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Takedown of Chinese hypocrisy


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A fun read:

 

"Chinese President Xi Jinping introduces himself as the anti-Trump"

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/01/18/chinese-president-xi-jinping-introduces-himself-as-the-anti-trump/?utm_term=.7ac556df4657

 

" ... it became a global trading power only after 2001, when the United States ushered it into the World Trade Organization. So its natural that Xi would defend a system that has provided China with so much."

 

"But lets be real. Xis newfound mission as the guardian of globalization has a pragmatic, even cynical side. ...... Indeed, despite the fact that China has benefited from globalization, it has done so more, in the words of outgoing president Barack Obama, as a free rider than anything else."

 

"Take climate change. In his speech, Xi positioned himself as the defender of the Paris climate accord. But China remains the worlds largest user of coal and has plans to use more. "

 

"Xi also lauded innovation, free trade and world connectivity. But inside China, his government squeezes American technology companies, limits access to foreign websites and cracks down on foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations. Indeed, for all of Xis embrace of globalization, China remains a very closed society. As the economist Christopher Balding recently noted, there are well under a million foreigners living in China while China is now the biggest sender of immigrants to America, propelled to Americas shores by factors raging from pollution in China to economic opportunity and political freedom in the United States."

 

"In the Swiss Alps, Xi warned that pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. ...No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war, said the leader of a country with an average tariff rate almost eight times higher than that of the United States. The Davos crowd hailed Xis commitment to investment liberalization. Did they know that China formally bans investment in about 60 sectors, and informally in many more? Indeed, even after decades of economic reforms, most foreign investors are required to find a Chinese joint venture partner and to share their industrial secrets with it if they want to do business in the country."

 

Etc, etc

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  • 2 weeks later...

From Shanghaist:

 

Li Keqiang champions 'openness' in article for Bloomberg's website... which is blocked in China

 

http://shanghaiist.com/2017/01/26/li_keqiang_bloomberg_article.php

 

"Often overshadowed Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has flexed his wings recently, penning an article for Bloomberg's website about how "economic openness serves everyone better." Bloomberg.com has been blocked in mainland China since 2012. It's unclear if Li sees the irony in all of this."

 

"Above all, we remain convinced that economic openness serves everyone better,

at home and abroad. The world is a community of shared destiny. It’s far preferable

for countries to trade goods and services and bond through investment partnerships

than to trade barbs and build barriers. Should differences arise, it behooves us all to

discuss them with respect and a keen sense of equality."

 

"Both speeches were met with sneers by some who believed that Xi's words were contradictory to his own government's actions. However, China seems to be pushing full steam ahead in recasting its international image following Trump's election. Li concludes his article with these heartfelt words."

"In a world with a plethora of uncertainties, China offers an anchor of stability and growth

with its consistent message of support for reform, openness, and free trade. The times

may be difficult. But that’s all the more reason not to lose sight of these principles, which

have stood China—and the world—in good stead."

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Xi has shored up China from an internal perspective - the International perspective is another matter entirely

 

 

This article discusses the "shoring up" in the SCMP

 

President now has 12 posts that give him control and oversight over most areas of government, the economy and the military

 

China’s President Xi Jinping gained another position and job title this week, his 12th, as he increases his power and influence.
Xi’s latest title is chairman of the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development, a body created to try and ensure that China’s military needs are met by the nation’s industrial base.
Xi will be able to decide how the country’s massive manufacturing and industrial sectors can be leveraged for army use and also how military research can be used for civilian purposes.
Analysts have suggested that as Xi has amassed titles and influence he has become China’s most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping.

 

. . .

 

11. Commander-in-Chief of the Joint Battle Command of the People’s Liberation Army
When Xi walked into China’s joint battle command centre in a combat uniform with this title last April, he sent a strong message that his control of China’s army, air force, navy and missile forces was absolute.

 

 

an earlier discussion here on CFL

 

Xi Regime Analysis in the WSJ Edited by Randy W (see edit history)
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