Elderly Care Services Plan - 10 Clears Commentary: Major Country Diplomacy - Ukraine Crisis: Wang-Blinken Call - Sanctioning Raytheon & Lockheed Martin - Zhong Sheng on West's 'Sense of Helplessness'
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Tuesday, February 22, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: It’s a rather unexciting front page today. There’s a long piece about building China into a sports power. This tells us that since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has placed the cause of sports within the framework of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy. It tells us that:
“Sports carry the dream of national prosperity and national rejuvenation…General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasised: ‘To accelerate the construction of a strong sports country, we must adhere to the people-centred ideology, take the people as the main body of sports development, and take meeting the people's fitness needs and promoting people's all-round development as the starting point and end point of sports work. Implement the national strategy for national fitness and continuously improve people’s health’.”
Next, there’s a report (English report) about Wang Yang meeting with a delegation led by Wu Cheng-tien, chairman of Taiwan’s New Party. Xinhua reports:
“Welcoming the delegation's attendance at the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Wang said the Beijing Olympics are the common home ground for all Chinese people, and the success of the Games was the common glory for all Chinese people. The participation of Taiwan compatriots in the Winter Olympics in various ways vividly demonstrated that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are a family and jointly pursue the Chinese Dream, he said, noting that Taiwan compatriots cannot and will not be absent from the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Wang lauded the New Party's support for national reunification and its opposition to ‘Taiwan independence’, as well as its efforts to advance the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the peaceful reunification of the motherland. Wang expressed hope that all Taiwan compatriots will realize that national reunification is a historical trend, resolutely oppose the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" and intervention by external forces, and help to form a formidable front for national reunification.”
Third, China’s State Council has released a plan for the development of the country’s elderly care services system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).
The ‘Plan’ deploys 9 specific tasks. These include:
building a solid social security and basic elderly care service network
expanding the coverage of inclusive elderly care services
strengthening the capacity of home and community elderly care services
improving the elderly health support system
vigorously developing the silver-haired economy
practising the positive concept of ageing,
creating an elderly-friendly social environment
strengthening the support system of development factors
safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly
Xinhua’s English report says that China will step up institutional innovation, and boost policy support and financial input to enable the elderly to share in China's development achievements, according to the plan. The report adds that:
“It also underlines the development of the ‘silver economy’, which, according to a government official, requires the country to provide ‘equal, attainable services and products for seniors with particular difficulties’. The country should give full play to both state and social capital in expanding the domestic market, and create systematic, integrated policies to ensure the sound and sustainable development of the silver economy, the official said. China also plans to establish about 10 industrial parks dedicated to the silver economy and build a string of cities into models in this regard, the official said, stressing that facilities to be used for elderly care will be prioritized in the construction layout. At least 55 percent of the funds raised by the country's welfare lottery will be used to support elderly care services from 2022, and elderly care institutions are encouraged to explore further approaches to financing, the official said.”
Page 2: Today we have the 9th in the 10 Clears series. Here’s the 9th clear:
“Major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics aims to serve national rejuvenation, promote human progress, and facilitate efforts to foster a new type of international relations and build a human community with a shared future.”
Some of the examples of China’s major country diplomacy highlighted are:
“In August 2021, American troops withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving the local people hungry and poor, and bringing severe challenges to regional security. ‘Everyone is part of a community of destiny and a community of security. At critical moments, we should work together to safeguard peace and stability, which are more precious than gold’. Attending the joint summit of leaders of SCO and CSTO member States on Afghanistan, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward three suggestions on Afghanistan — promoting the smooth transition of Afghanistan as soon as possible; engaging in contact and dialogue with Afghanistan; and helping the Afghan people tide over the difficulties. Subsequently, China delivered batches of food, supplies and COVID-19 vaccines to neighbouring Afghanistan to help the local people.” 2021年8月，美军撤离阿富汗，给当地人民留下饥饿与贫困，为地区安全带来严峻挑战. “大家是命运共同体，也是安全共同体。关键时刻应该共同发挥作用，共同维护比金子还珍贵的和平稳定.” 出席上合组织和集安组织成员国领导人阿富汗问题联合峰会，习近平总书记就阿富汗问题提出3点意见建议——推动阿富汗局势尽快平稳过渡；同阿富汗开展接触对话；帮助阿富汗人民渡过难关. 随后，中国一批批粮食、物资、新冠疫苗运抵邻国阿富汗，为当地人民纾忧解困、雪中送炭.
2021年8月，美军撤离阿富汗，给当地人民留下饥饿与贫困，为地区安全带来严峻挑战。“大家是命运共同体，也是安全共同体。关键时刻应该共同发挥作用，共同维护比金子还珍贵的和平稳定。”出席上合组织和集安组织成员国领导人阿富汗问题联合峰会，习近平总书记就阿富汗问题提出3点意见建议——推动阿富汗局势尽快平稳过渡；同阿富汗开展接触对话；帮助阿富汗人民渡过难关。随后，中国一批批粮食、物资、新冠疫苗运抵邻国阿富汗，为当地人民纾忧解困、雪中送炭.
“Actively participating in the resolution of regional hotspot issues, such as the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iran nuclear issue, Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Middle East, Syria, etc. Among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has dispatched the largest number of peacekeepers, and encouraged the five nuclear powers to issue a joint statement on preventing nuclear war and arms race...Under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping, China in the new era has not only developed itself through safeguarding world peace, but also safeguarded world peace through its own development. China has always been a pillar of world peace and stability.” 积极参与朝鲜半岛核、伊朗核、阿富汗、缅甸、中东、叙利亚等重大地区热点问题的解决，成为派出维和人员最多的联合国安理会常任理事国，推动五核国发表关于防止核战争与避免军备竞赛的联合声明……在习近平总书记引领下，新时代中国既通过维护世界和平发展自己，又通过自身发展维护世界和平，始终做世界和平稳定的中流砥柱.
After this the piece talks about the China International Import Expo, FOCAC, provides a summary of China’s foreign policy, the notion of the idea of the Community of Shared Future for Mankind, China’s ties with developing countries, pandemic diplomacy, Belt and Road, etc.
I want to focus on this summary of China’s approach to the world in the article:
“As history becomes more and more ‘world history’ and countries interact with each other more frequently, what rules should international relations follow? General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: ‘In order to keep up with the pace of the times, we cannot be in the 21st century, while living in the past, in the old era of colonial expansion, in the old framework of Cold War mentality and zero-sum games’. Based on the accurate grasp of the international trend and the inheritance and development of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, General Secretary Xi Jinping has creatively proposed to promote the construction of a new type of international relations of mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, providing a Chinese answer to the question of the future of international relations. In February 2022, the Heads of State of China and Russia held the ‘Spring Festival Meeting’ at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. This was the 38th meeting between the two leaders in recent years. During this meeting, the two sides issued a joint statement on international relations and global sustainable development in the new era, focusing on the common positions of China and Russia in terms of their perspectives of democracy, development, security and order. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: ‘Major-country relations bear on global strategic stability, and all major countries shoulder special responsibilities’. With more resources and stronger capabilities, only harmony among major countries can lead to peace in the world, and only cooperation among major countries can lead to global development. From frequent meetings between the top leaders of the two countries to all-round progress in practical cooperation across the board, China-Russia relations have developed at a high level, setting a good example of a new type of international relations.”
“From advancing the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to clearly putting forward the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation for China-US relations, China has emphasised that the rudder should be stabilised, so that the two giant ships of China and the United States can move forward together against the wind and waves without drifting, stalling or colliding; from building the four partnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization between China and Europe, to promoting BRICS cooperation, China is committed to promoting coordination and cooperation among major powers and building a framework of relations between major powers that is generally stable and balanced.”
“General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly expounded China’s view on international relations from the historical and realistic perspective: ‘All countries are equal members of the international community, regardless of size, strength and development state’. ‘Since ancient times, China has advocated that ‘the strong and rich should not bully the weak and poor,’ and it is well aware of the principle that ‘a belligerent country, however big it may be, is doomed’. ‘Can the old road of colonialism and hegemonism still work? The answer is no…Developing countries have always been in a fundamental position in China’s foreign interactions. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: ‘The vast number of developing countries are China’s natural allies in international affairs, so we should adhere to the correct view of justice and interests and do a good job of unity and cooperation with developing countries’.”
在历史越来越“成为世界历史”的今天，国家间互动愈发频繁，国际关系应遵循什么样的规则？习近平总书记指出：“要跟上时代前进步伐，就不能身体已进入21世纪，而脑袋还停留在过去，停留在殖民扩张的旧时代里，停留在冷战思维、零和博弈老框框内。”基于对国际大势的准确把握，对和平共处五项原则的继承与发扬，习近平总书记开创性地提出推动构建相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系，为“国际关系向何处去”给出中国答案。2022年2月，北京钓鱼台国宾馆，中俄元首举行“新春之会”，这也是近年来两位领导人举行的第三十八次会晤。此次会晤，双方发表两国关于新时代国际关系和全球可持续发展的联合声明，集中阐述中俄在民主观、发展观、安全观、秩序观方面的共同立场。习近平总书记指出：“大国关系事关全球战略稳定，大国肩上都承担着特殊责任。”拥有更多的资源、具备更强的能力，大国之间和睦世界才能和平，大国相互合作才有全球发展。从两国最高领导人频繁会晤到双方各领域务实合作全方位推进，中俄关系高水平发展，树立了新型国际关系的典范。从推进中俄新时代全面战略协作伙伴关系，到明确提出“相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢”的中美关系三点原则，强调要把稳舵，使中美两艘巨轮迎着风浪共同前行，不偏航、不失速，更不能相撞；从打造中欧和平、增长、改革、文明四大伙伴关系，到推动金砖合作走稳走实走远……中国致力于推进大国协调合作，推动构建总体稳定、均衡发展的大国关系框架。习近平总书记从历史与现实的角度深刻阐述中国的国际关系观：“各国体量有大小、国力有强弱、发展有先后，但都是国际社会平等一员”“中国自古倡导‘强不执弱，富不侮贫’，深知‘国虽大，好战必亡’的道理”“殖民主义、霸权主义的老路还能走得通吗？答案是否定的。不仅走不通，而且一定会碰得头破血流”……在中国对外交往中，发展中国家历来处于基础性地位。习近平总书记指出：“广大发展中国家是我国在国际事务中的天然同盟军，要坚持正确义利观，做好同发展中国家团结合作的大文章。”
Quick thought: I think this section is really useful to keep in mind as we see events unfold between Russia and Ukraine. It informs of the different goals that China is seeking to pursue. Often these do not sit well with each other. For instance, Beijing does not want a return to Cold War-style zero-sum games, yet increasingly that’s the direction that we seem to be heading towards in the Indo-Pacific and now Europe, and there’s little that Beijing is doing to adjust its policies to prevent this from happening. China sees developing countries as allies and makes the case for the strong not bullying the weak. But that’s not the reality in its own neighbourhood. Also, its support for Russian actions in Ukraine might not sit well with the developing world, at least if one is to read Kenya’s UNSC statement.
Kenya makes strong statement opposing the undermining of the sovereignty & territorial integrity of #Ukraine during the emergency meeting of the #SecurityCouncil at 9pm on 21st February. See full statement delivered below 👇🏿China wants ties with the US to not drift, stall or lead to confrontation, but this is proving increasingly difficult as it seeks to shape a “new type of international relations.” That said, I think it’s important to note the emphasis given to ties with Russia. I don’t think one should assume that this relationship is a matter of convenience; or that there’s second-guessing of the Xi-Putin statement in Beijing. There is strategic congruence between the two sides. They both seek a new world order with major powers having a more “equal” say in fashioning this order. This does not mean there won’t be differences over specific policy actions and their outcomes. These, however, are likely to be tactical divergences, and it will be worth watching how these are managed. One last thought, it is clear that both sides believe that a certain use of force is needed to build this “new type of international relations.” Where they might differ is on the tools that are used and the extent to which force is used. Finally, I want to share this excerpt from the Xi-Putin joint statement, just to underscore that I am very skeptical about the notion that the Chinese side has been caught unaware on Ukraine:
“Russia and China stand against attempts by external forces to undermine security and stability in their common adjacent regions, intend to counter interference by outside forces in the internal affairs of sovereign countries under any pretext, oppose colour revolutions, and will increase cooperation in the aforementioned areas.”
Page 3: Basically two pieces from the MoFA’s press conference yesterday.
CCTV: After the US announced a plan to sell $100 million worth of arms to Taiwan on February 7, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said in response that China will take legitimate and strong measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty and security interests and people may wait and see what measures China will take. Do you have more information to offer at the moment?
Wang Wenbin: The US arms sales to the Taiwan region of China seriously violate the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué, gravely undermine China’s sovereignty and security interests, and severely harm China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this. To safeguard China’s sovereignty and security interests, the Chinese government has decided to take countermeasures in accordance with relevant stipulations in China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law on the infringing acts of Raytheon Technologies Corporation and Lockheed Martin Corporation, both of which are military industrial enterprises that have long participated in the US’ arms sales to China’s Taiwan region. China once again urges the US government and relevant sides to abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués, and stop arms sales to and military ties with Taiwan. China will continue to take all necessary measures to resolutely uphold its sovereignty and security interests in light of the situation’s development.
And the other exchange about the 50th anniversary of Richard Nixon’s ice-breaking meeting in 1972 with Mao Zedong. Regarding that, Wang said:
“The root cause of the current problems in China-US relations is that some people in the US, based on seriously misguided perception of China, regard China as a major strategic competitor or even an “imaginary enemy” and want to contain China in all dimensions. I want to stress that China’s development only aims to provide a better life for the Chinese people, not to challenge or replace the US. The US side should not seek to change or even suppress China. The two countries have far more common interests than differences. Both countries stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. It is inevitable that there will be differences between us. The key is to conduct candid communication to effectively manage those differences, prevent strategic miscalculation and avoid conflict and confrontation. An important inspiration from the Shanghai Communiqué and the 50th anniversary of President Nixon’s visit to China is that countries with different social systems and development paths can well expand common interests and coexist peacefully as long as they adhere to mutual respect, seek common ground while shelving differences and pursue win-win cooperation. We hope that the US side will work with China to draw experience and wisdom from the history of the past 50 years, carry forward the spirit of the Shanghai Communiqué and bring China-US relations back onto the track of sound and steady development.”
Page 13: Two pieces to note. First, an article by Li Xueyong, the chairman of the National People’s Congress Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee. I think it’s interesting how much of this talks about using Xi’s ideas to shape laws. Li writes that:
“Adhere to the overall leadership of the Party and grasp the correct direction of legislation. Deeply understand and grasp the supreme political principle of adhering to the overall leadership of the Party, deeply understand and grasp the decisive significance of the ‘two establishments’, and effectively strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’, strengthen the ‘four self-confidences’, and achieve the ‘two safeguards’, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on education, science, culture and health into the legislative work, and consciously benchmark with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and the Party Central Committee’s decision-making arrangements.
“During the evaluation of infectious disease prevention and control law, we concentrated on studying the spirit of the important speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the symposium of experts and scholars for three times, and on the basis of in-depth study and understanding, we put forward the legal revision framework and suggestions for the revision of articles. In the process of revising the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Progress of Science and Technology, we should follow up and implement the spirit of the important speeches delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the symposium of scientists, the meeting of academicians of the two academies and the 10th National Congress of China Association for Science and Technology, so that the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee on scientific and technological innovation can be effectively implemented by law. Actively promote the revision and deliberation of the education law and the population and family planning law, and ensure that the Party’s ideas become the will of the country through legal procedures.” 坚持党的全面领导，把握立法正确方向。深刻认识和把握坚持党的全面领导这一最高政治原则，深刻理解和把握“两个确立”的决定性意义，切实增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，把习近平法治思想、习近平总书记关于教科文卫领域的重要论述全面贯彻到立法工作中，自觉同习近平总书记重要指示批示、党中央决策部署对标对表。开展传染病防治法评估时，先后3次集中学习习近平总书记在专家学者座谈会上的重要讲话精神，在深入学习领会的基础上，提出法律修改框架和条文修改建议。修改科学技术进步法过程中，及时跟进学习贯彻习近平总书记在党的十九届五中全会、科学家座谈会、两院院士大会和中国科协第十次全国代表大会等会议上的重要讲话精神，使党中央关于科技创新的决策部署通过法律得到有效落实。积极推进教育法、人口与计划生育法修改、审议工作，确保党的主张通过法定程序成为国家意志。
After this Li lists certain points:
Adhere to whole-process democracy, i.e., consultation on legislation.
Adhere to the problem orientation and improve the targeted effectiveness of legislation
Adhere to value guidance and promote the combination of rule by law and rule by virtue. This entails adherence to the socialist core values to guide legislative revisions
Adhere to the systematic concept and promote legislation in the field of education, culture, health as a whole
The other report (English report) is about Xue Heng, a former senior political advisor from Liaoning Province, who has been expelled from the Party over serious violations of Party discipline and laws. The decision was made following an investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission upon the approval of the CPC Central Committee. Xue was previously vice chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He was found to have lost his ideals and convictions, betrayed his original aspirations and mission, and resisted a probe by authorities, the anti-graft body said. Xue was also found to have accepted gifts and money in violation of the eight-point code for Party and government conduct. He failed to report personal information as required, and indulged in the sale of official positions, the anti-graft body said. Other violations include unjustified business operations, abuse of power, and reckless intervention in judicial procedures and market economy activities.”
Page 17: On the international page, there’s no mention of Ukraine. But there is a Zhong Sheng commentary, which to me is very telling of the mindset that we should keep in mind when thinking about China’s policy reactions to the developments between Russia and the West.
The piece basically talks about the theme of the Munich Security Conference, arguing that the notion of “helplessness” is reflective of the “social mindset in Western countries.” It says that “from ‘Westlessness’ two years ago to this year's focus on ‘helplessness’, the conference continued to pay attention to uncertainty. As the Munich Security Report 2022 points out, many people in Western countries feel that they have lost control of global affairs and believe that it is impossible to meet humanity’s greatest challenges. It should be pointed out that this ‘sense of helplessness’ has ‘Western roots’ that cannot be ignored. It is a manifestation of Western countries' failure to adjust themselves in time to cope with the great changes unseen in the world in a century, and thus lack of measures to deal with global challenges.” 慕尼黑安全会议的关注重点，很大程度上反映了西方国家真实的社会心态。从两年前将“西方缺失”设为主题，到今年聚焦“无助感”，会议延续对不确定性的关注。正如《2022年慕尼黑安全报告》所指出的，西方国家很多人感到失去了对全球事务的掌控，认为已无可能应对人类最大挑战。应该说，这种“无助感”有着不容忽视的“西方根源”。它是西方国家没有及时因应世界百年未有之大变局进行自我调整、因而缺少应对全球性挑战之策的体现.
The article then adds: “To get rid of the sense of helplessness, it is imperative to establish a correct concept of security…All countries must establish a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable new security concept, and abandon the wrong idea of exclusive and absolute security.” 摆脱无助感，当务之急是树立正确的安全观...各国必须树立共同、综合、合作、可持续的新安全观，摒弃独享安全、绝对安全的错误想法. – The example used to make this point is primarily the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s a broader point that’s being made here.
“To get rid of the sense of helplessness, the long-term solution is to maintain multilateralism and the international order. For some time now, individual major powers have revived the Cold War mentality and created camp confrontation; they have engaged in unilateral sanctions and undermined the international legal system; weaved all kinds of cliques and provoked confrontation; have been enthusiastic about decoupling and building walls, moving against the trend of globalisation; sought to work from a position of strength, advocating hegemony and bullying. These practices run counter to the general trend of world multi-polarization and democratization of international relations. State-to-state exchanges cannot be simply defined by competition, let alone we reverse the course of history and repeat the mistakes of alliance and confrontation. All countries must make the right choice and jointly build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation. Countries must be committed to solidarity and cooperation to jointly advocate and practice true multilateralism. The authority of the UN must be upheld, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be upheld. No country can replace international rules with its own will, let alone override international rules.” 摆脱无助感，长远之计是维护多边主义和国际秩序。一段时间以来，个别大国重拾冷战思维，制造阵营对立；大搞单边制裁，破坏国际法制；编织各种圈子，挑动对立对抗；热衷脱钩筑墙，逆全球化而动；鼓吹实力地位，崇尚霸权霸凌。这些做法与世界多极化、国际关系民主化大势背道而驰。国与国的交往不能简单地以竞争定义，更不能开历史的倒车，重蹈结盟对抗的覆辙。各国必须作出正确抉择，共同构建相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系。各国必须致力团结合作，共同倡导和践行真正的多边主义。联合国的权威必须维护，《联合国宪章》的宗旨和原则必须坚守。任何国家都不能以本国意志取代国际规则，更不能凌驾于国际规则之上.
Other Stories:
On the international page, a report on the Danish documentary on the CIA supporting secret experiments in the 1960s on around 311 children from various orphanages in order establish the link between heredity and environment in the development of schizophrenia. I can see international media reports about this documentary from December. So strange that this ran today.
On the theory page, the lead piece is by Chen Jinlong, Dean of the School of Marxism, South China Normal University, on persisting with Chinese-style modernisation. I didn’t think that there were any new arguments. But it’s worth noting this sense of there needing to be unique Chinese solutions to matters of governance, and that these have/can have global resonance.
Finally, two bits that are not in the paper. First, here’s China’s Zhang Jun’s statement at the latest UNSC meeting on Ukraine.
“‘We welcome and encourage every effort for a diplomatic solution, and call on all parties concerned to continue dialogue and consultation, and seek reasonable solutions to address each other’s concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect,’ Zhang told the Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine. ‘China has been paying close attention to the latest development of the situation in Ukraine. We have fully elaborated on our position at the previous two meetings of the Security Council,’ said Zhang, noting that all parties concerned must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions. The envoy underlined that the current situation in Ukraine ‘is a result of many complex factors. China always makes its own position according to the merits of the matter itself. We believe that all countries should solve international disputes by peaceful means in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter’.”
Second, Secretary Blinken called Wang Yi later. The Chinese side has put out two readouts. The one on Ukraine says:
“Wang Yi said that China is concerned about the evolution of the situation in Ukraine. China’s position on the Ukrainian issue is consistent; the legitimate security concerns of any country should be respected, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld. The evolution of the Ukrainian issue to this day is closely related to the delay in the effective implementation of the New Minsk Agreement. China will continue to engage with all parties according to the merits of the matter. The situation in Ukraine is getting worse. China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint, realise the importance of implementing the principle of indivisibility of security, ease the situation and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation.” 布林肯通报了美方对当前乌克兰局势的看法和立场。王毅表示，中方对乌克兰局势演变表示关注。中方在乌克兰问题上的立场是一贯的，任何国家的合理安全关切都应得到尊重，联合国宪章的宗旨和原则应当得到维护。乌克兰问题演变至今，与新明斯克协议迟迟未能有效执行密切相关。中方将继续按照事情本身的是非曲直，与各方接触。乌克兰局势正趋于恶化。中方再次呼吁各方保持克制，认识到落实安全不可分割原则的重要性，通过对话谈判缓和事态，化解分歧. — I guess that bit about the delay in the Minsk agreement accords with the Russian view. While Putin did say yesterday that “there are no prospects” for the implementation of the Minsk agreement, Reuters reports that Sergei Lavrov told his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Monday that the Minsk agreements are the only way for long-term regulation of the Ukrainian internal crisis.
On the DPRK issue, the readout says: “Wang Yi said that the core of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is the issue between the US and the DPRK. The US side should pay attention to the legitimate and legitimate concerns of the DPRK and take substantive actions. China advocates direct dialogue between the US and the DPRK and will, as always, play a constructive role in promoting the settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.”
The other readout discusses China-US ties. It says:
“The Chinese foreign minister said that the most important thing in grasping and advancing China-U.S. relations is to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. He stressed that China is willing to effectively manage differences and stabilize China-U.S. relations in line with the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping. According to Wang, the United States has recently launched the so-called new version of the ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’, publicly listed China as the top regional challenge, and tried to include the strategy of ‘using Taiwan to contain China’ into the U.S. regional strategy, which is obviously sending a wrong signal of beleaguering and containing China. Since there are both competition and cooperation between China and the United States, bilateral relations cannot be defined simply by competition, Wang said, adding that some U.S. officials have trumpeted a long-term fierce competition with China, which is likely to evolve into a full-blown confrontation between China and the United States. China urges the U.S. side to take concrete actions to honor the commitments made by President Biden, Wang noted, adding that Washington cannot say one thing yet do the opposite…”