominant position of technological innovation of enterprises, and speed up the construction a world-leading innovative talent center.” 坚持创新发展，必须把创新摆在国家发展全局的核心位置，推进科技自立自强，强化国家战略科技力量，打好关键核心技术攻坚战，进一步突出企业的技术创新主体地位，加快建设世界重要人才中心和创新高地.
“Adhere to coordinated development and solve the problem of unbalanced development. Coordination is not only the means and goal of development, but also the standard and yardstick for evaluating development. China’s uncoordinated development is a long-standing problem, which is prominently manifested in the relationships among regions, urban and rural areas, economy and society, material and spiritual civilisation.”坚持协调发展，解决发展不平衡问题。协调既是发展手段又是发展目标，同时还是评价发展的标准和尺度。我国发展不协调是一个长期存在的问题，突出表现在区域、城乡、经济和社会、物质文明和精神文明等关系上.
Adhere to green development and solve the problem of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
Adhere to open development and solve the problem of linkage between internal and external development. Opening to the outside world is China's basic national policy, which cannot be shaken at any time. At present, the key is to improve the quality of opening to the outside world and the internal and external linkage of development. 坚持开放发展，解决发展内外联动问题。对外开放是我国的基本国策，任何时候都不能动摇，当前的关键是提高对外开放的质量和发展的内外联动性.
Adhere to shared development and solve the problem of social fairness and justice. In this, the authors talk about better sharing the fruits of reform and development.
The third, and final, section suggests policy actions:
Accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, which entails adherence to dual circulation, building a unified national market, enhancing the domestic demand system and optimisation and upgrading of the industrial chain and supply chain.
Accelerate the improvement of the socialist market economic system, which entails accelerating the construction of a high-standard market system, expanding the scope of market-oriented allocation of factors, improving the property rights protection system with fairness as the core principle, and creating a market-oriented and legalised international business environment. It also involves improving the macroeconomic governance system, strengthening the counter-cyclical adjustment of fiscal policy and monetary policy, and creating a fair and competitive market environment for all kinds of actors. It also involves the need to standardise and guide the healthy development of capital according to law, setting up ‘traffic lights’ for capital, comprehensively improving the efficiency of capital governance, and promoting the sound and common development of all kinds of capital. 加快完善社会主义市场经济体制。既要发挥市场经济的长处，又要发挥社会主义制度的优越性，实现有效市场和有为政府更好结合。加快建设高标准市场体系，扩大要素市场化配置范围，健全以公平为核心原则的产权保护制度，打造市场化法治化国际化营商环境。健全宏观经济治理体系，强化财政政策、货币政策的逆周期调节作用，为各类主体创造公平竞争的市场环境。依法规范和引导资本健康发展，为资本设置“红绿灯”，全面提升资本治理效能，促进各类资本良性发展、共同发展.
Accelerate higher-level economic opening. This includes improving the management system of national treatment plus negative list before foreign investment is admitted, improving the national security review system of foreign investment, and establishing and improving the management system of negative list of cross-border service trade. Go global at a high level, promote the high-quality development of BRI, innovate the way of overseas investment, and improve the laws, policies and service systems to promote and protect overseas investment. 加快建设更高水平开放型经济新体制。吸引和集聚国际优质资源，支持企业充分利用国际国内两个市场、两种资源。坚持高质量引进来，健全外商投资准入前国民待遇加负面清单管理制度，健全外商投资国家安全审查等制度，建立健全跨境服务贸易负面清单管理制度。实现高水平走出去，推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展，创新对外投资方式，健全促进和保障境外投资的法律、政策和服务体系.
Page 12: There’s a piece by Wang Sheng from the National Society of Taiwan Studies, basically reiterating key points from the white paper on Taiwan that was published a few weeks ago.
Page 17: The entire page is dedicated to a long Xinhua report talking about 11 “facts” about Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. You can read the full English version here. This is useful if you want a compilation of all the arguments that we’ve heard from Beijing since August 2. Some bits that I found useful to note:
First, here’s the we carried out our drills to uphold international law and safeguard developing countries argument:
“China has made utmost diplomatic efforts to avoid this crisis that is initiated by the US and imposed on China. Over the past four months, the Chinese side has made clear to the US side, once and again, through multiple channels and at various levels, its solemn position that China resolutely opposes the US House Speaker’s visit to Taiwan. China pointed out that this provocative US move would trigger a crisis and that China would not sit idly by. We urged the US side to avoid any illusions and misjudgments, and warned that all the consequences arising from the visit shall be entirely borne by the US side. All the countermeasures taken by the Chinese government in response to Pelosi’s visit are what China is fully entitled to do to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are necessary and timely defensive countermeasures aimed at safeguarding China’s sovereignty and security, and stopping the US and the “Taiwan independence” forces from going further down the wrong and dangerous path. The relevant measures are a warning to the provocateurs and an effort to safeguard peace across the Taiwan Strait and stability in the region. China’s resolute countermeasures against Pelosi’s visit are not only a necessary move to safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also a legitimate action to safeguard the basic norms of international relations and the international order established after the Second World War…If China took no countermeasure against the US actions that interfere in the internal affairs and undermine the sovereignty of another country, and failed to resolutely resist the reckless and irresponsible US moves, the purposes of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity would be reduced to empty words. Any member of the developing world that accounts for 80 percent of the world’s population may become the next target at any time. By firmly rejecting the US provocations on the Taiwan question, China is saying no to the US hegemony and bullying, and upholding international fairness and justice.”
Second, here’s Beijing being just a whisker shy of claiming the Taiwan Strait as its own waters. What’s also worth noting is the stated objective of the drills.
“It is legitimate and lawful for the Chinese military to conduct military exercises and training in the waters near China’s Taiwan Island. The US move to use Taiwan to contain China is the root cause of troubles that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and even the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The military exercises and training by the Chinese side in the waters near China’s Taiwan Island were conducted in an open, transparent and professional manner. The Chinese side has issued safety reminders and navigational warnings in advance. China’s activities fully comply with its domestic law, international law and customary international practice. The normal military exercises and training by the Chinese military in the waters near China’s Taiwan Island are aimed at safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, deterring the US attempt to use Taiwan to contain China, shattering the Taiwan authorities’ fantasy of seeking US support for “Taiwan independence”, and maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait and stability in the region.”
Third, there’s also an interesting listing of countries and governments that have issued statements supporting the “the one-China principle.”