Holiday Priorities - State Council on Foreign Trade - Xi's History Campaign Summary - CSHR on US Democracy's Drawbacks - Xiao Pei: Self-Revolution & 'Two Safeguards' - Warning US & EU on Lithuania
Hi folks,
Today’s is the last edition for 2021. I am going to take a break through next week and then return to this from Monday, January 3, 2022. Let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, and a safe and happy New Year.
Cheers,
Manoj
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Friday, December 24, 2021, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: Let’s begin with a State Council circular and its weekly meeting. First, the circular talks about how the next year is an important one, with key events set for the first few months. The circular mentions the Olympics, the new year and the Spring Festival.
“All regions and departments should follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the guiding principles of the 19th National Congress of the CPC and previous plenary sessions of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, and coordinate all work during the holiday while doing a good job in epidemic prevention and control to ensure that the people enjoy a happy and healthy holiday.”
This is followed by a 10-point guidance:
The first point is about maintaining strict COVID-19 control policies. It talks about continuing to prevent imported cases and a rebound at home. It talks about strengthening monitoring and control at public places and through travel, at restaurants, parks, scenic spots, shopping malls and supermarkets. It also talks about supervision of imported cold chain food products.
Second, ensure that pensions, unemployment benefits, payment of wages of migrants, subsidies for winter heating, subsistence allowances for the disabled, destitute, beggars and left-behind children, etc., are provided.
The third point is about ensuring the stable and secure supply of energy and electricity, ensuring food security and ensuring stability of supply and prices of consumer goods during the holidays.
The fourth point calls for publicising and implementing the spirit of the 6th Plenum and stimulating the enthusiasm of the masses to love the party, the motherland and socialism, and unite the spiritual strength of unity, enterprising and hard work. It also talks about promoting core socialist values through cultural, broadcast and online video activities and campaigns based around the theme of the new era and the Chinese dream.
The fifth point is about making appropriate arrangements in terms of travel. A lot of this is related to COVID management. It also talks about implementing a nationwide health code to support the travel of special groups such as the elderly.
The sixth point is about accidents and emergencies. This relates to supervision over equipment, construction, hazardous chemicals, fireworks, fishing vessels, mining, fire safety and weather-related emergencies.
The seventh point is about public security. This calls for relying on the Fengqiao Experience. It talks about addressing disputes at the local level, but also tackling petty crime and organised crime.
The eighth point is really interesting. It talks about having a civilised holiday and ensuring that the holidays are celebrated with good social morals. It talks about Party members and cadres, especially leading cadres, to alter their work styles and oppose food waste and extravagance. The report talks about advocating frugality. It talks about resolutely working to change certain customs and rejecting undesirable practices, such as the payment of high bride price, 厚葬薄养 (roughly: treating the living poorly while having lavish funerals when they pass), feudal superstitions, and uncivilised customs such as sacrificial sweeping and other bad practices. 坚决抵制大操大办、高额彩礼、厚葬薄养、封建迷信、不文明祭扫等不良习俗.
The ninth point is about discipline, corruption and formalism.
The final point is about being prepared for emergencies 24x7.
Next, the report on the weekly State Council meeting (English report) begins by saying that China will continue to expand opening-up, roll out measures to respond to difficulties and challenges, ensure cross-cyclical adjustments and help ease problems facing enterprises with a special focus on supporting smaller ones, as part of effort to secure business orders, anchor market expectations and underpin steady growth of foreign trade.
Li Keqiang said that “foreign trade is a major highlight in the Chinese economy this year, yet we still need to be fully prepared for the challenges in keeping foreign trade stable next year. With China’s economy so deeply integrated into the global economy, stable foreign trade is crucial to steady economic growth. Early measures must be taken wherever possible.” The report says that foreign trade is faced with rising uncertainty, instability and imbalance.
Some key points:
Tax and fee cut measures will be implemented to support trade. Export tax rebates will be processed faster, to cut the average time needed for export tax rebates to no more than six working days.
Banks will be guided toward developing new products around the needs of foreign trade enterprises, including insurance policy-based financing. The RMB exchange rate will be kept basically stable, and banks will be encouraged to conduct forward foreign exchange settlement and sales services in a targeted manner, to make foreign trade enterprises more resilient to exchange rate risks.
Terms for the underwriting and claim-settlement of export credit insurance will be improved in order to scale up support for MSMEs.
Cooperation and pair-up programs between the eastern region and the central, western and northeastern regions will be deepened, and cross-regional relocation and transfer of processing trade will be supported. Efforts will be made to ensure commodity import.
More integrated pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce will be established, and off-shore trade center cities and regions nurtured. Support for the development and use of overseas warehouses will be intensified in a market-oriented approach. The catalogue of retail imports via cross-border e-commerce will be updated and optimised, and the categories of imports will be expanded.
Irregularities such as arbitrary charges and freight gouging will be tackled in accordance with laws and regulations.
In 2022, interests on the deferred tax payments will be temporarily exempted for the domestic sales of processing trade enterprises.
Also, on RCEP: “Enterprises will be supported in seizing the opportunity of RCEP implementation, to boost competitiveness on international markets, elevate the level of trade and investment and push for upgrading by domestic industries. Enterprises will be encouraged to leverage the tax cuts in participating countries and the regional cumulation provisions on the rules of origin, to expand export of advantageous products and import of competitive products.”
Next, a report on the meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee. Li Zhanshu chaired the meeting. Li Fei, chairman of the Constitution and Law Committee of the NPC, presented a report on the draft amendments to various legislation. Xinhua reports that based on the deliberations, revisions have been made to some of the draft normative documents, and draft legal decisions have been prepared. The meeting decided to submit the revised drafts and draft decisions to the ongoing session of the NPC Standing Committee for review. The meeting also deliberated the work priorities of the NPC Standing Committee for 2022 and its work plan on legislation, oversight and deputies. For instance, the meeting heard a report on the draft decision on the number and election of deputies to the 14th NPC made by Yang Zhenwu, Secretary-General of the NPCSC.
Next, a report (English report) about Han Zheng talking about high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Xinhua reports:
“During the meeting, a video on ecological conservation problems along the belt was played and officials in charge of the issue from 11 provinces and municipalities made speeches. Ecological conservation efforts along the Yangtze River Economic Belt have seen notable progress in recent years, Han said, and in the next step, they should direct efforts toward a wide-ranging conservation strategy while avoiding large-scale development in order to promote the high-quality development of the belt. Han also stressed the importance of efforts to formulate an effective and operable territorial-space plan along the Yangtze River, implement water pollution control and water ecological restoration in the area, accelerate the function of the Yangtze River as the golden waterway, advance high-standard opening-up, and enhance the pace-setting role of the Yangtze River Delta.”
Finally, a long report about the history education campaign that was carried out this year. The report says that Xi Jinping “personally planned, deployed and promoted the party history study and education” campaign, providing direction to the whole Party. It says that on November 8th, on the first day of the 6th Plenary, meeting everyone at the Jingxi Hotel, Xi provided a review of the work done by the Politburo this year. He spoke about three major events that were focussed on: the Party centenary, the history study campaign and the 6th plenum. Party history, of course, was the key link between these three major events, and Xi was personally engaged in the process of their planning, the report informs.
The piece says that the history learning campaign kicked off on February 20th, with Xi delivering a speech.
“The study and education of Party history throughout the Party is a necessary requirement to maintain the Party’s original mission firmly in mind and advance the historic cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is a necessary requirement for the Party to strengthen its faith and belief and uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It is a necessary requirement for the Party to promote self-revolution and maintain its vitality.” 在全党开展党史学习教育，是牢记初心使命、推进中华民族伟大复兴历史伟业的必然要求，是坚定信仰信念、在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的必然要求，是推进党的自我革命、永葆党的生机活力的必然要求.
The piece then talks about Xi’s visit in September to the Yangjiagou revolutionary site during his inspection tour of Yulin City. The piece says:
These caves are where the December meeting was held (in 1947). At the old site, on one side is a portrait of revolutionary ancestors who influenced Chinese history; on the other, is an oil painting of the meeting scene. Listening to the echoes of history, the General Secretary pondered for a long time. During his visit to northern Shaanxi, from visiting the Yangjiagou revolutionary site to the premises of the former prefectural Party committee of Suide to the ‘red model village’ of Haojiaqiao, General Secretary Xi Jinping followed the footsteps of history all the way: ‘In order to take the good road ahead, we must not forget where we came from. Look at the trenches of the past; we have come from here. It may be simple at the beginning, but the end will be great’. 眼前的几孔窑洞，正是当年召开“十二月会议”的地方。旧址内，一侧是影响中国历史的革命先辈群像，一侧是会议场景的油画。倾听历史的回响，总书记久久凝思. 此行陕北，从杨家沟革命旧址到中共绥德地委旧址到“红色模范村”郝家桥村，习近平总书记一路追寻历史足迹：“走好路，就要不忘来路。看看过去的沟沟坎坎，我们是从这里走过来的，其作始也简，其将毕也必巨.”
This is followed by more coverage of Xi’s visits and comments around history and Marxism. It captures Xi’s comments in Fujian, Guangxi, Qinghai and Tibet, to state that he has provided the direction and guidance for the Party to study and learn from history. After this, the piece talks about Xi’s and the Politburo’s visit to the new Museum of the CPC in Beijing in mid-June, where they took the Party’s oath. Xi led this, of course.
The piece says that in taking the oath, “General Secretary Xi Jinping has set a shining example for the whole Party in the most sincere and solemn way of the Communists.” A few days later, Xi led the Politburo to visit the Red Building at PKU.
Later, the piece quotes Xi as having once said that it is important to “accurately grasp the main theme and mainstream essence of the Party’s historical development, take a clear-cut stand to oppose and resist historical nihilism” and “educate and guide the whole Party to understand how Marxism has profoundly changed China and changed the world through the extraordinary journey of the Party.” “准确把握党的历史发展的主题主线、主流本质，旗帜鲜明反对和抵制历史虚无主义”“要教育引导全党从党的非凡历程中领会马克思主义是如何深刻改变中国、改变世界的”
Towards the latter half of the piece, it talks about the implementation of the Party history study campaign. It says that the smooth implementation of the campaign was also a test of the Party’s ability to organise, mobilise and act. The activities mentioned are:
The Central Committee established a Central Propaganda Group for the study and education of Party history together with relevant central government departments.
Under this group’s guidance public lectures and events were organised. These covered government offices and agencies at different levels, schools, enterprises, workshops, factories and mining sites…
the Central Propaganda Group made more than 80 presentations at different levels, held more than 100 interactive activities, reaching 90,000 people directly and over 79 million through broadcast
In May this year, according to the arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, the Leading Group for Party History Study and Education dispatched 25 central guiding groups, 10 of which were responsible for guiding the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and 15 for guiding the ministries, commissions and people's organizations of the Central Committee and state organs.
In addition, the CBRC, the SASAC, and the Ministry of Education sent 18 guiding groups to take charge of the education and guidance of Party history study across centrally-managed financial enterprises, enterprises, and universities. As of December, some 4,182 grassroots units had been covered under this effort. The piece talks about this effort involving the holding of symposiums, discussions and interviews.
One of the key activities was to promote the spirit of Xi’s July 1 speech.
The piece later says that “after July 1, all departments and units in various regions strengthened organisational leadership, defined objectives and tasks, carefully formulated plans, and tested learning effects in special organisational life meetings.” These meetings have allowed leading cadres to deal with grassroots cadres on a face-to-face basis. These meetings have ensured that the process of Party history study and learning has evolved into a process of the development of the Party’s political life, entailing criticism and self-criticism, and ensuring the “detoxification and curing illnesses” and “supplementing calcium and strengthening bones.” Through this, there has been continuous improvement of cadres’ political consciousness, ideological consciousness and action consciousness. 一场场充满“辣味”的专题组织生活会，让党史学习教育的过程成为充分发扬党内政治生活批评和自我批评作风的过程，成为“排毒治病”“补钙壮骨”的党性教育过程，见证了党员干部政治自觉、思想自觉和行动自觉的不断提升.
The piece then talks about movies, broadcasts, opera, lectures by model workers, field visits, etc., as part of the propaganda effort. It also talks about the publication of history texts this year. This includes Xi’s On History of the Communist Party of China, among others, which have been used as study materials.
Page 2: An interview with Xiao Yaqing, Minister of Industry and Information Technology. Xiao talks about the goals for 2022 following the CEWC. He says that work will focus on:
unblocking the supply of key factors, such as energy, logistics, labour, etc.
ensuring the stable operation of key industrial and supply chains such as basic industrial products, important household goods, agricultural supplies and fertilizers.
solving chip shortages in areas such as automobiles
boosting investment in the manufacturing sector
supporting key projects identified in the 14th FYP
giving full play to the guiding role of government funds, deepening cooperation between industry and finance, and encouraging and supporting foreign-funded enterprises in developing domestic industrial and supply chains
tapping the potential of domestic demand and expanding consumer demand
implementing policies to boost the consumption of major industrial products
launching trials for electrification of vehicles in public areas in cities
promoting the use of new-energy vehicles, green and smart home appliances, and green building materials in rural areas
On enhancing the core competitiveness of manufacturing, Xiao talks about:
focusing on bottlenecks and shortcomings with regard to core basic components and basic manufacturing processes and technologies, basic electronic components, key basic materials, key software, and other bottlenecks.
speeding up the construction of manufacturing innovation centers
promoting the development of manufacturing clusters. The sectors he talks about in this regard are: electronic information, high-end equipment, automobiles, and new materials
transforming and upgrading traditional industries
strengthening the cultivation of high-quality enterprises. This involves optimising the market environment for mergers and reorganisation, and speeding up the cultivation of a number of large enterprises with international competitiveness. Actively guide the majority of small and medium-sized enterprises and private enterprises to take the development path of ‘specialisation and innovation and grow into ‘individual champions’ or ‘supporting experts’ with unique skills.
Xiao finally talks about supporting SMEs to become innovative enterprises. He talks about supporting some 3000 SMEs to emerge as specialised and innovative enterprises. He also talks about improving measures for handling complaints about payment by small and medium-sized enterprises. Finally, on digital development, Xiao says that:
China has built 1.396 million 5G base stations and cultivated more than 150 large industrial Internet platforms. The 5G+ Industrial Internet effort has taken the lead in ten key industries, such as mining, steel, electric power and petrochemicals, forming 20 typical application scenarios, such as remote equipment control, machine vision quality inspection, and production energy efficiency control. In the next year, the focus will be on expanding the ‘5G+ Industrial Internet’ work; pilot work in terms of big data application; and third, pursuing digital transformation of the manufacturing industry.
Page 3: Two reports to note. First, Wang Yi’s chat with Peruvian Foreign Minister Oscar Maurtua. Xinhua reports:
Wang said that “as representatives of developing countries and emerging economies, China and Peru share broad common interests and common pursuit, and both hope to accelerate national development and rejuvenation. Wang added that the cooperation between the two countries is South-South cooperation featuring mutual help and support, and has great potential and bright prospects. Both sides should uphold multilateralism, defend the international system with the United Nations at its core, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, especially emerging economies, Wang said. China will continue to support Peru in safeguarding its sovereign independence, national dignity and legitimate rights and interests, Wang said. He added that the Chinese side believes Peru will also continue to support China's position on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, so as to consolidate mutual trust and the political foundation of bilateral relations.”
Also, Wang said that:
the two sides should speed up the negotiation on upgrading the China-Peru Free Trade Agreement
China is willing to encourage more competent and reputable Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Peru, and is willing to import more Peruvian quality specialties. – this is not a space I follow, but it sounds like an acknowledgment of corruption or a response to some scandal related to Chinese investments.
Wang talked about the Global Development Initiative
He said that China supports Peru in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2024.
Second, a report that tells us that the China Society for Human Rights Studies has issued a new report on the limitations and drawbacks of American democracy. The full report is available here in English, and is printed on Page 17.
Quick thought: I would caution folks who would dismiss this as simply propaganda for the domestic audience. There appears to be a real sense among the Chinese leadership that it has a strong case that it can make on the values front. Moreover, there appears to be a sense that it can make this case on an equal moral footing with the US. Finally, there’s likely a greater sense that this argument has purchase not only at home but also across the developing world.
Here are some excerpts:
“American democracy is a voting democracy featuring competitive elections. In American politics, undue importance is attached to regular elections by the people which have become the whole story of American democracy. However, in fact, democratic politics in its complete sense should also encompass democratic consultation, decision-making, management, oversight, etc. in addition to democratic elections. The American voting democracy centered on elections can hardly sustain democratic politics in a complete sense. Therefore, American democracy should not and cannot be the sole and ultimate system for modern democracy.”
Abraham Lincoln described the ideal vista of a democratic government being one “of the people, by the people, for the people.” However, the lower classes and vulnerable groups in the U.S. did not really enjoy the fruits of democracy at the beginning and had been marginalized in politics for a long time. American democracy did not achieve perfection with the passage of the U.S. Constitution. The gradual development of American democracy is inseparable from the tireless struggles of vulnerable groups such as the blacks and women in the U.S.
Multiculturalism is upheld in the U.S., where racial conflicts are intensifying. These differences are manifested in the deepening opposition between political elites. Specifically, in recent years, the Democratic Party has tended to be more liberal, while the Republican Party has become increasingly conservative. The middle ground between the two parties gradually vanishes. Internally, the two parties have become more united and homogenized. As the two parties gradually pull in opposite directions in terms of concepts and perception, American society is losing its cohesive force. Due to factors such as ruling pressure, conflict of values, and internal party pressure, it is often the case that American Democratic and Republican members of Congress can not enter into rational discussions with other parties, but instead put the interests of the party above those of the people…Political polarization has aggravated the conflict and antagonism between different powers, causing disputes between Congress and the White House and between the ruling party and the opposition. As a result, it undermines the running of the American political system…Due to the political polarization coupled with the system of checks and balances, “scattered U.S.” lacks the capacity to effectively deal with the pandemic. This undermines the basic rights of ordinary people and also worsens the already hard-pressed global efforts to fight the pandemic. The antagonism between the two parties and political polarization give rise to the “pendulum democracy” and the “pancake tossing” for domestic and foreign policies in the U.S.
The U.S. flaunts the values such as human rights, freedom, and democracy and creates an image of a democracy defender, but the image of the U.S. as a defender of democracy is hypocritical in the extreme. If the so-called democratic movement compromises the interests of the U.S., the U.S. will act in opposition to democracy without hesitation. The double standards under American democracy are clearly manifested in its treatment of street politics and the freedom of the press.
It also talks about the influence of money in American politics, the issues with the Electoral College system, elite capture, etc. In the end, the report talks about the democracy summit and the waning appeal of American democracy.
“the so-called summit for democracy is doomed to failure because the limitations and practical ills of American democracy have been exposed, and it gradually loses its persuasiveness and appeal. More and more countries and people become aware that American democracy does not represent the development direction of democracy. The people of all countries should and can independently pursue democratic development with their own traits and contribute their wisdom and power to the diversity of political achievements.”
Other Stories:
On the theory page, there are two pieces to note; both drawing from the 6th Plenum. First, Xiao Pei, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, talks about the need to persist in self-revolution.
He writes that “the fight against corruption is a fight we cannot afford to and must not lose. The fight against corruption is a key task of comprehensively governing the Party with strict discipline and an important battlefield of the great struggle with many new historical features. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core insists on no-forbidden zones, full coverage and zero tolerance; insists on heavy containment, strong pressure and long-term deterrence, insists on investigating bribery, insists that every case must be investigated and all corruption must be punished, and steadfastly upholds the discipline, combats corruption and punishes evil, and adheres to the approach that officials dare not, cannot and do not want to be corrupt, which is unprecedented in Chinese history and rare in world history, and has written a new chapter in the fight against corruption. From December 2012 to June 2021, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, discipline inspection and supervision organs have opened a total of 393 cases against leading cadres at or above the provincial and ministerial levels, 22,000 cadres at the department and bureau levels, 174,000 cadres at the county and division levels, and 631,000 cadres at the township levels. Through the comprehensive strict governance of the Party and severe punishment of corruption, the relationship between the Party and the cadres has significantly improved, the Party has a new look, and the people have more trust in the Party and confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics.” 反腐败是输不起也决不能输的斗争。反腐败斗争是全面从严治党的关键任务，是具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争的重要战场。以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持无禁区、全覆盖、零容忍，坚持重遏制、强高压、长震慑，坚持受贿行贿一起查，坚持有案必查、有腐必惩，坚定不移正风肃纪、反腐惩恶，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，谱写了中国历史未有、世界历史罕见的反腐败斗争新篇章。从2012年12月到2021年6月，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，纪检监察机关共立案审查调查省部级以上领导干部393人、厅局级干部2.2万人、县处级干部17.4万余人、乡科级干部63.1万人。通过全面从严治党、严厉惩治腐败，党群干群关系显著好转，党的面貌为之一新，人民群众对党更加信赖，对中国特色社会主义充满信心.
Later he writes that:
In order to promote the new great project of Party-building in the new era, we must base ourselves on the historical position of the new era and the new development stage; focus on the overall goal of building a comprehensive modern socialist power; fully implement the general requirements of Party-building in the new era; adhere to the strategic policy of Party management and comprehensive strict governance of the Party; take the ‘two safeguards’ as the highest political principle; guide ideological construction, organisational construction, work style construction and discipline construction with the Party’s political construction; and further promote the anti-corruption struggle; improve the Party’s unified leadership, comprehensive coverage, authoritative and efficient supervision system, enhance the ability to resist risks and corruption, and improve the Party’s ability to govern and lead. 推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，必须立足新时代新发展阶段的历史方位，着眼全面建设社会主义现代化强国总目标，全面贯彻新时代党的建设总要求，坚持党要管党、全面从严治党战略方针，以“两个维护”为最高政治原则，以党的政治建设统领思想建设、组织建设、作风建设、纪律建设，把制度建设贯穿其中，深入推进反腐败斗争，健全党统一领导、全面覆盖、权威高效的监督体系，增强抵御风险和拒腐防变能力，提高党的执政能力和领导水平.
He also later warns that the “biggest risks and challenges the Party faces come from within, and we must never relax our efforts to comprehensively govern the Party with strict discipline.” 党面临的最大风险挑战来自自身，全面从严治党必须一刻不松、坚定向前. And for this too, he advises adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era and persisting in the “two safeguards,” which requires improving political oversight. 增强全面从严治党永远在路上的政治自觉。党面临的最大风险挑战来自自身，全面从严治党必须一刻不松、坚定向前。要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指引，聚焦“两个维护”加强政治监督，引导全党不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，全面准确有效落实党的理论路线方针政策和党中央决策部署
Second, Qu Xiaoli, member of the Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial Committee and the Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, also talks about corruption in order to ensure that the Party does not degenerate, change colour or flavour.
On the international page, we have this interaction with MoFA’s Zhao Lijian, from yesterday, published today. This really sounds paranoid. Beijing seems to believe that Washington is pulling strings all over the world and no country apparently has agency.
The Paper: On December 22, Spokesperson for the US Department of State said that Secretary Antony Blinken spoke with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. They highlighted shared concerns about escalating political pressure and economic coercion by China against Lithuania, which are impacting both US and European companies. They underscored continuing solidarity with Lithuania and strengthening economic resilience. Borrell said China’s unilateral actions are severely impeding trade in goods not only with Lithuania, but also impacting companies from other EU member states. The EU will stand together. What is China’s comment?
Zhao Lijian: Lithuania has made grave mistakes on Taiwan-related issues. Instead of admitting and addressing its mistakes, it has been making up lies to shirk responsibilities and distort facts. The US and the EU know this too well. What they should do is to urge Lithuania to immediately admit and address its mistakes, rather than disregard facts and screen the faults. Accusing China of the issue groundlessly further mixes right with wrong, transgresses justice and hurts the images of the US and the EU.
Facts have proven many times that the US is the master of unilateral sanctions and coercive diplomacy in all their forms. Examples abound in terms of unwarranted unilateral sanctions, long-arm jurisdiction and the abuse of state power to suppress foreign institutions, companies and individuals in accordance with US domestic law, which have drawn wide opposition from the international community. If the EU wants to uphold an international order that is equitable and fair, it should tell right from wrong, stay objective and unbiased, and take real actions to safeguard the steady and sound development of China-EU relations. It should not dance to the US’ tune, and stand on the wrong side of justice.