State Council Discusses Key Tasks - Xi & Two Sessions - Yang-Sullivan Meeting - Zhong Sheng: US, the 'Initiator' - 始作俑者 - of Ukraine Crisis - MoFA on Arms Sales & US' Taiwan Policy
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Tuesday, March 15, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: There’s another big piece that talks about Xi Jinping’s engagement at the Two Sessions over the past decade. It discus how people are always in Xi Jinping’s heart, but the language is not as laden with honorifics as Sunday’s piece. This one talks about the issues that Xi Jinping has been most concerned about during the meetings over the past decade. Poverty alleviation, along with several linked issues, is a big focus. The piece has bits about Xi engaging with delegates, chiding them about making excuses, talking about his visits to villages, etc. This is followed by brief discussions on many aspects. I am listing out some of the key policy areas referenced in the piece: the fight against the pandemic, food security, independent innovation, people’s livelihood, dual circulation, the challenges of ecological deterioration and unsustainable development, etc.
One bit that I found interesting was a reference to Xi’s comments from 2020 about GDP growth rate target not being the focus. Then in 2021, he talked about how the target kept much room to pursue high-quality development. This year, the situation is clearly different. We still have a GDP growth target and here’s what Li Keqiang had said during his press conference.
“We aim to achieve about 5.5 percent growth this year to ensure the steady performance of the Chinese economy at a high level, which is in itself a show of progress. To achieve this goal is not easy, and needs the support of a series of macro policies. Take fiscal policy for example, we have lowered our deficit-to-GDP ratio to 2.8 percent this year, a decrease of more than 200 billion yuan over last year. But we will beef up government spending this year. One may naturally ask, how to pay for that? I have set it out in the Government Work Report. We will draw on the savings that we didn’t tap into over the last two years, meaning we will use the surplus profits of state-owned financial institutions and state monopoly business operations and funds transferred from the Central Budget Stabilization Fund. In total, government spending this year will rise by no less than 2 trillion yuan. Most of it will be used for tax and fee reductions, particularly tax refund, just like providing oxygen supply for mountain climbers. At the same time, we will roll out a series of supportive financial and pro-job measures too. Our policies set for this year are not just aimed at addressing immediate needs. They also take into account long-term development needs. They will not sacrifice future interests and are therefore sustainable. Like you said, China is still faced with a series of challenges, such as climate change, income gap, and debt. We need to forcefully respond to them this year and in a medium-to-long run. The measures required are being worked on. China’s modernization is a long process. We need to address issues arising in the course of development through development.”
Next, Li Keqiang chaired a meeting of the State Council (English report), which distributed the priorities set in this year’s government work report to the relevant bodies of the State Council and local governments, and called for solid implementation. There were 52 key tasks in 44 areas that were distributed. The report says that the meeting emphasised that “the economy is facing new downward pressure and increasing challenges. It spoke about the need to coordinate COVID-19 prevention and control with economic and social development, and the need to put the task of ensuring steady growth in an even more prominent position. To do this, there are some key points highlighted:
First, closely monitor changes in the global economic situation, major economies' macro policy adjustments, the market trends of bulk commodities, and the impacts of these factors on China. The country will continue to improve its response measures to ensure economic growth and employment, and keep prices within an appropriate range.
Second, implement macro policies aimed at stabilising market entities and ensuring employment. This includes tax rebates and tax reductions, which are described as “key measures to stabilise the macroeconomic market this year… Local governments should, based on their actual conditions, take measures to help market entities, especially industries with special difficulties, such as exempting rents and reducing energy consumption costs. Guide financial institutions to introduce specific measures to improve the availability of financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and reduce overall financing costs. At the same time, we will actively expand domestic demand, unleash consumption potential and increase effective investment. Ensure a stable supply of electricity and coal.”
Third, advance reform in key areas and key links, deepen reform to delegate power, improve regulation, and provide services, and encourage mass entrepreneurship and innovation. This includes improving ease of starting businesses, digitisation of government affairs, strengthening market oversight and maintaining fair competition, tackling issues related to key and core technologies, implementing incentives such as tax deductions for enterprises' R&D expenses and providing tax incentives for basic research, stabilising foreign trade and foreign investment.
Fourth, “we should do our best to protect and improve people’s livelihood.” This includes measures related to basic living standards, such as strengthening compulsory education, basic medical care and basic housing, and ensuring that people in financial difficulties live a better life. (This bit sounds like it is much lower on the priority list for this year; you know, “we should do our best” rather than “we must do xyz”)
Fifth, all localities and departments should increase their sense of urgency, take responsibility for practical work. This warns against shirking responsibilities, perfunctorily performing duties, neglecting the legitimate rights and interests of the people and following a one-size-fits-all approach.
Third, there’s a report about FDI into China in the first two months of 2022.
The Ministry of Commerce said that FDI was at 243.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 37.9%.
In U.S. dollar terms, the inflow went up 45.2 percent year on year to $37.86 billion.
FDI into the service sector was 175.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 24%. FDI in the high-tech sector increased by 73.8% year-on-year. Within this, high-tech manufacturing saw an FDI increase of 69.2% and the high-tech service sector FDI increased by 74.9%.
FDI from BRI countries and ASEAN countries increased by 27.8% and 25.5% year-on-year, respectively.
FDI across the eastern, central and western regions increased by 36.6%, 74.9% and 13% year-on-year.
Finally, the page also carries the beginning of the NPCSC work report. This runs into the inner pages. Here’s the full English version.
Page 4: A report informing us that the General Office of the Central Military Commission issued a notice requiring the PLA and PAP to study the spirit of the Fifth Session of the 13th NPC and conscientiously study and implement Xi Jinping’s speech and instructions at the PLA and PAP plenary meeting.
The notice states that “it is necessary to incorporate the spirit of the NPC, especially the spirit of Xi Jinping’s important speech, into the theoretical study centre group of Party committees of units above the regiment level, the ideological and political education of troops and the teaching of political theory courses in colleges and universities, so as to effectively unify thoughts and actions. Focusing on the 20th Party Congress, we should comprehensively strengthen Party leadership and Party building, guide officers and soldiers to deeply understand the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’, strengthen the ‘four self-confidences’, achieve the ‘two safeguards’ and implement the Chairman Responsibility System. Keep up pace with the development and changes of the security situation at home and abroad; carry out military struggle firmly and flexibly while fighting and preparing for war. Seize the development window for our armed forces’ construction, pay close attention to the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, deepen reform and innovation, strengthen strategic management, and strive to accelerate development and build high quality. Implement the deployment requirements of the strategy of managing the armed forces according to law, strengthen the rule of law guarantee for the Party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces, use the rule of law to regulate the training and preparation for various tasks, speed up the fundamental transformation of the way of managing the armed forces, maintain the high level of centralization, unity, security and stability of the armed forces, and greet the 20th Party Congress with practical actions.” 通知强调，要把学习大会精神特别是习主席重要讲话精神，纳入团级以上单位党委理论学习中心组学习、部队思想政治教育和院校政治理论课教学，切实统一思想和行动。紧紧围绕迎接和学习贯彻党的二十大，全面加强党的领导和党的建设，引导官兵深刻领悟“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”，贯彻军委主席负责制。紧跟国内外安全形势发展变化，边斗争、边备战、边建设，坚定灵活开展军事斗争。抓住我军建设发展窗口期，狠抓“十四五”规划落实，深化改革创新，加强战略管理，努力在发展上跑出加速度、建出高质量。贯彻依法治军战略的部署要求，强化党对军队绝对领导的法治保障，运用法治规范练兵备战各项工作，加快治军方式根本性转变，保持部队高度集中统一和安全稳定，以实际行动迎接党的二十大胜利召开.
I am not going into details of the next piece, but it’s worth noting that it’s not just the people’s wellbeing but also food security that’s now 国之大者.
Third, a report about Wang Yi’s chat with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares. Xinhua says that Albares hoped for China to “play an active role in promoting peace” when it comes to the war in Ukraine.
Xinhua adds:
“Some forces have been constantly smearing China's objective and just position on the Ukraine issue and creating disinformation, Wang warned, adding that the Chinese side will continue to play a constructive role in the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis on multilateral occasions. The Ukraine crisis is the result of the accumulation and intensification of security frictions in Europe over the years, Wang said. He added that the Chinese side encourages Russia and Ukraine to achieve a ceasefire through peace talks, and expressed his hope that Europe and Russia will launch dialogue and negotiations on an equal basis, and find reasonable solutions to their security concerns, so as to set up a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework.”
Note: None of this suggests that Beijing is actually calling for a ceasefire. It says that Beijing would like the two sides to talk and try to come to a ceasefire agreement. So would Beijing like a ceasefire, yes. But is it actively seeking one? Not quite.
The Yang Jiechi-Jake Sullivan conversation in Rome isn’t covered today. That’s understandable since the meeting would have happened much later than publication time. But here’s what Xinhua English says about the meeting, beginning with China-US ties.
“Both sides conducted candid, in-depth and constructive communication over China-U.S. relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern. The two sides agree to jointly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, increase understanding, manage differences, expand consensus and strengthen cooperation, so as to accumulate conditions for bringing China-U.S. relations back to the track of sound and steady development.”
“The current U.S. administration has pledged to adhere to the one-China policy and not to support ‘Taiwan independence’ in regard to the Taiwan question, but its actions are obviously inconsistent with its statements, he said. The Chinese side expresses grave concern over and firm opposition to the recent wrong words and deeds of the U.S. side on Taiwan-related issues, Yang noted, adding that any attempts to condone and support ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, or play the ‘Taiwan card’ and use the Taiwan question to contain China will be futile. China urges the U.S. side to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, abide by the one-China principle, the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques and the commitments made by the U.S. side, and stop going further down the dangerous path. Yang expounded on China's solemn position on issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, pointing out that these issues concern China's core interests and are China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. Any attempt to use these issues to suppress China will fail, he said.”
They two sides also spoke about the “Ukraine issue, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iran nuclear issue and the Afghanistan issue.”
On Ukraine, Xinhua says:
“the Chinese side does not want to see that the situation in Ukraine has come to this point. China always stands for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, he said, adding that China is committed to promoting peace talks. He called on the international community to jointly support the Russia-Ukraine peace talks so that substantive results can be achieved as soon as possible, and to help de-escalate the situation as early as possible. All parties should exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis, Yang said, adding that China has provided emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and will carry on its efforts to this end. Yang also said that it is important to straighten out the historical context of the Ukraine issue, get to the bottom of the problem's origin, and respond to the legitimate concerns of all parties. He called for taking a long-term view, actively advocating a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and encouraging relevant parties to conduct equal-footed dialogue, and set up a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework based on the principle of indivisible security in a bid to preserve peace in Europe and around the world. Yang stressed that the Chinese side resolutely opposes any words and deeds that spread false information, or distort and discredit China's position.”
The US readout of the meeting said:
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi in Rome, Italy. Their meeting followed up on the November 15, 2021 virtual meeting between President Biden and President Xi. Mr. Sullivan raised a range of issues in U.S.-China relations, with substantial discussion of Russia’s war against Ukraine. They also underscored the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and China.
Some useful reportage on the meeting:
A senior administration official described the talks, which were held in Rome, as “intense” and spanning at least seven hours. The official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity, said Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, conveyed to China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, that the U.S. is concerned Beijing may attempt to help Russia blunt global sanctions…“What I would say in general is that we do have deep concerns about China’s alignment with Russia,” the official said. “The national security adviser was direct about those concerns and the potential implications and consequences of certain actions.” Sullivan’s trip comes on the heels of reports that Moscow requested that China provide military equipment for its war in Ukraine, which is now in its third week. The official played down the timing of the trip when pressed by reporters. “This meeting had been planned for some time,” the official said, adding that schedules were coordinated last fall between U.S. and Chinese officials.
The US delegation in Rome had not expected the Chinese diplomats to negotiate, seeing them as message deliverers to Beijing. “It was an intense seven-hour session, reflecting the gravity of the moment, as well as our commitment to maintaining open lines of communication,” a senior administration official said. “This meeting was not about negotiating specific issues or outcomes, but about a candid, direct exchange of views.” Asked if it had been successful, the official replied: “I suppose it depends on how you define success, but we believe that it is important to keep open lines of communication between the United States and China, especially on areas where we disagree.”
However, the Americans walked away from the Rome meeting pessimistic that the Chinese government would change its minds about backing Moscow. “The key here is first to get China to recalculate and re-evaluate their position. We see no sign of that re-evaluation,” said another US official familiar with the discussions. “They’ve already decided that they’re going to provide economic and financial support, and they underscored that today. The question really is whether they will go further.” Top of the Russian military shopping list in China are armed drones and various forms of ammunition, but any military transfers would not be straightforward.
“It really is a project of Xi Jinping. He is totally, fundamentally behind this closer partnership with Russia,” the US official said. There is more scepticism lower down the ranks, but Xi and Putin have bonded over their shared view of the US as being heavy- and high-handed, and determined to end the period of US global dominance. If China does back Russia in its showdown with the west, the Biden administration will shift its focus to persuading allies, in Europe particularly, to rethink their relationships with Beijing. Sullivan is due in Paris on Tuesday for discussions with the French government.
With all this said, let’s look at some other Chinese statements on the Ukraine war. These are not in PD. First, Wang Yi’s chat with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. Xinhua reports:
“Retno said that Indonesia insists on respecting other countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, calls for an early end to the military conflict and encourages relevant parties to hold dialogue to de-escalate the situation and prevent a humanitarian crisis. Wang said China will continue to play a constructive role in easing tensions, promoting peace talks and preventing humanitarian crises in accordance with the "four musts" put forth by Chinese President Xi Jinping…To achieve long-term stability in Europe, the European Union, NATO and Russia need to engage in dialogue on an equal footing, and establish a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework, Wang stressed.”
Next, comments by China’s envoy at the UN: Zhang Jun said that the:
“‘wanton use of sanctions’ will not help solve the conflict in Ukraine but only create new problems. ‘The current status in the situation in Ukraine is an outcome of the interplay of complex historical and present factors. To solve complex issues, calm and rational thinking are all the more needed,’ Zhang said at the UN Security Council briefing by the chairperson-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Escalating sanctions have already seriously affected and will continue to affect global finance, energy, food, transportation, supply chains and other fields, hampering the already fragile world economy amid the pandemic. The diplomat added that the sanctions would negatively impact livelihoods, particularly in developing countries. ‘We once again call for greater diplomatic efforts by the international community to de-escalate tensions and immediately bring the Ukrainian issue back to the track of political settlement,’ Zhang said…Noting that Russia and Ukraine have held multiple rounds of direct negotiations and have demonstrated a willingness to continue the talks further, Zhang said the international community must help sustain the positive momentum. ‘The crisis in Ukraine is interwoven with European security and stability,’ said Zhang, encouraging the OSCE to ‘bring into full play its strengths and set up the necessary platform for the negotiations and communication of the parties concerned’.”
Zhang also talked about the importance of the principle of indivisible security. He said:
“‘This principle carries special significance under the current circumstances. Therefore, it should not only be upheld, but more importantly, be implemented,’ said Zhang. ‘The final settlement of the crisis in Ukraine requires taking seriously and respecting the legitimate security concerns of all states, and forming a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism.’ The Cold War mentality based on bloc confrontation should be rejected entirely. Sticking to a hegemonic mentality and provoking bloc confrontation will only exacerbate turmoil and division, he said, adding that is the case in Europe and other regions. This world does not need another Cold War. Under the banner of multilateralism, all countries must strengthen unity and cooperation and work together for a community with a shared future for mankind, he said…He noted that the world has now entered a new era, adding that the path of dialogue and cooperation should become wider rather than narrower. Zhang said that differences among states in national interests, social system, and ideology should not become an obstacle to dialogue, let alone a reason for confrontation.”
Page 7: Two COVID-19 related reports.
There’s a report about Li Jinming, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission’s Clinical Testing Center, talking about the approval for new RAT tests. Li backs antigen tests for their efficacy, for early detection. But he says that it cannot replace nucleic acid testing.
(Quick Thought: Another day has gone by and in PD, there are no details about the clusters and cities that are dealing with outbreaks. The total number of cases and the mass testing and shutdowns that have taken place just do not get reported here. Shenzhen has been shut down; Shanghai is imposing tough measures including closing schools and entertainment activities. But none of this finds mention in the paper.)
Next, there’s a report about the arrival of a mainland medical team in HK to assist with the outbreak there.
Page 9: On the theory page, the lead article is by the Xi Jinping thought research center at the Ministry of Education. This basically talks about China’s “whole-process democracy,” arguing that China’s democracy is not decorative but rather delivers for the people. It adds:
“Through a series of legal and institutional arrangements, the whole process people's democracy connects all areas of democratic election, democratic consultation, democratic decision-making, democratic management and democratic supervision, covering all aspects of economy, politics, culture, society, ecological civilization and so on, so that all sectors and aspects of national political life and social life can listen to people's voices and reflect people's wishes. The whole process people's democracy has the characteristics of continuity in time, integrity in content, synergy in operation, extensiveness and continuity in people's participation, and ensures that democracy is extensive, full, real, concrete and effective.” 全过程人民民主通过一系列法律和制度安排，将民主选举、民主协商、民主决策、民主管理、民主监督各个环节贯通起来，涵盖经济、政治、文化、社会、生态文明等各个方面，使国家政治生活和社会生活各环节、各方面都倾听人民声音、体现人民意愿。全过程人民民主具有时间上的连续性、内容上的整体性、运行上的协同性、人民参与上的广泛性和持续性，确保民主广泛充分、真实具体、有效管用.
Page 17: There’s a lot of stuff about the US on the international page today. First, there’s a long piece talking about “for-profit” prisons in the US.
The piece says that “private prisons in the United States have turned the national correctional function into a tool for capital to pursue profit, turned punishing crime into a lucrative business, and have become ‘slave factories’ that violate human rights, engage in forced labor, commit violent crimes, and exacerbate racial inequality.” 美国私营监狱将国家惩教职能变为资本逐利的工具，把惩罚犯罪变成利润丰厚的生意，成为侵犯人权、强迫劳动、暴力犯罪频发、加剧种族不平等的“奴隶工厂”. –
(Quick thought: Yeah, this is a terrible policy. Prisons should be for the state to run, and the job of civil society and lawmakers should be to design and enforce standards, preserve rights and enable corrective action.)
Next, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary lashing out at the US for its approach to the Ukraine crisis. It says that the US “should reflect on its role in the Ukrainian crisis, stop lying, deceiving and confusing the public, earnestly shoulder its due responsibilities, take practical actions to ease the situation and solve problems, and do something conducive to peace.”
The piece argues that some US officials and media have “fabricated and disseminated false information to smear China” in the context of the Ukraine war.
“China does not want to see the situation in Ukraine as it has developed at present. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has always made judgments and expressed opinions independently based on the merits of the matter in an objective and fair manner. The Ukrainian issue has a complicated history and needs to be solved calmly and rationally. China believes that to defuse the current crisis, it is necessary to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respect and safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. We must uphold the principle of indivisibility of security and accommodate the legitimate security concerns of parties concerned. We must resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and negotiation. We must build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism with a view to ensuring long-term peace and stability in the region. China's position is aboveboard, and China's position is positive and constructive. – I wonder if that call for calmness and rationality was shared with Putin too?
To solve the Ukrainian crisis, it is imperative to promote peace talks, and not add fuel to the fire. China always stands on the side of peaceful cooperation, fairness and justice, supports any efforts that are conducive to easing the situation and political settlement, and opposes any actions that are not conducive to promoting diplomatic settlement and leading to an escalation of the situation. China has always maintained close communication with all parties, and has done some work to persuade and promote talks. China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in persuading and promoting talks, and to carry out necessary mediation with the international community when necessary. China’s approach is responsible and truly reflects the responsibility of a big country. Some countries are trying to create a crisis, shift responsibility and profit from it. This kind of trick is not beneficial to others.”
乌克兰局势发展到今天这个地步，是中国不愿意看到的。作为联合国安理会常任理事国，中国始终本着客观公正态度，根据事情本身的是非曲直，独立自主地作出判断、表明主张。乌克兰问题有其复杂的历史经纬，解决乌克兰问题需要冷静和理性。中国认为，要化解当前危机，必须坚持联合国宪章宗旨和原则，尊重和保障各国的主权和领土完整；必须坚持安全不可分割原则，照顾当事方的合理安全关切；必须坚持通过对话谈判，以和平方式解决争端；必须着眼地区长治久安，构建均衡、有效、可持续的欧洲安全机制。中国立场光明磊落，中国主张具有积极建设性。推动解决乌克兰危机，当务之急是劝和促谈，而不是拱火浇油。中国始终站在和平合作、公道正义一边，支持任何有助于缓和局势和政治解决的努力，反对任何不利于推动外交解决、导致局势升级的行动。中国一直同各方保持密切沟通，已经做了一些劝和促谈的工作，愿继续为劝和促谈发挥建设性作用，并在需要时与国际社会一道开展必要的斡旋。中国的做法是负责任的，真正体现了大国担当。个别国家妄图制造危机、转嫁危机并从危机中渔利，这种伎俩损人也不利己.
The next paragraph pushes back against sanctions.
“China does not support the use of sanctions to resolve the Ukrainian issue; and opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. Sanctions have never been an effective way to solve problems. They will only bring serious difficulties to the economy and the livelihood of the people in the countries concerned, and further aggravate division and confrontation. Sanctions will not only cause a ‘no-win’ or ‘multiple losses’ economic outcome, but will also interfere with the process of political settlement.” 中国不赞成用制裁手段解决乌克兰问题，更反对没有国际法依据的单边制裁。制裁从来不是解决问题的有效途径，只会给相关国家的经济和民生带来严重困难，进一步加剧分裂和对抗。制裁不仅造成经济上“双输”或“多输”局面，还会干扰政治解决的进程.
The next paragraph lashes out at the US for “fabricating and spreading false information.” It then talks about how the actions of these politicians and media that are engaging in such acts have “reminded people of the disgraceful history of the US lying and repeatedly waging war through rumours.” 美国一些政客和媒体借乌克兰问题捏造并散布虚假信息，其套路让人们联想到美方撒谎成性、屡屡借谣言发动战争的不光彩历史.
Finally, we get reminded that George Kennan had called the expansion of NATO into Central Europe “the most fateful error of American policy in the entire post-Cold War era.” Then commentary then says:
“As the initiator (始作俑者 - shǐ zuò yǒng zhě - originator of an evil practice/original sinner) of the Ukrainian crisis, the United States should reflect on its role in the Ukrainian crisis, stop lying, deceiving and confusing people, earnestly shoulder its due responsibilities, take practical actions to ease the situation and solve problems, and do something conducive to peace.” 作为乌克兰危机的始作俑者，美方应好好反思自己在乌克兰危机中扮演的角色，停止撒谎欺骗、混淆视听，切实承担起应尽责任，为缓和局势、解决问题拿出实际行动，做些有利于和平的事.
Third, there are the following three bits from MoFA’s briefing yesterday in the paper.
Shenzhen TV: According to reports, Taiwan has signed an arms sale contract with the US recently to purchase a Field Information Communications System (FICS) at a total of NT$6.99 billion. This is follow-up implementation of a US arms sale plan to the US from December 2020. Do you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: The Chinese side firmly opposes US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region, which severely violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué, interferes in China’s internal affairs, and harms China-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The US should earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués and stop arms sales to and military ties with Taiwan.
The Paper: According to reports, the US Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which includes a section that bans the US government from using funds made available by the Act to create, procure, or display any map that "inaccurately" depicts Taiwan and the islands or island groups administered by Taiwan authorities. What is China’s comment?
Zhao Lijian: There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. This is a historical and legal fact and an international consensus. Any accurate map should be based on these facts. The US’ move grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs, pursues political manipulation with the map of the Taiwan region, and attempts to create the false impression of “two Chinas” and “one China, one Taiwan”. China deplores and rejects this. A stern warning to the US side: playing the “Taiwan card” is like playing with fire. It will not only push Taiwan to a precarious situation, but also bring unbearable consequences for the US. The US should stop hollowing out the one-China principle and stop condoning or abetting “Taiwan independence” moves. It should return to the original and true meaning of the one-China principle, honor its political commitments to the Chinese side, earnestly safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and safeguard the overall China-US relations.
And the paper carries the bit after Xinhua’s question on the UN Security Council meeting on March 11 to review the biosecurity issue in Ukraine. Zhao Lijian said that:
“In the face of documents, pictures, materials and other evidence found by Russia in Ukraine, the US could not convince others by simply dismissing the concerns as “disinformation”. The US always claims to be “open and transparent”. It should live up to its words. If the concerns are “disinformation”, why doesn’t the US release detailed materials to prove its innocence? What did the US spend the $200 million on? What kind of research has the US conducted on which pathogens? What is it trying to hide when the US Embassy in Ukraine deleted all relevant documents on its website? Why does the US insist on being the only country in the world to oppose the establishment of a multilateral verification mechanism though it claims to abide by the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)? If the US wants to prove its innocence, why doesn’t it open up these bio-labs for independent investigations by international experts?”
Now, I do recommend reading the full press briefing with Zhao Lijian. Kudos to the BBC’s reporter who pressed Zhao for answers. It exposed the superficiality of the argument presented by Beijing to support Moscow’s claims.