This article is reproduced by Niu Danqin (id:bullpiano) with authorization. Author: Niu Danqin
Western illustrations are interesting to see
In recent days, there has been more bad news in the world.
The war in Ukraine continues, and people fall in a pool of blood every day; The people of Sri Lanka are suffering, and the president has fled abroad. Shootings continue in the United States, mountain fires are spreading in Europe, and rare high temperatures are raging in the northern hemisphere. Portugal and Spain alone are said to have killed more than 1000 people
But the world is always balanced. When you wake up, there are two good news, which are more or less related to China’s diplomacy.
To be more precise, it’s a good start, which is also good news.
First, between China and India.
On the late night of the 18th, the Ministry of national defense released a piece of news:
On July 17, 2022, the Chinese and Indian armies held the 16th round of military commander level talks on the Indian side of the Mordo / chushule meeting point. Based on the talks on March 11, the two sides continued to discuss and promote the settlement of relevant issues in the area of the actual control line in the western section of the China India border in a constructive and forward-looking manner. Guided by the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, the two sides exchanged candid and in-depth views on resolving the remaining issues as soon as possible. The two sides reiterated that the settlement of the remaining issues will help restore peace and tranquility in the area of the line of actual control in the western section of the China India border and promote the development of bilateral relations. During this period, the two sides agreed to maintain the security and stability of the western section of the China India border, continue to maintain close communication and dialogue through diplomatic and military channels, and reach a mutually acceptable solution to the remaining issues as soon as possible.
Time: July 17;
Location: Indian side of Mordo / chushule meeting point;
Event: the 16th round of military commander level talks between China and India.
Please note that there are two key words: constructive and forward-looking.
Diplomacy is no trivial matter, and the wording is very exquisite, but for China and India, this is undoubtedly a good start. In the past four months, the military of the two countries have met on the front line again.
To sum up, since this year, there have been three rounds of China India military commander level talks:
One round on January 12;
March 11 round;
Another round on July 17.
There was no significant progress, indicating that the two sides had a fierce confrontation on some key issues; However, the two sides have a tacit understanding on these three points:
1. Agree to maintain the security and stability of the western section of the China India border;
2. Continue to maintain close communication and dialogue through diplomatic and military channels;
3. Reach a mutually acceptable solution to the remaining problems as soon as possible.
At the same time, the outside world noticed that this military commander level meeting was just between the two talks between the foreign ministers of China and India.
On July 7, 10 days ago, Wangyi and Indian Foreign Minister sujiesheng just held talks during the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
According to the press release of the Ministry of foreign affairs, Wang Yi said at that time that since March this year, China and India have maintained communication and exchanges, effectively controlled differences, and bilateral relations have generally shown a recovery momentum. Su Jiesheng said that since the meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in March, the two sides have made positive progress in maintaining border stability, promoting practical cooperation and facilitating personnel exchanges.
I remember that Wang Yi also quoted a poem of an Indian poet at that time: “darkness will not disappear by itself, and the extinguished lamp must be rekindled.” This sentence is very meaningful.
Su Jiesheng said that India is looking forward to a positive, cooperative and constructive India China relationship, and is willing to work with China to send a clear message to the outside world, promote the process of improving relations, and turn the consensus and vision of the leaders of the two countries into reality.
Ten days later, from July 27 to 28, Wang Yi and Su Jiesheng may meet again during the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Of course, we also see that India has made constant small moves. In addition to the provocative words of some politicians, the Indian government has recently frequently taken actions against Chinese enterprises, accusing them of tax evasion, and so on.
China India relations are enmity, but at least on the border where the friction is the most intense, a certain calm has been maintained this year. In fact, the military commander level meeting itself is a positive signal.
For China and India, it is certainly not bad news to talk without breaking through.
Second, between China and Australia.
At the press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 18th, there was such a dialogue.
AFP: in an interview yesterday, Australian Treasury minister Summers said that China’s lifting of the coal import ban on Australia is an important step in restoring Australia China relations. How does China respond to this? Does China plan to allow the import of Australian coal again?
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin: I would like to reiterate that China’s position on practical cooperation with countries including Australia is consistent and clear. It is hoped that Australia will seize the opportunity presented by the bilateral relations, take practical actions, reshape the correct understanding of China, handle China Australia economic and trade relations based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, and work against China to reduce negative assets, accumulate positive energy, and create favorable conditions for the healthy and stable development of China Australia economic and trade relations.
I don’t know how you feel when you see this dialogue. Anyway, I’m in a daze.
In particular, Wang Wenbin’s words: I hope the Australian side will seize the opportunities arising from the bilateral relations and take practical actions
Key words: opportunity.
Australia is still Australia, and the words of the Australian Defense Minister and others still make the Chinese angry; But after all, the Australian government has changed, and the new prime minister Albanese has made a positive statement.
Former Australian Prime Minister Turnbull said that under the leadership of Albanese, the relationship between Canberra and Beijing will “restart”. Turnbull said that his coalition party’s previous remarks about the Chinese government were “fanatical” and “unhelpful”.
Indeed, the previous actions of the Australian government are unimaginable.
After all, Australia is different from other countries. China and Australia are highly complementary. One of the most fundamental reasons why Australia was able to stand out and avoid recession is the strong purchasing power from China.
China is Australia’s largest trading country, largest source of imports and largest export market. Even in 2021, the data showed that the trade volume between China and Australia reached US $231.2 billion, an increase of 35.1% year-on-year; Among them, China imported US $164.82 billion from Australia, a year-on-year increase of 40.6%.
Without China’s economic pull, Australia’s economy is definitely in crisis.
But what makes people puzzled is that such a good partner, in the past few years, the Australian government has been constantly provocative, and even willing to offer its name to the United States, resulting in a spiral decline in China Australia relations, and finally fell to the lowest point.
Finally, after the coup in Australia, Albanese began to adjust his diplomacy with China.
This means that after four years of haze, China Australia relations are turning around.
Diplomacy is not a unilateral action. China has also seen the positive signals from Australia and is encouraging Australia to “seize the opportunities in the bilateral relations and take practical actions”
There have been positive changes in both matters, involving two important directions of China’s diplomacy.
Finally, what do you think?
It’s not three o’clock today. It’s two o’clock.
First, diplomacy is a game. We should dare to fight and be good at fighting.
Dare not fight, the border between China and India can be so stable; Dare not fight, Australia will adjust its strategy.
Of course, we should also be good at fighting. When it’s time to fight, we must act decisively and have the courage to win when we meet on a narrow road; When it’s time to adjust, we should adjust to change the strain, be reasonable, beneficial and restrained. Only in this way can we win dignity and initiative.
Over the past few years, we have witnessed classic diplomatic games. Between China and India, between China and Australia, is also a footnote to the great era.
Second, we should be calm, listen to what they say and observe what they do.
In the face of provocation, there is no need to jump three feet high, which is the reality of international politics; Facing the olive branch, there is no need to be complacent, which is certainly not all.
There are many falsehoods and routines in diplomacy, to be honest. This especially requires us to be calm. The more angry we are, the more calm we should be. We should not only be good at diplomatic game, but also be sober to see the actual actions of the other side.
See if India really has the sincerity for peace talks. Yes, we certainly welcome it; No, we are also prepared.
See if Australia has any practical actions to improve. Yes, we actively encourage it; No, we are not afraid.
But at present, significant and far-reaching changes are taking place in the international pattern. Subtle twists and turns are also quietly taking place between China and India and between China and Australia. Of course, there are many noises. In the second half of 2022, the wonderful drama continues. Let’s listen to what it says and watch what it does.