editorial
Written by: Hong Kong 01
2021-03-22 06:00
Last update date: 2021-03-22 06:00
Last Thursday to Friday (March 18-19), China and the United States held their breath in the international high-level strategic dialogue in Anchorage, Alaska.
This is the first time that the two sides have met with senior government officials since the interruption of exchanges in the middle of last year. With the increasingly escalating Sino-US struggle, it has naturally become an important window for observing the future exchanges between the two countries.
Many optimistic people hope that this meeting can reset Sino-U.S. relations, manage differences, and create a more stable relationship in the Sino-U.S. struggle; pessimistic people see that the high-levels of the two countries have continuously released more negative opinions before the talks. Signal, the smell of gunpowder became even stronger after the talks began.
Obviously, China and the United States have their own goals for participating in this talk. Both optimistic and pessimistic views must be based on a pragmatic understanding of the two countries.
Before the start of the talks, the United States made careful arrangements, hoping to give China a sense of coercion and re-consolidate the past "pax Americana" world order. For China, it is not an exaggeration to say that this is a "Hongmen Banquet." Be careful.
Whether it is the place or time of the meeting, the United States has worked hard.
The location was selected in Alaska, and the US emphasized that it was the US territory to show that it had the dominant power. However, it also reduced political pressure compared to holding it in Washington and was more suitable for discussing some important matters in secret.
In terms of time, the U.S. is even more rigorous. Before the meeting with Chinese personnel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Japan and South Korea. 2" The meeting is obviously to strive to create a situation in which the United States is deeply supported by allies before the official meeting with the Chinese side.
This Sino-US dialogue is of a strongly tentative nature. The goal is to manage differences on issues of concern to each other, and there is no specific agenda to negotiate.
Therefore, the U.S. seizes the opportunity and waits for the arrival of the Chinese representatives, Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee, and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It is not so much to increase bargaining chips, but to highlight itself. The feeling of being in the upper hand.
The new US President Biden is desperate to prove that "the United States is back," and to wash away the international image of being alienated from allies in the Trump era.
On March 18, senior Chinese and American diplomats met at Captain Cook Hotel.
This hotel is located in Anchorage, Alaska.
(Associated Press)
U.S. layout has not achieved the effect, China is tough beyond imagination
Having said that, the layout of the United States may not have achieved the desired effect.
The "2+2" talks between the United States and Japan issued an aggressive joint statement. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly countered this, accusing Japan of "treating its faith in order to satisfy the selfish interests of hindering China's rise and rejuvenation." The most important tone is that in recent years. China and Japan are rare. Beijing in turn warned Japan to be careful with the consequences. In contrast, South Korea has not fully cooperated with the US's tough policy toward China. Instead, it cautiously stated that South Korea cannot reconcile between China and the United States.
At the time of the China-US Dialogue, Yang Jiechi was clearly prepared to face Brinken’s renewed attack on China "threatening the global order." It took 20 minutes before and after to counterattack in a highly targeted manner, showing that "What China supports is the United Nations. The core international system is an international order based on international law, not a rule-based order advocated by a small group of countries."
He in turn accused the United States of arbitrarily using its military and financial advantages to threaten other countries, and criticized the United States itself for its own deep-rooted problems in human rights, such as the "slaughter of blacks," and urged the United States to take care of its own affairs first.
China's tough stance is beyond many people's imagination, reflecting Beijing's disapproval of the United States' self-righteous attitude.
This may also disrupt the rhythm of the United States. Judging from the surface effect of this Sino-US confrontation, the "American governance" that the United States tried to proclaim did not play any role.
After Yang Jiechi’s speech, Brinken gaggedly called reporters to listen to him responding to the Chinese statement. CNN quoted US officials as saying that China appears to be "focusing more on public exaggerated words and deeds and dramatic performances than actual facts." This somewhat reflects that the United States is very concerned about China’s breaking its own calculations.
The picture shows the U.S. Secretary of State Blincoln and National Security Adviser Sullivan attending the China-U.S. talks in Alaska on March 18, 2021.
(Reuters)
If China and the U.S. contend for “ruling the world”
Although the talks may not have no positive significance, they will obviously not change the general pattern of China and the United States in a long struggle.
Especially worth pondering is Yang Jiechi's words on "rule-based order."
The political purpose of the United States is to maintain the US-centered "American rule" world order; China is fighting back with the United Nations as the theme. Some people may think that China also wants to have a set of rules and order that suits it. It is a "China" in a sense. Govern the world".
The United States blatantly demanded that China must submit to the world controlled by the United States. Yang Jiechi rebutted the United States in a high-profile manner that "the United States has been incapable of saying such things 20 or 30 years ago... Chinese people don't eat this kind of stuff."
He also pointed out that "China has its own way of democracy, and the United States has its own way of democracy." This shows that "American governance" and "China governance" may continue to become two competing international order concepts in the future.
As far as Hong Kong is concerned, if there is a contradiction between the rules of "Ruling the world by China" and the rules of "Ruling the world by the United States," Hong Kong must realize that it is different from countries such as Japan and South Korea, and there is no option to choose which side to stand on.
In the past, some democratic politicians proposed that Hong Kong is a "member of the free and democratic camp" and regarded the contradiction between Hong Kong and the Mainland as "a dispute between the free and democratic model and the Chinese model." However, Hong Kong is a part of China, even if To strive for the values of freedom and democracy, it must also develop in a direction recognized by the country.
Some non-establishment politicians have tried to use external pressure, international lobbying and other methods to force the central government to accept their political demands. This is to put Hong Kong on the opposite side of the country, or they mistakenly believe that Hong Kong can be between China and the United States. Make a selection.
This is why the anti-revision movement has touched the bottom line of the central government, making it judge that "one country, two systems" is being undermined.
After the "Hong Kong National Security Act" was issued, I believe many Hong Kong people are beginning to understand that there is no room for the so-called "Sino-US co-governance" in Hong Kong.
Some people "retreat second" and feel that Hong Kong can stand alone and "ride the fence" between China and the United States. This is also an unrealistic idea.
In Hong Kong, in the eyes of the wind, it is impossible for Hong Kong to be irrelevant.
Regarding the issue of the country’s biggest, Hong Kong has no room for ambiguity and ambiguity. It must show its position and stick to it.
For example, the next issue that we have to face immediately is the implementation of US sanctions.
Earlier this month, Guo Shuqing, chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, stated clearly that US sanctions are not binding on China's banking system, and Hong Kong, regardless of Chinese and foreign financial institutions, must abide by Hong Kong laws and will not implement unilateral US sanctions.
But last Tuesday (March 16), the US State Department updated the dry port officials sanctioned by the Hong Kong Autonomy Act in a statement, stating that foreign financial institutions will be sanctioned if they have major business dealings with them.
Between implementation and non-implementation, how much "fence" and gray space can Hong Kong have?
The picture shows Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, and State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi attending the China-US talks in Alaska on March 18.
(Reuters)
From a small fishing village to a metropolis, it relies on being a gateway to China
Perhaps many Hong Kong people still have the idea that "Hong Kong people are Hong Kong people and Chinese people are Chinese", or they think Hong Kong is international rather than Chinese.
However, have you ever recalled that the reason why Hong Kong was able to transform from a small fishing village into a metropolis standing on the international stage was because it was a British colony or a gateway to China?
Hong Kong and the Mainland have always been inseparable. This stems from blood, history, and culture, as well as political, economic, and social connections. Why should we imagine that Hong Kong can be better than China?
Looking to the future, Hong Kong’s only political issue is still "One Country, Two Systems," which is China’s gateway to the outside world. Only in this way can Hong Kong continue to use its strengths internationally.
Hong Kong people must pragmatically recognize that Hong Kong is a Chinese city. This has never changed. Whether the "One Country, Two Systems" can be implemented steadily and far-reachingly depends on the trust of the central government in Hong Kong. It is not an "international standard" as some people say. It is not the so-called "rules-based order" in the United States.
In the future when the Sino-US struggle continues, there will be more questions about whether to accept US "long-arm governance". This may be the extradition of dignitaries or the implementation of financial sanctions. Hong Kong has no possibility to evade and not face it. , There is no room to choose not to stand on the side of one's own country.
We must take this opportunity to re-understand that "one country" is not just an empty slogan, but involves the fundamental logic of politics and behavioral ethics.
When it is necessary to make a choice, it is necessary to clearly understand the meaning of "one country" is the meaning of "Hong Kong people are Chinese."
Please pay attention to the 257th "Hong Kong 01" weekly report published on March 22, 2021, which is available at major newsstands, OK convenience stores and Vango convenience stores.
You can also
click here to
sample the weekly e-newsletter and read more in-depth reports.
China-US Relations 01 Weekly Editorial Wang Yi Yang Jiechi Blincoln 01 Weekly