China considers the Summit for Democracy convened by US President Joe Biden as a weapon to divide the world and maintain US geopolitical hegemony.
“In essence, it is neocolonialism in disguise”, says the Chinese ambassador to Brazil, Yang Wanming, in an interview on the subject to leaf, by email.
Biden invited 110 countries and the European Union to, this Thursday (9) and Friday (10), discuss the advance of authoritarianism around the world. There are obvious contradictions, given that authoritarian countries like Pakistan and Nigeria, not to mention regimes with low marks in democratic forums like Brazil, Hungary and the Philippines, will be present.
China, Russia and even Arab dictatorships close to the US, such as the United Arab Emirates, were excluded, which reveals different weights in the choices.
“By proclaiming itself the leader of democracy, the US applies its own parameters to judge who is eligible for this summit and to define which countries are democratic. This is undemocratic,” he says.
According to the criteria of the NGO Freedom House, compiled by the American website Politico, 28% of the members of the summit are “partially free” and 3% “not free”. The Brazil of Jair Bolsonaro, cited in the NGO’s 2021 report as an example of the degradation of the democratic environment, is still “free”.
To further irritate Beijing, in the context of Cold War 2.0 between the two largest economies in the world, Biden invited representatives from Taiwan. The autonomous island is seen as a rebel province by the communist regime, which in recent months has painted a threat of war to its policy of reunification with the mainland.
“The USA [em reunião de Biden com o lÃder Xi Jinping mês passado] made clear commitments to the Chinese government. The ‘One China’ principle is not a playing card, but the political basis of the China-US relationship and an unshakable red line that must not be crossed. China repudiates the American maneuver.”
Confronted with the fact that China should not be invited as it is a Communist Party-dominated dictatorship, with a crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, Yang argues that there is “a new system of multi-party cooperation under the leadership of the CP “.
He refers to the eight parties authorized to cooperate with the Chinese CP, which does not fit with the idea of ​​liberal democracy. For the ambassador, this is not a problem, as each country must be respected in terms of its characteristics.
These are arguments that fit the American contradictions, of course, and sound like music to sectors of the Brazilian left —just see the praise of former president Dilma Rousseff (PT) for the Chinese model. Yang draws the traditional chart of Chinese advances in the economy and poverty reduction, to the supposed applause of the population, as proof that the Western idea of ​​democracy is relative.
This vision, topped by the defense of multilateralism, has aligned Xi with Russian Vladimir Putin in international forums. Not by chance, both countries are Washington’s direct rivals, in different dimensions — more military in the case of Moscow, strategic in the case of Beijing.
Yang is one of the exponents of the generation of diplomats known as “war wolves”, for defending Xi’s vision with unprecedented emphasis around the world. In Brazil, he was notable for conflicts with the Bolsonaro government, especially his presidential son Eduardo. It has already had its head requested by Planalto, but the weight of trade relations between the countries ended up speaking louder.
Biden invited 110 countries and the EU to the summit, but left out China and other nations such as Russia and some Arab representatives. As mr. evaluate this? Democracy is a common value of all humanity, and it is not a tool for certain countries to achieve their own interests. By proclaiming itself the “democracy leader,” the US applies its own parameters to judge who qualifies for this summit and to define which countries are democratic.
This in itself is undemocratic, revealing that the summit’s true purpose is simply to divide the world into blocks under the guise of democracy, in order to implement its geostrategy, curtail and exploit other countries, and preserve its economic, financial hegemony, technological and military. In essence, it is neocolonialism masquerading as democracy.
Instead of reflecting on its own problems, the US is obsessed with the idea of ​​”civilizational superiority” and the egocentric vision, using despicable means such as infiltration and oppression, military intervention, political subversion and economic sanctions to promote “democratic transformation” in others. countries, causing numerous crises, including in Latin America. These undemocratic practices disguised as democracy are at the origin of much turmoil in the world today.
Diversity is a reality in the contemporary world and there is no single way to achieve democracy. It is up to the people of each country to assess whether or not their country has a democratic state and no one can act as if they were a “democracy judge”.
By making democracy a tool and a private weapon, the United States will only exacerbate divisions, cause disorder, and undermine the world’s civilizational diversity. This kind of false democracy is doomed to failure.
Mr. considers China, with its Communist Party-dominated regime, a democracy? Since its founding, the Communist Party, raising the flag of people’s democracy, has made continuous efforts to ensure that the people own the country. Over the last century, under the leadership of the party, China has never ceased to seek and develop democracy.
Since 2012, with a deeper understanding of China’s path to democracy and the political system, the party’s Central Committee, with Xi Jinping at its core, has developed People’s Democracy in the Whole Process as a key concept.
It has the following characteristics: first, it has a solid institutional structure, which guarantees the people both the right to vote and to participate fully in the administration of state affairs in accordance with the legal provisions.
In China, the people effectively exercise state power through the National People’s Assembly and local assemblies at all levels, something like Brazil’s National Congress and Legislative Assemblies and Municipal Chambers.
Currently, there are more than 2.62 million representatives from five levels of popular assemblies from the national to local levels, all elected by voters. Unlike Western parliamentarians, representatives of popular assemblies in China live and work among the popular masses and are therefore better aware of the demands and concerns of the people and are always under the supervision of the people.
Every year, around 3,000 representatives of the National People’s Assembly meet in the plenary session to debate the country’s development plans and present their opinions and recommendations.
Second, People’s Democracy in the Whole China Process does not just represent a small number of people or certain interest groups. There are, in China, eight political parties besides the Communist one. It is the ruling party and the other parties do not act as opposition, they accept the leadership of the CP and cooperate with it.
China’s political system is not a one-party system of government, nor is it a system in which multiple parties vie for power and govern with alternation. It is a new system of multi-party cooperation under the leadership of the CP.
Thirdly, People’s Democracy in the Whole Process is not mere formalism but true democracy. China has lifted more than 800 million people out of absolute poverty. Currently, 1.08 billion Chinese people have been fully immunized with the Covid-19 vaccine
Democracy is a concrete historical process in constant evolution. Rooted in the history, culture and tradition of each nation, it takes on different forms and develops along paths chosen by different peoples based on their experimentation and innovation. There are no superior or inferior choices.
China respects the right of each nation to sovereignly explore and develop its own path to democracy, defends humanity’s common values ​​of peace, progress, equity, justice, democracy and freedom.
In some Western narratives, any political party that has been in power for a long time is either authoritarian or despotic. Even if it has led the country to achieve the miracle of lasting stability and rapid growth with the support of the vast majority of the population, this party will be labeled as indifferent to democracy and human rights. Such a conclusion stems either from a narrow understanding of democracy or from a bleak agenda to quell dissent.
There are several criticisms in the West about the repression of dissent in China, as in the case of Hong Kong and Xinjiang, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression. Doesn’t that make China’s exclusion from such a summit predictable from a Western perspective? The Chinese government adheres to a people-centred concept of governance, protects all legitimate rights of the people of Hong Kong, Xinjiang and all regions and ethnic groups as per the law, including freedom of expression, religious beliefs, employment and work and culture ethnic.
It is regrettable to see certain Western personalities fabricate disinformation for political or geopolitical reasons and use freedom of expression and human rights as a pretext to defame and attack China, with the aim of halting the country’s development. These despicable acts have been fought and condemned by the international community. During the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council this year, more than 90 countries publicly emphasized that the issues of Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet are internal affairs of China.
Biden invited Taiwan to the summit. What is the impact of this invitation, especially in light of the recent conversation between him and President Xi Jinping? In the videoconference, President Xi noted that the new wave of tensions in the Taiwan Strait was fueled by the Island authorities’ repeated attempts to seek US support for a separatist agenda and the intention of some Americans to use Taiwan to contain China, which is extremely dangerous.
President Biden reiterated that the US government always adheres to the one-China policy, does not support “Taiwan independence” and expressed the desire to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We hope that the US side will effectively implement the consensus reached.
China is firmly opposed to the US invitation to Taiwan authorities. There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. By inviting Taiwan to participate in this conference, the US made it clear that “democracy” is just a disguise used to serve its geostrategic goals and to fulfill its selfish agenda of maintaining hegemony.
In recent months, however, military tensions across the straits have grown. Mr. do you believe that the situation could generate an unavoidable conflict? What has driven the current tension and the growing risk to peace has been the Taiwan authorities’ disregard for the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides of the strait and their attempt to seek “independence” in collusion with outside forces.
The two sides of the Taiwan Strait must and will be reunited. This is an inevitable trend and collective will of the entire Chinese nation, which will not change and impossible to change. China always strives for the prospect of peaceful reunification.
At the same time, it has the firm will, full confidence and capabilities to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, to defeat any form of secessionist acts, and never allow any person or force to violate or divide the national territory.
The US recognizes a unique China, but at the same time it encourages democracy in Taiwan. Is this movement not contradictory? On the Taiwan issue, the US government has made clear commitments to the Chinese government. Taiwanese issues are serious political issues, and not values ​​issues.
The principle of “One China” is not a playing card in international relations, but the political basis of the China-US relationship and an unshakable red line that must not be crossed. China repudiates the North American maneuver of distorting the concepts.
.
