Li Qiang on Hainan FTP - Han Zheng Meets MNC Heads - Pushing back on US COVID-19 Origin Act - The '3 Paradoxes' of US' Indo-Pacific Strategy - Ren Lixuan on China's COVID Containment 'Miracle'
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
Page 1: There’s not too much on the front page today. First, there’s a report on Li Qiang’s visit to Hainan, where he emphasised the importance of building a “high-quality and high-standard” Hainan Free Trade Port area, and practising “people-centred development philosophy,” by calling for focus on elderly care and medical care.
Visiting the construction site of a passenger transport hub in Haikou, Li talked about the Hainan FTP being a project that Xi Jinping has “personally planned, deployed and promoted.” This essentially underscores its importance in the scheme of things. He talked about the need for greater push for institutional innovation and opening up. In addition, he stressed on the use of “AI, big data and the Internet of Things to improve regulatory capacity and get better prepared for the island-wide independent customs operation by the end of 2025.”
The next paragraph talks about his visit to a nursing home, where he discussed the need for community-based services for elderly care. The final paragraph talks about Li’s visit to a TCM centre, where he talked about the importance of high-quality development of affordable medical facilities.
Next, there’s a report on Han Zheng meeting with heads of multinationals visiting the China Development Forum. Han met with HSBC Group Chief Executive Noel Quinn, Abbott Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Robert Ford, Allianz Group Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Oliver Bate, Schneider Electric Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Pascal Tricoire, and John Swire & Sons Limited Chief Executive Officer Merlin Swire.
The first paragraph basically has Han talking about the significance of reform and opening up to China’s development; he says that:
“multinational companies have made contributions to China's social and economic development, and witnessed and participated in China's opening up…this year marks the 45th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. Practice has fully proved that reform and opening up have greatly promoted China’s development. No matter how the international situation changes, China will only open its door wider…we will unswervingly promote high-level opening up, maintain the continuity and stability of domestic and foreign policies, deeply participate in the global industrial division of labour and cooperation, and strive to create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalised business environment to provide even more business opportunities for foreign enterprises.” 韩正表示，跨国公司多年来为中国经济发展作出了积极贡献，是中国改革开放的见证者、参与者，自身也得到巨大发展。习近平主席多次强调，中国坚持对外开放的基本国策，坚定奉行互利共赢的开放战略。今年是中国改革开放45周年，实践充分证明，改革开放极大促进了中国的发展。无论国际形势如何变幻，中国开放的大门只会越开越大。中共二十大对中国未来一个时期的发展作出了战略部署，中国致力于以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。在这一历史进程中，将坚定不移推进高水平对外开放，保持国内外政策的连续性和稳定性，深度参与全球产业分工和合作，着力打造市场化、法治化、国际化的一流营商环境，为各国企业提供更多机遇.
In the next paragraph, Han stresses that given the “complex and volatile external environment,” Chinese and foreign businesses must cooperate. He says that FDI investment into China in the Jan-Feb period has been $40 billion.
Third, there’s a report with data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology informing that the market share of Chinese brands in the passenger cars segment reached 49.9%, up by 5.4 percentage points year-on-year. The year saw cumulative sales of 11.766 million vehicles, up by 22.8%. This is up from 41.85% in 2012. 2022年累计销售1176.6万辆，同比增长22.8%，市场份额达到49.9%，上升5.4个百分点.
In 2022, the annual sales of new energy vehicles in China was 6.887 million, up 93.4% year-on-year, and the market share increased to 25.6%, up 12.1 percentage points from the previous year. Among them, the market share of Chinese brands of new energy vehicles was 79.9%. 2022年，我国新能源汽车年销售688.7万辆，同比增长93.4%，市场占有率提升至25.6%，高于上年12.1个百分点。其中，中国品牌新能源汽车市场占有率高达79.9%.
In 2022, China exported 2.529 million passenger cars, a year-on-year increase of 56.7%. 2022年，我国乘用车累计出口252.9万辆，同比增长56.7%.
Page 2: There’s a feature article on China-Africa cooperation, arguing that it is the 10th anniversary of the concept of sincerity, practical results, affinity, and good faith that Xi Jinping had proposed. The first section of the article talks about broad diplomatic engagements and summitry, along with select favourable remarks.
The second section mentions some specific projects that China has undertaken, highlighting their positive impacts. For instance, it mentions the Lekki Deep-water Port in Nigeria, which is the largest deep-water port in West Africa, and “is expected to create an overall economic benefit of nearly $360 billion and 170,000 jobs.” Also mentioned are Algeria-Djibouti Railway and Mombasa-Nairobi Railway. It says that the De Aar Wind Energy Facility’s annual power generation “exceeds 750 million kWh, which is equivalent to saving more than 200,000 tons of standard coal and reducing more than 700,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.”
Some more useful data in the article:
“China has participated in the construction of more than 6,000 km of railways, 6,000 km of highways, nearly 20 ports and more than 80 large-scale power facilities in Africa; China has maintained its position as Africa’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. In 2022, the bilateral trade volume between China and Africa reached $282 billion, up by 11.1% year-on-year...The bright ‘report card’ has not only promoted the development and revitalisation of Africa but also created more favourable conditions for international cooperation with Africa.” 中方在非洲参与修建了超过6000公里的铁路、6000公里的公路、近20个港口、80多个大型电力设施；中国已连续13年保持非洲最大贸易伙伴国地位，2022年中非双边贸易额达到2820亿美元，同比增长11.1%……亮眼“成绩单”不仅带动了非洲发展振兴，也为国际对非合作创造了更为有利的条件.
The final section talks about health and COVID-19 related Chinese support.
Page 3: A few pieces to note on the page. First, there is a consolidated report on Li Qiang’s meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Cote d'Ivoire Prime Minister Patrick Achi.
Xinhua’s report on the meeting with Georgieva says that:
Li said that “China will strengthen macro policy regulation, unleash the potential of consumption and investment, unswervingly open up to the outside world, comprehensively improve the business environment, and prudently forestall and defuse risks…In the face of complex and severe challenges, the international community needs to work together to address them, Li said, calling on the international community to uphold multilateralism, strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, and maintain the security, stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains. Li said that China has always supported developing countries in developing their economies and improving people's livelihoods within the bounds of its capacity. ‘We commend the IMF for its active leading role on the debt issue and support the IMF in setting up the Resilience and Sustainability Trust to provide financing for developing countries to address climate change,’ he said. China attaches great importance to its relationship with the IMF, firmly supports the IMF in playing an important role in global governance, and stands ready to deepen cooperation with the IMF to make global governance more just and equitable and increase the voice and influence of emerging markets and developing countries in international affairs, Li said.”
The Xinhua report on Li’s meeting with Achi has the Chinese premier saying that “China appreciates the support Cote d'Ivoire has shown for the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and its firm adherence to the one-China principle. China will maintain closer exchanges and cooperation at all levels and in all fields with Cote d'Ivoire, enhance the docking of development plans, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Cote d'Ivoire, deepen cooperation on agriculture, infrastructure, the digital economy, new energy and green development, and help Cote d'Ivoire achieve grain self-sufficiency and advance industrialization, the Chinese premier said. ‘It is hoped that Cote d'Ivoire will provide a sound business environment and legal guarantee for Chinese enterprises,’ Li said, adding that China stands ready to help Cote d'Ivoire train more talent, and welcomes more young people from Cote d'Ivoire to study in China.”
Second, there’s a report on comments by State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong during the 18th Meeting of the Security Council Secretaries of the SCO Member States.
“Wang Xiaohong said that China is willing to work with all parties to implement the GSI put forward by President Xi Jinping, rely on the mechanism of the SCO Security Council to deepen practical cooperation in the field of law enforcement and security, and work together to create a good security environment for economic recovery and social stability in all countries.” 王小洪表示，中方愿与各方共同落实好习近平主席提出的全球安全倡议，依托上合组织安秘会机制，深化执法安全领域务实合作，携手为各国经济复苏、社会稳定营造良好的安全环境.
He then put forward five points:
First, insist on sharing weal and woe, prevent and defuse the risk of external interference, support countries in safeguarding their core interests such as national sovereignty and territorial integrity and independently chosen development paths, and earnestly safeguard the political security and system security of all countries.
Second, adhere to the integration of interests, strive to bridge differences through dialogue, resolve disputes through cooperation, and work together to build a balanced, effective and sustainable new regional security structure.
Third, adhere to a comprehensive strategy and resolutely curb and crackdown on the ‘three evil forces’.
Fourth, insist on working in concert/with coordination, improve the cooperation mechanism between the internal affairs of public security departments in combating transnational crimes, and effectively crack down on transnational crimes such as telecommunications and Internet fraud, online gambling, and drug manufacturing and trafficking.
Fifth, engage in positive interactions to promote stable structure in Afghanistan.
一是坚持安危与共，防范化解外部干涉风险，支持各国维护国家主权、领土完整等核心利益和自主选择的发展道路，切实维护各国政权安全a和制度安全。二是坚持利益共融，努力以对话弥合分歧、以合作化解争端，合力构建均衡、有效、可持续的地区安全新架构。三是坚持综合施策，坚决遏制打击“三股势力”。四是坚持步调协同，完善公安内务部门打击跨国犯罪合作机制，有力打击电信网络诈骗、网络赌博和毒品制贩等跨国犯罪。五是坚持良性互动，助推阿富汗稳定架构.
On this subject, worth noting comments by India’s NSA Ajit Doval. HT quotes him as having said: “The charter (of the SCO) calls upon member states to have mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity of states and inviolability of State borders, non-use of force or threat of its use in international relations and seeking no unilateral military superiority in adjacent areas.”
On connectivity projects, he said: “While expanding connectivity, it is important to ensure that such initiatives are consultative, transparent and participatory, and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.”
The report adds: “Doval said terrorism and its financing are among the most serious threats to global peace and security and that all acts of terror, regardless of motivation, are unjustifiable. All countries should fulfil their obligations under counter-terrorism cooperation protocols, including UN Security Council resolutions 1267 and 1373, and implement sanctions against global terrorist entities, he said.”
Moving on, there are two commentaries that are worth noting. First, there’s the fifth Héyīn commentary on China’s global engagement. This one basically talks about China-Africa cooperation. It says that the ideas of 利 (gain/benefit) and 义 (righteousness/justice). The idea is that China’s engagement is based on these principles. The benefit refers to win-win cooperation rather than the “winner takes all” mentality. It says: “China provides assistance within its capacity, and sometimes even values righteousness over gain/benefit/profit, and sacrifices gain/benefit/profit for righteousness.” 对于贫穷国家，中国给予力所能及的帮助，有时甚至重义轻利、舍利取义.
Likewise, the righteousness implies treating developing countries as equals and rejecting the “law of the jungle and hegemony, opposes the big bullying the small, strong bullying the weak, rich oppressing the poor, and emphasises mutual respect, win-win cooperation and common development.” 正确义利观不承认丛林法则、霸权主义，反对以大欺小、以强凌弱、以众暴寡、以富压贫，强调相互尊重、合作共赢、共同发展。坚持正确义利观，中国在与广大发展中国家交往中始终秉持公道正义，坚持平等相待.
The piece ends by saying that “strengthening solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries is the unshakable foundation of China’s foreign relations. No matter how the international landscape changes, China will continue to uphold the principles of sincerity, amity, good faith, and the right approach to righteousness and benefit; it will share opportunities with other developing countries, jointly meet challenges, safeguard international fairness and justice, and pool together a mighty force for world peace, common development and prosperity. “加强同广大发展中国家团结合作，是中国对外关系不可动摇的根基。无论国际风云如何变幻，中国都将继续秉持真实亲诚理念和正确义利观，同广大发展中国家共享机遇，共迎挑战，共同捍卫国际公平正义，不断汇聚起维护世界和平、促进共同发展繁荣的磅礴力量.”
Second, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary criticising the US on COVID-19 origin tracing. The criticism is focussed on the new legislation to declassify certain US intelligence on the origin of COVID-19. It says that
“The China-related content of the bill seriously distorts the facts, and attempts to blame China by speculating the so-called ‘laboratory leakage theory’.” It says that the US has “sinister intentions” and is engaged in an “anti-intellectual farce that violates science.” 近来，美国政府再次翻炒新冠病毒溯源问题，将“新冠病毒起源法案”签署成法。该法案涉华内容严重歪曲事实，企图通过炒作所谓“实验室泄漏论”，对中国甩锅推责、遏制打压。美方几次三番混淆视听，上演违背科学的反智闹剧，世界早已看清其险恶用心.
It argues that this effort by the US is part of American politicians’ agenda to “shift the blame for the failure of their epidemic response.”
It adds: “Tracing the origin of COVID-19 should be a process of scientific proof, which needs to be studied by an expert team composed of authoritative scientists. The traceability of COVID-19 should entail multi-point global tracing, not just targeting China, let alone the idea that ‘if you don't find it once, check again several times’. The use of intelligence agencies in the United States to fabricate investigation reports and promote the politicisation of traceability, seriously misleads the direction and focus of global traceability work. Members of the WHO joint expert group on tracing the origin of COVID-19 have generally supported the scientific judgement that laboratory leak is ‘extremely unlikely’, saying there is no evidence to support the description of the laboratory in Wuhan as ‘unprofessional’, nor have there been any suspicious cases among laboratory staff. Many governments have issued statements pointing out that it is not constructive to use intelligence agencies or other non-scientific institutions on the issue of traceability. This will only lead to division and lead global COVID-19 traceability cooperation astray.” 新冠病毒溯源应是科学举证的过程，需要由权威科学家组成的专家团队进行研究。新冠病毒溯源应是全球范围的多点溯源，而不应仅仅针对中国，更不应“一次没查出来，那就多查几次”。美国动用情报部门捏造调查报告，助推溯源政治化，是对全球溯源工作方向和重点的严重误导。世卫组织新冠病毒溯源研究联合专家组成员普遍支持实验室泄漏“极不可能”这一科学判断，认为没有任何证据支持对武汉实验室“不专业”的描绘，实验室人员中也没有出现任何可疑病例。多国政府发表声明指出，在溯源问题上动用情报机构或其他非科学机构不具建设性，只会导致分裂，并将把全球新冠病毒溯源合作引入歧途.
It adds that “the biggest obstacle to global traceability research is the political manipulation of the United States.” 当前全球溯源科学研究面临的最大障碍是美国的政治化操弄.
“The US claims that it attaches great importance to tracing the origin of COVID-19, but it has never invited the WHO to send a team of experts to the US for tracing the origin of the virus. It has also never provided any data on its early suspected cases, and even carried out political oppression targeting conscientious scientists. It is also deaf to international concerns about the Fort Detrick Biological Laboratory, the University of North Carolina Biological Laboratory and its military biological bases around the world. As the only country in the world to block the resumption of negotiations on the verification protocol to the Biological Weapons Convention, the country with the largest number of biological laboratories in the world, and the country with the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths in the world, the United States is in no position to lead such serious scientific work as tracing the origin of a virus. Continuing to fabricate lies to attack and smear other countries will only add another stain to the already disgraceful list of US actions.” 疫情发生以来，美国非但没有在溯源问题上采取任何负责任举措，反而搅浑水、搞栽赃。美国口口声声说重视新冠病毒溯源问题，却从未邀请世卫组织派专家组到本国开展溯源合作，从未提供任何本国早期疑似病例数据，甚至对秉持良知的科学家进行政治打压，对国际社会关于美国德特里克堡生物实验室、北卡罗来纳大学生物实验室和世界各地军事生物基地的关切更是充耳不闻。作为全球唯一阻挠重启《禁止生物武器公约》核查议定书谈判的国家、拥有全球数量最多的生物实验室的国家、全球确诊病例和死亡病例最多的国家，美国没有任何资格主导病毒溯源这样一项严肃的科学工作。继续编造谎言对他国进行攻击抹黑，只会在美国早已不光彩的行为清单上再添污点.
The next paragraph praises China’s actions, saying that it has “made the largest contribution to global tracing research.” The article ends with: “The politicisation, instrumentalization and weaponization of traceability by the United States will only hinder global traceability scientific cooperation, split global solidarity and anti-epidemic efforts, and undermine the global health governance mechanism.” 美方一味将溯源问题政治化、工具化、武器化，只会阻碍全球溯源科学合作，分裂全球团结抗疫努力，破坏全球卫生治理机制.
Moving on, some other meetings that I would like to highlight, although these are not in PD.
First, Qin Gang’s call with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on Tuesday. Xinhua reports:
“Calling China and Vietnam comrades and brothers, Qin said the Chinese side appreciates Vietnam for giving top priority to its relations with China in its foreign policy, and for being among the first to send a warm and friendly congratulatory message to the new Chinese leaders. China also views and develops its relations with Vietnam from a strategic and long-term perspective, Qin noted, adding that the Chinese side stands ready to work with Vietnam to well implement the strategic consensus reached by top leaders of the two parties, strengthen the top-level design of practical cooperation, and deepen the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's ‘Two Corridors and One Economic Circle’ plan. The two sides should continue their mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, practice true multilateralism, and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, he added.”
SCMP’s report on this adds: “Son said the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership was ‘a top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification’, according to the official Vietnam News Agency. Qin echoed the sentiment, saying that ties with Vietnam were ‘an important priority in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy’. In the Vietnamese readout, Son also told Qin that practical measures were needed to maintain balanced and sustainable bilateral trade, and ‘to address obstacles to some projects [as well as] promote links via road, rail, sea and air’. Their phone call came as bilateral tensions spiked again over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, following a reportedly tense encounter between a Chinese coastguard ship and a Vietnamese fisheries patrol boat on Saturday. The two vessels were reported to be very close one point, as the Chinese ship sailed through energy exploration blocks operated or owned by Russian firms, near waters claimed by both China and Vietnam. The Chinese statement stopped short of mentioning the maritime disputes in the South China Sea, but the Vietnamese agency said the two sides agreed to jointly maintain a peaceful and stable environment in the region.”
Second, Qin’s meeting with Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry Abd Kadir. Xinhua reports: “Qin said that China and Malaysia, both as developing countries and important emerging economies in Asia and progressive forces on the international stage, should further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, consolidate friendship, work together to cope with risks and challenges, and contribute more to global and regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. Qin called on both sides to speed up key projects and explore more cooperation in areas such as new-energy vehicles, digital economy, semiconductors and agriculture…The Malaysian foreign minister said Malaysia is willing to work with China to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability and foster a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.”
Third, earlier this week, there was a report on Xi Jinping’s call with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Xinhua reported Xi saying that “it is hoped that Saudi Arabia and Iran will uphold the spirit of good neighborliness and continue to improve their relations on the basis of the results of their talks in Beijing. China is ready to continue to support the follow-up process of the Saudi-Iranian talks.”
He added that “China is ready to work with Saudi Arabia to make all-out efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era and contribute more to peace, stability and development in the Middle East.”
Page 9: On the theory page, there’s a long Ren Lixuan article praising China’s fight against the pandemic, which the article says was a “miracle.” It says that “the history of China’s anti-epidemic struggle over the past three years has fully proved that the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core was completely correct in its major judgments on the epidemic situation, major decisions on prevention and control work, and major adjustments to prevention and control strategies…” 三年多抗疫斗争史充分证明，以习近平同志为核心的党中央对疫情形势的重大判断、对防控工作的重大决策、对防控策略的重大调整是完全正确的，措施是有力的，群众是认可的，成效是巨大的.
It adds that since the relaxing of policies after December 7, 2022, around “200 million people have been diagnosed and treated”, including 800,000 severe cases. And then it says that China’s COVID-19-related “mortality rate has remained at the lowest level in the world.” There is, however, no number provided for this. Just for reference, the fatality rate in China, reported by CGTN in December 2022, was 0.31 percent.
After this, the article provides us the “correct” lenses to view the history of China’s pandemic struggle.
First, view it from the standpoint of the people. “In the face of the world's worst infectious disease pandemic in a century, the safety and health of over 1.4 billion Chinese people comes first. This is in the fundamental interests of the people…Over the past three years and more, the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at its core has always put the people and their lives first. It has put people’s safety and health first and spared no expense to protect their lives. The fight against the epidemic has fully demonstrated that it is all for the people…The people kept in mind the overall situation, overcame various difficulties, complied with the overall needs of epidemic prevention and control, and contributed to the prevention and control of the epidemic in various ways. The fight against the epidemic is a vivid manifestation of relying on the people. This is the true picture of China's fight against COVID-19 and the collective memory of the Chinese people. In order to suppress and contain China, some western politicians politicised and instrumentalized epidemic prevention and control, and smeared China’s epidemic prevention and control policies in an attempt to influence and even dominate the narrative of China's anti-epidemic. From their standpoint, it is wrong to prevent and control the epidemic in China. The people of China, who are tenacious, dedicated and caring for each other, are participants, witnesses and creators in the history of the anti-epidemic struggle. From the standpoint of the people, we must respect and defend the history of the anti-epidemic struggle written by more than 1.4 billion people in China.” 正确看待三年多抗疫斗争史要坚持人民立场。立场是人们观察、认识和处理问题的立足点。立场不同，看待历史的角度就不同、对历史的评价就不同。站在什么样的立场上，就会看见什么样的历史。是站在绝大多数人的立场上，还是站在少数人的立场上，决定着人们能否正确认识和评价历史。正确看待三年多抗疫斗争史，要从中国最广大人民的根本利益出发，坚持人民立场，而不能站在少数人的立场上，甚至站在一些西方政客的立场上。面对百年来全球发生的最严重的传染病大流行，14亿多中国人民的生命安全和身体健康是第一位的，这是人民的根本利益所在。从中国最广大人民的根本利益出发，坚持人民立场，我们才能看得清楚透彻，把个人冷暖与人民安危统一起来，防止因为每个人的具体利益不同而在认识上出现偏差。抗疫三年多来，以同志为核心的党中央始终坚持人民至上、生命至上，把人民群众生命安全和身体健康放在第一位，为了保护人民生命安全不惜一切代价，抗疫斗争是一切为了人民的充分彰显；广大群众识大体、顾大局，克服各种困难，自觉服从疫情防控大局需要，以各种方式为疫情防控操心出力，抗疫斗争是一切依靠人民的生动体现。这是中国抗疫的真实图景，是中国人民的集体记忆。一些西方政客为打压遏制中国，把疫情防控政治化、工具化，大肆抹黑中国疫情防控，企图影响甚至主导中国抗疫叙事。站在他们的立场上，中国疫情防控怎么做都是错。坚韧奉献、守望相助的中国人民是抗疫斗争史的参与者、见证者、创造者。我们必须从人民立场出发，尊重和捍卫14亿多中国人民共同书写的抗疫斗争史. — Comment: So the basic argument is that citizens should support the government’s narrative because criticism of that narrative is basically undermining their efforts and hardships in dealing with the pandemic.
Second, grasp the comprehensive perspective. The basic argument here is that yes “despite many efforts, some compatriots died unfortunately during the pandemic. The prevention and control work brought inconvenience to some people's work and lives, and some business entities encountered some difficulties. But, on the whole, it is the unremitting struggle against the epidemic that has kept the death rate of COVID-19 in China at the lowest level in the world. Over the past three years, China's society has been stable and orderly, people's livelihood has been effectively guaranteed, and the economic growth rate has been higher than the world average.” 尽管付出诸多努力，仍然有一些同胞在疫情中不幸罹难，防控工作给一些群众生产生活带来不便，一些经营主体遇到了一些困难，但从整体上看，正是坚持不懈的抗疫斗争让我国新冠病亡率保持在全球最低水平，三年多来我国社会安定有序，民生得到有力有效保障，经济增长速度高于世界平均水平.
Third, use a development perspective. The core argument in this is that “The process of optimisation and adjustment (of COVID containment measures) was a dynamic choice that took into account various changing factors. It was an active choice that relied on constantly weighing pros and cons and avoiding the cons according to changes in the objective situation. It was key to neither rush forward nor lag behind reality.” 优化调整的过程是综合考虑各种变化着的因素进行的动态选择，是根据客观形势的变化不断权衡利弊、趋利避害的主动选择，既不能操之过急，也不能落后于实际. In other words, don’t think of steps taken at one stage and argue that it could have been done earlier. What was done, was done with “adherence to the scientific spirit” and keeping in mind changing developments.
Fourth, use a comparative method. As evident, this argues that compared to developed countries, China faced “greater difficulties in epidemic prevention and control” because of its population size, urban population density and limited medical resources. “Despite such unfavourable conditions, China has made remarkable achievements in the fight against COVID-19.” “As one of the most developed countries, the United States has recorded more than 970,000 deaths as of March 22, 2022, while China's death rate from the novel coronavirus remains among the lowest in the world. In terms of economic development, China's economy grew at an average annual rate of 4.5 percent from 2020 to 2022, higher than the world average and much higher than the 1.7 percent, 1.1 percent and -0.4 percent of the United States, the European Union and Japan. By comparing the concepts, policies and effects of various countries in epidemic prevention and control, as well as their death rates and economic recovery, we will have a more realistic understanding of China's major and decisive victory in epidemic prevention and control, and a more objective judgement on the smearings and attacks by some Western politicians who confuse right with wrong.” 中国人口规模巨大，城市人口密度普遍偏高，人员流动频繁，人均医护人员、公共卫生基础设施和重症救治资源数量均远低于发达国家，疫情防控面临的困难与发达国家相比显然更多更大。在这样的不利条件下，中国抗疫斗争取得的成就举世瞩目。从疫情防控方面看，据世界卫生组织估算，仅2020年和2021年两年，全世界与新冠疫情直接或间接相关的死亡人数就高达近1500万人。美国作为最发达的国家之一，截至2022年3月22日，死亡病例超过97万例，而中国新冠病亡率保持在全球最低水平。从经济发展方面看，2020—2022年中国经济增长达到年均4.5%，高于世界平均水平，也远高于美国、欧盟和日本的1.7%、1.1%和-0.4%的水平。只要比较一下各国在疫情防控中的理念、政策、效果，比较一下各国的新冠病亡率、经济复苏情况，就能对我国疫情防控取得重大决定性胜利有更加真实的认识，对一些西方政客颠倒黑白、混淆是非的攻击抹黑有更加客观的判断.
The final section then says:
“The fight against the epidemic has fully proved that the Communist Party of China has an extremely strong leadership, and it has profoundly inspired us to always adhere to the leadership of the Party.” 抗疫斗争充分证明中国共产党具有无比坚强的领导力，深刻启示我们要始终坚持党的领导. In this, it praises Xi’s leadership demonstrated via “superb political wisdom, great political courage, and resolute historical responsibility.” 在这场大考中，习近平总书记亲自指挥、亲自部署，以高超的政治智慧、巨大的政治勇气、果敢的历史担当，在关键时刻、重大节点及时作出高瞻远瞩的战略决断. It adds: the CPC is the “most reliable backbone of the Chinese people when storms strike.” Therefore, “we must deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, resolutely achieve the Two Safeguards, and unite under the Party's banner as ‘a solid piece of steel’...” 我们要深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚决做到“两个维护”，在党的旗帜下团结成“一块坚硬的钢铁”，在新征程上不断夺取新的更大胜利.
The anti-epidemic struggle has “profoundly inspired us to rely on the people to create great historical achievements”
“The reason why we were able to achieve a major and decisive victory in the prevention and control of the epidemic and create a miracle in the history of human civilisation that a populous country successfully emerged from the pandemic is inseparable from the multi-faceted strategic advantages of China’s development. The great practice of the fight against the epidemic has fully proved that China’s socialist system has extraordinary organisational and mobilisation capabilities, overall planning and coordination capabilities, and implementation capabilities, and can give full play to the unique advantages of concentrating forces to handle major, difficult, and urgent matters…The great practice of the anti-epidemic struggle has fully proved that our long-term solid material foundation, established complete industrial system, strong scientific and technological strength, and abundant medical resources provided strong support for epidemic prevention and control. The solid national strength we have accumulated since the reform and opening up, especially in the 10 years of the new era, provides us with the confidence to calmly deal with stormy waves.” 我们之所以能取得疫情防控重大决定性胜利，创造人类文明史上人口大国成功走出疫情大流行的奇迹，与我国发展具有的多方面战略优势是分不开的。抗疫斗争伟大实践充分证明，我国社会主义制度具有非凡的组织动员能力、统筹协调能力、贯彻执行能力，能够充分发挥集中力量办大事、办难事、办急事的独特优势...抗疫斗争伟大实践充分证明，我们长期积累的雄厚物质基础、建立的完整产业体系、形成的强大科技实力、储备的丰富医疗资源，为疫情防控提供了坚强支撑。改革开放以来特别是新时代十年我们所积累的坚实国力，是从容应对惊涛骇浪的深厚底气.
Finally, the anti-epidemic struggle has proved that mankind is a community with a shared future. This highlights China’s pandemic diplomacy, and adds: “China has made a major contribution to the global fight against the epidemic as a responsible major country. On the other hand, politicians in the United States and some other Western countries have engaged in selfishness, blame-shifting, distorting right and wrong, and hegemonism, thereby causing harm not only to their own countries and their own people, but also to people all over the world.” 中国以负责任大国的担当为全球抗疫作出重大贡献。反观美国等一些西方国家的政客，其自私自利、甩锅推责、颠倒是非、霸道强权的做法，不仅对本国和本国人民造成伤害，而且给世界各国人民带来伤害.
Page 17: On the international page, there’s another new report from MoFA criticising the US. This one is titled “The United States’ Arbitrary Detention at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts.”
The report says “the United States has carried out arbitrary detention in total disregard of its domestic legal provisions and international treaty obligations, causing serious physical and mental harm to people involved.”
Here’s a key section:
“IV. Reasons for the Abuse of Arbitrary Detention by the United States
The United States has a long history of arbitrary detention and disregard of human rights both at home and abroad, reflecting a deep-seated political culture of racism and violence.
In recent years, racial conflicts have once again become one of the principal problems in American politics and society. One reason is that racism has been a chronic problem of the US since its founding. The cultural superiority and dominant position of the white people have led to a high degree of political, economic and cultural inequality among racial groups in the US. Another reason is that globalization and major demographic changes in the US have in recent years caused increasing grudges among the white Americans, the lower-middle class in particular, against immigrants and ethnic minorities, aggravating the problem of racism in the US.
The rise of white supremacy in the US has exacerbated racial conflicts. Recent years have witnessed large-scale minority protests represented by the Black Lives Matter Movement and frequent refugee crises in border areas. Race-based arbitrary detention tramples on the basic human rights of ethnic minorities and foreign immigrants and runs counter to the human rights principles long proclaimed by the US, such as “all men are created equal”. It will not help resolve the problem of illegal immigration. Rather, it further tears apart American society, creating social wounds that are difficult to heal. Democracy and human rights in the US are not enjoyed by all, but only by some. Tolerance and pluralism of American society are conditioned on the absolute dominance of the white people.
The fact that the US has arbitrarily detained illegal immigrants at home and set up a large number of ‘black sites’ abroad to create cases of arbitrary detention reflects its deep-seated hegemonic and unilateralist thinking and violent political culture. As long as the embedded racism remains, there will be no true integration and equality in the American society. As long as hegemonism and power politics persist, the US will keep resorting to violent means in resolving issues across the world, and the ‘black sites’ and arbitrary detention will continue to exist.”
Also on the page is a Zhong Sheng commentary making the key points mentioned in the report.
Next, there’s an article by Zhāng Guānzǐ from CASS on the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy.
He argues that “the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy is becoming synonymous with camp politics. Under the banner of promoting regional cooperation, the United States is playing geopolitical games; using the rhetoric of returning to multilateralism, it is actually engaging in the creation of closed and exclusive cliques; while claiming to uphold international rules, it is secretly engaged in establishing its own ‘clique rules’. There are three paradoxes in the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy, which are bound to lead to its failure.” 美国“印太战略”正成为集团政治的代名词。美方打着促进地区合作的旗号，玩弄的却是地缘博弈的把戏；高喊要回归多边主义，实际上却在搞封闭排他的俱乐部；声称要维护国际规则，背地里却在另搞一套自己的“帮规”。所谓的“印太战略”存在三大悖论，必然是一个失败战略.
Paradox 1: Responding to new changes with old thinking/ideas.
People in the Asia-Pacific region have suffered greatly from colonial wars, and their memories of conflicts and confrontations led by hegemony are still fresh. After the end of the Cold War, the economy of the Asia-Pacific region has continued to grow rapidly, and the emerging market countries and developing countries in the region have become more determined to unite and strengthen themselves, becoming an anchor of peace and stability, a pole of development and growth, and a new highland of cooperation. However, the United States has turned a blind eye to the hard-won development in the Asia-Pacific region. Instead, driven by fear and a desire to deliberately create complications, it is pushing the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy. 亚太地区人民曾饱受殖民战乱之苦，对霸权主导的冲突对抗记忆犹新。冷战结束后，亚太地区经济持续快速增长，地区新兴市场国家和发展中国家团结自强的意志更加坚定，成为和平稳定锚、发展增长极、合作新高地。然而，美国对亚太地区来之不易的发展局面视而不见，反而心怀忌惮、横生枝节，强推所谓“印太战略”.
“In recent years, the strategic anxiety of the United States has been increasing. Starting from the inherent thinking of America First, the United States has strengthened the five-eyes alliance in the Asia-Pacific region, peddled the Quad grouping, pieced together AUKUS, tightened its bilateral military alliances, and tried to piece together an Asian version of NATO by any means. This has seriously threatened regional peace and stability. What is particularly dangerous is that the United States has discarded its disguise and played the ‘Taiwan Province card’ and the ‘South China Sea card’ in an attempt to sow discord in the Asia-Pacific region, provoke tensions between relevant countries and China, and blockade and contain China. The thinking of the United States is still stuck in the Cold War era, and the means it adopts are still the old colonial methods, such as creating regional divisions, provoking tensions among countries, providing opportunities for external forces to intervene and gaining benefits from them. What the United States has done exposes its ambition to control the Asia-Pacific region and reflects its deep-rooted hegemonic thinking. After the end of the Cold War, economic globalisation has already closely linked Asia-Pacific countries who have become an interdependent community with a shared future. The United States' attempt to provoke a ‘new Cold War’ is doomed to be unpopular.” 近年来，美国战略焦虑不断加剧，从“美国优先”的固有思维出发，在亚太地区强化“五眼联盟”、兜售“四边机制”、拼凑三边安全伙伴关系、收紧双边军事同盟，不择手段威逼拉拢，极力拼凑“亚洲版北约”，严重威胁地区和平与稳定。尤其危险的是，美方撕去伪装，大打“台湾牌”“南海牌”，企图搞乱亚太地区，挑拨相关国家与中国的关系，围堵遏制中国。美国的思维仍停留在冷战时期，采用的手段仍然是殖民主义的老一套，即制造地区分裂，挑拨各国关系，为外部势力介入提供机会，并从中攫取利益。美国所作所为，暴露出其妄图掌控亚太的野心，反映了其根深蒂固的霸权思维。冷战结束后，经济全球化早已将亚太各国紧密地联系在一起，成为一个相互依存的命运共同体。美国妄图挑起“新冷战”，注定不得人心.
Paradox 2: Masking exclusivity with openness
On the one hand, the United States flaunts ‘freedom and openness’; on the other hand, it engages in establishing cliques, barriers, and various exclusive and confrontational frameworks On the one hand, it claims to ‘seek inclusion rather than division’; on the other hand, it constantly exaggerates the ‘China threat’. On the one hand, it claims that it ‘does not seek an Asian version of NATO’; on the other hand, it frequently hypes issues such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.” 美国一方面标榜“自由开放”，另一方面却搞“小圈子”、设壁垒，搭建各种排他性和对抗性框架；一方面宣称“寻求包容而不是分裂”，另一方面却不断渲染“中国威胁”；一方面宣称“不寻求一个亚洲版北约”，另一方面却频频炒作台海、南海等议题.
He adds that the IPEF “uses the so-called ‘high-standards agenda’ to engage in economic decoupling, technological blockading and breaking of industrial chains, and enforces the requirement of ‘traceability’. The real intention of IPEF is to aggravate the supply chain crisis, widen the development gap, split the Asia-Pacific region, and politicise, weaponize and ideologize economic issues.” He quotes Mahathir Mohamad as saying that IPEF is a political rather than an economic framework. 美国推出的“印太经济框架”，用所谓的“高标准议题”人为制造经济脱钩、技术封锁、产业断链，强制推行“可溯源性”要求。“印太经济框架”的真实意图在于加剧供应链危机，扩大发展鸿沟，分裂亚太地区，把经济问题政治化、武器化、意识形态化。马来西亚前总理马哈蒂尔一针见血地指出，“印太经济框架”是政治性而非经济性框架.
Under the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy, the United States has created a partnership system of different circles. In essence, it still takes the United States as the core, draws lines based on ideology, has different priorities and is steeped in the psychology of white supremacy and racism, and has obvious political and military overtones. The United States is creating divisions, inciting confrontation and undermining peace by forming cliques and engaging in ‘small circles’ and pursuing exclusivity in the name of openness.” 在所谓“印太战略”下，美国打造不同圈层的盟伴体系。究其实质，还是以美国为核心，以意识形态划线，优先有别、高下分等，浸透着白人至上和种族主义心理，带有明显政治、军事色彩。美国拉帮结派、搞“小圈子”，以开放之名行排他之实，本质上是制造分裂、煽动对抗、破坏和平.
Paradox 3: The US uses a lot of big talk to cover up for its empty promises/checks that cannot be cashed.
The argument here is that the US does a lot of lip service but does not deliver. The author says that the IPEF “is considered as the economic pillar for the United States to promote the Indo-Pacific Strategy. This framework emphasises that the United States leads the establishment of rules and standards such as trade and digital economy, and essentially wants to seize the right to make new international rules. At present, what Asia-Pacific’s development needs is a higher level of economic globalisation, so that free trade can better benefit the people of all countries in the region. However, the IPEF lacks practical measures to solve the trade and development problems of regional countries, and even refuses to promise to provide market access facilities for participating partners. For ASEAN, the IPEF is a framework arrangement that almost no one really wants. Even US Secretary of State Blinken admits that the US government's strategy lacks a real trade policy for the region and fails to take into account the regional economic trends, especially the fact that the region has become increasingly integrated through a series of free trade agreements over the past 20 years. All this means that the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is destined to be another check that cannot be cashed. 美国常对其他国家作出口头承诺，但总是口惠而实不至。所谓“印太经济框架”被认为是美国推进“印太战略”的经济支柱。这一框架强调美国主导建立贸易、数字经济等规则和标准，实质上是想攫取国际新规则制定权。当前，亚太发展需要的是更高水平的经济全球化，更好地让自由贸易惠及区域各国人民。但“印太经济框架”缺乏解决地区国家贸易问题、发展问题的实际举措，甚至拒绝承诺对参与伙伴提供市场准入便利。对东盟来说，“印太经济框架”是一个几乎“没有人真正想要”的框架安排。连美国国务卿布林肯都承认，美国政府的战略缺乏针对该地区的真正的贸易政策，没有考虑到地区经济趋势——尤其是该地区在过去20多年来通过一系列自由贸易协定日益变得经济一体化的事实。这些决定了“印太经济框架”注定又是一张“空头支票”.
Finally, there’s a report on the South Korean foreign ministry protesting against new descriptions of territorial issues and history in Japanese textbooks.