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Friday, July 14, 2023

Janet Yellen's visit to China: the world has not changed, what has changed is China. China has become stronger

 


Let Yellen yell all she wants but China just humbly listen and then says it needs to clear off a big chunk of Us OLD Treasuries debt first, only then will consider to buy new ones. However buying new Treasuries now will mean supporting their incoming huge military budget which is really a big security threat to world peace



This is how Yellen negotiated with China. She proposed to cancel the additional tariffs imposed during the Trump era, but requires China to meet the 3 following conditions:

1. Buy $850 billion US treasury bonds

2. Withdrawal of China's counter-sanctions (export restrictions of the two rare metals indispensable for the making of high-end chips etc)

3. Pledge not to support Russia.

All these conditions are unilaterally advantageous to the USA. Tariff removal will to some extent advantage China. However given 90% of the cost of the tariffs are borne by US consumers, it will mainly serve to bring down the US inflation. 

Secondly, Yellen wants China to forgive the BRI debts. Thus, the cash flow derived from the infrastructure projects China financed and built for developing countries will be repurposed to pay back debts of US banks and the IMF. So in the end, everything China had built for the Global South will serve as the collateral when these countries borrow from the US. 

Americans must be very proud of the extremely clever way their politicians has aggressively protected US interests from the position of strength. 

China answered - *NO*

Not surprisingly the US is nostalgic of the era of the eight allies invading China in 1900.  A photo of that shameful event is still hanging on the wall of the US military headquarters and another such photo is on the wall of the US embassy. The US 'sensitivities' obviously doesn't apply to China.  Imagine if on the US embassy walls were hung pictures of their ancestors' slave markets, or their early settlers giving smallpox infested blankets to the American natives. 

In 1900, China was as helpless as the American Indians when they were facing European invaders. The westerners had advanced weapons, forcing China into total submission within months from the start of any war with them. 

China subsequently were forced to sign the unequal treaties, such as the Boxer Protocol, one of the many unequal treaties that marked China's one hundred years of humiliation, having to hand over war compensation of 18,000 tons of silver to these invaders. Lands and ports were turned over as foreign concessions. 

The eight country alliance, (ie, the current G7 plus Russia) carved up China amongst themselves.  The world has not changed, what has changed is China. China has become stronger. This is China's patriotic lesson from these westerners. The historical shame is deeply burnt into the psyche of every Chinese, including those overseas Chinese who still regard themselves as Chinese. 

Yellen invited a group of pro-American feminist economists to dinner. While Pro-Chinese academics in USA are under CIA/FBI surveillance and are frequently thrown in prison and charged for espionage, Yellen is free in China, she can meet anyone she pleases. 

As usual, Yellen told her Chinese guests that the USA government is only against the Chinese government but not against the Chinese people. She seem to suffer from an information lag.  Twenty years ago, many Chinese liberals bought that. Today, Chinese people don't buy that anymore.

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Who would think that US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is 'kowtowing' to China?

 US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen “Bows” To The Chinese

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen meets with Chinese officials in Beijing, on July 8, 2023. Photo: VCG

 

The scene of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen making a courtesy bow during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing on Saturday has left some Americans irritated and rankled. Yellen has returned to the US, and these people are still criticizing her, claiming that she seems to be "summoned to the principal's office," and is "kowtowing to China," "showing weakness" and so on. Some former US official even shouted "Never, ever, ever... An American official does not bow." This shows the extent to which American public opinion is allergic to Chinese elements.

When watching Yellen's past videos, it is not difficult to find that this is one of her habitual actions. If it hadn't caused such a strong reaction in American society, few Chinese people would have noticed this detail. The Chinese people would not be so naive as to think that Yellen was "kowtowing" to China. They tend to consider her move as a courteous performance, which will not only objectively add to her personal charm, but also somewhat improve the impression of the US and its officials on Chinese society.

Humility is a respected virtue in China, a country of etiquette, and it is impossible for someone to be criticized for being humble and observant. The opposite of humility is arrogance. Who would like an arrogant person or country? The most prominent feature of some American officials who "never bow" is arrogance.

It can be seen from this unexpected incident that Yellen's humility is only an isolated case in the US, and it cannot represent or change the characteristics and overall style of the US diplomacy and officials. American public opinion's attack on Yellen has drawn back the emotional distance between China and the US that she has narrowed with her personal qualities, and once again proves how narrow the space is for rational decision-making and behavior in the US' China policy.

The hegemony shown in the controversy over the "Yellen bow" video in the American public opinion is precisely the reason why Chinese society is subconsciously wary of Washington. Few Chinese people would naively think that Yellen, who has shown humility, will compromise or be weak during the China-US talks, and the facts have proven this.

The mainstream perception of the US in Chinese society is highly sober, emphasizing reciprocity while also being unwavering on issues of sovereignty, security, and the right to development. Yellen's bowing gesture demonstrated rare goodwill and politeness from a US official, but it was swiftly dispersed by the distorted winds of American public opinion.

The decline of American hegemony first occurs within the minds of some Americans. In today's US, it seems whoever is expressing some friendly gesture to China is seen as kowtowing to China. This is an irrational mentality, stemming from a relative position of psychological weakness, seeking psychological compensation by maintaining a posture of strength. The US remains the world's sole superpower. However, its arrogance, fragility, and sensitivity in dealing with foreign powers, particularly China, are derivatives from its severely damaged confidence in the face of China's rapid development. All countries should draw lessons and experiences from this.

As some Americans were finding it hard to accept that Yellen bowed, another picture of Yellen having a meal with a few young Chinese female economists also sparked controversy on the Chinese internet.

The attendees received criticism from many netizens. It must be said that while the two incidents may seem similar, the situations are different. It is normally common and indisputable for government officials to have meals with local individuals during foreign visits as a form of public diplomacy. However, US officials often exploit this format to intervene and interfere in other countries' internal affairs, which we have to guard against. Some reactions on the Chinese internet reflect the chilling effect caused by the long-term suppression of China by the US, which has influenced Chinese public sentiment toward the US.

It's said before the lunch, Yellen even took out a prepared speech and delivered it, which the US also published afterward. In the speech, she stated that while the US has differences with the Chinese government, these are not disagreements with the Chinese people, which carries an obvious intent to sow discord.

The different reactions in China and the US to these two incidents fully illustrate the complexity and delicacy of the US-China relationship. Ultimately, this stems from the US' flawed perception of China and its unhealthy political ecosystem, which generates strong emotions in both Chinese and American societies, in turn affecting the bilateral relationship and creating a vicious cycle. Correcting this abnormal state depends crucially on whether the US can make substantive adjustments.

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Monday, July 10, 2023

MACC going after foreign agent in ruckus, who received RM18,000 bring in the Chinese national through KLIA

 MACC hunt agent who 'assists' Chinese tourists held up by Immigration


 

‘Man charged Chinese visitor RM18k’


KUALA LUMPUR: Graft busters are tracking down an individual who is believed to have an acted as an agent or middleman to a Chinese woman whose entry into Malaysia via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) last month caused a ruckus.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki (pic) said the individual is believed to be a foreigner.

Initial investigations revealed that the individual received RM18,000 to bring in the Chinese national through KLIA, and he is not a Malaysian citizen.

“We have already identified the individual and we are tracking him down,” he said when contacted, adding that the MACC was still attempting to ascertain whether the individual was still in the country.

“We obtained the information on the individual based on our initial investigation (into the matter).

“Give us space to investigate the matter thoroughly,” he added.

On June 29, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing caused a stir after he confronted Immigration Department officers at KLIA for detaining a female employee of a China-based media company. 

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Tiong said he was coming to the rescue of the employee after she was barred from entering Malaysia.

He alleged then that she was being pressured into paying several thousand ringgit in order to enter Malaysia.

The incident led to calls for the department to be investigated over alleged corruption at KLIA.

Besides the MACC, the police are also investigating the matter.

Last Wednesday, Azam said that the statements of 14 individuals had been recorded so far, including that of two Chinese nationals, Tiong, eight Immigration Department officers and several other witnesses.

On Saturday, he also urged the media not to sensationalise the allegations of corruption taking place at the country’s entry points.

Azam made the comment in reference to a news portal’s report claiming that the MACC had found no elements of bribery in its investigation.

“It’s too early to conclude the case, it is the sixth day of investigation.

“There are still witnesses to be called, so we advise the media not to sensationalise the issue by quoting unidentified sources.

“We want a thorough investigation and once completed, we will refer it to the public prosecutor or the Attorney General.

“Then it can be determined if there was an element of bribery or not,” he said.

He added that the MACC would also investigate those involved in handling foreigners issued with Not to Land (NTL) notices. 

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