Xi Goes to School - Party's Leadership of Chinese-style Modernisation - Jens Plotner in China - Zhong Sheng: De-risking = Decoupling

Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily's edition on Thursday, June 01, 2023.

Page 1: It’s a clean-sweep for Xi Jinping on the front page today. Everything is about him. Much of the page today is dedicated to Xi Jinping’s visit to the Beijing Yuying School (English report) ahead of Children’s Day in China. The school was established in 1948 in Xibaipo. 

The report says that:

“Xi Jinping pointed out that the fundamental task of education is to build virtue and cultivate people, and to cultivate socialist builders and successors with all-round development of sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigour, aesthetic sensibility. The cultivation of students’ ideals and beliefs, moral qualities, knowledge and intelligence, physical and psychological qualities, and other aspects are indispensable.”

He first visited the school museum. Then, he emphasised the importance of the “双减” double reduction policy, reviewing how the school has implemented it. He then that “it is necessary to strengthen the education of revolutionary tradition, so that every student at Yuying School can bear in mind the glorious history of the school and the care of the Party, carry forward the red tradition and inherit the red gene, listen to and obey the Party’s words from childhood, and be determined to become a talent for the Party and contribute to the country.” 要加强革命传统教育，让每一位育英学校的学生牢记学校的光荣历史，铭记党的关怀，赓续红色传统，传承红色基因，从小听党话、跟党走，立志为党成才、为国奉献.

Xi then went to the basketball court, where he watched kids play. He said that physical exercise should start from an early age; the more the physical exercise, the less the possibility of kids being overweight or needing glasses (or the fewer there will be little chubbies with little glasses 小胖墩, 小眼镜). — Comment: I like Xi in Xi-dada mode. My kid’s going to be hearing this from me daily too. He added: “​​It is imperative to staff schools with sufficient and capable PE teachers, and families, schools and society should create conditions for teenagers and children to improve their physical fitness.”

Next, he went to the student farm, where kids practice agriculture. Here he talked about the importance of hard labour and ecological civilisation. Xinhua English summarises this bit well. 

“Visiting the students' farm on campus, where students of the school engaged in agricultural practice, Xi urged efforts to guide children to cultivate the awareness of manual labor and to develop the habit of working from an early age. Noting the lack of contact with rural areas and nature of some urban children, Xi told the students that learning about nature starts with learning about the plants around them. Xi expressed the hope for them to become aware of the hardship of farming and the difficulties facing farmers through the study of agriculture, and develop the good habits of loving physical labor, cherishing food and respecting nature from childhood.”

Then talking about science and technology, he said that he hoped that the “students will grow up to be outstanding scientists in the future and make contributions to the country's cause of achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology.” 

After this, he spoke to fifth-grade teachers. Among the many things he said, Xi emphasised that “teachers must always keep in mind their initial mission of educating people for the Party and nurturing talent for the country.” They should also cultivate themselves with virtue, learn through virtue and impart moral education. 广大教师要牢记为党育人、为国育才的初心使命，以人民教育家为榜样，以德立身、以德立学、以德施教.

At the top of the page is a report on Qiushi publishing an article by Xi on the issue of Chinese-style modernisation. Some of the key points made in the article:

First, “the Party’s leadership determines the fundamental nature of Chinese-style modernization. The Party's nature and purpose, initial mission, beliefs and policy propositions determine that Chinese-style modernization is socialist modernization, not any other modernization. Our party has always held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, unswervingly following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ensuring that Chinese-style modernization is smoothly advancing on the right track. Our party insists on taking Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology, constantly opening up new realms of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and providing scientific guidance for Chinese-style modernization. Our party upholds and improves the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, providing a strong institutional guarantee for the steady advancement of Chinese-style modernization. Our party upholds and develops socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, providing a strong spiritual force for Chinese-style modernization. Only by unswervingly adhering to the leadership of the party can Chinese-style modernization have a bright future and prosperity; otherwise, Chinese-style modernization will deviate from the course, lose its soul, and even make subversive mistakes.” 文章指出，党的领导决定中国式现代化的根本性质。党的性质宗旨、初心使命、信仰信念、政策主张决定了中国式现代化是社会主义现代化，而不是别的什么现代化。我们党始终高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜，坚定不移地走中国特色社会主义道路，确保中国式现代化在正确的轨道上顺利推进。我们党坚持把马克思主义作为根本指导思想，不断开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界，为中国式现代化提供科学指引。我们党坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度，为中国式现代化稳步前行提供坚强制度保证。我们党坚持和发展中国特色社会主义文化，为中国式现代化提供强大精神力量。只有毫不动摇坚持党的领导，中国式现代化才能前景光明、繁荣兴盛；否则，中国式现代化就会偏离航向、丧失灵魂，甚至犯颠覆性错误.

Second, the Party’s leadership has ensured that the Chinese-style modernization remains firmly anchored to its goal, making steady and far-reaching progress. 文章指出，党的领导确保中国式现代化锚定奋斗目标行稳致远. This goal is “building a socialist modern country.”

Third, the Party’s leadership has provided a strong driving force for building Chinese-style modernization. Apart from talking about the progress since the 18th Party Congress, do note this from Xi: “Reform and opening up is the key measure that determines the fate of contemporary China, and it is also the decisive factor in the success or failure of Chinese-style modernization.” 改革开放是决定当代中国命运的关键一招，也是决定中国式现代化成败的关键一招.

The final paragraph makes the point about the Party promoting “whole-process democracy” and says: “We adhere to the people's yearning for a better life as the goal of our struggle, and adhere to the people-centred development philosophy, so that the achievements of Chinese-style modernization can benefit all the people more equitably.” 我们坚持把人民对美好生活的向往作为奋斗目标，坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，让中国式现代化建设成果更多更公平地惠及全体人民.

Third, there’s an article on Xi’s letter to a Bangladeshi girl named Alifa Chin. This was in reply to the girl’s letter. Xinhua reports Xi told her that “Chin's story shared in the letter is a good example of the friendship between the two countries.” The story is as follows:

“When Chin was born in 2010, her mother suffered from a difficult delivery due to a severe heart problem. At that time, ‘The Peace Ark,’ the visiting hospital ship, received help and immediately sent military doctors to the local hospital to perform a caesarean section under great pressure. Finally, the mother and daughter were safe. To show gratitude, the father named the baby ‘Chin’, which means ‘China’ in Bengali.” Xi also invited her to study medicine in China.

One quibble with this report. Xi said that “since ancient times, the Chinese and the Bangladeshi have been close neighbors and good friends, whose friendly exchanges date back over a thousand years.” He mentioned Zheng He’s voyage in this regard. Comment: I don’t know about a thousand years. But modern history does not accord with this. For instance, China had vetoed Bangladesh’s UN membership in 1972, and only established formal ties with the country in 1975.

Anyway, on Page 3, there’s a report on how excited the girl and the family were upon receiving Xi’s letter. The piece also has the girl’s father saying that “nowadays, there are a wide variety of Made in China products in local markets, and there are convenient and beneficial Chinese constructions in various places; China has brought many significant changes and improvements to ‘our lives. We are very grateful to China’.” 霍森说，如今，当地的商场里有种类繁多的“中国制造”，各地有便民利民的“中国建造”，中国给“我们的生活带来很多很大的变化和改善。我们很感谢中国”。

Finally, there’s a long, long article on the “creative transformation and innovative development of culture” under Xi. I am not translating and summarising this. 

Page 3: Two brief reports on Wang Yi and Qin Gang’s meetings with Jens Plotner, foreign and security policy advisor to the German chancellor. 

Xinhua reports Wang Yi telling Plotner that “as all-round strategic partners, China and Germany should not only steadily develop bilateral relations, but also contribute to jointly addressing global challenges. He said that in the face of increasing instability and uncertainties in the international situation, China and Germany should work together to make the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation a success, and send a positive signal to Europe and the world. Plotner said the foundation of Germany-China relations is solid and Germany will continue to firmly pursue the one-China policy. ‘We are full of expectations for the upcoming round of inter-governmental consultation between the two countries and will work together to speed up the preparatory work,’ Plotner said. The two sides also exchanged views on Ukraine and other international and regional issues of common concern.”

On the meeting with Qin Gang, the report merely says that the “two sides had in-depth communications on preparations for the seventh round of inter-governmental consultation between the two countries and exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.”

Also on the page is a Zhong Sheng commentary, which basically makes the point that there is no difference between “de-risking” and decoupling from China. It says that:

“For some time, some politicians in the West have been clamouring for the so-called ‘de-risking’ from China. This so-called ‘de-risking’ is essentially an effort to continue to build ‘small yards with high walls’ and encourage ‘decoupling and breaking chains’.” It quotes the recent G7 statement saying “we recognise that economic resilience requires de-risking and diversifying” and then it says: “The so-called ‘de-risking’ by the G7 will only bring risks to the stability of the global industrial and supply chains and create obstacles to the recovery of the world economy.” 一段时间以来，西方一些政客开始鼓噪所谓对华“去风险”。这种所谓“去风险”的说法，本质上是要继续构筑“小院高墙”，鼓动“脱钩断链”。日前举行的七国集团广岛峰会在联合声明涉华部分称“我们认识到保持经济韧性需要去风险和多元化”，再次暴露其遏制打压中国的企图。七国集团所谓的“去风险”，只会给全球产业链供应链稳定带来风险，给世界经济复苏制造障碍.

The next paragraph says that despite the change in rhetoric from decoupling to de-risking, the “hidden evil intentions” of the G7 have not changed. 从“脱钩论”到“去风险”，七国集团虽然改变了话术，但包藏的祸心却没有变.

It adds that while the joint statement says that ‘our policy approaches are not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart China’s economic progress and development. A growing China that plays by international rules would be of global interest. We are not decoupling or turning inwards’, the joint statement is full of unwarranted accusations and smears against China, trying to describe China as a risk and threat to the world.” 广岛峰会联合声明假惺惺地说，“我们的政策不是为了伤害中国，也不是为了阻碍中国的经济进步和发展”“我们不是在脱钩或向内转”，但联合声明字里行间充满对中国的无端指责和抹黑，试图把中国描述成世界的风险和威胁.

It is clear that the G7 is merely providing a “new pretext” for opposing and containing China. This rhetoric reflects the ominous shadow of the Cold War and zero-sum game. 所谓“去风险”完全是个别国家反华遏华的新幌子，这种话术渗透出冷战和零和博弈的阴风.

The next paragraph talks about how economic globalisation is “an irresistible historical trend” and accuses the US of instigating other countries to pursue decoupling. After this, the piece says that if one is to talk about de-risking, it is important to understand where the risks come from.

“Over the years, the real risks in the world are that the US has wantonly waged wars, built a dollar hegemony and created camp confrontation. The US is the initiator of economic coercion and the chief culprit in undermining free trade and the stability of the industrial and supply chains. Since the 1980s, the US has repeatedly imposed economic sanctions against Japan and suppressed Japan's competitive industries by any and all means. This can be termed as a textbook example of economic coercion. In its history of over 240 years, there have been only 10 years during which the US has not been engaged in war-fighting; two-thirds of the violations at the World Trade Organization are caused by the US; the American Inflation Reduction Act ‘protects’ or even strengthens American manufacturing by hollowing out Europe; America's fiscal policy of living beyond its means and radical and volatile monetary policy seriously undermine global financial stability...Facts irrefutably prove that the US is the biggest source of risk in the world.” 谈论“去风险”，首先要弄明白风险是什么，源头在哪里。多年来，美国肆意发动战争、构筑美元霸权、制造阵营对抗才是世界真正的风险。美国是经济胁迫的始作俑者，是破坏自由贸易和产业链供应链稳定的罪魁祸首。上世纪80年代以来，美国多次对日本发起经济制裁，不择手段打压日本优势产业，堪称教科书级别的经济胁迫。美国在建国240多年历史中只有10多年没有打仗；世界贸易组织2/3的违规由美国引起；美国《通胀削减法案》以“掏空”欧洲的方式“保护”甚至壮大美国制造业；美国寅吃卯粮的财政政策和激进多变的货币政策严重破坏全球金融稳定……事实无可辩驳地证明，美国才是世界最大的风险源头.

“If certain countries, under the pretext of ‘de-risking’, engage in de-Sinification, it would mean going against opportunities, cooperation, stability, and development.” 如果个别国家以“去风险”之名行去中国化之实，那就是在去机遇、去合作、去稳定、去发展. This is because “facts have proved that China brings to the world opportunities rather than challenges, stability rather than turmoil, and insurance rather than risks.” 事实证明，中国给世界带来的是机遇不是挑战，是稳定不是动荡，是保险不是风险.

Pages 10 and 11: I’m not translating these, but if you are interested, the pages today carry brief excerpts of comments from participants of the 2023 Digital Economy Forum.

Page 17: Today, we have the third article in the series on how the US pursues unilateralism and has benefitted from the war in Ukraine. The argument in a nutshell is as follows:

“According to data released by Eurostat, the GDP of the euro zone increased by 0.1% in the first quarter of this year. The slow growth is accompanied by persistent high inflation. The inflation rate in the eurozone in April was 7.0%, among which the prices of food, tobacco and alcohol rose the most, up 13.6% year-on-year. European experts and scholars said that the Ukrainian crisis has brought obvious negative effects to the European economy, while the United States has also ‘looted the burning house’, introduced the Inflation Reduction Act, and continued to raise interest rates aggressively, transferring its economic and financial risks to others in the world, putting greater pressure on European financial markets and even economic development.” 欧盟统计局近日公布的数据显示，今年一季度欧元区国内生产总值（GDP）环比增长0.1%。与增长缓慢相伴随的是持续的高通胀，欧元区4月通胀率为7.0%，其中食品和烟酒价格上涨幅度最大，同比上涨13.6%。接受记者采访的欧洲专家、学者表示，乌克兰危机给欧洲经济带来明显负面效应，而美国还“趁火打劫”，出台《通胀削减法案》，持续激进加息，将本国的经济金融风险转嫁给世界，给欧洲金融市场乃至经济发展造成更大压力.