The Six Relationships Key to Chinese-style Modernisation - Raisi on China-Iran Ties - China-Cambodia Joint Statement - Zhong Sheng on US' 'Hegemonic Policies'
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Monday, February 13, 2023, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a report (related English report) with data on invention patents in China. This was reported a few weeks ago, but PD is carrying the information today. The National Intellectual Property Administration informed that:
In 2022, China authorised a total of 798,000 invention patents
By the end of 2022, the total number of valid invention patents in China had reached 4.21 million, of which 3.28 million were held by inventors from the mainland
The number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 population reached 9.4.
The number of valid trademark registrations reached 42.672 million.
A total of 2,495 geographical indication products were approved, and 7,076 geographical indications were registered as collective trademarks and certification trademarks
A total of 61,000 integrated circuit layout designs were issued
By the end of 2022, 355,000 Chinese companies had valid invention patents, an increase of 57,000 over the previous year
In 2022, the number of patents granted for inventions in the core industries of China's digital economy was 325,000, an increase of 17.9 percent year on year.
The number of valid foreign invention patents in China reached 861,000 by the end of 2022, up 4.5 percent from the previous year, while the number of valid trademarks registered by foreign parties in China reached 2.03 million, up 5.9 percent year on year
The average review cycle for invention patents is 16.5 months; the review cycle for high-value invention patents is 13 months, and the average review cycle for trademark registration is 4 months
The main article on the page, however, is a long, long feature piece on the development of Fuping county in Hebei province, over the years. Of course, Xi Jinping has a link to the county. This is where he had announced the launch of the targeted poverty alleviation campaign in 2012. The piece starts with that and then talks about the journey of the region in alleviating poverty, highlighting different aspects. There’s nothing particularly noteworthy that one can summarise in this.
Next, there’s another commentary in the series of commentaries based on Xi’s speech on Chinese style-modernisation. This one focuses on the six relationships that Xi had highlighted. These are the relationships between:
top-level design and practical exploration
strategy and tactics
integrity and innovation
efficiency and fairness
vitality and order
self-reliance and self-improvement and opening up
First, the author says that top-level design and practical exploration are “dialectically linked.” The 20th Party Congress report “profoundly expounded the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements and major principles of Chinese-style modernisation. This represents top-level design to promote Chinese-style modernisation. Chinese-style modernisation is being advanced in stages and fields. To achieve development goals at all stages and implement development strategies in various fields also requires top-level design.” Then this bit from Xi’s speech is reiterated:
“To carry out top-level design, it is necessary to have a deep insight into the general trend of world development, accurately grasp the common aspirations of the people, deeply explore the laws of economic and social development, and develop a system of planning and policy that reflects the times, is standardised, and is also creative, so as to achieve a combination of the long and short-terms, top to bottom linkage and substantive coordination. Promoting Chinese-style modernisation is an exploratory undertaking, and there are still many unknown fields, which requires us to explore boldly in practice and promote the development of the cause through reform and innovation, and one must never mark the boat to find one's sword (刻舟求剑) or guard a tree-stump and wait for rabbit (守株待兔) (two idioms that broadly warn against being dogmatic or not adapting to changing circumstances and adopting a wait and watch approach.) All localities and departments should explore and innovate according to their own specific conditions, especially when it comes to cutting-edge work and unchartered domains, encourage bold exploration and pioneering efforts and methods to effectively solve new contradictions and new problems, and strive to create fresh experiences that can be replicated and promoted.” 顶层设计与实践探索是辩证统一的。党的二十大报告深刻阐述了中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求、重大原则，这是推进中国式现代化的顶层设计。中国式现代化是分阶段、分领域推进的。实现各阶段发展目标，落实各领域发展战略，同样需要进行顶层设计。习近平总书记指出：“进行顶层设计，需要深刻洞察世界发展大势，准确把握人民群众的共同愿望，深入探索经济社会发展规律，使制定的规划和政策体系体现时代性、把握规律性、富于创造性，做到远近结合、上下贯通、内容协调。”推进中国式现代化是一个探索性事业，还有许多未知领域，需要我们在实践中去大胆探索，通过改革创新来推动事业发展，决不能刻舟求剑、守株待兔。各地区各部门要结合各自具体实际开拓创新，特别是在前沿实践、未知领域，鼓励大胆探索、敢为人先，寻求有效解决新矛盾新问题的思路和办法，努力创造可复制、可推广的新鲜经验。— I had highlighted this bit from the articles last week too.
On the relationship between strategy and tactics, the author says that “it is necessary to enhance the forward-looking strategy, accurately grasp the inevitable trend of things, keenly understand the opportunities and challenges that may arise on the road ahead, and foresee and lead the future with scientific strategies; it is also necessary to make our strategy more overarching, plan strategic objectives, formulate strategic measures, and make strategic arrangements, all with a view to resolving major issues that affect the success or failure of the cause of the Party and the country; to enhance strategic stability, once the strategy is formed, we must persist in it for a long time, grasp it to the end, make good efforts and not change as one wishes. Tactics serve strategy under the guidance of strategy and are a scientific means of implementing strategy. It is necessary to organically combine the principle of strategy with the flexibility of tactics, be flexible, improvise and make decisions on the spot, and grasp the strategic initiative by adapting to local conditions, moving according to the situation and taking advantage of the situation.” 要增强战略的前瞻性，准确把握事物发展的必然趋势，敏锐洞悉前进道路上可能出现的机遇和挑战，以科学的战略预见未来、引领未来；增强战略的全局性，谋划战略目标、制定战略举措、作出战略部署，都要着眼于解决事关党和国家事业兴衰成败、牵一发而动全身的重大问题；增强战略的稳定性，战略一经形成，就要长期坚持、一抓到底、善作善成，不要随意改变。策略是在战略指导下为战略服务的，是战略实施的科学方法。要把战略的原则性和策略的灵活性有机结合起来，灵活机动、随机应变、临机决断，在因地制宜、因势而动、顺势而为中把握战略主动.
On integrity and innovation, the author calls for “innovating while maintaining integrity.” When it comes to integrity, the author warns against making “subversive mistakes” and says that it is important to “maintain the source/origin, root and soul of Chinese-style modernisation, unswervingly adhere to the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements and major principles of Chinese-style modernisation.” “At the same time, we should put innovation in a prominent position in the overall development of the country, conform to the requirements of the times, focus on solving major theoretical and practical problems, actively adapt to changes, vigorously promote reform and innovation, and constantly shape new driving forces and new advantages for development, so that innovation can become a common practice in the whole society.” 在推进中国式现代化的新征程上，首先要守好中国式现代化的本和源、根和魂，毫不动摇坚持中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求、重大原则，确保中国式现代化的正确方向。同时要把创新摆在国家发展全局的突出位置，顺应时代发展要求，着眼于解决重大理论和实践问题，积极识变应变求变，大力推进改革创新，不断塑造发展新动能新优势，让创新在全社会蔚然成风.
On fairness and efficiency, the author says: “Fairness should be based on efficiency, and efficiency should be based on fairness to be sustainable.”
“Chinese-style modernisation should not only create higher efficiency than capitalism, but also safeguard social fairness more effectively, and better achieve the balance, interplay and unity between efficiency and fairness. We must uphold and improve the basic socialist economic system, unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector of the economy, unswervingly encourage, support and guide the development of the non-public sector of the economy, give full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, give better play to the role of the government, build a unified national market, deepen the market-oriented reform of factors, build a high-standard market system, foster a market-oriented, law-based, and world-class business environment, and strive to improve the total factor productivity. Accelerate the establishment of a social fairness guarantee system with fairness in rights, opportunities and rules as the main contents, ensure people’s equal participation and equal development rights, and make more tangible/substantive progress in solidly promoting the common prosperity of all people.” 公平要建立在效率的基础上，效率也要以公平为前提才得以持续。只有处理好效率与公平的关系，在做大蛋糕的同时分好蛋糕，才能让现代化建设成果更多更公平惠及全体人民。中国式现代化既要创造比资本主义更高的效率，又要更有效地维护社会公平，更好实现效率与公平相兼顾、相促进、相统一。要坚持和完善社会主义基本经济制度，毫不动摇巩固和发展公有制经济，毫不动摇鼓励、支持、引导非公有制经济发展，充分发挥市场在资源配置中的决定性作用，更好发挥政府作用，构建全国统一大市场，深化要素市场化改革，建设高标准市场体系，营造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境，着力提高全要素生产率，加快建立以权利公平、机会公平、规则公平为主要内容的社会公平保障体系，保证人民平等参与、平等发展权利，扎实推进全体人民共同富裕取得更为明显的实质性进展.
With regard to the balance between vitality and order, the author calls for deepening systems reform to encourage “scientists, entrepreneurs, artists and other talents, especially young talents, to innovate and create”; address challenges of Party members not daring to take responsibility; within society, establishing “the correct orientation of creating wealth through labour, achievements through hard work and happiness through struggle” 要形成劳动创造财富、实干创造业绩、奋斗创造幸福的正确导向，充分激发全社会创造活力; and making overall plans for coordinating development and security. — The reason that I’ve highlighted the bit about labour and hard work is that to me, it reiterates the stand that Xi isn’t interested in creating a welfare state, and neither is common prosperity about welfarism.
Finally on self-reliance and opening up, the author calls for “expanding high-level opening up to the outside world, deeply participating in the global industrial division of labour and cooperation, making good use of both domestic and international resources, and expanding the development space for Chinese-style modernisation.” At the same time, one needs to develop on “the basis of our own strength, and the fate of China’s development and progress firmly in our own hands.” Also one needs to “accelerate the construction of new development pattern, strengthen the foundation of our economic development, enhance the security and stability of development…” Also one needs to improve the new national system, strengthen the national strategic scientific and technological strength, speed up the pace of self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology, and solve the problem of chokepoints with foreign countries. 推进中国式现代化必须坚持独立自主、自立自强，坚持把国家和民族发展放在自己力量的基点上，坚持把我国发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手中。要加快构建新发展格局，夯实我国经济发展的根基、增强发展的安全性稳定性，增强我国的生存力、竞争力、发展力、持续力。要健全新型举国体制，强化国家战略科技力量，加快科技自立自强步伐，解决外国“卡脖子”问题。要不断扩大高水平对外开放，深度参与全球产业分工和合作，用好国内国际两种资源，拓展中国式现代化的发展空间.
Page 2: A couple of pieces to note. First, there’s a brief report on the upcoming visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi from February 14 to 16. Also, there’s a signed article by Raisi. This is an interesting read because it demonstrates an effort to build congruence in terms of the strategic worldview of both sides..
“Iran and China have long-term cooperation under the framework of comprehensive strategic partnership. Facing the international situation, the two sides hold common or similar positions. The two countries oppose hegemonism and unilateralism and emphasise respect for the rights and interests of all countries. Iran and China firmly believe that as long as spiritual and human values are put first and the right to development of all people is respected, the world will be filled with peace, fairness and justice. Iran and China believe that unilateralism and violent measures, such as imposing unjust sanctions, are the main sources of crisis and insecurity in the world. The two countries have unanimously stressed that all countries should work together to achieve true multilateralism, international fairness and a just international order in the world.” 伊朗和中国在全面战略伙伴关系框架下长期合作。面对国际局势，双方持有共同或相似的立场。两国反对霸权主义和单边主义，强调尊重所有国家的权利和利益。伊中两国坚信，只要把精神和人性价值放在首位，尊重所有人民的发展权利，世界一定会充满和平、公正和正义。伊中两国认为，单边主义和暴力措施，比如施加不义的制裁，是世界充满危机和不安全的主要根源。两国一致强调，各国应共同为实现真正的多边主义、实现国际公平、在世界上建立公正的国际秩序而努力奋斗.
Raisi talks about the need for deeper Iran-China non-governmental organisation cooperation, student exchanges and tourism. He adds that the fundamental interests and rights of each nation, including the right to development, are non-negotiable. Any abuse of international mechanisms, crude pursuit of political interests and attempts to deprive other peoples of their rights should be condemned. 每个国家的根本利益和权利，其中包括发展权利，是不容许谈判的。任何滥用国际机制、粗暴地谋求政治利益、企图剥夺其他民族权利的行为，都应受到谴责.
He adds that Iran “respects all religions and cultures and firmly rejects all extremism and terrorism, and believes that extremism and terrorism are incompatible with true Islam and are the greatest obstacle to human happiness. True Islam opposes terrorism, extreme, arbitrary and heretical acts. We believe that letting regional countries play an active role is the correct way to achieve regional peace and stability. Our experience in West Asia has proved that the interference of foreign forces is the fundamental reason for the intensification of regional turmoil and the spread of terrorism. Iran's victory in the fight against the ‘Islamic State’s’ terrorism has successfully prevented this terrorist organisation from infiltrating across the world. Facts have proved that Iran is a defender of regional security and world peace and stability, and Iran has been fighting the threat of hegemonic forces from the beginning.” 伊朗根据伊斯兰原则，尊重所有宗教和文化，坚决反对一切极端主义和恐怖主义，并认为，极端主义和恐怖主义与纯正的伊斯兰教格格不入，是人类幸福的最大障碍。纯正的伊斯兰教反对恐怖主义，反对极端和妄断、异端的行为。我们认为，让地区国家发挥积极作用，是实现地区和平与稳定的正确途径。我们在西亚的实践证明，外国势力的干涉是地区动荡局势加剧，恐怖主义蔓延的根本原因。伊朗在打击“伊斯兰国”恐怖主义的斗争中取得的胜利，成功地阻止了这一恐怖主义组织向世界的渗透。事实证明，伊朗是地区安全的维护者，世界和平与稳定的捍卫者，伊朗自始至终与霸权势力的威胁进行斗争.
“Over the past two decades, West Asia has undergone profound changes. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are only part of the developments that led to the spread of terrorism, the displacement of millions of people and the death of hundreds of thousands of civilians. Over the past two decades, Iran has shown that, as a strong and responsible actor, it is ready to play an active role in creating and expanding stability and security in the region. We stand responsibly with our friends in the Arab world. Iran has deep ties with the Arab countries in West Asia, so it can stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the fight against terrorism, and has proved in practice that maintaining the peace, stability and sovereignty of neighbouring countries is in Iran's interest.” 在过去二十年中，西亚经历了深刻变化。阿富汗战争、伊拉克战争只是导致恐怖主义蔓延、数百万人流离失所和数十万平民死亡的事态发展的一部分。在过去二十年的岁月中，伊朗表明，作为一个强大和负责任的行动者，它准备在创造和扩大该地区的稳定与安全方面发挥积极作用。我们负责任地站在阿拉伯世界的朋友一边。伊朗与西亚阿拉伯国家有着深厚联系，因此能够与它们并肩打击恐怖主义，并在实践中证明，维护邻国的和平、稳定和主权符合伊朗的利益.
After this, the article focuses on China-Iran ties. He refers to China as a “friendly and powerful country,” says that Iran “respects” China’s development philosophy, adds that “China's economic growth and foreign investment are beneficial to the people of China and other countries;” and welcomes “China's initiative to promote world peace, security and development.” He then praises Xi’s “wise leadership” and pitches Iran as a development partner.
“Iran's political independence, its ability to maintain security and cultivate human resources, its low production cost, its abundant energy reserves, its geographical advantages in terms of transit of goods and its sound industrial infrastructure can all be important factors in strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China.” 伊朗政治独立，拥有维护安全、培养人才的能力，生产成本低、能源储量丰富，具有货物过境的地理优势、工业基础设施完善，这些都可以成为加强伊中全面战略伙伴关系的重要因素.
Towards the end, he praises China’s role in supporting countries during the pandemic and its support for Iran’s SCO membership, along with highlighting Iran’s participation in BRI and its tech capabilities.
Also on the page is a report about the Cambodian king and queen visiting China. Over the past few days, Cambodian PM Hun Sen visited the country. The visit resulted in a joint statement. Some excerpts from the statement:
Congratulating Xi Jinping: “The Cambodian side renewed its warm congratulations on the full success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the election of H.E. Xi Jinping as General Secretary of the 20th CPC Central Committee, spoke highly of China’s achievements in the decade of the new era and the Chinese modernization that offers an alternative path to modernization, contributing greater wisdom, solution and strength to address the common issues for mankind. The Cambodian side expressed firm belief that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China will achieve its second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects towards great national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, making greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development of humanity.”
Support for core interests: Both sides emphasized that mutual support on the issues of each other’s core interests is the essence of a China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future. The Chinese side reaffirmed resolute support to Cambodian people’s choice of development path that suits Cambodia’s national conditions, to Cambodia’s endeavors to safeguard her independence, sovereignty, security, and development interests, and to steady advancement of important Cambodian national political agenda while expressing firm opposition to any foreign interference in Cambodia’s internal affairs.
Taiwan, Xinjiang and Human Rights: The Cambodian side reaffirmed her resolute adherence to the One-China Policy. The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole lawful government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’ s territory as well as China’ s internal affair, which brooks no interference from any external forces. Cambodia opposes any attempt to interfere in China’s internal affairs or to block and contain China under the subterfuge of Taiwan, or any form of separatist activities seeking “Taiwan independence”, and resolutely supports China’s every effort to achieve national reunification. Cambodia will not develop any form of official relations with Taiwan. Both sides agreed that Xinjiang - related issues are not about human rights, but about countering violent terrorism, extremism and separatism. The Cambodian side reiterated her resolute opposition to interfering in China’ s internal affairs by manipulating Xinjiang- related issues. Both sides concurred that while exploring human rights improvement, it is important to proceed from people’ s needs and real national conditions. Both sides expressed firm opposition to politicizing and instrumentalizing human rights issues, double standards, abusing democratic values to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign countries or provoking division and confrontation on the pretext of safeguarding democracy and human rights, or imposition of one country’s will on others.
Economic cooperation: “Explore development of an “Industrial and Technological Corridor” towards the vision of developing Preah Sihanouk Province as a model of the multipurpose Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Build on the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) as the flagship project and Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville Expressway to attract more competent Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Cambodia, exploring cooperation possibilities in transportation facilities, power grids, fiber optics networks , warehousing and logistics, to optimize the mix of China - Cambodia production capacity cooperation…Both sides agreed to implement the MoU on China-Cambodia Development Cooperation Planning(2023-2025). Promote the construction of infrastructure including roads, bridges, reservoirs, sewage treatment and submarine fiber optic cables. Carry out rural roads, water supply, schools, and medical projects in Cambodia to improve people’s livelihood…Both sides agreed to explore the establishment of a “Fish and Rice Corridor” centred on north-western Cambodia and the Tonle Sap Lake area, to develop modern ecological agriculture near the lake…Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in hydropower, photovoltaics, and other clean energy sources, to explore green, stable and reliable energy cooperation solutions. Promote the establishment of the China-Cambodia Low-carbon Demonstration Zone Project of South-South Cooperation on Climate Change in Preah Sihanouk Province…”
Security cooperation: “Both sides agreed to enhance engagements between the People’s Liberation Army ( PLA ) and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) at all levels, tapping into the potential of the cooperation mechanism through the two militaries by enhancing counterpart forces exchanges and joint exercises and training, with enhanced practical cooperation in such areas as capacity building, military training, logistics and equipment, as well as closer coordination and cooperation in multilateral security affairs. Both sides agreed to continue cooperation in the exchange and sharing of information between law enforcement officials, with highlights on countering transnational crime, counter-terrorism, preventing “color revolution”, combating drug-related crimes, telecom fraud, illegal cross-border gambling, human trafficking, and law enforcement’s capacity building. Promote the strengthening of the China-Cambodia Law Enforcement Cooperation and Coordination Office.”
On international order: “Both sides recognized the common values for all humanity of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, and stood ready to safeguard the international system with the UN as its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations embodied in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, while opposing all forms of hegemonism, power politics, unilateralism, exclusive bloc politics which targets specific countries. The two countries are committed to building a new type of international relations and promoting global partnerships of equality, openness and cooperation towards a community with a shared future for mankind.” Cambodia also expressed its support for GDI and GSI.
Amid all this, I do recommend checking out the State of ASEAN survey by the ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Some key findings are:
Finally, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary on the page attacking the US for its “illegal unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’.” It adds that the “hegemonic and bullying behaviour of the United States undermines global unity, endangers world peace, and brings serious disasters to the people of many countries.” This piece talks about the US’ decision to temporarily ease its sanctions on Syria following the devastating earthquake that hit the country. It says that the 180-day reprieve is not enough, and adds that the US “still occupies the main oil-producing areas in Syria, loots more than 80% of the oil production, smuggles and burns Syrian food stocks.” 不仅如此，美军至今仍然霸占着叙利亚主要产油区，搜刮掠夺八成以上的产油量，走私烧毁叙利亚粮食库存.
On Afghanistan, the piece says that “the Afghan people are still waiting for the United States to return all the assets of the Afghan central bank that have been frozen by it.” It lashes out at the US for spending years to carry out the “democratic transformation” of Afghanistan, saying that it led to 174,000 deaths, including more than 30,000 civilians, and more than 10 million people became refugees. 美国以武力对阿富汗进行长达20年的所谓“民主改造”，造成包括3万多平民在内的17.4万人死亡，超过千万民众沦为难民. The article then says that today “millions of Afghans are dying, a large number of Afghan children are out of school due to poverty, and many Afghans face severe food shortages. These facts have fully exposed the hypocrisy of American democracy and human rights, as well as the true face of hegemony and bullying.” 数以百万计的阿富汗人挣扎在死亡边缘，大量阿富汗儿童因贫困失学，许多阿富汗人面临严重粮食短缺。这些事实充分暴露了美式民主、人权的虚伪性和霸权、霸凌的真面目。
It then says that US diplomacy is about nothing more than promoting its hegemony, and it uses the idea of democratic transformation to carry out colour revolutions and interfere in others’ internal affairs. The final bit of the article is interesting:
“With the decline of US hegemony, the current US administration is trying its best to form a so-called ‘values alliance’, by weaving the false narrative of ‘democracy versus authoritarianism’, in order to coerce and entice some countries to take sides. However, even this need and practice of cliques has not changed the internal drive of the United States to maintain American hegemony under the guise of democracy. In order to seek hegemonic self-interest, the United States can introduce the Inflation Reduction Act at the expense of European manufacturing, can introduce the so-called ‘Indo-Pacific Economic Framework that does not contain market access commitments, and can coerce other countries to ‘decouple and break the chain’. In order to seek hegemony and self-interest, the United States is always ready to wave the big stick of sanctions, interfere in other countries' internal affairs and trample on international rules. As of the fiscal year 2021, the United States has imposed more than 9,400 sanctions. These facts fully demonstrate that no matter how the United States uses democracy for hypocritical preaching, its belief is always the law of the jungle and its practice is always the logic of hegemony. 随着美国霸权地位的衰落，本届美国政府竭力想组建所谓“价值观联盟”，通过编织虚假的“民主对抗威权”叙事，胁迫、拉拢一些国家选边站队。然而，即便这种拉帮结派的需要和做法，也丝毫没有改变美国打着民主的幌子维护美式霸权的内在驱动。为了谋求霸权私利，美国可以出台《通胀削减法案》牺牲欧洲制造业，可以推出不包含市场准入承诺的所谓“印太经济框架”，可以胁迫他国“脱钩断链”。为了谋求霸权私利，美国随时准备挥舞制裁大棒，干涉别国内政，践踏国际规则。截至2021财年，美国已生效的制裁措施累计达9400多项。这些事实充分说明，无论美国如何利用民主进行伪善说教，其信奉的始终是丛林法则，实践的始终是霸权主义逻辑.
And that’s about it. There isn’t a whole lot else that’s really interesting in the paper today. But over the weekend, there was a report on Wang Huning meeting with Andrew Hsia, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party.
““On the basis of reinforcing the political foundation of the ‘1992 consensus’ and opposing ‘Taiwan independence’, the Chinese Communist Party and Kuomintang should deepen political trust, maintain interaction in a constructive manner and strengthen cooperation and exchanges,” Wang told Hsia at Friday’s meeting, according to state broadcaster CCTV…“[We should together] resolutely oppose interference by ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists and external influence, and work together in safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Wang said, in what was seen as a veiled reference to Washington’s growing ties with the self-governed island.”
“Song Tao, head of the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office and the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, had met Hsia on Thursday…The 1992 consensus was raised during that meeting as well, with Song emphasising its importance and saying Taiwan and the mainland were one family, according to Xinhua. However, Taiwan’s top cross-strait policy body – the Mainland Affairs Council – rejected Song’s stance, describing it as Beijing’s attempt “to reinforce its policy of dwarfing and undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty and dignity”. “Taiwan people will never accept how the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang together sing the same tune in promoting the ‘1992 consensus’,” the council said in a statement released shortly after the Song-Hsia meeting. “Taiwan politicians should stand our ground … and should not collaborate with the CCP in its propaganda and United Front work,” it added, referring to Beijing’s information war tactics. Hsia’s meetings with Wang and Song were closely watched by the government in Taipei, which has warned the opposition party against striking any deals with Beijing that would hurt the island’s interests. Hsia told Wang he hoped the two sides of the Taiwan Strait would continue their dialogue and build mutual trust, according to a KMT statement on the meeting issued on Friday. “As long as maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait is our No 1 goal, I believe any problem can be resolved,” Hsia said, citing the KMT’s track record in cross-strait relations as reason for his optimism.”
On the international page today, there’s an article on gun violence in the US. Also, there’s a report on the inauguration ceremony of the China-Maldives ophthalmology center assistance and cooperation program, which was held in Hulhumale Hospital on Saturday.