At the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos a few days ago, the differences between the West and the Chinese Communist Party were clearly demonstrated. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
[TheEpochTimesJanuary192024](Epoch Times reporters Song Tang and Yi Ru interviewed and reported) At the recently held World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the differences between the West and the Chinese Communist Party were clearly demonstrated, and Li Qiang demanded that the Sharing the dividends of economic globalization and attracting foreign investment to China, Li Qiang remained silent and did not respond to the criticism from Europe and the United States on the CCP’s geopolitical stance.
The positions of the two sides are completely different. Experts said that the West clearly distinguishes the nature of the CCP from its sweet talk. Li Qiang tried to deceive China again, but the West no longer accepts this trick.
Li Qiang only talks about the economy Continue to fool the West
The Davos Forum is an iconic platform for globalization, and its importance has always attracted Beijing’s attention. In the past few years, Xi Jinping, leader of the Communist Party of China, has personally delivered a video speech.
The delegation sent by the CCP to the Davos Forum this time is extremely large. The 140-member delegation, headed by Premier Li Qiang, includes 10 ministers, economic and financial officials, experts and entrepreneurs.
File photo of Ye Yaoyuan, chair professor of international studies at the University of St. Thomas in the United States. (Epoch Times data map)
“There is a problem of involution in China’s economy now,” Ye Yaoyuan, chair professor of international studies at the University of St. Thomas in the United States, told The Epoch Times. “He hopes that the entire State Council team can promote China’s market advantages in the forum, especially every issue and every official. We can contact more countries privately.”
In contrast, the U.S. delegation is small, showing a weakening willingness for dialogue at the World Economic Forum and being very concerned about the size and intentions of the Chinese delegation.
They each conveyed completely different messages. Although China’s economy was in trouble, the strict zero-clearance policy during the epidemic and the subsequent implementation of the Espionage Law scared away a large number of foreign investment and foreign businessmen. In the third quarter of last year, there was a net quarterly foreign investment for the first time. outflow, and this trend is expected to continue.
But Li Qiang still promoted China as a safe investment destination. In a carefully prepared speech for a global business audience, Li Qiang put forward five vague suggestions, hoping to “rebuild trust with the West and strengthen economic ties between China and the West.” Cooperation”, including macroeconomic coordination, maintaining and respecting China-centered supply chains, more international technical cooperation and cooperation on green goals.
Li Qiang also said that China honors its promises. But when the CCP joined the WTO in 2001, it promised to completely complete market-oriented reforms within 15 years and open up to developed countries in a reciprocal manner. As a result, after the one-way opening up in the West, instead of opening up the market, the CCP took advantage of the closed market and used subsidies to expand state-owned enterprises.
The West is now moving supply chains in an orderly manner, investing more in democratic or friendly countries such as India, Vietnam and Mexico, but the CCP still hopes that Western capital can return.
On January 16, Li Qiang met with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and other Wall Street tycoons, but Dimon said in an interview with CNBC the next day that investors entering the world’s second largest economy must “It’s a bit concerning” because “the risk reward has changed dramatically.”
Dimon also said at the Davos Forum on the 17th that some of Trump’s criticisms of the CCP were right.
Ye Yaoyuan told The Epoch Times that the CCP wants to recruit a large amount of foreign capital, but the problem is that the Chinese market itself has risks.
“The first is on the security level, and the second is that its system is not transparent. It is not a free and open market, nor is it a market that adheres to rules and the rule of law.”
Ye Yaoyuan said that at this stage, the CCP itself has become a high-risk investment target. No matter whether it is unilateral, bilateral or multilateral contact, it cannot persuade large investments in China.
“You have to solve the core issue first, don’t talk about democratization first, but at least it should have a transparent and open legal process, but the Communist Party is not doing it yet, and it is going back further and further,” he said.
“For the Communist Party, it is afraid that when the entire market becomes active, it will produce a lot of private information that cannot be controlled. If you try to control it, it will not be a normal competitive market. The CCP is afraid that this private information will subvert the Chinese Communist regime.”
On January 16, 2024, Chinese Premier Li Qiang (left) and World Economic Forum founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab (right) appeared at the 54th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos ) annual meeting. (Laurent Gillieron/POOL/AFP)
The West attacks the CCP
The separation of politics and economy in the era of economic globalization has been disrupted by geopolitical issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Kazakhstan war, and the Taiwan Strait issue. The West has repeatedly stated that it wants to establish close economic relations with like-minded democratic and free countries and treat China (the Communist Party) China is “de-risking” such adversaries. The CCP’s support for Russia and Hamas has not changed, but it hopes to integrate into the Western economy.
Li Qiang’s speech in Davos this time only mentioned the economy and did not dare to touch on any geopolitical topics. Ukrainian officials have said that President Zelensky will not refuse to meet with Chinese Communist Party officials in Switzerland, but Li Qiang did not take the initiative to talk to Zelensky. The outside world believes that this move is the latest sign that the CCP has chosen to continue siding with Russia.
Unlike Li Qiang who only mentioned economic topics, European Commission President von der Leyen mentioned democracy nine times and freedom six times in her 20-minute speech.
Von der Leyen warned that the world is facing “the greatest risk to the global order in the postwar era” and that the risks “overlap and compound.”
“Freedom of business depends on the freedom of our political institutions,” von der Leyen said. “That is why I believe that strengthening our democracy and protecting it from the risks and disruptions it faces is our shared and enduring responsibility.”
At the Dallas Forum a year ago, von der Leyen first proposed the concept of “de-risking rather than decoupling” to define the EU’s new industrial and economic strategy for China. This term has since been adopted by the United States and other G7 countries.
On January 17, European Commission President von der Leyen mentioned democracy nine times and freedom six times in a 20-minute speech at the Davos Forum. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
On January 17, US Secretary of State Blinken expressed a similar view at the Davos Forum. He said that the Biden administration has been able to reduce its reliance on Chinese imports and achieve “greater integration” with allies, In the United States’ relationship with India, “we integrate these fundamental concerns for democracy and human rights into our foreign policy.”
Blinken also congratulated the people of Taiwan for “consistently” developing a vibrant democratic society over the years and holding free and fair elections, saying, “Our fundamental interest, along with the rest of the world, is to ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, between Beijing and Taiwan Any differences can be resolved peacefully.”
Regarding Blinken’s mention of the Taiwan Strait issue and Von der Leyen’s mention of democracy and freedom, Li Qiang acted as if he hadn’t heard and made no response.
“If he brings these issues to the table and reiterates the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or the Taiwan Strait issue, it will greatly draw out the differences between the CCP and other democratic countries. This will be detrimental to what Li Qiang wants to do now. Completely opposite.” Ye Yaoyuan said.
Song Guocheng, a researcher at the International Relations Center of National Chengchi University (provided by Song Guocheng)
Song Guocheng, a researcher at the International Relations Research Center of Taiwan National Chengchi University, told The Epoch Times that Li Qiang attended the Davos Forum this time and made comments that were all about SOS asking for help. However, the CCP has not stopped confronting the West.
Li Qiang wants to avoid global geopolitical conflicts, but in these conflicts, the CCP cannot escape its involvement and even secretly ignites them. “The Chinese Communist Party still does not recognize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and has always insisted on reunifying Taiwan by force. It is talking about a false peace during the Israel-Kazakhstan war,” he said.
“Over the years, the Western world has now clearly distinguished between the CCP’s true nature and the sweet talk. Li Qiang tried to deceive the Western world, but the Western world no longer accepts the CCP’s tactics.”
For example, at this forum, Li Qiang called for international cooperation in the governance of artificial intelligence (AI) and opposed the division of the world into different technological camps. However, U.S. White House officials subsequently stated that on issues of national security and military applications, rival countries will not be allowed to obtain U.S. technology. EU officials said that China and Europe “have no common language” on AI governance issues.
If Trump is elected The CCP’s misfortune will come again
The sharp opposition between the CCP’s foreign policy and the West is one of the important reasons for China’s economic downturn. Will the CCP authorities change course in 2024? The United States will hold a presidential election this year. If Trump is elected, what will be the direction of U.S.-China relations?
Ye Yaoyuan said that China’s economy may be as predicted by most economists, and its economic growth rate will continue to decline. It is about 5% now, may be 4% in the future, and finally drop to 3%. The past situation of large-scale foreign investment and economic take-off should not happen again.
“No matter who is president, U.S.-China relations will not get better. The difference is that Biden is relatively more predictable, while Trump has more unpredictability when he comes to power, such as the current tariffs on Chinese goods. It is 25%. He thinks the CCP is disobedient and may increase it to 50%.”
“Trump’s policies are basically unilateral. The CCP may feel that it is more able to communicate with Trump, but in fact, his sanctions on the CCP may be stronger than Biden’s.” Ye Yaoyuan said.
On January 6, 2024, Clinton, Iowa, Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump spoke to guests at a Clinton Middle School rally. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Song Guocheng said that if Trump returns to the White House, the CCP’s misfortune will come again, because the confrontation between China and the United States began with Trump’s trade war against the CCP.
“Once Trump returns to the White House, he will double back on the CCP’s tough policies. The CCP can only tremble and wait for a beating. I think Trump has a sense of hostility toward the CCP that is similar to a blood feud.”
Editor in charge: Lin Yan#
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2024-01-19 00:21:21
