Top Leadership's Back - Li's Guangdong Visit - China-Japan High-Level Political Dialogue - Taiwan Tensions - Pushback on US' Sub-saharan Africa Strategy - Guo Heping on China's Foreign Aid Policy
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Thursday, August 18, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily
Page 1: The top leadership is back in the news. Xi Jinping is visiting Liaoning, but that story is not in PD today. This is normal. Usually, Xi’s inspection tours get a lengthy round-up in the paper after they are completed. So expect his visit to Liaoning to dominate the front page the day after it is completed.
At the top of the page is a story summarising achievements in the policy of “counterpart support for Tibet” over the past decade. This policy, as per the article, dates back to the third Central Tibet Work Symposium in 1994. But there are references to it from the mid-1980s too; so it does seem like a much older initiative. The entire first chunk of the article basically talks about Xi’s visit to Tibet and his speeches at the Tibet work symposiums in August 2015 and August 2020. The piece identifies four priority areas for Tibet work: stability, development, ecology, and strong borders.
Of course, all of this has meant that “in the new era, Tibet has witnessed overall social harmony and stability, sustained and rapid economic development, and overall improvement of people’s living standards; a solid ecological security barrier has been established, it has increasingly consolidated ethnic unity; there has been greater adaptation of religion to socialist society and enhanced border security… 新时代的西藏，全区社会大局和谐稳定、经济持续快速发展、人民生活水平全面提高、生态安全屏障切实筑牢、民族团结日益巩固、宗教与社会主义社会日趋适应、边疆巩固边境安全，呈现出一派生机勃勃的繁荣景象.
The second and third parts of the piece talk about examples of the counterpart support policy, such as the dispatch of groups (组团式) of medical teams and groups to provide education support.
Next, there’s a report about Li Keqiang’s visit to Guangdong. This bit has been the focus of Li’s visit:
The report says:
Li “emphasised that under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we must implement the deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, fully implement the new development concept, efficiently coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, implement the requirements of preventing epidemic, stabilising the economy and ensuring safe development, further consolidate the foundation of economic recovery and development, put steady growth in a more prominent position, stabilise employment and protect people’s livelihood, and increase the momentum through further reform and opening up in order to keep the economy running in a reasonable range.” 他强调，要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，落实党中央、国务院部署，全面贯彻新发展理念，高效统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，落实疫情要防住、经济要稳住、发展要安全的要求，进一步巩固经济恢复发展基础，把稳增长放在更加突出位置，稳就业保民生，以改革开放激活力增动力，保持经济运行在合理区间.
Xinhua English has a detailed report too. It summarises that:
“Li heard a report on mass entrepreneurship and innovation by the municipal government of Shenzhen and visited an innovation park, where he said venture capital funds should be promoted to help start-ups at their critical stage of development. When visiting Yantian Port, a major foreign-trade port in Shenzhen, Li stressed ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the port to help keep the industrial and supply chains stable. Opening-up is China's fundamental state policy, and no matter how the international landscape may evolve, China remains committed to expanding opening-up, Li said.” The PD report adds: “No matter how the international situation changes, we will unswervingly expand opening up, make better use of both domestic and international markets and resources, enhancing economic competitiveness and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.” 他说，对外开放是我国的基本国策，无论国际形势如何变化，我们都坚定不移扩大开放，更好利用国内国际两个市场两种资源，提升经济竞争力，实现互利共赢.
During the visit, Li heard reports on local authorities' efforts to stabilise employment. “At BYD, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer in China, the premier was told that the company now has 500,000 employees, and created an average of over 20,000 new jobs monthly this year. Li said the government not only helps micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed individuals to resolve their difficulties, but also supports big private enterprises in growing stronger and better. Stressing that the country will unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector and encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector, the premier said all companies, state-owned or private, Chinese or foreign, are treated as equals in enjoying policy support.”
He added:
“Guangdong must continue exerting its role in pioneering reform and opening-up and underpinning the economy, so as to make greater contributions to the country's development…more financial support will be tilted toward the province's mature projects, which are expected to benefit the long-term development of the region…While no extra burden of social insurance premium will be placed on Guangdong this year, the province, a major creator of jobs, should ensure steady operation of market entities and steady employment of key groups including migrant workers.”
Third, there’s a report about Li Zhanshu’s meeting with Tonga’s Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua. Xinhua English reports:
Li “called for enhanced mutual political trust and support, as well as more cooperation in the economy, trade, investment, infrastructure, culture and tourism. Expounding on China's stand on the Taiwan question, Li said China highly appreciates Tonga's long-term adherence to the one-China principle. He said the one-China principle is the political foundation for other countries to develop bilateral relations with China. China, Tonga and other Pacific island countries are all developing countries, Li said, adding that China hopes Tonga can actively support and partake in the Global Security Initiative and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice. China is willing to actively promote the faithful implementation of the Paris Agreement and deepen cooperation with Pacific island countries on climate change response, said Li. He also said the NPC is ready to have exchanges and communications with Tonga's Legislative Assembly on various levels to provide a legal guarantee for the two countries' pragmatic cooperation. Fakafanua said Tonga firmly supports the one-China principle as the foundation for developing bilateral ties. He said his country appreciates China's assistance in coping with natural disasters, preventing and controlling COVID-19, and promoting economic and social development.”
Fourth, a report on Wang Yang’s comments at a brain-storming session of the Chairpersons Council of the CPPCC National Committee. PD reports that “the meeting thoroughly studied and understood the important thoughts of General Secretary Xi Jinping on strengthening and improving the work of the CPPCC, combined reviewing the implementation of the progress of the spirit of the work conference of the Central Committee of the CPPCC, and conducted discussions summing up the practical, theoretical and institutional innovation of the CPPCC in the new era. 会议深入学习领会习近平总书记关于加强和改进人民政协工作的重要思想，结合贯彻落实中央政协工作会议精神进展情况“回头看”调研，围绕总结新时代人民政协实践、理论、制度创新成果开展交流研讨.
Xinhua English reports: “The political advisors called for efforts to enable the CPPCC to better fulfill its important roles of strengthening and upholding Party leadership over all areas of work, of using the Party's latest theories to unite and guide public figures from all ethnic groups and social sectors, and of resolving problems and building consensus based on a shared theoretical and political foundation. They also called for improving the platforms, systems and mechanisms of the CPPCC as a specialized consultative body and strengthening the ability of political advisors to conduct political consultation, to foster a good atmosphere for equal exchanges and democratic consultation.”
Fifth, Han Zheng’s comments during an inspection visit to the State Grid Corporation of China. Xinhua English reports:
“Highlighting the importance of the energy and power supply for social and economic stability, Han said that work in the sector is currently at a critical junction, as China's electricity supply and demand have repeatedly hit record highs due to extreme weather events in some regions. Efforts should be made to strengthen coordination across the country, secure the power supply for key regions, residents, the public service sector and key industries, and resolutely prevent power rationing, the vice premier said. He demanded measures to give full play to the role of the market mechanism and improve government regulation, in a bid to stabilize the prices of primary energy. The country will also beef up policy support and take multi-pronged measures to help related enterprises address difficulties, Han said.”
That said, in PD, he also mentions that “the supply and inventory of thermal coal are sufficient. The situation of ensuring the supply and price stability of energy and electricity is generally stable.”
Sixth, there’s a feature piece on self-revolution. The article says that in the first half of this year, the national discipline inspection and supervision organs filed 322,000 cases and punished 273,000 people. 今年上半年，全国纪检监察机关处置问题线索73.9万件，立案32.2万件，处分27.3万人.
The piece then recounts how self-revolution, fighting corruption, ideological tempering, work to improve political judgement, comprehension, and execution, and supervision have become part of strict and comprehensive Party governance over the past 10 years.
“In the past 10 years, the Party Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core has persistently promoted the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, put the Party’s political construction in the first place, forged souls with ideals and beliefs, rectified its work style with strict discipline, and put an end to evil influences/trends (歪风邪气) that had not been stopped for many years and resolved many long-standing stubborn diseases, cleared away serious hidden dangers within the Party, the state and the armed forces, fundamentally reversed the loose and weak state of managing the Party, and explored a successful path of relying on the Party’s self-revolution to break out of the challenge of dynastic cycles.” 10年来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央持之以恒推进全面从严治党，把党的政治建设摆在首位，以理想信念凝心铸魂，以严明纪律整饬作风，以雷霆之势反腐惩恶，刹住了一些多年未刹住的歪风邪气，解决了许多长期没有解决的顽瘴痼疾，清除了党、国家、军队内部存在的严重隐患，管党治党宽松软状况得到根本扭转，探索出依靠党的自我革命跳出历史周期率的成功路径.
Finally, there’s the next story in the feature articles on Xi Jinping leading the high-quality development of enterprises. This one focuses on agricultural enterprises and food security.
Page 2: A report on Hu Chunhua’s comments calling for efforts to expand consumption and further stabilise foreign trade and foreign investment. Xinhua English reports:
“Hu called for stronger measures to accelerate the recovery of domestic consumption, guarantee the steady supply of daily necessities, and help market entities tide over difficulties. Efforts should be made to help foreign trade enterprises secure orders and markets, ensure stable imports of grain and energy resources, smooth foreign trade logistics, and promote the innovative development of the services trade, Hu said. Concrete and effective measures should be taken to shore up expectations of foreign companies, stabilize existing foreign investment while attracting new investment, and enhance the stability and international competitiveness of the industrial chain, Hu noted.”
Page 3: First, a report about Yang Jiechi meeting with Takeo Akiba, secretary general of Japan’s National Security Secretariat for the ninth China-Japan high-level political dialogue in Tianjin. Xinhua English reports:
“The two countries should take the key consensus of their leaders as the political guidance, uphold strong sense of responsibilities, insist on their own convictions, eliminate internal and external interference, and work together to build a China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era, said Yang. Facing the complex global situation, the regional and global significance of China-Japan relations has become more prominent, Yang said, adding that the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative were proposed in response to common aspirations for peace and development. He said Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Taiwan question bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and the basic trust and good faith between the two countries. Japan should focus on the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and their peoples, shape up a right perception of China, pursue a positive, pragmatic and rational China policy, and uphold the right direction of peaceful development, Yang said. He said the Japanese side should abide by the four political documents and political consensus between the two countries, and work with China to enhance political trust, abandon the "zero-sum" mentality, properly manage differences, and promote bilateral ties to be more mature, stable, healthy and stronger.”
“The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. The two sides agreed that the dialogue was candid, in-depth and constructive, and some useful consensus was reached. They will continue to maintain dialogue and communication.”
Kyodo’s report on the meeting says:
“During their about seven-hour meeting on Wednesday in the Chinese city of Tianjin, Takeo Akiba, secretary general of Japan's National Security Secretariat, made a protest to China's foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi about Beijing's recent large-scale drills near Taiwan, according to a Japanese government official…Akiba reiterated Japan's protest over China's firing of ballistic missiles, five of which fell in Japan's exclusive economic zone, during the drills, and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to the official…Yang also stressed the need to ‘eliminate internal and external interference, and work together to build a China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era,’ according to the Chinese government. The meeting, which also addressed the situation in Ukraine since Russia's invasion and North Korea, took place after bilateral relations rapidly deteriorated in recent weeks.”
Second, a report on Wang Yi’s chat with his Chilean counterpart Antonia Urrejola. Xinhua reports:
“Wang said that China-Chile relations have weathered the tests of international vicissitudes, transcended the change of governments, have been at the forefront of China's relations with Latin American countries for long and set many "number one" records, thus deserving to be especially cherished.”
“Wang noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chilean President Gabriel Boric have maintained strategic communication and given direction for the development of bilateral relations. China appreciates the fact that Chile treats its relations with China as a top diplomatic priority, and is willing to make joint efforts with the Chilean side to give full play to the pioneering and stable advantages of China-Chile relations, and lift the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership to higher levels. Wang said both China and Chile are committed to upholding and practicing multilateralism, and advocate democratization of international relations. Firstly, it is necessary to uphold the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law. It is also necessary to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, particularly respect the sovereignty of all countries, oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs, continuously strengthen and improve global governance, implement the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, achieve international synergy to deal with global challenges and advance the cause of peace and development of humankind.”
Urrejola said that “Chile welcomes the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by Xi, and supports China in joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement. The two sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, set a benchmark for jointly building a green Silk Road, a digital Silk Road and a healthy Silk Road, expand new cooperation potential in services trade, digital economy, smart city, 5G and clean energy. Both sides expressed satisfaction over achievements in trade and commerce cooperation, and agreed to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, to provide a sound business environment for companies from both countries to invest in the other country.”
Wang also spoke about human rights, saying that “China is willing to conduct dialogue on human rights with all countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and is willing to work together with Chile to push forward the healthy and stable development of the international human rights cause.”
Third, there’s a Guo Heping 国合平 commentary, which is really interesting in that it makes quite a bit of effort to persuade the domestic audience for a broader foreign aid and economic engagement policy by China. The piece, of course, also pushes back on criticisms from abroad, while making the case that China’s foreign aid and economic engagement is in some ways exceptional and morally superior, which, as we all know, is utter nonsense.
The piece argues that since the 18th Party Congress, with a sense of “historical responsibility, strategic vision and broad mind,” Xi Jinping has put forward important ideas and initiatives such as building a Community of Shared Future for Mankind, BRI, GDI and GSI, which have “contributed Chinese wisdom, provided Chinese solutions and injected Chinese strength to promote the fair, inclusive and sustainable development of the world.” 党的十八大以来，习近平主席以历史担当、战略眼光、博大胸怀关注全人类前途命运，提出构建人类命运共同体、共建“一带一路”、全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议等重大理念和倡议，为推动世界公平、包容、可持续发展贡献中国智慧、提出中国方案、注入中国力量.
The piece talks about China’s aid and projects across 160 countries. It argues: “From the Tanzania-Zambia Railway to the Karakoram Highway, from hybrid rice to Juncao, from artemisinin to the COVID-19 vaccine, China’s aid has not only strongly pushed the wheels of global development forward, but also vividly illustrated the responsibility of a major party and a major country.” 从坦赞铁路到喀喇昆仑公路，从杂交水稻到菌草，从青蒿素到新冠肺炎疫苗，中国援助不仅有力推动全球发展车轮滚滚向前，也生动诠释了大党大国的担当.
The piece tells us that “China’s foreign aid is mutual help among friends. It not only actively promotes the improvement of the people’s livelihood and economic development of the recipients, creates a favourable external environment for China’s development and people’s happiness, and becomes an important path to promote trade and investment and deepen pragmatic cooperation.” So, the argument is that Chinese investments in highways, railways, ports, communications and other projects “have boosted the development capacity of recipient countries, stimulated their trade growth with China, and driven a large number of Chinese enterprises, brands, products and technologies to ‘go global’ and ‘take root’, thus expanding the international market and strengthening the chain of production and supply.” 中国援外是朋友之间的相互帮助，既积极促进受援国民生改善、经济发展，也为我国发展、人民幸福创造了良好的外部环境，成为促进贸易投资、深化务实合作的重要路径。中国援建的大批公路、铁路、港口、通信等项目，推动受援国发展能力提升，激发了其对华贸易增长，带动了大量中国企业、品牌、产品、技术“走出去”“扎下根”，国际市场得到拓展，产供链更加强韧.
The piece later adds that “as an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy provides the fundamental guidelines for China's foreign aid and is a new great contribution made by China to the development and progress of all mankind.” 尤为重要的是，作为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，习近平外交思想为中国援外提供了根本遵循，是中国为全人类发展进步作出的新的伟大贡献。The piece then highlights the announcements that were made at the high-level dialogue on global development on June 24.
It adds that more than 50 years ago, China was ‘carried into the United Nations’ by developing countries. More than 50 years later, the United States and some Western countries have made groundless attacks on China at the UN Human Rights Council on issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong, while the vast number of developing countries have defended China. 50余年前，中国被发展中国家“抬进了联合国”。50余年后，美西方一些国家在联合国人权理事会上借涉疆、涉港问题对中国无端攻击，广大发展中国家同样为中国仗义执言.
The next paragraph says that while China is offering its support, it is also getting support from developing countries. For instance, after the Wenchuan earthquake, more than 100 countries and international organisations provided financial or material assistance to China…In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100 countries and international organisations provided various kinds of assistance to China.
The next paragraph says that “China’s foreign aid is the concrete embodiment of the sinicization of Marxist internationalism.” 中国援外是马克思国际主义思想中国化的具体体现. “China’s foreign aid is both altruistic and mutually beneficial.” 中国援外既是利他的，又是互利的. The dialectics of Marxism tells us that altruism and mutual benefit are interlinked... 马克思主义辩证法告诉我们，利他与互利是相通共融的，对象是可以转化的.
“China’s foreign aid has helped China’s reform, opening up and economic development, and China’s development has made China’s foreign aid more effective, which can better fulfil its international obligations and conform to the historical trend of transformation and upgrading of foreign aid to international development cooperation.” 中国援外助力中国改革开放和经济发展，中国发展又使中国援外有了更大更有效的投入，可以更好地履行国际主义义务，也顺应援外向国际发展合作转型升级的历史趋势。
Foreign aid is not an arena for major power games, but a stage for international cooperation. Some politicians and media in some countries have hyped China’s aid to foreign countries as ‘swapping interests’ and ‘neo-colonialism’, and even smeared China’s aid during the pandemic as ‘vaccine diplomacy’ and ‘canvassing at the United Nations’. In fact, unlike some countries that attach political conditions to aid and emphasise the so-called ‘democratic’ nature of aid, China’s foreign aid adheres to the philosophy that the recipient country proposes, consents and takes the lead. It takes the recipient country’s acceptance and approval or disapproval and satisfaction or dissatisfaction as the yardstick. It never attaches any political conditions, never interferes in internal affairs, never imposes undue pressure, never targets any third party, and never asks the recipient country to take sides. It is this respect and sense of equality in China’s foreign aid that has ensured that the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and the Chinese people’s image of faithfulness, affection and righteousness and justice and morality has become deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.” 中国援外坚持相互尊重、平等自愿。援外不是大国博弈的竞技场，而是国际合作的大舞台。一些国家的个别政客和媒体将中国援外炒作为“搞利益置换”、推行“新殖民主义”，甚至将中国抗疫援助污蔑为搞“疫苗外交”“在联合国拉票”。实际上，和一些国家将援助附加政治条件、强调援助的所谓“民主”属性的做法不同，中国援外坚持受援国提出、受援国同意、受援国主导，以受援国欢迎不欢迎、同意不同意、满意不满意作为衡量标准，从不附加任何政治条件，从不干涉内政，从不强人所难，从不针对任何第三方，也从不要求受援国选边站队。正是中国援外的尊重、平等特质，使中国共产党、中国政府、中国人民讲信义、重情义、扬正义、守道义的形象深入人心. — If there is such a wonderful image, then why the anxiety?
Finally, there’s the third in the Zhong Sheng commentaries on the Taiwan issue. This one makes the point that “if there is no resolute response to the US provocation and ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist actions, then the hard-won peace and stability will only be further damaged.” 如果不对美方挑衅和“台独”分裂行径予以坚决回击，只会让本地区来之不易的和平稳定局面遭受更严重损害.
The piece claims that “countries in the region and the international community have expressed their support, saying ‘What the US has done in recent days violates China's sovereignty, violates its own commitments, and intensifies the tension in the Taiwan Strait’; support China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests and providing a resolute response to the provocative actions of the US’.” 地区国家和国际社会纷纷表示，“美方近日所作所为侵犯中国主权，违背自己所作承诺，加剧台海紧张局势”“支持中方维护自身正当权益，对美方挑衅行为作出坚决回应”.
The piece accuses the US of trying to contain China using Taiwan and argues that the “wrong approach of the United States is a serious challenge to the international order and a serious threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait and regional stability.” It talks about the US having a history of provoking conflicts, and then says that:
“The US is trying to link the current situation in the Taiwan Strait with the crisis in Ukraine with extremely sinister intentions. The Taiwan issue is fundamentally different from the Ukrainian issue. Taiwan is a part of China, and the Taiwan issue is purely China’s internal affairs. The US is pretending to be confused and trying to internationalise the Taiwan issue, which is to disrupt the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific. Of course, if the current tension in the Taiwan Strait and the Ukraine crisis have anything in common, it is that the US is the initiator.” 美方试图将当前的台海局势同乌克兰危机牵连起来，用心极其险恶。台湾问题同乌克兰问题的根本性质完全不同。台湾是中国的一部分，台湾问题纯属中国内政。美方揣着明白装糊涂，妄图将台湾问题国际化，就是要搞乱台海、搞乱亚太。当然，如果说当前台海局势紧张同乌克兰危机有什么共同点，那就是美方都是始作俑者.
Page 4: A report on the change of staff from the State Council.
Sun Maoli was appointed vice minister of public security.
Wang Dongwei replaced Yu Weiping as vice minister of finance.
Zhu Chengqing replaced Lu Guihua as vice minister of water resources.
Xu Jia'ai was appointed vice minister of emergency management, while Pan Xianzhang was named vice director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
Page 7: There’s a piece with comments from the Taiwan Affairs Office’s spokesperson arguing that China has “sufficient legal basis” “to take punitive measures against ‘Taiwan independence’ diehards.” Xinhua reports:
Ma Xiaoguang said that the “Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and a handful of diehard ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionists have wantonly undermined relations across the Taiwan Strait, pushed for visits to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of the U.S. Congress, and colluded with external forces to make provocations in order to proceed with their ‘Taiwan independence’ agenda, Ma noted. He said that they should be held responsible for putting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait in jeopardy. Taking resolute measures against diehard ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionists in accordance with the law and putting an end to activities seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ are just moves to safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, essential tasks to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and inherent requirements for the promotion of the peaceful development of relations across the Strait, Ma said. He said such measures are completely justified, reasonable and legitimate. ‘If the DPP authorities continue to go against the tide of history and our nation's greater good, embolden or support diehard ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionists in making provocations and even proceeding with their 'Taiwan independence' agenda to the end, we will take further necessary steps to resolutely thwart any attempt to split China’.”
Also on the page is an interview with Peng Tao, deputy director and researcher at the Center for Taiwan and East Asia Studies at Central China Normal University. Among other things, Peng seems to attack the sanctioned Taiwanese individuals in a much broader sense. I guess it implies that they are not being authentically Chinese in a sense.
“Those who forget their ancestors, betray the motherland and split the country will never come to a good end, and will be spurned by the people and judged by history.” 凡是数典忘祖、背叛祖国、分裂国家的人，从来没有好下场，必将遭到人民的唾弃和历史的审判.
Peng also suggests that the list of individuals will grow “according to the actual situation” and “the disciplinary measures will be continuously improved.” “相信名单会根据实际情况增加，惩戒措施也将不断完善，对‘台独’顽固分子予以精准打击.”
Towards the end, Peng expresses hope that “Taiwan Province compatriots will recognise the harmful nature of a handful of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists, see clearly what their own interests and well-being are tied to, consciously draw a clear line away from ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists, resolutely resist and oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities, and join hands with mainland compatriots to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the process of reunification of the motherland.” ”彭韬指出，希望广大台湾同胞认清极少数“台独”分裂分子的害台本性，看清自身利益福祉所系，自觉与“台独”分裂分子划清界限，坚决抵制、反对“台独”分裂活动，与大陆同胞携手推动两岸关系和平发展，推进祖国统一进程. — In other words, the policy is aimed at influencing domestic Taiwanese politics and public opinion.
Page 17: The lead article on the page is about police violence in the US exacerbating human rights violations and being an example of the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
Next, there’s a commentary by 信强 Xin Qiang on the Taiwan issue. “In the face of China’s peaceful rise, the United States, based on its hegemonic mentality and Cold War mentality, insisted on engaging in ‘strategic competition’ with China. It has constantly distorted and sought to hollow out the One-China principle through salami slicing (切香肠) and and through actions that are technically legal (skirting around the edges - 打擦边球), and cooperated with and supported the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces in launching various ‘pro-independence’ provocations. They are attempting to use Taiwan as a pawn to contain China’s development and progress and obstruct the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 但是面对中国的和平崛起，基于霸权心态和冷战思维的美国执意对华展开“战略竞争”，不断以“切香肠”“打擦边球”等手法歪曲和掏空一个中国原则，配合和支持岛内“台独”势力发起种种“谋独”挑衅，企图把台湾当作遏制中国发展进步、阻挠中华民族伟大复兴的棋子.
The examples of this process that the author provides are US official engagements with Taiwan in terms of visits and comments going back to the Trump administration, arms sales and support for Taiwan to develop “the so-called ‘asymmetric combat power’,” and efforts to support Taiwan’s “meaningful participation in the United Nations system and the international community.”
Finally, the author repeats the warning with regard to playing with fire.
Third, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary on the new US strategy for sub-saharan Africa, which was recently released by the Biden administration. The piece argues that the US approach is based on “Cold War thinking and ideological prejudice” and that the strategy document “reveals that the real purpose of the US policy toward Africa is not African development at all, but to provoke geopolitical games in Africa.” 美国这种颠倒黑白的说辞，充斥着冷战思维和意识形态偏见，暴露出美国对非政策的真正目的，根本不是非洲发展，而是要在非洲挑起地缘政治博弈.
The release of the document coincided with a series of visits by U.S. officials to Africa. They pay lip service to improving Africa's ability to solve global problems and claim that America’s policy towards Africa is ‘based on equal partnership’, but everywhere they go, they have only delivered lectures. They claim not to compete with China, but make irresponsible remarks about China-Africa cooperation. Observers pointed out that the most disappointing part of the US strategy towards Africa is that the US government never really respects African countries, but regards Africa as a pawn in the competition of big powers. 该文件发布前后，美国官员接连访问非洲。他们口头上说要提升非洲解决全球性问题的能力，声称美国对非政策是“基于平等的伙伴关系”，但却处处摆出一副说教的姿态。他们声称不是为了与中国竞争，却对中非合作说三道四。观察人士指出，美国对非战略中最令人失望的内容，是美国政府从未真正尊重非洲国家，而是将非洲视为大国竞争的棋子。
It then argues that American policy in Africa “lacks continuity and its promises have not been fulfilled.” It adds that the strategy document talks about “fostering openness, providing democracy and security for Africa, promoting post-epidemic recovery and economic cooperation, and supporting environmental protection, climate adaptation and energy transformation. However, at present, the United States itself is pursuing protectionism, its democracy is failing, its fight against the pandemic is faltering, and the response to climate change is constrained by many domestic parties. In this context, the US' commitment to Africa is more like an empty promise.” 在这份最新发布的17页对非战略文件中，美国声称要促进非洲国家开放，为非洲提供民主与安全，推进疫后恢复和经济合作，支持环境保护、气候适应和能源转型，但在美国自身奉行保护主义、民主失灵、抗疫失败、应对气候变化遭国内多方掣肘的当下，美国的对非承诺更像是一纸虚言。
This above is contrasted with China’s approach, which is based on “sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and the principle of pursuing greater good and shared interests.” In assessing African views on China, the piece quotes a recent poll by South Africa's Ichikowitz Family Foundation. It revealed that 76% of 4,507 young Africans across 15 countries named China as a foreign power with a positive influence on their lives. Also quoted is the Afrobarometer poll from November, which showed that 66 percent of Africans perceived China’s economic and political influence in Africa as positive. It is worth noting that these are talking points that we have heard from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier, which perhaps is further indication of its rising clout in terms of setting the tone for the propaganda apparatus.
The piece ends by saying:
Africa should be an area of international cooperation, not an arena for great power games. The United States' attempt to use Africa to advance its own geopolitical interests is disrespectful to African countries and people and goes against the trend of the times. Only by holding an open and inclusive mind and being a true partner of African countries can we contribute positive energy to Africa's development and truly win the hearts of African people.” 非洲是国际合作的大舞台，不是大国博弈的竞技场。美国企图利用非洲推进自身地缘政治利益，是对非洲国家和人民的不尊重，也违逆时代潮流。只有秉持开放包容的胸怀，做非洲国家的真伙伴，才能为非洲发展贡献正能量，才能真正赢得非洲人民的心.