Aug. 5-6, 2022 — Analysis, reporting by Mathew Carr
China signalled it will negotiate hard on global climate action, suspending for an indefinite period of time talks with the United States, the biggest climate criminal, over Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Cooperation between China and the US on climate action is crucial because alone these two nations produce so much of the world’s heat-trapping emissions — about 45% of the global total.
Context:
The Countermeasures
Before Pelosi’s visit, CarrZee speculated the US move was an attempted distraction from the US status as the world’s biggest climate criminal. It seems China agrees, to some degree.
CarrZee: Now Taiwan officials are concerned about the island’s access to energy. Should the US-China crisis limit Taiwan’s access to energy, then that may force Taiwan to cut production of computer chips. That would add to inflation problems because chip prices would surge. The higher price has an upside (like higher fossil fuel prices have). That is — it would result in lower levels of consumption, which is arguably what’s needed to limit global warming.
This Singapore-based businessman with interests in Taiwan computer chips blames China rather than the US:
At a press conference Friday, reports Taiwannews.com.tw:
Robert Tsao (曹興誠), founder of Hsinchu-based United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), called for unity against the threat from China. He called on people to see through the “evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” and offered support to Taiwan’s military.
The Singaporean tycoon further announced a plan to donate US$100 million (NT$3 billion) to Taiwan’s defense department and boost its capabilities, “safeguarding freedom, democracy, and human rights.”
The 75-year-old businessman emphasized that he is not interested in politics and elections but rather was speaking out because he detested the CCP’s lies and violence. “The nature of the CCP is rogues acting against the rule of law, and this was manifested by their endless power struggles since 1927, the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s, and persecutions against various groups today,” he said.
See this snip of Bloomberg story:
Story: China Sends Warships Near Taiwan, Cuts Off Defense Talks With US
From China’s press conference Aug 5:
CGTN: US officials like the NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications said that “China has chosen to overreact and use the Speaker’s visit as a pretext to increase provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait”. NATO Secretary-General also shared his view. Do you have any comment?
China spokeswoman Hua Chunying: The current situation is entirely caused by Speaker Pelosi and other US politicians. Hearing this type of rhetoric from the US officials reminds people of the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes. It is time for the US to get rid of its arrogance, selfishness, and hypocrisy and bullying practices.
The context and the events that led to the tensions in the Taiwan Strait are crystal-clear. The US is the unprovoked provocateur and creator of the crisis.
The Taiwan question is not about democracy. It is a major issue of principle about China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US needs to put itself in others’ shoes. If an American state were to secede from the US and declare independence, and then some other nation provided weapons and political support for that state, would the US government — or the American people — allow this to happen?
The visit of Pelosi to Taiwan is a grave provocation that upgraded substantive exchanges between the US and Taiwan. It is a serious violation of the one-China principle. It seriously tramples on basic norms in international relations. It also seriously undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has done everything diplomatically possible. We had repeatedly warned the US through various channels of the grave nature and severe harm of this visit. We made it clear that China will not sit by and watch; we will not allow any room for “Taiwan independence” separatist forces; and all consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the US. The international community had been warning the US of the potential consequences as well. Many openly pointed out that the visit was a completely unnecessary, egregious provocation and could trigger a serious crisis. Sadly, however, the US turned a deaf ear to all of those and just let the visit happen.
China has acted in legitimate self-defense only after the US made this egregious provocation. Our countermeasures are necessary as a warning to the provocateurs and as a step to uphold our sovereignty and security. Now the US and its sidekicks have spoken up accusing China of “overreacting”. But if they truly care about regional peace and stability, why hadn’t they stood up and tried to dissuade Pelosi early on? Couldn’t they have seen this coming and prevented it? On such an issue concerning China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, China’s countermeasures are justified, necessary and proportionate, and there is nothing excessive about them. The US, as the provocateur and the one that caused the crisis, should and must assume the entire responsibility for it.
China’s measures are also about staunchly safeguarding regional peace and stability and international law and basic norms in international relations. As we have seen over the past decades, the US and the US-led NATO countries have selectively applied international law. They made up various pretexts such as so-called possession of weapons of mass destruction to picture other countries as threats – and sometimes even without any valid reason – to blatantly launch military strikes and even unleash wars on sovereign countries. How many humanitarian tragedies have they created in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Afghanistan? How many innocent civilians have been wounded and killed? How many families have been torn apart and lost? Have the US and other NATO countries involved done any soul-searching on these tragedies? Have they felt even a tinge of guilt for the serious ramifications and catastrophes they caused? Have they ever made an apology to the victims in those countries? And have they ever given them any compensation?
We are living in the 21st century. The world must never allow the US to see itself as a “world policeman” or an “international judge” and continue to treat other sovereign nations like George Floyd as if the US can just bully and strangle them at will. If China does nothing about the US’s relentless interference in our internal affairs and violation of our sovereignty or does not firmly resist the US’s reckless and irresponsible behavior, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and other purposes of the UN Charter and basic norms in international relations will become nothing but words on paper. And the vast developing world which account for over 80% of the world’s population could well become the next target anytime. For this exact reason, already more than 160 countries have made their voice of justice heard. They reiterated their commitment to the one-China policy and expressed support for China’s efforts to firmly uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a fight against hegemony, against interference and against secession.
China had historically been a victim of foreign aggression. Today, the US and several of its sidekicks still grossly interfere in our internal affairs and undermine our sovereignty and security from time to time. But China is not the China 120 years ago, and we refuse to be treated like Iraq, Syria, or Afghanistan. The Chinese people will never allow any foreign force to bully, oppress, or subjugate us. Anyone who would attempt to do so will find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people. The position of the Chinese government and people on the Taiwan question is consistent. To uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China is the firm will of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. We hope that the US and its sidekicks who style themselves as democracies will be very clear about that. They need to take seriously and respect the core interests and the firm will of the Chinese people, who account for one fifth of the world’s population.
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