Warning the Philippines - Xi's Letter to Chinese Academy of Engineering - Western Region Development Model: 大保护, 大开放, 高质量发展
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Tuesday, June 04, 2024.
Page 1: It’s a slow news day on the homepage today. At the top of the page is a report (shorter English report) on Xi Jinping’s letter to the Chinese Academy of Engineering, calling on it “to play its role as a national strategic sci-tech force and make new contributions to the country’s great self-reliance and strength in science and technology.”
Xi said that “engineering technology is an important engine driving the development of human society. He expressed the hope that the CAE, at a new starting point, will play its role as a national strategic sci-tech force, lead the innovation of engineering technology, accelerate breakthroughs in key and core technologies, and strengthen its function as a high-end national think tank.”
The letter was read out by Ding Xuexiang during an event on Monday. Ding also said that the CAE should:
“strive to be the vanguard in the process of learning and implementing the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and striving for high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.”
“strive to be the vanguard of the national strategic science and technology force, firmly grasp the strategic opportunities of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and vigorously seize the high ground of science and technology.”
“strive to be the vanguard of engineering and technological innovation, solve major engineering and technological problems, promote the industrialization and application of scientific and technological innovation results, and better serve the development of new quality productive forces.”
“strive to be the vanguard of breaking through key core technologies, starting from the urgent needs and long-term needs of the country, strengthen the research on ‘chokepoint’ technologies, and strive to achieve more original breakthroughs in important fields.”
“strive to be the vanguard when it comes to building national high-end think tanks, focus closely on major strategic, directional, and overarching issues, strengthen forward-looking and targeted strategic research, and support the decision-making of the Party and the state.”
丁薛祥强调，在新时代新征程上，中国工程院要牢记建院初心、传承光荣传统，在学习贯彻习近平总书记重要指示精神、为高水平科技自立自强而奋斗的进程中争当排头兵。要当国家战略科技力量的排头兵，牢牢把握新一轮科技革命和产业变革的战略机遇，奋力抢占科技制高点。要当工程科技创新的排头兵，解决好重大工程科技问题，推进科技创新成果产业化应用，更好服务新质生产力发展。要当突破关键核心技术的排头兵，从国家急迫需要和长远需求出发，加强“卡脖子”技术攻关，力争在重要领域取得更多原创性突破。要当国家高端智库建设的排头兵，紧紧围绕具有战略性方向性全局性的重大问题，加强前瞻性、针对性、储备性战略研究，支撑党和国家决策.
Ding also called on the CAE to “take the lead in vigorously promoting the spirit of scientists, integrate their personal aspirations into the cause of the country and the nation, hold a deep sense of patriotism, uphold the ambition to serve the country, bravely scale the pinnacle of science and technology, and live up to the ardent expectations of the Party and the people.” 丁薛祥希望广大工程院院士带头大力弘扬科学家精神，把人生理想融入国家和民族的事业中，深怀爱国之心、秉持报国之志、勇攀科技高峰，不负党和人民的殷切期望.
Next, there’s a report on Vice President Han Zheng meeting with Dr. James S.C. Chao, chairman of Foremost Group. Xinhua says:
“Noting that China-U.S. relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world today, Han said the most important task for China and the United States at present is to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen exchanges and cooperation on economy, trade and culture, and push forward bilateral relations along a stable, sound and sustainable path of development. It is hoped that Foremost Group, as a participant, witness and contributor to China-U.S. cooperation, would continue to make positive contributions to promoting the development of China-U.S. relations and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples, Han said.”
Finally, there’s a Ren Ping commentary discussing the development of China’s western region in the new era. Key points:
“The western region has always held an important strategic position. Comprising more than 70% of the country’s land area and many old revolutionary bases, ethnic minority areas and border areas, the western region ‘plays a vital role in the overall situation of national reform, development and stability’.”
At the turn of the century, the GDP of the western region accounted for 17.1% of the national total. In fact, the region’s GDP was 30% of the eastern coastal areas’ GDP. Now in 2023, the western region’s GDP was 26.9 trillion yuan, accounting for 21.5% of the country’s total.
The policy framework that led to the development of the western region is summarised as “great (ecological) protection, great opening, and high-quality development” 大保护、大开放、高质量发展. Each section is then dedicated to each of these points.
Page 2: There’s a report on the Ministry of Finance’s notice on the allocation of budget for car trade-ins. The notice announces the issuance of the 2024 fiscal interest subsidies and reward and subsidy funds to all provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) for the pre-allocation of central government subsidies for auto trade-in in 2024.
The report says that the total annual funds for auto trade-in subsidies in 2024 are nearly 11.2 billion yuan. The use of this money is “to support the scrapping and renewal of old cars that meet the requirements of the subsidy policy and further expand automobile consumption by improving technology, energy consumption, emissions and other standards.” 根据《通知》，2024年汽车以旧换新补贴年度资金总额为近112亿元。《通知》明确，该预算项目总体目标是以提高技术、能耗、排放等标准为牵引，支持符合补贴政策要求的老旧汽车报废更新，进一步扩大汽车消费.
A separate Global Times report informs that “the Ministry of Finance has in recent days issued a total of 6.44 billion yuan ($889.02 million), which will be used for central subsidy funds for automobile trade-ins in 2024.”
Page 3: There’s a report on Chen Wenqing meeting with Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Beijing. Xinhua says:
“Guided by the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries, China is willing to work with Türkiye to bring cooperation in the field of security to new heights continuously, enrich and expand the connotations of bilateral ties further, protect the security interests of both countries in an improved manner, serve the strategic alignment of the two countries' development, and contribute actively to the peace and development of both countries, the region and the world.”
There are three brief reports on upcoming visits by the Pakistan Prime Minister, Venezuelan Foreign Minister and Brazilian Vice President.
Next, there’s a very brief report on Liu Jianchao’s meeting with a delegation led by Ulan Primov, chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security and Migration of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, in Beijing.
Finally, there’s a commentary underscoring the key points from the joint statement issued on the Israel-Palestine issue after the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.
Page 17: There’s a report on the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson’s comments regarding Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s remarks at the Shangri-La dialogue.
The ministry said that Marcos Jr.’s comments “disregard history and facts and are designed to amplify the Philippines’ wrongful position on the issues concerning the South China Sea and deliberately distort and hype up the maritime situation.” Then there are six points:
China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters.
The territory of the Philippines does not include China’s Nanhai Zhudao.
The so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea is illegal, null and void.
The responsibility for the recent escalation concerning the South China Sea issue between China and the Philippines lies fully with the Philippine side.
“With the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. There has been no issue at all regarding the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea that countries enjoy in accordance with law. China stands ready to continue working with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, to manage maritime differences, deepen maritime cooperation, fully and effectively implement the DOC, actively advance the COC consultation, keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable, and ensure that the South China Sea remains a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.”
“Sixth, China will continue to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime interests and rights. Meanwhile, we remain committed to properly handling maritime disputes and differences through negotiation and consultation with countries directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts. We urge the Philippines to honor its commitments, adhere to the limits of its territory established by the international treaties, fully and effectively implement the DOC, stop maritime infringement activities and provocations at once, and return to the right track of handling maritime disputes and differences properly through dialogue and consultation as soon as possible.”
Also on the page is an article by Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute. She writes that:
She argues that “For some time, the Philippines government has cooperated with extra-regional forces, adopting a confrontational policy towards China on the South China Sea issue; it has been regarded by other ASEAN countries as an agent of extra-regional countries pursuing their strategic interests in the South China Sea region. The Philippines government has expanded the total number of military bases available to the US military under the framework of the Philippine-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement to 9; it has participated in the US-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit, and conducted joint patrols and joint military exercises with the United States in the South China Sea. These practices not only have an adverse impact on regional peace and stability, but will also marginalize the Philippines in the process of regional cooperation transformation.一段时间以来，菲律宾政府在南海问题上配合域外势力对中国采取对抗性政策，已被其他东盟国家视为域外国家在南海地区谋求战略利益的代理人。菲律宾政府将菲美《加强防务合作协议》框架下供美军使用的军事基地总数扩大至9个，参与美日菲三边峰会，同美国在南海搞联合巡逻和联合军演。这些做法不仅对地区和平稳定造成不利影响，也将使菲律宾在地区合作转型进程中被边缘化。
“When dealing with the South China Sea issue, none of the concerned parties should take confrontational actions. History has shown that only by adhering to peaceful cooperation and abandoning camp confrontation can we jointly seize development opportunities. The previous Philippines government adhered to an independent foreign policy, pursued win-win cooperation, adopted a non-aligned stance, and emphasised the use of dialogue and consultation to resolve the South China Sea issue. It not only maintained friendly relations with major powers outside the region, but also deepened its ties with China in the fields of diplomacy and economy. China and the Philippines actively carried out economic and trade cooperation, and the two sides jointly promoted infrastructure construction, which brought tangible benefits to the Philippines and promoted the economic development of the Philippines.” 处理南海问题时，有关各方都不应采取对抗性行动。历史表明，只有坚持和平合作，摒弃阵营对抗，才能共同把握住发展机遇。菲律宾上届政府坚持独立自主的外交政策，追求合作共赢，采取不结盟立场，强调以对话和谈判方式解决南海问题，既保持了与域外大国的友好关系，又在外交、经济等领域深化了与中国的联系。中国和菲律宾积极开展经贸合作，双方共同推进基础设施建设，给菲律宾带来了实实在在的好处，促进了菲律宾经济发展。
The current Philippines government has chosen a confrontational policy in dealing with the South China Sea issue, which has exacerbated tensions in the South China Sea and created serious obstacles to resolving the issue through negotiations. . This approach may also affect the stability and unity of ASEAN, weakening the bloc's collective ability to address security challenges. The United States and its allies have intensified military ties with the Philippines and increased their military activities in the South China Sea, posing serious risks to regional peace and stability. 本届菲律宾政府在处理南海问题时选择对抗性政策，加剧了南海紧张局势，为通过谈判解决南海问题制造了严重障碍。这种做法还可能影响东盟的稳定和团结，削弱东盟集体应对安全挑战的能力。美国及其盟国加强与菲律宾的军事捆绑，并依托自身军事力量增加在南海的军事行动，给地区和平稳定带来严重风险.
“If the Philippines government truly hopes to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea, it should abandon camp confrontation and military antagonism. Instead, it should engage in friendly consultations with China on the basis of mutual respect, properly handle differences, and jointly promote regional peace and prosperity. The Philippine government should cherish regional independence, stability, and tranquillity and strive to uphold the common interests of the Philippines and its neighbouring countries.”菲律宾政府如果真的希望维护南海和平稳定，就应摒弃阵营对立、军事对抗，在相互尊重的前提下与中方友好协商、妥处分歧，共同促进地区和平与繁荣发展。菲律宾政府应珍视地区独立、稳定、安宁，致力于维护菲律宾及邻国的共同利益。
“If the Philippines government continues to deal with the South China Sea issue in a confrontational manner, it will not only undermine the peace and stability of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region, but will also have an adverse impact on regional economic development and environmental protection. At present, the door to dialogue and cooperation between the Philippines and China through diplomatic efforts is still open. The Philippine government should change its mindset as soon as possible and return to the path of friendly consultation, which will help reduce the risk of conflict, promote regional stability, and send a positive signal to the people of the countries in the region.” 菲律宾政府如果继续以对抗方式处理南海问题，不仅将损害东盟和亚太地区的和平稳定，也将给地区经济发展、环境保护等造成不利影响。目前菲中之间通过外交努力推动对话与合作之门仍然开放。菲律宾政府应尽快转变观念，重回友好协商之路，这有助于降低冲突风险、促进地区稳定，将向地区各国人民传递出积极信号.