Mishustin Visits China - New Ambassador to US - Wang Huning Visits Xinjiang - Dutch FM Hoekstra Visits Beijing - China-Central Asia Media Forum - US 'Safe Haven' for Corruption Fugitives
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily's edition on Thursday, May 25, 2023.
Page 1: Lot’s of news on the front page today. First, a report on Xi Jinping’s meeting with visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Xinhua reports Xi as saying that “it is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times to consolidate and develop China-Russia relations.”
“He expressed his hope that both sides will continue to take advantage of the great potential, broad prospects and strong impetus of China-Russia ties to advance cooperation in various fields and enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. China and Russia should continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and strengthen coordination on multilateral arenas such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the G20, Xi stressed. The two sides should further tap the potential to raise the levels of economic, trade and investment cooperation, improve bilateral cooperation institutions and mechanisms, consolidate and expand energy and connectivity cooperation, and create more new growth points, Xi said, adding the people-to-people and cultural exchanges should be expanded. China is willing to work with Russia and Eurasian Economic Union members to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union to facilitate the formation of a more open, large regional market, ensure the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains, and bring tangible benefits to countries in the region.”
Mishustin reportedly said that “Russia is willing to work with China to promote the multipolarization of the world and consolidate the international order based on international law.”
Mishustin also met with Premier Li Qiang. That report is also on the front page. Xinhua says:
“Li noted that China is willing to optimize its trade structure with Russia, enrich trade categories, expand bilateral cooperation in such fields as agriculture, trade in services, the digital economy and green development, and mobilize local governments and enterprises to participate more in practical cooperation. He also expressed the hope that people-to-people and cultural exchanges will be strengthened, and that bilateral cooperation on education, science and technology, culture, tourism, sports and health will be expanded.” He also talked about strengthening “the docking cooperation between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.”
The readouts from the Russia side are more detailed. For instance, there is a transcript of the brief comments by Xi and Mishustin in their meeting. In that, Mishustin tells Xi:
“We sincerely treasure the neighbourly relations, partnership and cooperation between Russia and China. This means a lot to us considering the growing turbulence in international markets and the international stage in general. Our two countries have been seeking to counter the attempts of the collective West to preserve its global dominance by leveraging illegal sanctions to impose its will on independent states. I am certain that Russia and China will stand firm in fending off these dangerous aspirations by creating an enabling environment for moving forward and achieving our shared strategic objectives, just as you have said, Mr President.”
Also some useful data on investments and projects. Mishustin said: “there are positive developments in our investment cooperation too. We are working on 79 joint projects with a total value of over $165 billion. We propose that we go even further by becoming even more proactive in opening up new promising avenues for cooperation. This is the path to new substance in Russian-Chinese relations.”
Next, the readout from the meeting with Li Qiang has a list of the five documents that were signed. This from Mishustin’s remarks is also useful:
“Despite the complicated international situation, our trade and economic cooperation are developing successfully. As you have pointed out, mutual trade increased by one third to nearly $190 billion last year. In January through March, bilateral trade increased by another 25 percent year on year, to $52 billion. It is notable that 70 percent of cross-border settlements are made in our national currencies, the Russian rouble and the Chinese yuan. I am confident that this year we will not only fulfil ahead of schedule the task of increasing mutual trade to $200 billion, set by our leaders, but we will also go beyond this milestone figure. Our energy partnership has attained a strategic level. Russia is the largest provider of oil to China, and we are increasing the exports of natural gas, coal and electricity. We are implementing major energy projects jointly with China, such as the Power of Siberia, Yamal LNG, Arctic LNG 2, the Amur Gas Chemical Complex, and the Ust-Luga gas processing complex. We are also actively increasing our cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”
“Developing transport and logistics routes through the border between Russia and China has special importance in the new geopolitical reality. Last year, we opened the road and railway bridge across the Amur River, and are now committed to accelerating infrastructure development efforts on the border. We must make sure that we move forward in sync. This way, we can increase cargo flows and further expand Russia-China trade. We are also offering new opportunities for strengthening high-technology cooperation. This covers aircraft manufacturing and shipbuilding, producing machines and equipment, engaging in joint space research projects and many other areas. Building on the solid research we have accumulated and our manufacturing capabilities, we can work together to ensure technological sovereignty for both Russia and China.”
Moving on, at the top of the page is also a report on Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the plenary session of the second Eurasian Economic Forum of the Eurasian Economic Union. Xi said that the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and the historical trend toward multipolarity and economic globalization is irresistible. He pitched the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative as Chinese proposals to deal with the challenges. He added that China was part of the “Eurasian family” and pitched BRI, saying that “the ultimate goal of this initiative is to explore new ways for countries from near and far to achieve common development and to open up a ‘path of happiness’ that benefits the whole world.”
He added: “China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in the second half of this year, Xi said China is ready to work with the countries that took part in the Belt and Road Initiative and the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, share opportunities, overcome difficulties, create a better future, and work together to write a new chapter in the progress of civilization in a multipolar world.”
I put together this image for a presentation I did recently. Thought it might be useful for those who don’t follow the alphabet soup of Chinese diplomacy closely to see that these four initiatives are distinct but key to Xi’s vision of a community of common destiny.
\Next, there’s a report on Xi’s letter to teachers and students from the Macau University of Science and Technology. Xinhua has the full letter in English. Xi congratulated them on the launch of the Macao Science 1 space exploration satellites. He added:
“In recent years, the deepening scientific and technological cooperation between Macao and the mainland in areas such as aerospace has achieved commendable results. Efforts to make China a global leader in science and technology and to advance Chinese modernization have opened up broader prospects for universities in Macao as well as local scientific and technological personnel. I hope you will continue to carry forward the fine tradition of loving both the motherland and Macao, integrate your own development into the overall development of the country, actively take part in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and help with Macao's efforts to appropriately diversify its economy so as to make new contributions to the successful practice of ‘one country, two systems’ in Macao.”
Next, there’s a report on Xi’s letter (English report) to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, congratulating him on the 30th anniversary of bilateral ties. After this, there’s a one-line-report confirming the appointment of Xie Feng as China’s new ambassador to the US. Some key messages from Xie’s first comments to the media:
The two countries have profound differences, and the relationship faces difficulties and challenges
The relationship is too important for us to let it fail. Neither side can change or replace the other…working together, both will come out as winners; fighting each other, both will lose, and the world will be hurt as well
Reject the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, and open our heart and move forward in the same direction
Explore the right way to get along with each other in the new era
Uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation
Comment: The line that I’ve highlighted is key. It implies that the relationship cannot go back to an earlier equilibrium because this is a “new era”, i.e., the power balance is no longer what it was and China is not the country that it once was. Therefore, the two sides need to arrive at a new equilibrium that reflects this. In other words, Beijing wants recognition of its status as a peer power.
Another key development in Sin-US ties is the expected meeting between Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao today. WSJ reports that this “will be the first cabinet-level meeting in Washington between the two countries during the Biden administration.” The report adds:
“While Beijing has largely given Washington a cold shoulder in recent months, it now has its own reasons for detente. Chinese officials point to a priority for Beijing: paving the way for Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend an annual summit of Asia-Pacific leaders to be held in San Francisco in November—and possibly a separate meeting with Biden. However, Chinese and U.S. officials said, time is running out to lay the necessary groundwork for such a meeting. “This moment is an opportunity but a fragile one,” said Evan Medeiros, a former senior national-security official in the Obama administration and now a professor at Georgetown University. “Beijing and Washington are going to try to rebuild the basic channels of communication, even as competition intensifies.”
Also, this is important: “In March, Beijing sent to Washington a delegation led by its retired ambassador to the U.S., Cui Tiankai. There, Cui, who was China’s longest-serving envoy to Washington, met with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and talked about Beijing’s interest in brokering peace in Ukraine, according to people with knowledge of the matter. U.S. and other Western officials have cast doubt on Beijing’s ability and willingness to be a genuine peacemaker given its alignment with Moscow. Meeting with Sullivan and Sherman, Cui expressed China’s frustration that no matter what it does or says, the U.S. will take actions against it, the people with knowledge of the matter said. Still, a takeaway for the Chinese delegation from the trip, according to the people, was that Washington wanted some in-depth communication between the two sides. An initial sign of thawing relations: On May 10-11, Sullivan and Wang Yi, China’s top foreign-affairs official, met in Vienna and discussed ways to restore high-level exchanges in the months ahead. Beijing’s recent tentative return to diplomacy with Washington came about, in part, because the Chinese leadership sees itself in a stronger position than immediately after the balloon incident, a U.S. official said. Xi has hosted several European leaders in an attempt to divide the Western alliance and obtained a vow of strong trade ties and defiance of U.S. sanctions from Brazil’s president. “They think we don’t look great,” said the U.S. official.”
Next, there’s a report on Wang Huning’s visit to Xinjiang (English report). The report says that Wang called to “fully and accurately implement the Party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the new era, deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments’, strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’ and ‘four self-confidence’, and achieve Two Safeguards, carry out the Xi thought education campaign, and constantly consolidate the good situation of stability and peace and the situation wherein the people of all ethnic groups live and working in peace and contentment. 他表示，做好新时代新疆工作，必须完整准确贯彻新时代党的治疆方略，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，深入开展学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育，不断巩固天山南北稳定祥和、各族人民安居乐业良好局面.
Wang visited the Kashgar Old Town, a police station, the Id Kah Mosque, and a village to learn about local efforts in promoting ethnic unity, implementing religious policies and carrying out comprehensive governance at the grassroots, and about people's work and life. He said that “the situation of social stability in Xinjiang is hard-won, so we must cherish and fully consolidate it, continue to do a good job of uniting and rallying people’s hearts, making people of all ethnic groups closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate that stick together.” 他表示，新疆社会稳定的局面来之不易，必须倍加珍惜、全力巩固，持续做好团结凝聚人心工作，让各族群众像石榴籽一样紧紧抱在一起.
“In Urumqi, Wang visited a museum, an Islamic institute, a university, and enterprises. He called for developing an accurate understanding of the history of the Chinese nation and sowing the seeds of patriotism into the hearts of every person, especially the youth.”
He added that “On the new journey, the responsibility to achieve social stability and long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang is more important than ever. It is necessary to unswervingly promote the legalisation and normalisation of counter-terrorism and stability maintenance work, ensuring a more solid foundation for sustained stability and long-term stability. We must resolutely and unswervingly do a good job in ethnic and religious affairs work, build a strong sense of the Chinese nation as a community, and constantly enhance the recognition of the people of all ethnic groups to the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China and socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must resolutely and unwaveringly promote high-quality development in Xinjiang, grasp the strategic positioning of Xinjiang in the construction of a comprehensively socialist modern, and better implement the fruits of development to improve people's livelihoods, benefit the local population, and enhance unity.” 新征程上，实现新疆社会稳定和长治久安责任重于泰山。要坚定不移推进反恐维稳法治化常态化，确保持续稳定长期稳定的基础更加牢固。要坚定不移做好民族宗教工作，铸牢中华民族共同体意识，不断增进各族群众对伟大祖国、中华民族、中华文化、中国共产党、中国特色社会主义的认同。要坚定不移推动新疆高质量发展，把握新疆在社会主义现代化强国建设中的战略定位，更好把发展成果落实到改善民生、惠及当地、增进团结上.
Finally, there’s a report on Vice President Han Zheng meeting with Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra. Xinhua reports:
“Noting that China and the Netherlands are open and pragmatic partners of comprehensive cooperation, Han said the economies of China and the Netherlands are highly complementary, with huge potential for cooperation and a sound momentum of growth in bilateral trade. China stands ready to work with the Netherlands to bring more benefits to the two peoples through practical cooperation in various fields, Han said. China and the Netherlands are both supporters, participants and beneficiaries of economic globalization and free trade, Han said, calling on both sides to strengthen communication, focus on mutual benefit and win-win results, create better conditions for cooperation between enterprises of the two countries, and promote the stability and smoothness of the global industrial chain and supply chain.”
Earlier, Hoekstra met with Foreign Minister Qin Gang too. The Chinese readout says that:
“Qin Gang said that the Netherlands is an important partner of China in Europe. China is willing to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation with the Netherlands, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and advance multilateral cooperation in arms control, cyber security and climate change. China will continue to expand market access, strengthen IPR protection and welcome more competitive Dutch companies to expand investment in China. He expressed hope that the Netherlands will provide a fair, open and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.” 秦刚表示，荷兰是中国在欧洲的重要合作伙伴。中方愿同荷方加强经贸投资合作，深化人文交流，推进军控、网络安全、气候变化等多边领域合作。中方将继续扩大市场准入，加强知识产权保护，欢迎更多有竞争力的荷兰企业扩大在华投资。希望荷方为中国企业提供公平、开放、非歧视的营商环境.
He added that “as the beneficiaries and supporters of economic globalisation and free trade, China and the Netherlands should adhere to developing an open and pragmatic comprehensive cooperative partnership, which is of great significance beyond the scope of bilateral affairs. China is ready to work with the Netherlands to oppose ‘decoupling and breaking of chains’, prevent the fragmentation of international trade, maintain stability of global industrial and supply chains, uphold WTO rules and promote the global economic recovery.” 秦刚强调，中荷作为经济全球化和自由贸易的受益者、支持者，坚持发展开放务实的全面合作伙伴关系具有超出双边范畴的重要意义。中方愿同荷方一道，共同反对“脱钩断链”，防止国际贸易碎片化，维护全球产业链供应链稳定，维护世贸组织规则，促进世界经济复苏.
He then said that “China always regards Europe as a comprehensive strategic partner, supports Europe in upholding its strategic autonomy and playing an important role in the world. It also welcomes the Netherlands playing a more important role in EU affairs. He expressed hope that the Netherlands will continue to play its role as the ‘gateway’ for China-EU cooperation, encourage the EU to uphold the leading role of dialogue and cooperation in China-EU relations and the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, so as to jointly address global challenges.” 秦刚指出，中方始终视欧洲为全面战略伙伴，支持欧洲坚持战略自主、在国际上发挥重要作用，乐见荷方在欧盟事务中扮演更重要角色。希望荷方继续发挥中欧合作“门户”作用，推动欧盟坚持中欧关系对话合作的主导面和互利共赢的主基调，共同应对全球性挑战.
On Ukraine, Qin reiterated already-stated formulations.
In contrast, at their press conference, Hoekstra said:
“China can play a pivotal role in finding solutions to global challenges like conflict, climate change, poverty, and inequality. We need to work together to meet these challenges successfully.”
“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine must stop. Europe and the Netherlands will continue to stand with Ukraine, for as long as it takes, with whatever is necessary. We welcome that President Xi has spoken with President Zelenskyy. We hope President Zelenskyy’s views and concerns – including the Ukrainian Peace Formula – will be taken to heart. As a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, Russia needs to uphold the core principles of the UN Charter, including national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We assume that China’s special envoy, Li Hui, will advance these points in his contacts with Russia. We see valuable points in China’s position paper on the war in Ukraine, such as ensuring nuclear safety and security, and implementation of the Black Sea Grain deal. And with China we agree on the importance of preventing the use of weapons of mass destruction. I’ve also stressed the importance of all countries refraining from delivering weapons to Russia, and the need to prevent the circumvention of sanctions.”
“We are keen to extend our bilateral co-operation to other fields, such as the energy transition. Climate change is of course a major issue – and co-operation between China and the EU is crucial for successful global climate action.”
“Today, we also discussed peace and security worldwide, in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are vital for the region and the world. The Netherlands consistently abides by its One China Policy. As EU High Representative Borrell has stated recently: any unilateral change in the status quo – and any use of force – would have massive economic, political, and security consequences. And that, in our view, this would be in neither of our interests.”
“we are looking for reciprocity from our trading partners. We feel that more needs to be done to ensure that European companies enjoy the same level of access to the Chinese market as Chinese companies enjoy in Europe.”
“Safeguarding our open, free, and secure economy and cyberspace is a key priority for the Netherlands. Like China, we have a responsibility to protect our national security. And just as China protects its core interests, so we protect ours. In that regard, I raised our concerns about cyber operations conducted from Chinese territory, and reports of foreign interference operations on Dutch territory – including against journalists.”
Page 3: Four reports to note. First, a report on a delegation led by Ningxia secretary Liang Yanshun visiting Saudi Arabia. More interesting, however, is the report by SCMP that:
“Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is currently in talks with China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco), a state-owned defence company, to buy weapons ranging from reconnaissance drones to air defence systems, according to Tactical Report, a Beirut-based intelligence service focused on the Middle East. Weapons involved in the potential deal include the Sky Saker FX80 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the CR500 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV, the Cruise Dragon 5 and 10 – two types of loitering munitions, better known as suicide drones – and the HQ-17AE short-range air defence (SHORAD) system, the service reported last week. The HQ-17AE SHORAD is the latest addition to the deal, which has been in negotiations for about a year, and talks have ‘reached an advanced stage’, Tactical Report said, quoting unnamed sources close to the situation. Negotiations are expected to continue until the end of this year or the beginning of next year, the report said, adding there were rumours that the entire deal would be financed in the Chinese yuan. In another report published on Monday, Tactical Report said Egypt was in talks with China to acquire the Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter.”
Second, the 13th China-U.S. Political Party Leaders Dialogue was held on Tuesday via video link. ILD chief Liu Jianchao led the meeting from the Chinese side. Around 50 representatives from Chinese government ministries, local governments, universities, as well as representatives from both Democratic and Republican parties, local governments, think tanks, and other organisations from the United States attended the meeting.
Xinhua reports: “The two sides believed that the way China and the United States get along is very important, and both sides should work to push bilateral relations back on a sound track, which meets the common expectations of the two peoples and the international community and will also benefit future generations. It is also their common belief that China and the United States must respect each other and coexist peacefully, and cannot engage in confrontation and conflict. They should strengthen exchanges and dialogue, enhance amity between the two peoples and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides should also strengthen cooperation to jointly respond to global challenges. The two sides agreed to continue the exchanges and dialogues between the CPC and the Democratic and Republican parties of the United States.”
Li Jianchao also met with a delegation of the Bangladesh Awami League, led by Muhammad Faruk Khan, on Wednesday. The report says that the talks focussed on “strengthening institutionalised communication between the two parties, promoting nation-building, safeguarding regional peace and stability and the common interests of developing countries.”
Finally, there’s a report on the China-Laos Friendship Shield 2023 military drills. The report talks about Chinese soldiers visiting the China-Laos Nongping Primary School, which was built by China in 2012. This emphasises the people-to-people aspect of the drills.
Page 4: A few reports to note. First, there’s a report on Vice Premier Liu Guozhong’s visit to Qinghai and Gansu. Li emphasised monitoring with multiple measures to prevent people from falling back into poverty, optimising the rapid detection and response mechanisms, providing timely and targeted support, and preventing and defusing risks.
Second, there’s a report on Li Shulei’s comments at the China-Central Asia News Agency Forum. Li said that the media should “promote solidarity and mutual trust, carry forward the spirit of the Silk Road, tell the story of the Silk Road well, help deepen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and jointly promote China-Central Asia relations and the peaceful development of the region.” 双方媒体应继续促进团结互信，弘扬丝路精神，讲好丝路故事，助力深化文明交流互鉴，共同促进中国中亚关系和地区和平发展.
Also, do not this Xinhua report from the forum:
“The participating media outlets included the Television and Radio Complex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kabar News Agency of Kyrgyzstan, Khovar News Agency of Tajikistan, Media Turkmen News Agency and Uzbekistan National News Agency. Speaking at the forum, Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, said that the China-Central Asia Summit has established a platform for cooperation between the two sides and opened up new prospects, bearing milestone significance in the history of the development of relations between China and Central Asian countries. The relations between the two sides are marching toward a new era, which presents new opportunities for media cooperation among the six countries, Fu said. Xinhua is ready to work with media outlets in Central Asian countries to expand exchanges, deepen collaboration, and enhance understanding and mutual trust, he said. Fu called for greater efforts in news reporting in various fields to inject new momentum for relations between China and Central Asian countries, and bring positivity to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations as well as world peace and development.”
“In June 2019, Xinhua initiated an information-sharing platform called Belt and Road Economic Information Partnership (BREIP). Jointly established by Xinhua and its partners both at home and abroad, it has provided economic information for governments and enterprises of BRI countries over the past years. During the forum, media institutions from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan signed up for the BREIP, bringing the total number of members of the network to 53 covering 36 countries and regions.”
Page 17: There’s an article bylined Fu Zhu; the author writes that for some time, the US has been “demonising and stigmatising China’s anti-corruption efforts to track down fugitives and recover assets and engage in international law enforcement and judicial cooperation. By fabricating false narratives of ‘infiltration and exerting control’, ‘political persecution’, and ‘human rights violations’, the US is pursuing so-called ‘judicial accountability’, and openly offering asylum to Chinese fugitives. The US has adopted double standards on anti-corruption, fully exposing its Cold War zero-sum mentality and ideological bias.” 一段时间以来，美国不断妖魔化、污名化中国反腐败追逃追赃和国际执法司法合作工作。美方通过编造“渗透控制”“政治迫害”“侵犯人权”等虚假叙事，搞所谓“司法追责”，公然为中国逃犯提供庇护。美方在反腐败问题上采用双重标准，充分暴露其冷战零和思维和意识形态偏见.
The author says that the US suffers from “institutional corruption” but instead of dealing with its own problems, it imposes ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ and unilateral sanctions on other countries, and interferes in foreign countries' internal affairs in order to suppress rivals and maintain its hegemony. 美国自身制度性腐败问题严重。政治献金、政治游说、“旋转门”、“赦免市场”等独具特色的“美式腐败”套路迭出。但美式反腐向来是“盲公打灯笼——照人不照己”，美国不直面自身腐败问题，而是借机对他国滥施“长臂管辖”和单边制裁，打着反腐败的幌子对外干涉，打压对手，维护霸权.
It says that the US “serves as a safe haven for corrupt individuals worldwide, a major destination for fugitives and suspects of corruption and economic crimes from developing countries, and a major destination for corrupt assets. Currently, most of the ‘100 Red Notice fugitives’ from China who have not yet been brought to justice are hiding in the US. There are loopholes and lack of transparency in the financial supervision system in the United States, which provides "convenience" for criminals to hide and transfer illicit funds. As a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the United States has turned a blind eye to corrupt elements and assets, treated the cooperation requests from developing countries negatively and even embellished fugitives charged with corruption as ‘victims’, providing them with political asylum and obstructing their voluntary return to China. US actions not only contradict international morality but also directly violate treaty obligations, exposing their hypocrisy.” 美国是全球腐败分子的藏污纳垢之所，是发展中国家外逃腐败和经济犯罪嫌疑人最集中的国家，也是腐败资产的主要流入地。当前，中国尚未归案的“百名红通人员”中，大多数都藏在美国。美国金融监管体系存在漏洞且缺乏透明度，为犯罪分子藏匿资金和非法资金流动提供了“便利”。作为《联合国反腐败公约》缔约国，美国对腐败分子和腐败资产视而不见，消极对待发展中国家提出的合作请求，甚至还将外逃腐败嫌犯美化为“受害人”，为其提供政治庇护，阻挠其自愿回国投案等。美方所作所为不仅不符合国际道义，更直接违反条约义务，其虚伪面目可见一斑.
Infiltration and exerting control, and human rights violations have long been the preserve of the United States. The US has pursued military aggression, regime change, colour revolutions and unilateral sanctions against other countries — in the name of promoting democracy, it has promoted the New Monroe Doctrine in Latin America, instigated colour revolutions in Eurasia, and plotted the Arab Spring in the West Asia, North Africa, creating chaos and disasters for other countries. The US is also the veritable Matrix/or empire of hacking that has extended its surveillance reach/black hand to span the globe. The documents published following the recent leak of intelligence material show that the US has carried out large-scale surveillance on international organisations including the UN and many countries, including American allies. These acts seriously violate international law and the basic norms of international relations and infringe on the national sovereignty and interests of other countries. The coercive diplomacy of the United States has cast a shadow over global peace and development. “渗透控制”和“侵犯人权”一向是美国的“专利”。美国不断对别国搞军事侵略、政权更迭、“颜色革命”、单边制裁，借推广民主之名在拉美推行“新门罗主义”，在欧亚煽动“颜色革命”，在西亚北非策划“阿拉伯之春”，给他国制造混乱和灾难。美国还是名副其实的“黑客帝国”，把监听黑手伸向全世界。近期美“泄密门”事件披露的文件显示，美国对包括联合国在内的国际组织、包括盟友在内的多国实施大规模监听。这些行为严重违反国际法和国际关系基本准则，侵犯他国国家主权和利益。美国的胁迫外交给全球和平发展蒙上了阴影.
The author then juxtaposes this with Chinese policies, arguing that China does not provide a “safe haven” for the corrupt or for illegal funds and that the “government of China has a clear-cut stand against corruption, and on the basis of respecting the sovereignty of other countries, it has carried out foreign law enforcement cooperation in strict accordance with international law.” 腐败是人类社会的公敌。打击跨国腐败犯罪、拒绝为腐败犯罪嫌犯和非法资金提供“避风港”是国际共识。中国政府旗帜鲜明反对腐败，在尊重他国主权基础上，严格根据国际法开展对外执法合作。
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Finally, I am sharing herewith some data from a new public opinion survey on international security by the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University. The report says that this online questionnaire-based survey involved a stratified random sample of 2,662 Chinese mainland citizens over 18 years old. It was conducted in November 2022.
