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WARNING: China’s Xi Targets Taiwan, Hong Kong and the West in speech

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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks at the opening session of the 20th Communist Party of China’s National Congress demonstrated that Xi is confidently preparing his country for conflict with the United States and Taiwan. His speech included threats to the West and Taiwan, and assertions that Hong Kong and Macao were firmly under China’s control.

Veiled Threats to the West

Xi’s speech had several veiled references that are preparing the Chinese people for a conflict with the West. Xi ominously warned CCP cadres to “be more mindful of potential dangers, be prepared to deal with worst-case scenarios, and be ready to withstand high winds, choppy waters, and even dangerous storms.” Xi also mentioned that China “cannot be swayed by fallacies, deterred by intimidation, or cowed by pressure.” In not-so-veiled propaganda against the United States, Xi stated that “China stands firmly against all forms of hegemonism and power politics, the Cold War mentality, interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and double standards.”

China Owns Taiwan’s Fate, By Force if Necessary

Xi’s words on Taiwan were more specific. First, Xi signaled that one of his main objectives is for the Chinese takeover of the island. Xi stated that “[t]he wheels of history are rolling on toward China’s reunification [with Taiwan] and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Complete reunification of our country must be realized, and it can, without a doubt, be realized.” Xi also remarked that “resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese people.” According to Global Times, this reference to Taiwan indicates that Xi views Taiwan as an issue of domestic, not foreign affairs.

And on the details of this “reunification” with Taiwan, Xi stated that China is prepared to use force. Specifically, Xi stated that “[China] will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary.”

Zhang Wensheng, a deputy dean of the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University, noted that Xi’s comments on Taiwan serve “as a fresh warning to outside forces and the few separatists seeking ‘Taiwan independence,’” as well as to “outside forces.” This echoed similar comments by Sun Yeli, spokesperson for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, who commented that while peaceful reunification with Taiwan is China’s first choice, China will resort to non-peaceful means to combat against “external influence” and “separatist activities.” Sun added that such forces “will plunge Taiwan into the abyss of disaster, and bring profound and heavy tragedies for Taiwan compatriots,” and that, as cited by Global Times, “no party, and no force should underestimate our strong determination, firm will and powerful strength to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”  Wang Jianmin, a senior cross-Straits expert at Minnan Normal University, also stated that if external forces continued to interfere in the Taiwan issue, this would “force the Chinese government to take non-peaceful means.”

Hong Kong and Macao Remain Firmly Under China’s Control

As usual, any autonomy that Xi promised to Hong Kong and Macao is a mirage. While Xi stated that Hong Kong and Macao will be “administer[ed]” by their own people, with a “high degree of autonomy,” Xi alsowarned that “[w]e will remain committed to law-based governance in Hong Kong and Macao,” that the “central government exercises overall jurisdiction over the two regions, and that Hong Kong and Macao are administered by patriots.” The fact that the Chinese government has the final say, and that these two cities are “administered by patriots” means that China has total control, and that there is no autonomy.

Xi also continued to whitewash China’s brutal suppression of Hong Kong. Xi dismissed the Hong Kong democratic protests as “turbulent changes,” and praised China’s suppression of those protests as China “effectively exercis[ing] full control […] and implement[ing] the principal of patriots ruling Hong Kong, resulting in a major turnaround in the situation in Hong Kong from chaos to governance.”

Conclusion

Xi used the 20th Communist Party of China’s National Congress to telegraph his game plan for Chinese relations with Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and the West. The speech shows that Xi is readily embracing increased conflict with the West and Taiwan, and the continued suppression of Hong Kong and Macao.

You can follow Steve Postal on Twitter @HebraicMosaic

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China

Biden to lift sanctions on China in exchange for third promise to combat fentanyl

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Reportedly President Joe Biden is making deals with Chinese President Xi Jinping to help improve anti-drug trafficking measures. China is one of the top fentanyl producers and distributors, culminating in a pandemic of fentanyl overdoses and deaths in the United States.

The Biden administration will be lifting sanctions on a Chinese government ministry, in exchange for bolstering anti-drug trafficking measures, Bloomberg reported. “We’re hoping to see some progress on that issue this coming week,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday, according to the New York Post. “That could then open the door to further cooperation on other issues where we aren’t just managing things, but we’re actually delivering tangible results.”

The Daily Caller News Foundation noted that should a deal materialize, it will be at least the third time that China has promised to get tough on fentanyl. In 2016, China agreed to increase counter-narcotics operations, and Xi again agreed to launch a crackdown in 2018. Nonetheless, China and Mexico are “the primary source countries for fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked directly into the United States,” according to a 2020 DEA intelligence report.

“China remains the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked through international mail and express consignment operations environment, as well as the main source for all fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States.”

President Joe Biden and Xi are meeting for the first time in over a year during this week’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. Sources familiar with the situation told Bloomberg that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will crack down on Chinese companies manufacturing chemical precursors for fentanyl in exchange for the U.S. lifting sanctions on the Ministry of Public Security’s Institute of Forensic Science, which the Commerce Department added to the Entity List in 2020 for “engaging in human rights violations and abuses” in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

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