China is not a “systemic rival” for the EU, their common interests far outweigh their differences. In the context of China-EU relations, the two sides should be characterized rightly as partners. “De-risking” does nothing helpful to an independent EU.

Since its first appearance during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in early 2023, “de-risking” has become a keyword in the EU’s policies towards China. However, people from the EU strategic community have become significantly more vocal about the drawbacks of “de-risking.” Several well-known think tanks and media outlets have published reports and articles explaining that an obsession with “de-risking” fails to achieve “economic security” and undermines EU interests.

First, “de-risking” weakens the competitiveness of the EU industries. The European Center for International Political Economy believes that the EU’s economic and trade policy tools and import restrictions, as well as excessive intervention and strengthened regulation of enterprise production, trade and investment at the micro level, will suppress industrial capacity and efficiency within the EU. Project Syndicate predicts that artificial intelligence and net-zero industry acts will significantly increase start-up business costs, reduce investment confidence and hinder the EU from becoming an international industrial leader.

Second, “de-risking” threatens to break up the EU common market. The German Marshall Fund warns that EU member states can only adopt alternative measures to the EU’s restrictive trade rules, leading to stagnation or even regression of regulatory cooperation in the common market. The London School of Economics and Political Science sees risks to European unity from growing dissension among member states, as well as between individual states and the European Commission.

A China-Europe freight train, which set out from Duisburg, Germany, carrying exhibits for the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) arrives in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) Finally, “de-risking” does nothing helpful to an independent EU. The Economist observes that since EU companies are deeply embedded in global production and distribution networks, strengthening interdependence with other economies would help enhance their independence. Promoting “partial decoupling” under the pretext of “economic security” completely contradicts it. The Brussels-based economic think tank Bruegel advises the EU not to launch anti-dumping investigations against Chinese solar panels, as the EU urgently needs equipment for solar power plants and energy storage to prepare for the vast energy import risk. Pricy natural gas imports from the United States will only increase the dependence.

At the China Development Forum 2024, Ola Kalleniushe, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, expressed his opposition to tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports. “We have been investing in China for more than 20 years, and we will continue to do so. We need to keep trade relations open and vibrant for a win-win result in terms of economic growth.” That is true. Reasons lie in the facts.

China is not a “systemic rival” for the EU. In fact, China and Europe do not have clashing fundamental interests between them or geopolitical and strategic conflicts. Their common interests far outweigh their differences. In the context of China-EU relations, the two sides should be characterized rightly as partners.

Over the past 20 years, trade volume between China and the EU has increased sixfold, and bilateral investment has increased more than fivefold. According to a new report by The Conference Board, over 98 percent of European companies in China are very willing to stay. EU officials have admitted that the success of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy cannot be achieved without the infrastructure, technology, and materials China can offer. Since the beginning of this year, the EU’s rational perception of China and willingness to cooperate have both strengthened as exchanges between the two sides have increased at all levels.

This aerial photo taken on July 10, 2023 shows OOCL PIRAEUS, one of the largest container vessels in the world, arriving at Piraeus port, Greece. (Xinhua) Cooperation with China helps the EU enhance its ability to fend off risks. The market should determine the supply chain, while political intervention will create distractions. According to the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, 59 percent of surveyed companies consider China among the top three investment destinations. The German Chamber of Commerce in China reports that 91 percent of its member companies will continue to operate in the Chinese market, and more than half plan to increase investment in the next two years.

A cool head can lead the way through the mist. China’s policy consistency and stable economic growth have proven it is a trustworthy partner and a stable force that will help the EU pursue strategic autonomy. Striding shoulder to shoulder, China and the EU will advance with a green light at every crossing.

Editor’s note: The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News and publishing as it is from Xinhua News Agency. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Maldives News Network or Xinhua News Agency.

How time flies. We are now a third of the way through 2024. During the period, have you realized any dreams? In the past, many Chinese people have made their dreams come true. Some stories went viral on the Internet, touching and inspiring numerous netizens. Here are some of the stories.

China’s Shenzhou-15 astronaut crew is known as the “Dream Crew.” Astronauts pursue their dreams of cruising in space together with China’s Space Dream. Among them, Deng Qingming’s story is particularly moving.

In 2022, Deng was selected for the Shenzhou-15 manned space mission after a comprehensive evaluation at the age of 56, perhaps not a golden age for an astronaut, a career that would require one’s physical strength and mental alertness to be constantly at their best. Yet Deng has shown his fellow Chinese that he was in excellent condition. Having learned about his experience as a “back-up astronaut,” we truly admire his devotion to China’s manned space program.

Four times in a row, Deng was selected as a member of the preparatory crew for Shenzhou-9,10,11 and 12, but never made it to the final list. Most of the time, he was a training partner for the luckier ones. “It’s impossible not to feel frustrated sometimes,” Deng admitted, “but no matter who carries out the mission, he or she represents all Chinese astronauts and I am one of them. As long as the mission is successful, my efforts pay off, even though I was only ‘Plan B’.”

As time passed by, Deng’s hope to fly into outer-space seemed to fade. But he never gave up. He quickly put aside his frustrations and restarted his daily training with an all-time positive attitude. He was willing to spend his whole life preparing for the mission he loved, but he would never allow himself to be unready when and if the task fell upon his shoulders. And when the task really came to him in 2022, he had every capability to accomplish the mission with excellence. It could be said that the rapid development of China’s space industry gave Deng the opportunity to chase his dream and Deng integrated his career into China’s space industry so that his dream was finally realized.

The Shenzhou-15 astronauts Deng Qingming (L), Fei Junlong, and Zhang Lu send their Spring Festival greetings from China’s Tiangong space station in a video released by the China Manned Space Agency on New Year’s Eve, January 21, 2023. (File Photo/Xinhua)

The dream to get equal rights in education and development has also come true in China as everything continues to improve. At the graduation ceremony of the Communication University of China in June 2023, a valedictorian won the attention of many Chinese for her good voice and impressive speech. Her name is Dong Lina, the first visually impaired master’s degree graduate specializing in broadcasting and television in China, who was once working in therapeutic massage.

Born into a farmer’s family, Dong was diagnosed with congenital amblyopia and turned completely blind at the age of 10. Like many other visually impaired children, she went to a school for the blind and the deaf and learned Tuina, a type of therapeutic massage. Her life back then was like a preset route, but Dong was reluctant to take it as it was and wanted to have more options.

In 2006, she learned about a broadcast training program in Beijing by chance, and succeeded in joining the training. Since then, Dong has deeply fallen in love with broadcast recitation.

Thanks to the development of integrated education, Dong achieved many miracles despite the difficulties. She reached the top level in the Mandarin proficiency test, and won the second prize in a national recitation contest. In 2020, she entered the Communication University of China for her master’s degree in broadcasting and television. After graduation, Dong is now leading a fulfilled life as a teacher and an active streamer on internet social platforms.

Dong Lina, China’s first visually impaired master’s degree graduate of broadcasting and television, delivers a speech at the 2023 graduation ceremony of Communication University of China (CUC), Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2023. /Screenshot from the official WeChat account of the CUC

It is worth noting that China has nearly 85 million people with disabilities, among whom more than 17 million are visually impaired. Over the decades, China has been striving to develop various ways to safeguard their rights to welfare, education and employment, so that people with disabilities can benefit equitably from social and economic progress, expand their career choices and pursue a better life.

Deng and Dong might be thought of as quite special due to the nature of their careers. But for every ordinary Chinese, they also have an opportunity to chase their dreams in their lives. A migrant worker named Yi Qunlin received an invitation to the 2024 National Spring Festival Gala. Why was he invited?

Yi was a construction worker in Shenzhen and an enthusiastic music lover. One day in April 2023, he found a charity piano at a subway entrance. His son encouraged him to give it a try.

As he was playing The Butterfly Lovers, people present were all amazed. With their encouragement, Yi went on and played more than ten pieces. “I felt that I was recognized by people. Music makes me happy, letting me forget my worries and cares.” he said.

Yi Qunlin, wearing a construction worker’s uniform, plays the piano on the street. /Screenshot of a viral video online

In the following month, Yi was invited to perform in a concert hall for his fellow workers, something he had never imagined before. More surprisingly for Yi, he received an invitation to attend the 2024 National Spring Festival Gala.

As inclusiveness continues to be enhanced in China today, grassroots win respect and recognition from society, and lead a dignified life according to their personality and strengths. Yi earns his living working at construction sites, and he creates happiness playing the piano.

Stories like these are abundant in China today. They tell us how human rights are protected and promoted as China develops. One of the advantages of China’s development model is that it can bring more fruits of modernization to all of its people more equitably, continue to better protect human rights, and strengthen freedom and all-round development. How Deng, Dong and Yi realized their dreams in China is the best proof.

Source: CGTN

Editor’s note: The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for CGTN and publishing as it is from CGTN. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Maldives News Network or CGTN.

On the calm South China Sea scattered with uninhabited shoals and reefs, cargo vessels loaded with containers move about every day. The tranquil waters host a vibrant array of marine species and sustain dynamic international trade and commerce, connecting regional countries with the outside world.

On March 23, a supply vessel and two Coast Guard vessels of the Philippines broke the peace and tranquility as they intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao, a shoal that has long been China’s territory. They were heading toward the shoal in the name of resupplying necessities to a rusty warship which was illegally grounded there by the Philippines 25 years ago and is still garrisoned with troops. Ignoring the frequent reminders and restrained measures of China Coast Guard, the Philippine ship was determined to reach the shoal, but failed.

A drama full of crafty deception

Videos have shown that the supply vessel was actually carrying construction materials not food. The apparent purpose was to repair and reinforce the grounded warship, so that it could be some sort of outpost and give the Philippines a de facto permanent presence on Ren’ai Jiao.

What’s more intriguing is that on board the vessels were also Philippine journalists and media representatives from third countries busy taking footage. The “fruits of their labor,” as past experience shows, are usually stories about how China was purportedly “intimidating smaller countries.”

But they did not realize that broadcasting the whole scripted drama to the world only produced proof of how the Philippines breaks promises and plays the victim.

A commitment never fulfilled

A man is only as good as his word. The same also holds true for a nation. In 1999 the Philippines made a promise to China that it would tow away its “accidentally” grounded warship, not reinforce the vessel, and inform China in advance of its resupply plans. China, out of humanitarian consideration and with patience and goodwill, has made special arrangements for Philippine vessels sending living necessities so that the Philippines can fulfill its commitment and tow away the warship one day. Once a commitment is made, either by an individual or by an authority, it has a binding force. To honor the commitment is the easiest and best way to win respect. So simple a logic as it is, but some just wouldn’t get it right.

Besides the bilateral agreement, countries in the region also have a consensus. It is clearly stipulated in Article 5 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), jointly signed by China and ASEAN countries in 2002, that “the Parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner.” By acting in the opposite way, the Philippines went back on its words to all the other parties to the DOC and turned out to be untrustworthy in the eyes of its neighbors.

A self-defeating game

It seems that the Philippines does not care about trust from its neighbors. Despite concerns and criticisms from neighboring countries, President Marcos met with President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to announce a military exercise among other things at the summit, which has created tensions in the region and public concern in the Philippines itself. Quite a lot of Filipinos oppose the increase of US military presence in the country and regard it as endangering the Philippines’ efforts to pursue neutrality.

Keeping diplomatic independence has long been regarded as a matter of national dignity by the Philippine people. However, it’s pathetic that the Philippine government is eager to turn itself from a dignified, independent nation into a pawn of the US, its former colonizer, and a potential ally of Japan, its erstwhile enemy which committed crimes against the Philippine people during World War II. As an old Chinese saying goes, “Those who like to go to war will perish; those who forget war will be in danger.” Apparently, the US wants the Philippines to go to war and Japan wants it to forget war. Then where has the Philippines’ neutrality gone?

For certain members of the international community, going back on one’s own words and denying existing agreements with others may seem trivial or even a habit. However, this behavior will only result in losing respect and facing protest and friction from others. It is not wise to turn a small problem, which should have been solved successfully between gentlemen, into big trouble. It is a miscalculation for the Philippines to try to gain some privilege in the manner of a rogue. And it is more than stupid to try to bring in an eagle so that it could prey on those living in the region.

Source: Global Times

Editor’s note: The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Global Times and publishing as it is from Global Times. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Maldives News Network or Global Times.