Second Round of Xi Thought Campaign - Zhong Sheng lashes out at US on South China Sea Issue - Fujian-Taiwan Integration - Face-to-Face with Chinese-style Modernisation - China-Russia Ties
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily's edition on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a brief report on Xi Jinping sending his condolences to Mohamed Menfi, head of Libya's Presidential Council, over the floods in the country, which have killed around 2,300 people and over 10,000 are missing. The other leading story on the page is about Xi’s letter to customs workers employed along the Khunjerab Pass. There’s nothing particularly noteworthy in this.
Also on the page is a report informing that Li Xi will travel to Havana to attend the G77+China Summit from September 14 to 16. He will also visit Brazil and Egypt as part of his tour.
Next, there’s a Zhong Yin commentary discussing the second round of the Xi Jinping Thought education campaign. Xi referred to this during his visit to Heilongjiang last week. The commentary says that the second round of the campaign will focus on government offices at all levels below the provincial level, their directly affiliated units, and other grassroots party organizations. It will start from September this year and is expected to be completed by January next year.
“We must earnestly study and comprehend, implement, and act on the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, focus on the overall requirement of ‘learning the thought, strengthening Party character, emphasizing practice, and building new achievements’; firmly grasp the main theme and fundamental task of in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully draw on the successful experience of the first round of the education campaign, adhere to the integration of learning, thinking and application and the unity of knowledge, belief and practice, adhere to the linkage with the first round of thematic education, adhere to the organic integration and unified advancement of key measures, and comprehensively implement the important requirements of ‘forging the soul through learning, enhancing wisdom through learning, correcting the wind through learning, and promoting action through learning’, ensuring the realisation the goals of gathering our hearts and forging our souls to build a solid foundation, tempering our character and strengthening loyalty, taking practical actions to promote development, fulfilling the purpose of benefiting the people, and establishing a new trend of honesty and integrity.” 第二批主题教育涉及的单位和人员范围广、类型多、数量大、任务重，要认真学习领会、贯彻落实习近平总书记重要指示精神，紧紧围绕“学思想、强党性、重实践、建新功”的总要求，牢牢把握深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想这一主题主线和根本任务，充分借鉴运用第一批主题教育成功经验，坚持学思用贯通、知信行统一，坚持同第一批主题教育衔接联动，坚持重点措施有机融合、一体推进，全面落实“以学铸魂、以学增智、以学正风、以学促干”的重要要求，确保实现凝心铸魂筑牢根本、锤炼品格强化忠诚、实干担当促进发展、践行宗旨为民造福、廉洁奉公树立新风的目标.
The commentary adds that this round of the campaign should focus on “leading groups and leading cadres at or above the county level” and “use the Party's innovative theory to arm the mind, guide practice, and promote work.” It stresses on the importance of research and investigation, which must be “deep, real, detailed, accurate and effective” and be transformed into “practical measures to improve work and promote development.” The campaign should promote high-quality development. It calls to “strengthen inspection into the effectiveness of rectification and profoundly examine and analyze, dig deep into the ideological roots, and carry out in-depth rectification.” It further demands establishing and improving rules and regulations, combining ‘immediate changes’ with ‘long-term setups’, in order to create robust and sustainable institutional mechanisms that work well, are practical, and endure over the long term. 要突出抓好县处级以上领导班子和领导干部主题教育，把理论学习贯穿始终，用党的创新理论武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作；扎实开展调查研究，念好“深、实、细、准、效”五字诀，真正把调研成果转化为改进工作、推动发展的实际举措；全力推动高质量发展，把主题教育成果体现到高质量发展的成效上、体现到促进中心工作上；增强检视整改实效，深刻检视剖析、深挖思想根源、深入整改落实；搞好建章立制，把“当下改”与“长久立”结合起来，建立健全行得通、做得实、长期管用的制度机制.
Finally, there’s the full guideline on making Fujian a demonstration zone for integrated development with Taiwan. Ginger River Review has a full translation of the document, and I recommend you check that out. So I am going to rely on that. The documents comprise 21 points, and highlights the following objectives:
Make Fujian first-choice destination for Taiwan residents and enterprises in the PRC: This covers infrastructure connectivity and transport links; supporting education linkages and university connections; support for hiring more Taiwan employees and expanding the scope of direct recognition of Taiwan vocational qualifications; encouraging Taiwanese to join industrial, academic and professional social organizations and be part of community building and community-level governance; enabling Taiwanese people to live in Fujian, buy houses and supporting them via employment, health services, housing, elderly care services, and social assistance in Fujian; and strengthening judicial linkages.
Deepen economic and trade integration: One key part of this is technological innovation cooperation. Under this, the document says: “encourage enterprises and scientific research institutions from both Fujian and Taiwan to jointly establish platforms for the research and development of common technologies, and promote the digitalization and application of smart technologies for Taiwan enterprises in Fujian.”
Promote deeper integration: This covers integration of Xiamen and Kinmen, Fuzhou and Matsu, and so on.
Deepen social and people-to-people exchanges
Page 2: A couple of reports to note. A report informing that a special event titled “The Story of the Communist Party of China - The Practice of Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Qinghai” was held recently. The event was co-hosted by the ILD and the Qinghai Provincial Committee. The theme of the event was ‘Chinese-style Modernization: Harmonious Coexistence of Man and Nature’. The event focussed on the implementation of Xi’s thought in Qinghai, especially his ecological civilization concept. The report says that over 150 political party leaders or representatives from nearly 30 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania attended the conference.
Liu Jianchao said that the Communist Party of China is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance with political parties and political organisations from various countries, jointly promote modernization in which man and nature coexist harmoniously, and jointly build a community of life on earth and a clean and beautiful world.” 中国共产党愿同各国政党和政治组织加强治国理政经验交流，共同推进人与自然和谐共生的现代化，共建地球生命共同体和清洁美丽世界.
Of course, there’s a lot of praise from foreign guests that is reported.
Next, there’s a report on Vladimir Putin meeting with the visiting Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, who was invited to attend the 8th Eastern Economic Forum. Xinhua reports:
“With joint efforts of Russia and China, bilateral relations have entered the best period in history, said Putin, noting that bilateral cooperation in various fields such as economy and trade has developed smoothly, and local cooperation between the two countries is in the ascendant. The development of the Far East has become a new growth point for cooperation between both countries, and Russia is fully confident of the prospects of bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, Putin said. For his part, Zhang first conveyed Xi's cordial greetings to Putin, and expressed congratulations on the convening of the 8th EEF. Noting that the two heads of state have steered the development of bilateral relations, Zhang said that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era has maintained a high-level operation, and that cooperation in various fields has a sound momentum of development. Xi's visit to Russia in March this year has achieved fruitful results, Zhang added. China is willing to work with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, share development opportunities, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen coordination and synergy of regional development strategies, give full play to the role of local cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, so as to promote the continuous development of China-Russia cooperation to achieve new results, he said.”
Third, there’s a report on the fourth BRI Tax Administration Cooperation Forum, which will last three days, being held in Tbilisi, Georgia. The forum focused on the theme of ‘Inclusiveness, Openness, and Cooperation - Helping the Optimization of the Taxation Business Environment’. More than 300 participants, including tax department heads from 32 countries and regions, representatives from international organizations like the United Nations, and representatives from multinational enterprises, attended the forum. 为期3天的第四届“一带一路”税收征管合作论坛11日在格鲁吉亚首都第比利斯开幕。论坛聚焦“包容开放 携手前行——助力优化税收营商环境”主题，来自32个国家和地区的税务部门负责人、联合国等国际组织以及跨国企业代表共300余人出席.
Fourth, there’s a report on the China-Central Asia Human Rights Development Forum being held in Beijing. The report says that more than 100 experts, scholars, media think tanks and youth representatives from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended the meeting. Some comments that are covered in the report:
Wang Guoqing, Vice Chairman of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, talked about BRI becoming “the most popular international public good and the largest international cooperation platform.” 中国人权发展基金会副理事长王国庆表示，10年来，共建“一带一路”倡议已成为最受欢迎的国际公共产品和最大规模的国际合作平台.
Li Yunlong, a professor at the Central Party School, said that “development is the fundamental way to realise human rights. BRI focuses on development issues and unleashes the development potential of various countries. While achieving great economic integration, great linkage of development, and great shared benefits, it helps to significantly improve people’s living standards and continuously promotes the realisation of people’s right to development.” 中央党校（国家行政学院）教授李云龙在发言中表示，发展是实现人权的根本途径。“一带一路”倡议聚焦发展问题，释放各国发展潜力，在实现经济大融合、发展大联动、成果大共享的同时，助推人民生活水平大幅提升，不断推动人民发展权的实现.
Zhang Ming, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, said that “the SCO safeguards human rights through security and promotes human rights through development. It has created a stable environment for regional human rights development and contributed positively to advancing global human rights governance towards a more fair, just, and inclusive direction.” 上海合作组织秘书长张明表示，在“上海精神”的指引下，上海合作组织以安全守护人权、以发展促进人权，为推进地区人权事业创造了安定的环境，为推动全球人权治理朝着更加公平公正合理包容的方向发展贡献了积极力量.
Finally, there’s a long feature describing the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone as a model of pragmatic cooperation between China and Cambodia.
Page 3: There’s a report on Li Ganjie’s comments during the 9th Singapore-China Forum on Leadership. Li talked about Chinese-style modernisation. He said:
Li Ganjie emphasised that Chinese-style modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China, and the Party’s leadership is directly related to the fundamental direction, future and destiny, and ultimate success or failure of Chinese-style modernization. It is necessary to focus on strengthening the Party's political leadership, firmly support the Two Establishments and resolutely achieve the Two Safeguards to ensure that Chinese-style modernization always advances smoothly along the right track. It is necessary to focus on enhancing the Party's ideological leadership, persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and continuously consolidate the common ideological foundation for promoting Chinese-style modernization. It is necessary to focus on strengthening the Party's mass organisational power, tighten the Party's organisational system, follow the Party's mass line, and maintain close ties between the Party and the masses, and continuously provide fundamental momentum for Chinese-style modernization. It is necessary to focus on enhancing the Party's social appeal, mobilize all positive factors that can be mobilized to the maximum extent, and gather the majestic power of Chinese-style modernization. 李干杰强调，中国式现代化是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，党的领导直接关系中国式现代化的根本方向、前途命运、最终成败。要围绕增强党的政治领导力，坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”，确保中国式现代化始终沿着正确轨道顺利推进。要围绕增强党的思想引领力，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，不断夯实推进中国式现代化的共同思想基础。要围绕增强党的群众组织力，严密党的组织体系，走好党的群众路线，密切党群干群关系，源源不断为中国式现代化提供根本动力。要围绕增强党的社会号召力，最大限度调动一切可以调动的积极因素，汇聚起中国式现代化建设的磅礴伟力.
Also on the page is a brief report informing that Yan Xiaoming has been elected as chairperson of China Television Artists Association.
Page 7: From today, the paper is beginning a series, with excerpts being shared from a new theoretical learning book on Chinese-style modernisation (中国式现代化面对面--Face to Face with Chinese-style Modernisation). The introduction informs that this book deals with the theory and practice of China's modernization and answers 17 major questions. As has been the case in the past, this is likely to be a long series covering the entire book. If you are interested in this please do subscribe, I will be covering the publication of these pieces behind the paywall.
Page 15: The lead article on the international page is about Chile holding an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the US-backed coup by General Augusto Pinochet. More than 3,000 people, including the presidents of Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Bolivia, as well as former leaders of Costa Rica, Spain, Finland and other countries, attended the memorial event, PD reports. The big point being highlighted is about US interference in other countries’ internal affairs.
Next, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary criticising the US for its diplomacy during the East Asia summit. It says that:
“At the recent East Asia Summit, the US once again created trouble around the South China Sea issue in an attempt to sow discord between relevant countries and China. The US has repeatedly violated the will of regional countries and attempted to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, further exposing the true face of its so-called ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’ in creating division and confrontation in the region.” 在近日举行的东亚峰会上，美方再次围绕南海问题制造事端，企图挑拨有关国家同中国的关系。美方一而再、再而三违背地区国家意愿，企图在南海掀起风浪，进一步暴露出美国所谓“印太战略”在地区制造分裂对抗的真面目.
The article says that the US talked about the “need to uphold ‘freedom of navigation and overflight’ in the South China Sea and once again referenced the so-called South China Sea arbitration ruling.” The author calls this a “false proposition.” “The US has never provided evidence to show which country’s ships or aircraft have encountered problems while sailing or overflying in the South China Sea. In the name of safeguarding ‘freedom of navigation and overflight’, US warships and aircraft are showing off their power and militarization in the South China Sea. This is the real threat to the peace and stability of the South China Sea. The so-called South China Sea arbitration award seriously violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and is illegal and invalid. China does not accept or recognize this ruling, nor does it accept any claims or actions based on it. China’s stance is a legitimate measure to uphold the authority and integrity of the UNCLOS. The US itself has not joined UNCLOS, but it has repeatedly cited the UNCLOS, which exposes its hypocritical nature. With regard to the so-called South China Sea arbitration case, the US was the initiator and the behind-the-scenes manipulator, and has since repeatedly exaggerated and hyped up the relevant illegal award, which fully demonstrates its intention to politicize, weaponize, and instrumentalize international law. (Comment: The audaciousness of this bullshitery is truly something to behold. China rejecting the decision by the tribunal is actually upholding UNCLOS!) 美方在东亚峰会上故伎重施，大谈要维护南海“航行和飞越自由”，并再次拿所谓南海仲裁案裁决说事。所谓南海“航行和飞越自由”，根本就是一个伪命题。美方从来拿不出证据表明哪个国家的哪艘船、哪架飞机、什么时候在南海航行或者飞越时遇到问题。美方舰机打着维护“航行和飞越自由”的旗号在南海耀武扬威，大搞军事化，才是南海和平稳定面临的真实威胁。所谓南海仲裁案裁决严重违反包括《联合国海洋法公约》在内的国际法，是非法的、无效的。中方不接受、不承认该裁决，不接受任何基于该裁决的主张和行动，正是维护《联合国海洋法公约》权威性和完整性的正当举措。美国自身迟迟不加入《联合国海洋法公约》，却反复拿《联合国海洋法公约》说事，足见其虚伪本性。在所谓南海仲裁案问题上，美国本就是始作俑者和幕后操手，如今又一再渲染炒作相关非法裁决，充分说明其意图将国际法政治化、工具化、武器化.
China is committed to the path of peaceful development. As a party to the UNCLOS, China has been working with ASEAN countries to properly handle the South China Sea issue on the basis of mutual respect in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS, and taking into account the actual conditions in the region. 中国坚持走和平发展道路，作为《联合国海洋法公约》缔约国，始终同东盟国家一道，根据包括《联合国海洋法公约》在内的国际法，结合地区实际情况，在相互尊重的基础上妥善处理南海问题。It adds that while China and ASEAN countries are working on a Code of Conduct, the US, as an extra-regional actor, is looking to stir trouble, “drive a wedge between regional countries and China, disrupt and undermine the efforts of China and ASEAN countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and serve its strategic attempt to blockade, suppress and contain China.” 美国作为域外国家，出于一己私利，千方百计在南海挑动是非，兴风作浪，目的是离间地区国家同中国的关系，干扰破坏中国与东盟国家维护南海和平稳定的努力，服务其遏制打压围堵中国的战略企图.
“The US approach violates the basic norms of international relations, goes against the will of the people in the region and the trend of cooperation, and is destined to fail. At this East Asia Summit, the US deliberately deviated from the theme of the meeting and undermined the atmosphere of cooperation. It is a natural result that no one agreed. Earlier, the US made a high-profile claim that the defence chiefs of the US and Indonesia issued a joint statement criticising China’s South China Sea claims. However, the Indonesian side quickly debunked the lies of the US side, saying that the news released by the US side was inconsistent with the facts. Similar situations have occurred before, which fully shows that the US engages in diplomacy based on lies and provocation, only to bring disgrace upon itself.” 美方做法违反国际关系基本准则，违背地区人民意愿和合作潮流，注定不会得逞。此次东亚峰会上，美方蓄意偏离会议主题，破坏合作气氛，无人附和是自然结果。再早些时候，美方高调声称美国与印尼两国防长发表联合声明批评中国南海主张，但印尼方面很快就拆穿美方谎言，表示美方发布的消息与事实不符。类似情况此前也曾出现，充分说明美方谎言外交、挑拨外交只会自取其辱.
“The US has repeatedly hyped up the South China Sea issue, attempting to artificially create divisions and confrontations and coerce and induce regional countries to choose sides. Countries in the region clearly understand the intentions of the US, and generally do not want to be pawns on the chessboard of American hegemony. Indonesian President Joko Widodo said that ASEAN cannot be an agent of any country, nor can it be involved in the competition of big countries. ASEAN is committed to strengthening unity and cohesion. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong pointed out that ASEAN members do not want to choose sides between China and the United States. Any move in either direction in the region will not be followed by many countries, because no one in ASEAN wants to see an outbreak of a ‘New Cold War’. The United States should listen carefully to the voices of countries in the region and fully realise that any actions aimed at maintaining hegemonic interests by creating divisions and conflicts will not gain traction in the Asia-Pacific region.” 美国一再翻炒南海问题，图谋通过人为制造分裂对抗，威逼利诱地区国家选边站队。地区国家对美方的意图看得很清楚，普遍不愿成为美国霸权棋盘上的棋子。印尼总统佐科表示，东盟不能成为任何国家的代理人，也不能卷入大国竞争，东盟致力于加强团结与凝聚力。新加坡第一副总理黄循财指出，东盟成员国不想在中美之间选边站队，“在该地区朝任何一个方向采取的任何举动都不会有多少国家跟随，因为东盟没有人希望看到爆发‘新冷战’”。美方应认真倾听地区国家的心声，充分认识到任何靠制造分裂对抗来维护霸权私利的行径在亚太都没有市场,