China's UNSC Priorities - Philippines Row - ACFTU's Political Loyalty & Priorities
Here are the stories and pieces from the May 5, 2021, People’s Daily edition that I found noteworthy.
Page 1: We’re still in holiday mode. The lead story on the page is about the popularity of “red tourism” during the holidays. The piece details activities in different parts of the country. So for example, in Shanghai, there was something of a scavenger hunt it seems. Basically, teams go through specifically-designed red routes, punching cards and reliving the Party’s history. In Inner Mongolia, there are activities of singing songs and other cultural events around the red theme organised by museums. The Harbin Museum had a photo exhibition.
In Wenjia City, there was a 3D exhibition around the 1927 Autumn Harvest Uprising. The idea behind highlighting this in the piece is to say that new technologies and innovative methods are being used. The final section of the report is about the use of stories of martyrs and role models to inspire people.
Next, a piece about how wonderful it is that despite the May Day holiday many people have continued to work. This piece celebrates construction workers, researchers, engineers, doctors and so on.
Page 2: A report about the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps party history learning work.
“The XPCC attaches great importance to closely integrating the study of party history with the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, especially the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on the work of Xinjiang and the XPCC. Taking party history learning and education as a major opportunity, it is necessary to ensure that actions are not distorted. At the same time, targeted efforts will be made to strengthen the study and education of the XPCC’s border areas…”
Another important bit is the discussion on the XPCC playing a role to “adjust the social structure of the corps, promote cultural exchanges, promote regional coordination and optimize population resources.” This is referring to the Party’s assimilationist policies. And this bit where Zhang Chuanhui, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of Tarim University, talks about putting the history of the party and the history of the corps into an ideological and political context in order to guide young people to become a new generation of frontier guards.
Page 3: First, a piece about (English report) China’s agenda at the UNSC after it took over the rotating chair. Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said that his work will focus on:
firmly upholding and practicing multilateralism,
supporting the United Nations in playing its core role;
promoting solidarity and cooperation to respond to the challenges of the pandemic,
promoting the recovery and development of countries in conflict areas;
abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,
promoting the political settlement of regional hotspot issues;
promoting the strengthening of the UN's capacity and mechanism building
To begin with, he said he will be convening a high-level meeting on “Maintenance of international peace and security: Upholding multilateralism and the UN-centered international system.”
Two more meetings that he has proposed are:
May 24: United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Improving the Safety of Peacekeepers
May 17: Emerging Technology's Impact on International Peace and Security
Second, China’s MoFA’s spokesperson’s remarks on the recent outburst by Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Twitter. Wang Wenbin said that “facts have proven time and time again that megaphone diplomacy can only undermine mutual trust rather than change reality. We hope that certain individual from the Philippine side will mind basic manners and act in ways that suit his status.” He added that “the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) is China's territory and its adjacent waters are under China's jurisdiction. China urges the Philippine side to earnestly respect China's sovereignty and jurisdiction.”
So what’s all this about? Well Locsin cussed Beijing on Twitter following prolonged tensions regarding the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard, fishing vessels and maritime militia vessels around Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and in the areas around the Pag-asa Islands, Zamora Reef, Panata and Kota Islands, Ayungin Shoal, Quirino Atoll. The Philippines’ DFA says that the Kalayaan Island Group (in the Spratlys) and the Scarborough Shoal “are integral parts of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction.” President Rodrigo Duterte responded to all this saying that “China remains our benefactor. Just because we have a conflict with China doesn’t mean to say that we have to be rude and disrespectful.”
Page 7: A really long piece by the Office of the Leading Group of Party History Study and Education of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. I am not going to try and get into the historical aspects that the piece talks about, but it’s worth noting the key directives in the piece going ahead:
First, “trade unions must always maintain the fine tradition of consciously accepting the leadership of the party. In the new era, we must always adhere to the party’s innovative theories to arm our minds, guide practice, and promote work, thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping’s thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era…” And “improve political judgment, political insight, and political execution” along with “further enhancing the ‘four consciousnesses’, strengthening the ‘four self-confidences’ and achieving the ‘two safeguards’, while always maintaining a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core in ideological and political actions.”
Second, work must focus on “building an army of knowledge-based, skilled, and innovative workers, and make contributions to the forefront of reform, development, and stability. In the new era, we must base ourselves on the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the great changes in the world unseen in a century. We must grasp the new development stage accurately, thoroughly implement the new development concept, serve the construction of a new development pattern, and find the right work.”
Third, continue the policy of wholeheartedly relying on the working class.
“Views that ignore the growth and progress of our working class; views that ignore the role of the working class as the main force; and views that the working class is becoming more and more insignificant under the condition of scientific and technological progress are all wrong and harmful.”
Fourth, and it’s important that this comes fourth, “it is the basic duty of the trade union to always protect the legitimate rights and interests of employees...”
Fifth, promote innovation and “use the spirit of reform to plan and advance trade union work, innovate organizational systems, operating mechanisms, activities, and working methods…” It also says that in the new era, they must take the “maintenance and enhancement of the political and mass character” of unions “as the fundamental yardstick and long-term task” with a focus on strengthening work at the grassroots level.