The U.S.-China Alaska meeting made Yang Jiechi the “King of Golden Words”. His 17-minute opening remarks, especially his rebuke to the U.S. – “The U.S. has no right to speak to China from above, the Chinese don’t eat this” – were a big hit on the mainland. Before the words left his mouth, T-shirts, cell phone cases, umbrellas and other products with the logo “Chinese people don’t eat this” and its English translation “Stop Interfering in China’s Internal Affairs” were already on the market. The products have already been launched. Why did Yang Jiechi call out to Blinken? The target is a glass heart in the country. Many people do think that after a century, Yang Jiechi finally snowed the shame of ceding land and making reparations for the Eight-Power Allied Forces coerced to sign the Xinchu Treaty.
Repeating Xi’s tune ignores the international order
Although “the Chinese don’t eat this” is full of fireworks, there is nothing new about it. As early as February 2009, Xi Jinping, who was still the “crown prince” of the country, made a declaration of “three no’s” to the Mexican Chinese before returning Home: “Some foreigners who have nothing better to do are pointing their fingers at our affairs. China does not export revolution, two do not export hunger and poverty, three do not torment you, what else is there to say.” It is clear that since the financial tsunami broke out in 2008, the CCP is convinced that the Western camp led by the United States has lost its power and is no longer qualified to lecture China. With its unparalleled foreign exchange reserves, China has been spreading RMB 4 trillion yuan to develop its infrastructure, mainly high-speed railways, in an unparalleled manner.
In the face of Yang Jiechi’s rebuke, Blinken’s response was weak and pale: the United States does have shortcomings, but it has always been frank and honest about them, and internally it has open discussions to seek ways to improve; externally it insists on establishing a rules-based international order through the United Nations, the WTO, the IMF and other international organizations to resolve disputes and promote world peace and prosperity. To promote world peace and prosperity.
Yang Jiechi, of course, does not eat this. The Sino-British Joint Declaration, which promises “one country, two systems and Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong”, has long since been turned into a scrap of paper, a “historical document”, even though the 50-year period of no change has not yet expired. “historical document”? A rule-based international order? When the rise of the great powers, you talk to me about it?
Blinken’s response was weak, but there were consequences. After the Alaska meeting, U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin visited India, threatening to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to ensure freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific region and deter any aggression. The heads of the United States, Japan, Australia and India have already held a video summit on security in the Asia-Pacific region, and the point is clear. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pointed out that Japan cannot maintain its own peace and regional security alone in the face of threats not seen since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and needs the assistance of its allies, so he will make a trip to the United States in April to deepen his personal relationship with Biden. Although not explicitly stated, it is clear what the threat is.
Return to the cold war situation before the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States
On the other side, the European Union, which has always been ambiguous towards China, has joined hands with the United States, Britain and Canada to stand up for the Uighurs in Xinjiang and sanction four Xinjiang co-conspirators. China has doubled down, sanctioning 10 EU parliamentarians and German academics. The situation was as tense as a return to the Cold War before Nixon opened the door to China. Admittedly, such sanctions are merely gestures and of limited use in practice. The U.S. and China are threatening to continue to cooperate on major international issues such as climate change, but open your eyes and see the nature of naked totalitarian rule, and there is a consensus that all people are against China.
The fact in front of the Western camp is that China is the second largest economy and has established close economic and trade relations with the world that cannot be cut. Faced with the challenge of totalitarianism, it is necessary to maintain economic cooperation while making long-term plans and rearmament. In other words, the peace dividend from the collapse of the Soviet Union, which Reagan and Mrs. Detroit together have paid out, will have to be expanded to meet the totalitarian challenge that has vowed not to accept liberal democracy.
Like the U.S.S.R. in the 1980s, this will be an institutional contest: whether a market economy or centralized power is better at creating the indispensable strength to expand armaments. The quick response to the “Chinese don’t eat this” line of consumer products proves that a high degree of centralization has not yet completely stifled market dynamics. However, the research and development of vaccines such as Pfizer’s Fibrate and Oxford’s AstraZeneca show that the West’s basic research and development strength and adaptability are far beyond the reach of a centrally planned economy.
All people are born with a desire for freedom. The same is true for the Chinese. The vigor of reform and opening up has proved that the Chinese simply do not accept totalitarian rule. The process may be tortuous, but the outcome of this institutional race has already been determined: a system that violates human nature will lose.
Recent Comments