PLA's New Information Support Force - PLAN's 75th Anniversary - Seeking Foreign Investment in Chinese Tech - Wang Yi's Visits to PNG & Cambodia - Protest at Xie Feng's Harvard Kennedy School Speech
Over the weekend, the big story in the paper was the establishment of the new PLA Information Support Force. This comes with the erstwhile Strategic Support Force being disbanded into three different forces. Xi Jinping presented a flag to the ISF at its establishment ceremony on Friday.
Bi Yi is the commander of the Information Support Force, and Li Wei has been appointed as the political commissar. The key paragraph in the report with Xi’s comments is as follows:
“Xi Jinping emphasized that the ISF is a newly-created strategic force and a key support force for coordinating the construction and application of network information systems. It plays an important role and has great responsibilities in promoting the high-quality development of our army and winning modern wars. It is necessary to resolutely obey the Party’s command, fully implement the fundamental principles and systems of the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, comprehensively strengthen Party building in the military, strengthen ideals and beliefs, strictly enforce discipline and rules, promote good work styles, and ensure the absolute loyalty, purity, and reliability of the military. It is necessary to effectively support combat operations, adhere to being information-led and jointness, ensure smooth information channels, integrate information resources, strengthen information protection, deeply integrate into the military’s joint operations system, accurately and efficiently implement information support, and serve to guarantee military operations in all directions and domains. It is necessary to accelerate innovation and development, adhere to the fundamental principle of combat requirements, strengthen system planning, promote joint construction and sharing, strengthen scientific and technological innovation, build a network information system that meets the requirements of modern warfare and reflects the characteristics of our military, and vigorously promote the rapid improvement of the system's combat capabilities with high quality. It is necessary to consolidate the foundation of the armed forces, implement the requirements for comprehensive and strict governance of the military, strict education and management, maintain regular order, stimulate motivation and vitality, and comprehensively strengthen excellent grassroots, ensure a high degree of centralization, unity, security and stability of the military, strive to create a new situation in army building, and resolutely complete various tasks entrusted by the Party and the people.” 习近平强调，信息支援部队是全新打造的战略性兵种，是统筹网络信息体系建设运用的关键支撑，在推动我军高质量发展和打赢现代战争中地位重要、责任重大。要坚决听党指挥，全面贯彻党对军队绝对领导的根本原则和制度，全面加强部队党的建设，坚定理想信念，严肃纪律规矩，弘扬优良作风，确保部队绝对忠诚、绝对纯洁、绝对可靠。要有力支撑作战，坚持信息主导、联合制胜，畅通信息链路，融合信息资源，加强信息防护，深度融入全军联合作战体系，精准高效实施信息支援，服务保障各方向各领域军事斗争。要加快创新发展，坚持作战需求根本牵引，加强体系统筹，推进共建共享，强化科技创新，建设符合现代战争要求、具有我军特色的网络信息体系，高质量推动体系作战能力加速提升。要夯实部队基础，落实全面从严治军要求，严格教育管理，保持正规秩序，激发动力活力，全面锻造过硬基层，确保部队高度集中统一和安全稳定，奋力开创部队建设新局面，坚决完成党和人民赋予的各项任务.
Discussing this change, the Ministry of National Defense’s spokesperson said that:
"The information support force is a new, strategic branch of the military and a key pillar in coordinating the construction and application of the network information system. It will play a crucial role in advancing the Chinese military's high-quality development and competitiveness in modern warfare.”
“With the latest reform, the PLA now has a new system of services and arms under the leadership and command of the Central Military Commission. There are four services, namely the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Rocket Force, and four arms, including the Aerospace Force, the Cyberspace Force, the Information Support Force and the Joint Logistic Support Force. As circumstances and tasks evolve, we will continue to refine the modern military force structure with Chinese characteristics."
So the question now arises is why carry out this new re-organisation of the armed forces? My former colleague Suyash Desai, who works on the PLA, argues that corruption could be a key factor. For instance, Lt Gen Ju Gansheng, who was the serving Commander of the SSF, has been missing for a while, and was rumored to be involved in military procurement fraud. But another factor could be the desire to cut through the bureaucracy to improve efficiency. He writes:
“the parallel establishment of these four arms is a significant step towards integrated joint operations. The fact that the commanders of these forces can now directly report to the CMC, instead of having to go through the SSF commander, is a positive development. This change not only streamlines the reporting process but also indicates progress towards achieving intelligentisation and integration.”
Anyway, let’s get to today’s paper. Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Monday, April 22, 2024.
Page 1: The lead story on the page today is about the publication of a new compilation of excerpts of Xi’s discourses on China's talent work. The other report on the top of the page marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PLAN.
This is how the first section of the article begins.
“‘If war really breaks out, would you be afraid?’ ‘I'm afraid that I won't be needed in the war!’ The sonorous answer of Xu Wenqian, one of the first female sailors – born in 1995 – to steer the destroyer Nanchang, attracted countless likes from netizens.” The article then goes on to describe an event during which a Chinese carrier formation, which included the Nanchang, encountered two foreign ships. These foreign vessels “took advantage of the gap between the formation's position adjustments” and headed straight towards it. The story then talks about Chinese sailors acting promptly, issuing warnings and promptly maneuvering the vessel into an advantageous position to force the foreign ships to turn away.
“In the past, our equipment lagged behind our opponents, but we had ‘less steel but more spirit’; now, our ships can compete with our opponents, and we must achieve ‘more steel, fuller spirit, and stronger bones’. Qi Weiguang, the Party Secretary of the Nanchang ship, introduced that the theme of the first Party class for all officers and soldiers on the ship every year is to study ideology, forge loyalty, and be pioneers, continuously strengthening the officers and soldiers' ideals and beliefs, nurturing the spirit of battle, and consolidating spiritual strength.” “如果战争真的爆发，你怕吗？”“我怕打仗不用我！”95后南昌舰首批操舵女兵徐文茜的铿锵回答，引来无数网友点赞。2021年的一天，太平洋某海域，海天如墨，大浪滔滔。中国海军航母编队正组织夜间训练，首次加入航母编队的国产万吨大驱南昌舰担负伴随警戒任务。早上6时，两艘外舰趁我编队调整阵位间隙，先后大角度突然转向，直冲编队而来。“外舰企图穿越我编队！两进八！”面对突发态势，舰领导果断下令，迅疾提速转向。“我是中国海军101舰，请与我保持安全距离。”一边喊话警告，一边快速机动，南昌舰牢牢卡住有利阵位，迫使外舰转向远离。“过去我们的装备比对手落后，但是我们‘钢少气多’；现在，我们的舰艇可以和对手比肩，更要做到‘钢多气盈骨更硬’。”南昌舰党委书记祁伟光介绍，全舰官兵每年第一堂党课主题都是学思想、铸忠诚、当先锋，不断强化官兵理想信念，培树战斗精神，凝聚精神力量。
The subsequent bit praises the Nanchang vessel’s Party Committee and the navy for its loyalty.
The second section discusses the improvements in the PLA Navy’s vessels. It talks about the new range of ships that have been built.
“On September 25, 2012, China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was delivered to the navy; on December 17, 2019, China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, was commissioned; on June 17, 2022, China's first electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was launched and named; in April 2024, the Fujian conducted successful berthing trials…This is not just an increase in quantity but also a qualitative upgrade. The transformation is not only a battle of upgrading equipment but also a battle of upgrading concepts…
Looking out over the vast expanse of the sea, the People's Navy is forging ahead on the dream track in the new era with an unprecedented heroic attitude.
As the lifeline of ships at sea, the development of naval supplies and replenishment facilities are constantly accelerating in actual combat trials. The navy continues to promote the construction of major battlefield facilities, strengthen the construction of support forces such as maritime delivery, maritime replenishment, and maritime medical rescue, enabling ships to travel farther and longer;
Targeting new domains and qualities, the newly formed Marine Corps not only conducts training across the mountains and rivers of the motherland but also leaves training coordinates in many parts of the world along with the tracks of Chinese ships, striving to forge a multi-faceted, rapid-response, and all-domain-use elite force.
In the new era, aircraft carriers, new strategic nuclear submarines, 10,000-ton-class destroyers, amphibious assault ships, comprehensive supply ships, and other vessels have been intensively commissioned, batches of carrier-based fighter jets have been delivered, and new members have been added to the family of early warning aircraft and shipborne helicopters…” 2012年9月25日，我国首艘航母辽宁舰交付海军；2019年12月17日，我国第一艘国产航母山东舰交接入列；2022年6月17日，我国第一艘电磁弹射航母福建舰下水命名；2024年4月，福建舰系泊试验顺利推进，时刻准备向着深蓝挺进……这是量的递增，更是质的升级。转型，不仅是装备升维之战，也是观念升维之战...放眼辽阔海疆，人民海军正以前所未有的豪迈姿态奋进在新时代的逐梦航道上。——作为舰艇在海上赖以生存的生命线，海上补给在实战淬火中不断跑出加速度。海军持续推进重大战场设施配套建设，加强海上投送、海上补给、海上医疗救护等保障力量建设，让舰艇行驶得更远、更久；——瞄准新域新质，新组建的海军陆战队演训足迹不仅遍布祖国山川，也随着中国舰艇的航迹在世界多地留下训练坐标，正努力锻造一支合成多能、快速反应、全域运用的精兵劲旅。新时代，航空母舰、新型战略核潜艇、万吨级驱逐舰、两栖攻击舰、综合补给舰等密集入列，舰载战斗机批量交付，预警机、舰载直升机家庭再添新成员…
The third section is headlined “persist in ensuring that combat-readiness/war-preparedness is the top priority” 坚持把备战打仗作为第一要务 The final section touches upon with naval diplomacy.
Next, there’s a report talking about how Party organs are implementing the new discipline education campaign, which is being held from April to July.
Next, there’s a report (English report) on China's first multi-functional scientific research and archaeological vessel for deep-sea exploration and excavation of cultural relics officially docking in Nansha District of Guangzhou. As per the report:
The vessel “is capable of conducting deep-sea scientific investigations and cultural relic excavations, as well as scientific research in polar sea areas in summer, with bidirectional ice-breaking capability. It can accommodate 80 people, traveling at a maximum speed of 16 knots (about 30 kilometers per hour) for a range of 15,000 nautical miles…Breakthroughs have been made in the application of key technologies, including the overall design, intelligent control, low-temperature precise compensation, and integrated design of ice zone payload and heavy payload structures, said He Guangwei, deputy chief engineer at Guangzhou Shipyard International Company of China State Shipbuilding Corporation…The ship will undergo equipment and system debugging, outfitting of living areas and sea trials before its scheduled delivery at the beginning of 2025.”
Next, there’s a report (English report) informing that the industrialization rate of invention patents in China reached 39.6% in 2023, up 2.9 percentage points from the previous year. This is as per the 2023 China Patent Survey Report. The report adds:
As the main innovators, Chinese enterprises saw their invention patent industrialization rate increase to 51.3%, up by 3.2 percentage points. Looking at enterprise sizes, the industrialization rates for large, medium, small, and micro enterprises were 51.0%, 57.9%, 53.9%, and 33.8%, respectively, all showing improvements from the previous year…In 2023, the average industrialization revenue from enterprise industry-academia-research invention patents in China reached 10.332 million yuan per patent, 24.5% higher than the average revenue from enterprise invention patents (8.296 million yuan). The survey also revealed that the highest proportion of enterprises solving critical technology or core component challenges through industry-academia-research collaboration was 56.1%, indicating that such cooperation plays a crucial role in tackling key core technologies.
Page 2: There’s a report on new measures issued by the Ministry of Commerce and nine other government departments to encourage foreign enterprises to invest in China’s domestic sci-tech enterprises. The report says that the document puts forward 16 measures across four areas, i.e., optimize management services, enhance financing support, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and improve exit mechanisms.
China will work to efficiently approve the qualification applications for the dollar-denominated qualified foreign institutional investor scheme (QFII) and its yuan-denominated sibling, RQFII, in accordance with the law. Overseas institutions will also be supported to invest in domestic sci-tech enterprises through the Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) scheme.Domestic venture capital funds established by overseas institutions will enjoy equal treatment with those established by domestic investors.
For overseas institutions, relevant departments will continue to steadily and orderly promote the high-level two-way opening of the bond market, support qualified overseas institutions in issuing Renminbi bonds in China, and invest in the technology field. For technology-based enterprises, the China Securities Regulatory Commission will continue to guide the regular issuance of technological innovation corporate bonds on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, focusing on supporting the development of technological innovation in high-tech industries, strategic emerging industry segments and to lead industrial transformation and upgrading.
Relevant departments will continue to leverage the role of the National Science and Technology Achievements Transformation Guidance Fund, deeply implement the ‘Integration of Science and Technology Industry Finance’ special project, organize special roadshow activities, build in-depth docking platforms for early-stage hard technology projects and frontline investment institutions, promote the establishment of cooperation between high-quality small and medium-sized enterprises and overseas institutions, and support overseas institutions in increasing their investment in areas such as step-by-step evolution and advancement of enterprises and innovation achievement transformation.
The CSRC and other departments have introduced a series of supporting measures around exit channels such as overseas listing, mergers and acquisitions, and share transfers. They will continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of overseas listing filing management, accelerate the filing process, and keep the channels for overseas listing of technology-oriented enterprises open. The Ministry of Commerce is leading the revision of the ‘Administrative Measures for Foreign Investors' Strategic Investment in Listed Companies’ to further relax restrictions on foreign investors' strategic investment in listed companies.
优化管理服务。依法高效审批合格境外机构投资者（QFII）及人民币合格境外机构投资者（RQFII）资格申请。支持境外机构通过合格境外有限合伙人（QFLP）方式投资境内科技型企业。明确对境外机构在境内设立创业投资基金，与内资创业投资基金一视同仁。加大融资支持。积极支持境外机构和其所投科技型企业拓宽融资渠道，丰富科创资金来源。对于境外机构，相关部门将继续稳步有序推动债券市场高水平双向开放，支持符合条件的境外机构在华发行人民币债券，并投入科技领域。对于科技型企业，中国证监会将继续指导沪深交易所科技创新公司债券常态化发行，重点支持高新技术产业、战略性新兴产业细分领域及引领产业转型升级领域的科技创新发展。加强交流合作。《若干措施》支持境外机构发挥自身优势，充分挖掘优质标的，促进投资高效对接。相关部门将继续发挥国家科技成果转化引导基金作用，深入实施“科技产业金融一体化”专项，组织专项路演活动，为早期硬科技项目和一线投资机构搭建深度对接平台，推动优质中小企业与境外机构建立合作，支持境外机构加大对企业梯度培育、创新成果转化等领域的投入。完善退出机制。能不能顺利、高效实现投资退出，是前期调研中境外机构普遍关注的问题，也是《若干措施》的重点内容。中国证监会等部门围绕境外上市、并购重组、份额转让等退出渠道，推出了一系列配套举措。将持续提高境外上市备案管理质效，加快备案办理进度，持续畅通科技型企业境外上市渠道。商务部正牵头修订《外国投资者对上市公司战略投资管理办法》，进一步放宽外国投资者对上市公司战略投资限制.
Page 3: Before we get to the coverage of Wang Yi’s visit to Cambodia, which is available in today’s paper. Let’s look at the reports on his meetings with leaders from Papua New Guinea (PNG). During his visit to PNG, Wang met with Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko and Prime Minister James Marape. Xinhua’s report on the meeting with Tkachenko says:
“China always views and values PNG's role from a strategic perspective, Wang said, noting that PNG is the largest and most populous Pacific island country, with the most abundant natural resources in the Pacific island region. Located in the connecting belt between Oceania and Southeast Asia, PNG has a unique position and huge development advantages, and is fully capable of becoming a more prosperous country with more self-determination and more influence in the region and in the world, Wang said. China has always developed its ties with PNG from a long-term perspective, Wang said, adding that the current bilateral relations is the result of the joint guidance of generations of leaders and the joint efforts of friendly people in the two countries. Both countries should inherit it, take good care of it and carry it forward. China is ready to work with PNG to further implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and build a comprehensive strategic partnership of higher level and better quality, Wang said.”
“China will continue to treat PNG as an equal, and firmly support the country in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and national unity, accelerating national revitalization and improving people's livelihood, and playing a bigger role in regional and multilateral affairs, Wang said. PNG is an important partner in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, Wang said, noting that the Pacific country has participated in two Belt and Road forums for international cooperation consecutively and made positive contributions. The two countries have drawn up Belt and Road cooperation plans and established a working mechanism. Both sides need to implement them one by one and advance them in a timely manner, so as to ensure that the results of the cooperation will be tangible as soon as possible and bring benefits to the PNG people, Wang said. China is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with PNG and launch free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations as soon as possible, the Chinese foreign minister said. China is ready to strengthen its cooperation with PNG in such areas as trade and investment, infrastructure, agriculture, forestry and fishery, clean energy and climate change solutions, Wang said. China is also ready to create new highlights in its cooperation with PNG in such areas as information and communication technology, disaster prevention and reduction, and police affairs, pushing bilateral relations to higher levels, Wang said.
“As a developing country, China's exchanges and cooperation with South Pacific island countries are aimed at supporting and helping each other and achieving common development, without any selfish geopolitical interests … The South Pacific region should not become an arena of big power rivalry, and no country should treat the island countries as its ‘backyard’, or engage in zero-sum competition and exclusive arrangements, Wang said. Instead, more should be done for the island countries and more benefits should be brought to their people, Wang said.”
Do note this but attributed to Tkachenko: “PNG looks forward to strengthening cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, education, police affairs, and disaster prevention and mitigation, and further facilitating people-to-people exchanges.”
In his meeting with PM Marape, Wang said that “China will become the most reliable partner in the development process of PNG. The Chinese side is ready to quicken negotiations of a free trade agreement with the PNG, as well as boost cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, energy, finance, infrastructure for more achievements to benefit the two peoples.”
He also said this:
“China has always advocated that countries, regardless of their size or wealth, are equal members of the international community and have the right to development and rejuvenation, as well as the right to choose their own development paths independently. China's assistance to island countries has always adhered to the three principles proposed by President Xi Jinping: no political conditions attached, no imposition, and no issuing of ‘empty promises’. Our cooperation with island countries is mutual support between developing countries, mutual assistance among friends, and an important part of South-South cooperation. The purpose is to achieve common development, make the world order more balanced, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.” 王毅强调，中国始终主张，国家不分大小贫富，都是国际社会平等成员，都有发展振兴的权利，都有自主选择发展道路的权利。中国为岛国提供帮助始终坚持习近平主席提出的不附加政治条件、不强加于人、不开“空头支票”三原则。我们同岛国的合作是发展中国家之间的相互支持，是朋友之间的相互帮助，是南南合作的重要组成部分，目的是实现共同发展，使世界格局更加均衡，推动构建人类命运共同体。
Wang and Tkachenko also attended a joint press conference. Key points:
Wang said that “China has always regarded PNG as a significant partner and close friend, viewed the bilateral ties from a strategic perspective and enhanced the exchanges between the two countries on equal footing. China firmly supports PNG in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as adopting a successful development path that suits the country's national conditions. It also appreciates PNG's adherence to the one-China principle, and backing for China's core interests and major concerns.”
He talked about climate change cooperation, the FTA negotiation and said that “in key areas, such as disaster prevention and mitigation, information and communications, agricultural products trade, and energy, the two sides are determined to push for practical cooperation with higher quality, faster speed and better results”.
“We unanimously advocate that the internal affairs of Pacific Island countries should not be interfered with, and their rights to autonomous development should not be denied. The peace and stability of the region must be safeguarded. Pacific Island nations have the right to engage in friendly cooperation with all development partners. Both China and Pacific Island countries are members of the Global South and developing countries. It is natural and legitimate for both sides to help each other and deepen South-South cooperation. China regards Pacific island countries as indispensable partners in building a community with a shared future for mankind and has always upheld the ‘four full respects’ policy for their sovereignty and independence, will, cultural traditions and efforts to seek strength through unity when forging ties with Pacific island countries. China has provided assistance to Pacific island countries with no political strings attached or impositions, and the aid has never come as lip-service. We call on the international community to pay more attention to the special situation and legitimate concerns of island countries, focus on issues such as climate change and improving people's livelihoods, and contribute solid solutions and actions for their good. 我们一致主张，太平洋岛国的内政不容干涉，自主发展的权利不容剥夺，和平稳定的局面必须守护。岛国有权同所有发展伙伴开展友好合作。中国和太平洋岛国都是全球南方成员，都是发展中国家。双方互帮互助、深化南南合作，是天经地义、光明正大的事情。中方视太平洋岛国为推动构建人类命运共同体不可或缺的伙伴，始终按照充分尊重岛国主权独立、充分尊重岛国自身意愿、充分尊重岛国民族文化传统、充分尊重岛国联合自强的四原则发展同岛国的关系。中国对岛国的援助，始终坚持不附加政治条件，不强加于人，也从来不开“空头支票”。我们呼吁国际社会更积极关注岛国的特殊处境和正当关切，聚焦气候变化、民生改善等岛国最关心的议题，多出主意，多想办法，多干实事，多做好事.
On the elections in the Solomon Islands, Wang said that “all parties should respect the choice of the people of the Solomon Islands and not interfere in the internal affairs of the Solomon Islands.”
At the presser, Wang also talked about the issue of Palestine’s full membership to the UN. Xinhua reports:
“The international community has profound dissatisfaction and disappointment at the United States over its sole veto recently to deny Palestine’s full UN membership. An early full UN membership for Palestine is a move to rectify prolonged historical injustice, Wang stressed, adding that this is an international obligation due to be fulfilled by each UN member state. However, the United States once again openly stands opposite to international morality, and to the international community, leaving one more very dishonorable record in history, the Chinese foreign minister noted. A full UN membership for Palestine should not come as a result of Israel-Palestine negotiations, but as an equal precondition granted to Palestine for negotiations, serving as a key step towards realizing the two-state solution, Wang pointed out. It is not that conditions are not ripe for Palestine to fully become a UN member state, but that justice remains long overdue, Wang said, noting that the United States should act to show its claimed support for the two-state solution.”
Wang also spoke about broader geostrategic competition. He said that the Pacific Island countries are the homeland of their people, not the ‘backyards’ of any major country. The United States is piecing together a ‘trilateral security alliance’ and insisting on introducing nuclear submarines into this region, which violates the purpose of the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty and poses a serious risk of nuclear proliferation. Recently, the United States and its allies even came up with pretexts to try to entice more countries to join their bloc. China has always opposed the act of creating camp confrontation in this region because it does not serve the urgent needs of the South Pacific island countries and runs counter to the global trend of development.” 美国拼凑“三边安全伙伴关系”，执意在这一地区引入核潜艇开发，违背《南太平洋无核区条约》宗旨，引发严重核扩散风险。最近还巧立名目，试图拉拢更多国家加入。中国一贯反对在本地区制造阵营对抗的行径，因为这同岛国的迫切需要完全不符，也与世界的发展潮流背道而驰. (Comment: Of course, Wang purposefully does not make the distinction between nuclear-powered submarines and submarines armed with nuclear weapons.)
Anyway, next Wang traveled to Cambodia, where he met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea and King Norodom Sihamoni.
Wang told Sophea that:
“Faced with a complex international environment, China and Cambodia should strengthen high-level strategic guidance and steer the construction of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the right direction. The two sides should deepen practical cooperation in various fields, enhance unity and cooperation, promote close people-to-people exchanges and strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation. China is willing to work with Cambodia to enhance strategic synergy and comprehensively promote cooperation in six major fields of politics, production capacity, agriculture, energy, security and people-to-people exchanges. China and Cambodia should seize the opportunity of the 2024 China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year to enhance friendly feelings between the peoples and solidify the social foundation of bilateral relations; jointly combat illegal activities such as online gambling, telecommunications fraud, and human trafficking, and thoroughly eradicate related criminal gangs; jointly promote the high-quality development of China-ASEAN relations, advance Lancang-Mekong cooperation, and firmly steer East Asian cooperation in the right direction.”
The report on his chat with King Sihamoni has Wang praising bilateral ties as having “withstood the test of changing international situations and has remained as solid as a rock.”
Next, there’s a commentary on the implementation of the Global Security Initiative. It says that so far, GSI “has been supported and appreciated by more than 100 countries and international and regional organizations”.
It adds that “GSI transcends Cold War zero-sum mentality, discards the outdated logic of pursuing absolute security at the expense of other countries’ security, and embodies the original mission of the Communist Party of China of ‘seeking common good for the world’, showcasing the profound sentiments of Chinese culture in ‘benefiting all under heaven’.” 全球安全倡议超越冷战零和思维，摒弃以损害他国安全为代价追求绝对安全的过时逻辑，彰显出中国共产党“为世界谋大同”的初心使命，展现了中华文化“兼济天下”的深厚情怀.
The article then mentions specific actions taken under the framework of GSI:
The issuance of the paper clarifying China’s ‘Position on the Political Solution to the Ukraine Crisis’, and Li Hui’s “shuttle diplomacy”
The publication of the paper “‘China's Position on the Afghanistan Issue’ to further build consensus and synergy among regional countries to stabilize and aid Afghanistan
The “reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran”, which is “considered a successful practice of GSI.” In addition, the article mentions China’s mediation in Myanmar, “resulting in the formal ceasefire and other significant agreements”.
全球安全倡议强调对话，为消除国际安全赤字提供了可行方案。中方发布《关于政治解决乌克兰危机的中国立场》文件，积极开展穿梭外交，推动政治解决乌克兰危机；中方发布《关于阿富汗问题的中国立场》文件，进一步凝聚地区国家稳阿助阿的共识与合力。中方成功促成沙特和伊朗和解，为有关地区国家化解矛盾分歧、实现睦邻友好树立典范，被认为是“全球安全倡议的成功实践”；中方斡旋促成缅甸冲突相关方举行多轮和谈，达成正式停火等系列重要成果文件，为缓和缅北局势、维护地区和平稳定发挥关键作用。(Comment: This is actually quite a good reflection of how limited the scope of China's actions have been under GSI. It also shows that China is really not committed to committing big money or security forces to keep the peace when it comes to hotspot issues. It is going to remain very cautious when it comes to underwriting deals. In terms of effectiveness, Saudi Arabia did participate in supporting Israel during the recent Iranian attack. Fighting continues between rebel groups and the Myanmar junta. The Ukraine war isn’t ending anytime soon. And Afghanistan under the Taliban continues to remain a pariah state.)
The final bit blames concepts like ‘zero-sum thinking’, ‘absolute security’ and ‘hegemonic security’ for the current deterioration in the international security situation. And it says that GSI “does not target any specific country or exclude any specific party”.
Page 6: China is bracing for the new flood season. There is a report warning of heavy rains in southeastern Guangxi, central and southern Guangdong, most of Fujian, and southern Zhejiang. Guangdong, in particular, is facing the threat of severe flooding.
Page 15: There’s a report (English report) on how China’s new visa-free policy has boosted arrivals into China. In the first quarter of this year, there were 1.988 million foreigners entering China without visa, a year-on-year increase of 266.1%. There were a total of 141 million inbound and outbound trips in Q1.
Also on the page is a report with remarks by Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the US, at the Harvard Kennedy School China Conference 2024. Xinhua says:
“China is ready to make joint efforts with the U.S. side and take concrete actions to implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, so as to turn the ‘San Francisco Vision’ into reality, and steer the relationship forward along the track of sound, stable and sustainable development, said the envoy. Xie made five points regarding the China-U.S. relationship, saying that the two sides should jointly develop the right perception toward each other, manage disagreements effectively, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, shoulder responsibilities as major countries and promote people-to-people exchanges. China-U.S. relationship cannot go back to the old days, but the two countries can jointly usher in a brighter future for it. The hope lies in the youth, who are known for vitality, creativity, and the will to act, Xie said. He encouraged American youngsters to travel to China, contribute wisdom to how the two countries can get along, and promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, so as to create a future featuring lasting peace and prosperity for all.”
There was a protest that disrupted Xie’s address. You can watch the incident below: