The effrontery of Chinese propaganda knows no bounds. The blathering is so bald, so bad, that it must be deliberate. This is what the meetings must be about.
“An okay first draft, Chen, but it seems to make a little bit of sense in paragraph two. Too much explaining things. This isn’t how we do.” “Sorry, comrade. I will strive to rectify.” “Remember, the golden rule of diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China is in-your-face nonsense as a form of chest-thumping bullying. Try to be more imperious and obtuse in tone as well.”
The Guardian reports that Taiwan and the United Kingdom have signed a trade agreement and that China is telling the United Kingdom to “stop using trade to improve Taiwan ties” (November 9, 2023).
China’s embassy in London said in a statement that Beijing always firmly opposed any form of official contact between countries that have diplomatic relations with China and “China’s Taiwan region”.
“We urge the UK to abide by the one-China principle and stop using trade cooperation as an excuse to engage in official exchanges or enhance substantive relations with Taiwan.”
The PRC wants Taiwan; therefore it has Taiwan; therefore Taiwan, albeit having a country government and all the other standard features of a country, is not a country and is really part of the PRC although it has never been part of the PRC; therefore the rest of the world must play along; therefore the UK better not use trade and the mutual desire to enhance economic well-being as an excuse to talk to Taiwanese people and strengthen relations with Taiwan.
It’s baloney. It is unintelligible except as an expression of the philosophy of might makes right and PRC resentment of Taiwan’s persistent independence in the wake of China’s civil war. But, for decades, China has been pressing Taiwan to stop being Taiwan and has been insisting that Taiwan be demoted on the world stage. Everybody is afraid of the Chinese government, so everybody pretends or half-pretends and cooperates or half-cooperates with its asinine demands. The better countries try to support Taiwan at least a tad more than they undercut Taiwan.
Taiwan is seeking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which the UK is the newest member. Taiwanese minister and its chief trade negotiator, John Deng, said improving economic relations with the UK was “crucial” for Taiwan’s bid.
Beijing, which is also lobbying to join the CPTPP, is opposed to Taiwan’s inclusion….
Entry into the CPTPP requires the unanimous support of existing members, and several—particularly Japan—are opposed to China’s inclusion.
“In the face of greater threats from the PRC, it is vital that the democratic world builds closer and deeper ties with Taiwan, and trade deals like this are the perfect way to do exactly that, so we applaud the UK government for taking this step,” said David Spencer, chief executive of the Taiwan Policy Centre.
Japan has it right: exclude China from the CPTPP trade agreement. Also, accept Taiwan.
