Xi's UNGA Speech - Supervising the Supervisors - Marxist Colleges - Xi Thought: Hegemony & Major Power Diplomacy - Why US' Trade-Tech War Isn't Working

Here are the stories and pieces from the September 22, 2021, edition of the People’s Daily that I found noteworthy.

Page 1: The holiday’s done and we’re back to the full edition, leading today with Xi Jinping’s speech at the UNGA. Original Chinese is here; and full English speech is available here. Some of the key points that Xi made:

• Speaking in the context of the pandemic, he said: “The world has entered a period of new turbulence and transformation. It falls on each and every responsible statesman to answer the questions of our times and make a historical choice with confidence, courage and a sense of mission.”

• “Of pressing priority is to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of vaccines globally…” He added that China will provide 2 billion doses of vaccines to the world by the end of this year; donate $100 million to COVAX and 100 million vaccine doses to other developing countries. And “China will continue to support and engage in global science-based origins tracing, and stands firmly opposed to political maneuvering in whatever form.”

• Xi pushed the vision of promoting “human rights through development” and the need to extend debt suspension and development aid to help developing countries.

• On green technologies, Xi emphasised the need to “foster an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for the development of science and technology” and to “jointly achieve leapfrog development.”

• This was a noteworthy commitment: “China will step up support for other developing countries in developing green and low-carbon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad.”

Then we had the big pitch on multilateralism and the contestation that’s underway with the US, in particular.

“We need to pursue dialogue and inclusiveness over confrontation and exclusion. We need to build a new type of international relations based on mutual respect, equity, justice and win-win cooperation, and do the best we can to expand the convergence of our interests and achieve the biggest synergy possible...China has never and will never invade or bully others, or seek hegemony. China is always a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of the international order and provider of public goods. China will continue to bring the world new opportunities through its new development.”

Also this: “In the world, there is only one international system, i.e. the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one international order, i.e. the international order underpinned by international law. And there is only one set of rules, i.e. the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.”

Next, we have a report about the new Opinions on Strengthening the Development of Marxist Colleges/Institutes in the New Era. This was put out by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. The guideline talks about Marxism being the guiding ideology of the Party and the country and emphasises the role of political and ideological education to cast souls 铸魂 and educating people in Xi Thought. The report says that deepening research in Marxist theory is critical to train the new generation in the era of national rejuvenation. The objective is to guide the youth to “establish the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” The document talks about the development of Marxist institutes as a “strategic project” that must be undertaken. 

The document calls for further developing Marxist theory as an academic discipline, curriculum development, improving and innovating pedagogy, building a contingent of high-quality teachers with firm belief and solid theoretical foundation and making teaching materials more political, contemporary, scientific, and readable. The final paragraph talks about Party committees taking a leading role in this and strengthening their leadership in this regard. It also talks about intensifying supervision with regard to the development of Marxist colleges/institutes. This effort will also form an important element of the assessment of Party building work carried out by a specific Party unit and the assessment of the institution where the Marxist college/institute is located.

Finally, we have the 19th piece in the spirit series. This one’s about model workers; the kind of folk who have outstanding sense of responsibility and selfless dedication. And taking their example in the new era, the piece calls for “China’s working class and broad masses of working people” to “unswervingly heed the Party’s words and follow the Party’s course, consider the goals set by the Party and the country as their life goals and family happiness into the great cause of national prosperity and national rejuvenation, so as to become dream chasers in the new era.” 我国工人阶级和广大劳动群众要坚定不移听党话、矢志不渝跟党走, 把党和国家确定的奋斗目标作为自己的人生目标, 以民族复兴为己任, 自觉把人生理想、家庭幸福融入国家富强、民族复兴的伟业之中, 做新时代的追梦人.

Page 2: Apart from Xi’s full UNGA speech, we have a piece by Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva. He quickly talks about China’s engagement at the UN over the decades, and then specifically focuses on Xi Jinping’s tenure. He says that:

“China’s status and influence in the United Nations and the international community are on the rise. China has actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations, promoted the political settlement of regional hotspot issues, and made outstanding contributions to maintaining international peace and security. China has earnestly fulfilled its commitments upon accession to the World Trade Organization, continuously improved its level of opening-up and injected Chinese impetus into economic globalization and world economic growth.”

He basically reaffirms that today China is moving “closer to the center of the world stage” and says that as a diplomat in the thick of things at the UN, he has “become more aware of the sacred responsibility and mission of being on the front line of multilateral diplomacy.”

Page 4: First, some data on festival travel. The  Ministry of Culture and Tourism​ says that over 88 million trips were made over the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, recovering to 87.2 percent of the pre-pandemic figure. The domestic tourism revenue of 37.149 billion yuan, which was around 78.6% of the 2019 levels. 

Second, we have a report about the regulations regarding the implementation of the supervision law issued by the National Supervisory Commission. In a nutshell, this is about supervising the supervisors, or rather ensuring that they use “rule of law thinking and methods” in their conduct and “accept the strictest supervision and constraints” on their exercise of power. This point is repeatedly reiterated through the report.

The report gives us a bit of a background, reminding us of the establishment of the NSC after the 13th NPC meeting in March 2018. It also tells us that back then, it was mandated that the CCDI and NSC work together through one office; subsequently, the fourth and fifth plenary meetings of the 19th Central Committee “emphasized strengthening the leadership of the Party, deepening the reform of discipline inspection and supervision system, improving the functioning and supervision mechanism of supervision power, and perfecting the supervision system of the Party and the State.”

We are then told that the current regulation will “further strengthen the political attributes of supervisory organs, strengthen the unified leadership of the Party over discipline inspection and supervision, and constantly improve the national supervision system with Chinese characteristics...” 中央纪委国家监委法规室负责人表示，制定条例是深化国家监察体制改革这一重大政治体制改革的重要举措，对于进一步强化监察机关的政治机关属性，加强党对纪检监察工作统一领导，不断完善中国特色国家监察体制，健全集中统一、权威高效的监察体系将发挥重要作用. - This bit is coming from an unidentified official being quoted in the story.

Here’s something to note: “Throughout the regulations, the supervisory organs are required to accept the strictest restraint and supervision. Chapter VII stipulates ‘supervision over supervisory organs and supervisors’, requiring supervisory organs and supervisors to consciously uphold the leadership of the Party, work under the management and supervision of party organizations, accept the supervision of the people’s congresses at the corresponding levels and their standing committees according to law, accept democratic supervision, judicial supervision, social supervision and supervision by public opinion, and strengthen the construction of internal supervision and restriction mechanisms to ensure that their powers are strictly restrained and supervised.” 条例通篇贯彻监察机关要接受最严格约束和监督的要求，第七章专章规定“对监察机关和监察人员的监督”，要求监察机关和监察人员必须自觉坚持党的领导，在党组织的管理、监督下开展工作，依法接受本级人民代表大会及其常务委员会的监督，接受民主监督、司法监督、社会监督、舆论监督，加强内部监督制约机制建设，确保权力受到严格的约束和监督.

The English report on this also tells us that “the regulation further clarifies the six types of state functionaries subject to the supervision law, listing them with a detailed description. It lists 101 duty-related crimes which supervisory commissions have the jurisdiction to investigate and 15 legal means supervisory commissions can use, with clear codes on how to use them. Rules on collection and examination of evidence are also introduced.”

Finally, worth noting that the regulation warns supervisors of life-long accountability (终身责任) when it comes to abuse of power.

Page 5: We have the 46th piece in the Xi Thought series today. The first question is about why China will never seek hegemony. This begins by saying that as China’s power has grown, there have been those who worry about whether China, now a “big guy” 大块头 will behave. Some, of course, have “fabricated” the China Threat theory for “ulterior motives.” But, the piece tells us, Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed that it is not a historical law that a strong country is bound to seek hegemony. The Chinese people do not accept this logic that a strong country is bound to seek hegemony. 对此，习近平总书记一再强调，“国强必霸” 不是历史定律，中国人民不接受“国强必霸”的逻辑.

We then get the tired cliche that being peace-loving is a part of the Chinese people’s cultural DNA. We are told that in modern times, the “Chinese people have been subjected to aggression, humiliation and pillage by foreign powers” but instead of drawing lessons from this experience about the law of the jungle, the Chinese people rather strengthened their determination to maintain peace. “Because we have experienced war, we know how to cherish peace more,” the piece says. 

The author then says that “China cannot develop without a peaceful international environment. China needs peace, just as people need air, just as everything needs sunshine to grow. We must have a peaceful international environment if we want to continue to realize the goal of the second century and realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” We are told, through a Xi quote, that this talk of peace is not “an expedient measure” or “diplomatic rhetoric;” rather it is “a conclusion drawn from the objective judgment of history, reality and future.” 　　中国发展离不开和平的国际环境。中国需要和平，就像人需要空气一样，就像万物生长需要阳光一样。我们要接续实现第二个百年奋斗目标、实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦，必须有和平的国际环境。只有坚持走和平发展道路，只有同世界各国一道维护世界和平，中国才能实现自己的目标，才能为世界作出更大贡献。习近平总书记指出：“中国走和平发展道路，不是权宜之计，更不是外交辞令，而是从历史、现实、未来的客观判断中得出的结论，是思想自信和实践自觉的有机统一。和平发展道路对中国有利、对世界有利，我们想不出有任何理由不坚持这条被实践证明是走得通的道路.”

The next paragraph tells us that

“Today's world is a multi-polar world, and the international balance of power is developing in a direction conducive to maintaining world peace. It is impossible for any country to try to dominate the world once was the case; such an effort is bound to be resolutely opposed by people all over the world. In today’s world, the old path of colonialism and hegemonism can no longer be taken, and only the path of peaceful development can work. One cannot have the body enter the 21st century, while the mind still lives in the past -- in the old era of colonial expansion, in the old frame of Cold War mentality and Zero-sum games. No country has the right to dominate international affairs, dictate the destiny of other countries or monopolize the advantages of development, still less should it go its own way and engage in bullying and hegemony.” 今天的世界是一个多极化的世界，国际力量对比朝着有利于维护世界和平的方向发展，任何国家试图像以往那样称王称霸、唯我独尊已经不可能了，必将遭到世界各国人民的坚决反对。当今世界，殖民主义、霸权主义的老路是走不通的，只有和平发展道路可以走得通。不能身体已进入21世纪，而脑袋还停留在过去，停留在殖民扩张的旧时代里，停留在冷战思维、零和博弈的老框框内。任何国家都没有包揽国际事务、主宰他国命运、垄断发展优势的权力，更不能在世界上我行我素，搞霸权、霸凌、霸道.

We then get a list of China’s contributions, such as BRI, peacekeeping operations and statements like these: “China follows a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and does not engage in arms race or pose a military threat to any country.”

The last paragraph says:

“China will firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, respect the right of people of all countries to independently choose their development paths, uphold international fairness and justice, and oppose imposing one’s own will on others, interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, and bullying the weak. China’s development poses no threat to any country, nor will it pursue its own development at the expense of other countries’ interests. At the same time, China will never give up its legitimate rights and interests, and no one should harbour any illusions that China will swallow the bitter fruit that harms its own interests.” 中国将坚定奉行独立自主的和平外交政策，尊重各国人民自主选择发展道路的权利，维护国际公平正义，反对把自己的意志强加于人，反对干涉别国内政，反对以强凌弱。中国发展不对任何国家构成威胁，也决不会以牺牲别国利益为代价来发展自己，同时，我们决不放弃自己的正当权益，任何人不要幻想让中国吞下损害自身利益的苦果.

Thinking aloud here: “To me, this response is rather telling in that Beijing still struggles to tell the world what China’s growing power will entail. Much of the discourse is about what China will not be. In doing this, it tends to identify the problematic elements of Pax Americana to tell us that this is what China will not do. But this doesn’t tell us what sort of an order does China evision? While saying this, I also wonder if the inability to present a coherent vision is also a reflection of a sense of capacity limitations.”

Anyway, the next question is about major-country diplomacy and building a “circle of friends.” The response begins by saying that “we need to focus on our neighbors and major countries,” “take developing countries as the basis” and “take multilateralism as the platform.” One should see the structuring of the piece as reflective of diplomatic priorities too.

The piece says that as per Xi, “major-country relations bear special responsibilities for global strategic stability.” In this context, the China-Russia relationship comes in for praise. “The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is mature, stable and solid. It is a relationship between major countries with the highest level of mutual trust, coordination and strategic value. We need to firmly support each other in upholding core interests, deepen cooperation across the board, actively participate in global governance, and safeguard world peace, security and stability.”

Next, we focus on the China-US relationship. This repeats that standard line that there is a lot to be gained by working together, and that this is “one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world.” But “in recent years, some American politicians have publicly declared that they view China as their main strategic competitor, and have adopted a series of wrong words and actions that have interfered in China’s internal affairs, harmed China’s interests and seriously damaged Sino-US relations, resulting in a rare, severe and complicated situation in the relations between the two countries. China’s policy toward the United States is consistent and clear. We are committed to developing a relationship of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation with the US, and will firmly defend the interests of national sovereignty and security development.”

On the EU, we are told that “China and the EU should be two major forces for global peace and stability, two major markets for global development and prosperity, and two civilizations for multilateralism and improved global governance.” 大国之间和睦才能世界和平，大国相互合作才有全球发展。习近平总书记指出，大国关系事关全球战略稳定，大国肩上都承担着特殊责任。要推进大国协调和合作，构建总体稳定、均衡发展的大国关系框架。中俄新时代全面战略协作伙伴关系成熟、稳定、牢固，是互信程度最高、协作水平最高、战略价值最高的一对大国关系。要始终坚定支持对方维护核心利益，深入开展各领域合作，共同积极参与全球治理，维护世界和平、安全、稳定。中美关系是世界上最重要的双边关系之一。中美两国合则两利、斗则俱伤。中美合作可以办成有利于两国和世界的大事，中美对抗对两国和世界都是灾难。近年来，美国一些政客公开宣称以我国为主要战略竞争对手，采取一系列干涉中国内政、损害中国利益、严重破坏中美关系的错误言行，导致两国关系出现少有的严峻复杂局面。中方对美政策是一贯、明确的。我们致力于同美方发展不冲突不对抗、相互尊重、合作共赢的关系，同时将坚定捍卫国家主权安全发展利益。欧洲是多极化世界的重要一极，是中国的全面战略伙伴。中欧要做维护全球和平稳定的两大力量，推动全球发展繁荣的两大市场，坚持多边主义、完善全球治理的两大文明，共同打造中欧和平、增长、改革、文明四大伙伴关系，提升中欧全面战略伙伴关系的全球影响力.

After major powers, we go to neighbours. Diplomacy in the periphery is driven by “amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness,” we are told. The piece says that “China has always placed its neighborhood at the top of its diplomatic agenda and taken it as its mission to promote peace, stability and development in its neighborhood.” -- So I guess, this is a reaffirmation that Beijing will be much more active and interventionist in the neighbourhood, which includes ties with Japan, the Korean Peninsula, ASEAN, Central Asia and South Asia. There’s a carrot for all these neighbours: They are all welcomed to “hitch a ride” on the “express train” that is China’s economic development “so that everyone can live a good life together.” 中国欢迎周边国家搭乘中国发展“快车”、“便车”，让中国发展成果更多惠及周边，让大家一起过上好日子.

The next bit is about developing countries. Of course, the piece tells us that China is the world’s largest developing country. And then it talks about ties with African states, Latin American and Caribbean states and Arab states. The last paragraph is about international institutions and multilateralism.

It says that “international affairs should be handled through dialogue and consultation and the future of the world should be in the hands of all countries. This is the essence of multilateralism. China has actively advocated and practiced multilateralism and unswervingly upheld the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law…” The piece talks about how China has worked to “increase the representation of the developing countries in the UN” and supported the “reasonable and necessary reform of the UN Security Council to make the UN reflect the interests and wishes of most countries in a more balanced manner.” --- Call me a biased Indian, but this is humbug. Anyway, the other multilateral platforms mentioned in the piece are the G20, APEC, BRICS and SCO. 

Page 16: An overwhelming amount of the page is dedicated to a story talking about the direction of China-US ties. The basic thrust of the piece is that tariffs, technology restrictions, and talk of decoupling “has had a negative impact on China, the US and the rest of the world.” But also that this goes against the trend of the times. But most importantly, the message here is to American politicians that despite all this:

“In the first eight months of this year, China’s exports to the US have further accelerated, growing by 22.7%. In 2020, China’s ‘circle of friends’ when it comes to economic and trade cooperation has continued to expand. Two-thirds of the surveyed American companies in China have expressed their willingness to expand investment in 2021. China jumped to 12th place in the Global Innovation Index from 29th in 2015.” --- 另一方面，中美经贸发展呈现出新动向、新态势：中国对美出口不降反升，今年前8个月，中国对美出口进一步加速，增长22.7%；2020年，中国经贸合作“朋友圈”持续扩大，2/3受访在华美企表达2021年扩大投资意愿；中国全球创新指数排名从2015年的第二十九位跃升至第十二位…

On technology, the piece says that innovation is “not a monologue, but a chorus.” 创新不是“独角戏”, 而是“大合唱”. In addition, it says that restricting technology exports is a ‘double-edged sword’, which will not only harm China’s high-tech enterprises, but also harm companies manufacturing chips and semiconductors in the United States and other countries that have contacts with China.

So basically, this is telling American politicians that their policies are failing to have the desired effect when it comes to competition; this is partly because China is “more confident in achieving self-reliance in science and technology.” 

On the other hand, these policies are hurting American consumers, firms and other multinational firms. This is because they lose out access to China’s inherent economic advantages, including the size of the consumer market, which allows economies of scale and promotes innovation. “Decoupling damages each other’s competitiveness and disrupts global supply chains,” the piece says.

Other Stories:

So much of this week has been about the Evergrande saga. If there is one piece I recommend reading on all this, it is this one by Michael Pettis.