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Chinese FM Wang Yi’s Key Takeaway Points- China’s ‘two sessions’ 2024
On March 7, 2024, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a press conference for the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), in Beijing. During the “two sessions”, the annual meeting of the national legislature and top political advisory body, he outlined Beijing’s positions on major global issues ranging from Gaza, Ukraine War, and Taiwan independence. Below is a breakdown of Yi’s key points: Gaza China has been sympathetic and supportive towards the Palestinian cause and a two -solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Wang reiterated his government’s demands for an “immediate ceasefire“, and called the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza “a tragedy for humankind and a disgrace for civilization.” “The international community must act urgently, making an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities an overriding priority, and ensuring humanitarian relief an urgent moral responsibility,” he said. Taiwan Wang stated that anyone who advocates “Taiwan independence” on the island will be held responsible. He also stated that anyone who supports or conspires to support “Taiwan independence” is undermining China’s sovereignty and that countries who insist on keeping formal relations with Taiwan are meddling in China’s domestic affairs. Furthermore, he pointed out that after the two elections in the Taiwan region in 2024, more than 180 nations and international organizations reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle, indicating that the idea has gained support from all corners of the international community. US-China relations Wang told the press, “If there is conflict or confrontation between two major countries like US and China, the consequences will be unimaginable.” Although he said relations have improved since the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden last year, Washington’s misperception about China still lingers. “If the US says one thing and does another, where is its credibility as...
“Regional Reset” and “Strategic Clarity” Needed in Policies toward Afghanistan: Senator Mushahid Hussain
Pakistan needs to develop strategic clarity on relations with its neighbors. We need a regional reset through dialogue among regional state actors. Opening borders and minds, and delinking trade from politics are crucial to promoting mutually beneficial peace and connectivity. These remarks were made by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed during the opening session of Pak-Afghan Stakeholders’ Dialogue, convened in Islamabad, attended by religious, tribal, and trade stakeholders from both sides, and organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), in collaboration with its Afghan partner, Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP). The dialogue witnessed an insightful exchange of ideas and perspectives aimed at fostering stronger ties and addressing key challenges between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It highlighted the imperative for regional cooperation and economic connectivity to ensure stability and prosperity in the region. The conference commenced with notable insights from Senator Mushahid Hussain, who emphasized the historical context of Pak-Afghan relations. Senator Hussain, reflecting on his extensive experience, underscored the importance of stability in Afghanistan and called for a reassessment of Pakistan's Afghan policy. He urged a more inclusive approach towards Afghan migrants, advocating for their integration into Pakistani society. He argued passionately that those born in Pakistan should be granted Pakistani citizenship, drawing parallels with other migrant communities residing in Pakistan. The discussion swiftly shifted towards the evolving regional dynamics, particularly the rise of Iran-Afghanistan trade surpassing that of Pakistan. Senator Hussain pointed out the international community's acknowledgment of the Taliban as the de facto rulers of Afghanistan, highlighting Russia's desire to engage with them despite facing obstacles. “Pakistan’s internal security is inextricably intertwined with geopolitics”, said Senator Hussain...
Wang Yi: US must be rational about China
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing on 7th March, 2024. Beijing urges Washington “to be clear-eyed about the trend of the times, view China’s development objectively and rationally, engage in exchanges with China proactively and pragmatically, and act to fulfill its commitments”, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. Wang made the comments when answering a question about China-US ties at a news conference on the sidelines of the ongoing annual two sessions. He stressed that “the challenge for the US comes from itself, not from China”. “If the US is obsessed with suppressing China, it will eventually harm itself.” “We have seen that some progress has indeed been made in improving China-US relations since the San Francisco meeting, which is fully in line with the aspirations and interests of the two countries and the people of the world,” Wang said. “But we have to point out that the US side’s misperception of China still continues, and the promises made by the US side have not been faithfully honored,” he warned. At the press conference, Wang raised four sharp questions for the US: https://matrixmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ssstwitter.com_1709787405090.mp4 Speaking to reporters, Wang referred to the three principles proposed by President Xi about China-US relations, namely mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. “They are a statement of the experiences and lessons of the 50-plus years of China-US relations and represent the right way for interactions between major countries. They should be observed and acted upon by both sides,” he said.
China’s Shared Community vs US Exceptionalism
An article in the American Foreign Affairs ( Feb 15) magazine provided the context to how the US war on terror post 9/11 had “normalized the idea that everything is permissible in the pursuit of “terrorists”. “To prosecute its war in Gaza, Israel borrows ethos, strategy, and tactics from that framework, doing so with the support of the United States.” That support, worth $3.3 billion annually, and the additional billions since October 7 constitute complicity in the genocide of over 29,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. This exceptionalism in favor of an aggressor and occupier (Israel) not only contravenes the ideals set out in the UN-led world order post-1945 but also exposes the duplicity of geopolitics. It has seen the pumping of hundreds of billions of dollars into various wars (Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Ukraine) in the name of countering terrorism and promoting democracy. The third consecutive veto that the United States used against the Security Council Resolution on the Gaza ceasefire on Feb 20 also reflected the same exceptionalism in favor of Israel and marked another blow to the global rule of law and human rights regime the West at large has long championed. This situation begs a big question in the current turbulence; should the rest of the world look on as geo-politically driven exceptionalism wreaks havoc across the globe, or embrace the concept of a “shared community of humankind “ based on equality, inclusion, and collaboration as proposed by President Xi Jinping of China? https://youtu.be/GG2X2PXFs0w President Xi proposed the concept in his address to the Central Conference on Foreign Affairs in Beijing (December 27-28), while spelling out the challenges for Chinese foreign diplomacy in a world beset with turbulence. President Xi’s proposal also appears to be driven by frustration over the failure of the current UN-based world order to protect the fundamental rights of smaller and oppressed nations such as the Palestinians....
Xi congratulates Shehbaz Sharif on election as Pakistani PM
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on his election as prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Xi noted he believes that under the leadership of Sharif and the new Pakistani government, and with the united efforts of all walks of life in Pakistan, the country will definitely achieve new and greater accomplishments in the cause of national development and progress. Xi stressed that China and Pakistan should continue their traditional friendship, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all fields, jointly build an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, continue to deepen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, to bring more benefits for the people of the two countries. On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Sharif. Source: Xinhua
Conference on Disarmament-China advocates UN Protection for Non-Nuclear States
Sun Xiaobo, Director General of the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China stated that the nations with the largest nuclear arsenals should either negotiate a treaty prohibiting them from using nuclear weapons against one another or at least make a political declaration in this respect. On 28 February 2024, Sun Xiaobo, Director General of the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, urged nuclear states to fulfill their “special and priority responsibilities” on nuclear disarmament, at the U.N. Conference on Disarmament in Geneva (the World’s single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum). He stated that the nations with the largest nuclear arsenals should either negotiate a treaty prohibiting them from using nuclear weapons against one another or at least make a political declaration in this respect. Sun also proposed a universal, non-discriminatory, non-proliferation export control order as it would help to preserve the legitimacy of the arms control treaty system. Furthermore, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also highlighted that the conference was failing in its objectives and called on the countries to accelerate the implementation of all nuclear disarmament commitments. He acknowledged that the victories for peace were “hard-fought and hard-won” but added that these were not “miracles.” They happened because countries recognized that the key to disarmament could be found in cooperation for mutual benefit cooperation for mutual destruction,” he added. “Humanity needs the Conference on Disarmament to work successfully. The paralysis and deadlock that have come to define it is something that is not acceptable,” he added. Consisting of 65 Member States, including the five declared Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) States with nuclear capability (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States), the conference also invites non-members to participate in its work. At the moment, the only...
China-Afghanistan Economic Partnership: A Promising Alliance
Afghanistan and China forge an economic alliance fueled by mutual interest and burgeoning trade routes, with China’s investments in Afghan mining and infrastructure signaling a robust future partnership. This collaboration, epitomized by China’s initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), heralds a new era of economic growth and cooperation between the two nations. Afghanistan and China have a promising future in economic relations because of their mutual attraction and potential for revolution. China’s status as an all-encompassing manufacturer, offering economical products tailored to client preferences, has driven its increased presence in the Afghan market. This growth is particularly notable with establishing direct transit routes, such as the direct road through Wakhan, Badakhshan. Afghan products including fruits, handicrafts, carpets, animal fabrics, precious stones, and marble are in high demand in China. Afghanistan, being a nonindustrial state, may benefit from cheap and high-quality Chinese products in sectors such as electronics, telecommunications, household appliances, and machinery. Afghanistan’s enormous mineral reserves, which include copper, coal, iron, niobium, cobalt, gold, molybdenum, silver, aluminum, fluorspar, uranium, beryllium, talc, and lithium, make it appealing to China. Despite US resistance, China negotiated multibillion-dollar mining contracts with Afghanistan’s government throughout the Republic era. Now, the Islamic Emirate, ruling in Afghanistan as an independent government, has shown an interest in investing in the country’s mining sector. China announced its commitment to start the mining of the Aynak Logar copper mine and negotiated more agreements with the Islamic Emirate, including oil extraction in the Amu Darya region. The contract was signed with the Chinese corporation CPEIC (China Petroleum Economics and Information Research Center), with an initial investment of $150 million and $540 million for 25 years over...
China releases list of 184 AI education bases in schools
China’s Ministry of Education recently announced a list of 184 primary and secondary schools selected as artificial intelligence (AI) education bases, with the aim of better promoting the development of AI education. To facilitate the implementation of AI education, primary and secondary schools should mainly rely on information technology, general technology and other related courses, further enrich educational and teaching resources, and carry out teacher training and guidance, said the MOE. The MOE said it will strengthen guidance for the designated bases, encouraging them to play an exemplary and leading role in developing AI school-based curricula, integrating disciplines, reforming teaching methods, jointly constructing and sharing digital education resources, cultivating teachers’ digital literacy, and fostering the comprehensive development of students, among other responsibilities. Source: China Daily
Is The Hizb Ut-Tahrir Part Of An Intelligence Game?
In a surprising turn of events, the Taliban recently allowed members of Hizb ut-Tahrir to hold gatherings in Kabul and Kunduz. Photos from these gatherings depict hundreds of Hizb ut-Tahrir members congregating, alongside their party flag, with the Taliban flag also on display In a surprising turn of events, the Taliban recently allowed members of Hizb ut-Tahrir to hold gatherings in Kabul and Kunduz. Photos from these gatherings depict hundreds of Hizb ut-Tahrir members congregating, alongside their party flag, with the Taliban flag also on display. This is peculiar because the Taliban had previously declared that they would not allow any party or group, including Jamiat-e islah and Hizb ut-Tahrir, to operate under their rule. In several instances, Taliban security forces had detained Hizb ut-Tahrir members in various parts of Afghanistan. Besides fearing secular groups and considering their activities a threat to Sharia law and religion, the Taliban are also skeptical of Islamist groups. They believe that with the establishment of Taliban rule, there is no need for the activities of other Islamic groups in the country, as the Taliban adhere to all religious laws and rigorously implement Sharia. At the same time, party politics creates divisions and turmoil, undermining Taliban rule and stability. Afghanistan is a war-torn, poor, and weak country. Weak and poor countries often become battlegrounds for intelligence games, especially if they possess strategic geographical importance. Forty years of war have made Afghanistan more than ever a playground for the intrigues of neighbors and regional and extra-regional powers. One of the ways foreign powers infiltrate this country is by exploiting left, right, and center ideologies and beliefs. We do not deny that internal factors have fueled these trends and ideologies in our country more than any other geography, but intelligence games have significantly reinforced these trends. During the Cold War, when the former...
China expects Pakistani stakeholders to jointly work for a brighter future
A comment on Pakistan by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning (February 19, 2024) was quite instructive. China said the spokesperson, sincerely hopes that relevant parties of Pakistan will work together to uphold political solidarity and social stability. The measured comment came over ten days after the elections in Pakistan on the heels of allegations of rigging in the polling. The emphasis of the statement, one can discern, is on inclusive governance as a pre-requisite for “political solidarity and social stability.” “As a close and friendly neighbor, China fully respects the choice of the Pakistani people and sincerely hopes that relevant parties of Pakistan will work together to uphold political solidarity and social stability after the elections and jointly open up a brighter future for the development of the country,” Spokesperson Mao Ning said. China hopes to work with Pakistan to build on the traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation in various areas, and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries, Mao Ning said when asked how China viewed the elections in Pakistan. Officials in Beijing often insist that they have no favorites in any country. We work with nations and not individuals, they say. They also speak of the need for a collaborative and inclusive governance for internal peace and economic progress, advice that has accompanied Chinese diplomacy, particularly since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.