logo
Veteran Chinese diplomat warns Trump's policies risk ‘shared destruction'

Veteran Chinese diplomat warns Trump's policies risk ‘shared destruction'

The Trump administration's national security mindset could push humanity towards more conflicts and even 'shared destruction', the head of the Communist Party's diplomatic arm has warned.
Advertisement
Liu Jianchao , who leads the International Department of the party's Central Committee, pitched China's vision of international relations – a rejection of the ethos reflected in American foreign policy language – as a viable path to lasting global peace on Thursday.
The veteran Chinese diplomat rejected statements made by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the
Shangri-La Dialogue in May. At the annual security forum in Singapore, the Pentagon chief repeatedly stressed that Washington 'is committed to achieving peace through strength' under US President Donald Trump.
'That rhetoric is a new embodiment of hegemonic thinking,' Liu said in a speech during the World Peace Forum in Beijing.
'What [Hegseth] truly seeks is force, not dialogue. What he stirs up is confrontation and conflict, not peace and harmony,' he added at the event co-organised by Tsinghua University and the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.
Advertisement
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hong Kong legislature's proposed new code of conduct seeks to prohibit members from ‘vilifying' gov't
Hong Kong legislature's proposed new code of conduct seeks to prohibit members from ‘vilifying' gov't

HKFP

time25 minutes ago

  • HKFP

Hong Kong legislature's proposed new code of conduct seeks to prohibit members from ‘vilifying' gov't

Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) has proposed a new code of conduct to ensure that lawmakers 'perform their duties in a constructive manner' and do 'not intentionally vilify the governance credibility' of the chief executive and the government. According to the proposed code submitted on Wednesday, lawmakers should not only 'sincerely support' the chief executive and the government in administering Hong Kong but also should not 'deliberately undermine or weaken the effectiveness of executive-led governance.' It also stipulates that legislators should attend meetings, participate in voting, maintain engagement with the public, and submit an annual work report. The proposed code lays down a five-tier sanctions system for violations, ranging from a written warning to suspension of duty and deduction of lawmakers' remuneration and allowances. To implement the code, the LegCo also proposes expanding the functions of the Committee on Members' Interests and renaming it the 'Legislative Council Supervisory Committee.' The revamped committee will have the power to investigate complaints against legislators and impose sanctions. Andrew Leung, president of the LegCo, told reporters on Thursday that the new code of conduct would not restrict legislators from speaking up. However, he reminded lawmakers to act carefully and 'not cross the red line.' Leung said the proposed code would be discussed in the House Committee on Friday and that he hoped it would take effect at the start of the new legislative term. Last month, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reported that lawmakers had been warned not to discuss four 'sensitive' issues, including delivery workers' rights, the dispute between the taxi industry and ride-hailing platforms, unknown black particles found in drinking water at two public residential estates in Fanling, and the reopening of a nightclub in Tsim Sha Tsui. In January last year, Chief Executive John Lee hit back at pro-establishment lawmaker Paul Tse, who criticised the 'high-pressure and high-profile' law enforcement actions in the city. Lee called Tse's wording 'dangerous' and said it reminded him of the language used by the opposition during the 2019 protests and unrest, as well as 'soft resistance.' In March 2021, Beijing passed legislation to ensure 'patriots' govern Hong Kong. The move reduced democratic representation in the legislature, tightened control of elections and introduced a pro-Beijing vetting panel to select candidates. The Hong Kong government said the overhaul would ensure the city's stability and prosperity. But the changes also prompted international condemnation, as it makes it near-impossible for pro-democracy candidates to stand.

To compete, Asia must learn from how China breeds apex predators
To compete, Asia must learn from how China breeds apex predators

South China Morning Post

timean hour ago

  • South China Morning Post

To compete, Asia must learn from how China breeds apex predators

By the time they expand internationally, most Chinese companies have been through a Hunger Games-like winnowing process that makes them formidable competitors on the global stage. As well as being tempered by the fire of a hyper-competitive domestic economy, they have also been nurtured by a policy framework designed to support the best innovators with preferential taxes and access to financing. This unique model has produced the corporate equivalent of apex predators in global sectors from e-commerce to electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy . It also creates a hard but unavoidable question for policymakers and C-suites across the Asia-Pacific and beyond: how to respond to the growing international success of China Inc? For most Asian economies, tariffs are not an option because of their reliance on trade with the region's biggest economy. Instead, China's neighbours need to take a short- and longer-term approach. The international expansion of Chinese companies presents significant opportunities for businesses in the rest of Asia. Chinese investment is a key driver of economic growth across Southeast Asia, for example. The growth of supply chains driven by Chinese brands creates opportunities for other Asian firms to participate and learn. Over the longer term, the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform businesses should create more decentralised supply chains and a more level playing field for smaller economies. China itself provides a key example. It surprised the world when a Chinese company disrupted the established AI order at the beginning of this year. With the right investment in this technology and related skills, other regional economies could surprise the world with breakthroughs too, and compete in the economy of the future.

Aircraft carrier visit gives Hong Kong a national security education boost
Aircraft carrier visit gives Hong Kong a national security education boost

South China Morning Post

time2 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Aircraft carrier visit gives Hong Kong a national security education boost

The much-awaited visit of China's first fully domestically built aircraft carrier kicked off yesterday with a great deal of public excitement – and symbolic significance. The arrival of the mighty Shandong and its accompanying strike group is not only a showcase of the country's military prowess and naval modernisation, but also a timely opportunity for patriotic and national security education. Unlike the Liaoning , a refitted Ukrainian vessel commissioned in 2012, the visiting carrier – named after the eastern province of Shandong – is the first to have been independently designed, built and equipped by China. When the 70,000-tonne warship sailed into Hong Kong waters yesterday morning, it was flanked by missile destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang and missile frigate Yuncheng. On the deck of the carrier were white-clad navy personnel neatly arranged in the shape of the Chinese characters for 'with national security, our homes are safe'. The visit was also live-streamed for the first time by the official military social media account China Bugle, attracting more than 15 million views. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said residents could experience the magnificence and advanced nature of the nation's modern naval vessels and gain a deeper understanding of the achievements of national defence modernisation. 'This visit represents national defence and security safeguarding high-quality development, demonstrating that national security is rock-solid,' he said. The choice of Hong Kong for Shandong's inaugural public opening underlines the special role of the special administrative region. Arriving shortly after the 28th anniversary of the reunification with the motherland and the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the national security law here, the five-day charm offensive goes beyond fostering goodwill and bonding with local residents and reflects the city's place in the national defence strategy and the importance of national security to the city. The visit comes days before the start of commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japan. It also followed the joint combat drill by the Shandong and Liaoning in the western Pacific Ocean, in what was described as an exercise to test their far-sea defences and joint operational capabilities. A series of open tours and cultural exchange activities will be held, with at least 10,000 people given the opportunity to board the vessels. The tickets for ship visits were snapped up within a minute earlier this week, leaving many enthusiasts crowding along the harbour to catch a glimpse of the incoming fleet. The elation and overall experience can help reinforce the message of safeguarding national security and instil a stronger sense of national identity and pride.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store