Tag: <span>Xi Jinping</span>

Tension India-China Appeals

Tension Reduction on the India-China Himalaya Frontier.

On October 21, 2024, prior to the meeting of the Indian leader, Narendra Modi, and the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Subrahmanyam Juishankar, announced that an accord had been reached between Indian and Chinese authorities for a reduction of tensions along the 3,500-kilometer frontier between the two countries.

In 2020, there had been exchanges of fire between Indian and Chinese forces in the Tibet-Ladakh frontier area. There then seemed to be real possibilities that the violence would escalate. Thus, the Association of World Citizens (AWC) had made an Urgent Appeal, posted in July 2020 on its website and sent widely to contacts that might be helpful in reducing tensions. Today, the AWC is pleased with the new agreement and re-publishes its original 2020 Appeal.

Can Track II Efforts Reduce China-India Frontier Tensions?

July 3, 2020 at 7:52 AM

By René Wadlow.

In a June 24, 2020 message to the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Mr. Vladimir Norov, the Association of World Citizens (AWC) expressed its active concern with the June 15 death of Indian and Chinese military in the Galwan River Valley in Ladakh on the India-China frontier and the possibility that the tensions will increase. While there have been brief discussions among Indian and Chinese authorities to prevent escalation, there have been no real negotiations. Negotiation is a basic political decision-making process, to facilitate compromise without loss of essential objectives.

The 1962 war during which some 2,000 persons were killed.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on June 25 that since early May, the Chinese have been amassing a large contingent of troops and arms along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Also, within India, there has been a good deal of media attention, highly critical of China, given to the events.

In addition, there have been calls for a boycott of Chinese goods, and some Chinese products have been removed from Indian shops. Both Indian and Chinese spokespersons have made references to the 1962 war during which some 2,000 persons were killed.

Track II. Nongovernmental efforts.

The AWC believes that there is a need for prompt measures as the India-China tensions add to existing tensions between the USA and China as well as boundary issues with Asian States in the South China Sea.

There may be a role for “Track II” nongovernmental efforts and exchanges. Track I is official government to government diplomacy among instructed representative of States, usually diplomats from the Foreign Ministry.

However, governments have a range of officials on whom to call: intelligence agencies, the military, and “friends of the President” – trusted individuals within the executive entourage.

The Arrow and the Olive Branch: A Case for Track II Diplomacy.

Track II efforts are organized through nongovernmental organizations and sometimes by academic institutions. Such efforts can entail informal, behind the scene communications that take place in the absence of formal communication channels. The term “Track II” was coined by the U. S. diplomat Joseph Montville in The Arrow and the Olive Branch: A Case for Track II Diplomacy.

Track II efforts have grown as there is increasing recognition that there is a tragic disjunction between the United Nations tension-reduction mandate and its ability to intervene in conflicts when called upon. As Adam Curle, experienced in Quaker mediation efforts has written:

“In general governments achieve their results because they have power to influence events, including the ability to reward or to punish. Paradoxically, the strength of civilian peacemakers resides specifically in their lack of power. They are neither feared nor courted for what they can do. Instead, they are trusted and so may sometimes be enabled to play a part in peacemaking denied to most official diplomats.”

Those involved in Track II efforts must, nevertheless, have ready access to governmental decision-makers and Track I diplomats. As the World Citizen and Quaker economist Kenneth Boulding in a little verse writes:

“When Track One will not do,
We have to travel on Track Two
But for results to be abiding,
The Tracks must meet upon some siding”.

In the China-India frontier tensions, both sides must be convinced that there is a considerable sentiment for peace among their own supporters. In this conflict, which could slip into greater violence, there is an understandable tendency to look for short term answers.

Yet there is also a need for some involved in Track II efforts to have an over-all integrated perspective for both short as well as long-term transformation. Thus, there needs to be a “pool” of people with experience, skills and the ability to move fast when the need or the opportunity is there?

We are sure that there are groups in India and China which can rise to meet this challenge.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Subrahmanyam Juishankar
he Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Mr. Vladimir Norov, in (2020)
Russia-Ukraine Negotiations Appeals

Preliminaries to Russia-Ukraine Negotiations: The Key Role of China.

Featured Image: Foto de Matti Karstedt: https://www.pexels.com/es-es/foto/una-nina-protestando-contra-la-guerra-en-ucrania-11284549/.

President of France Emmanuel Macron was in China from 5-7 April 2023 and urged that China could play a major role in bringing peace to the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict. China’s 12 point plan to resolve the Ukraine conflict has indicated President Xi Jinping‘s willingness to be active in peace efforts. While the 12 point peace plan is incomplete, it does propose general principles which can serve as a useful framework. President Macron is accompanied by Ms Von der Leyen of the European Commission, a sign of the wide European concern with the positive role that the Chinese government can play.

After the positive role that Chinese mediators played in the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, there is increasing a world-wide recognition of the talents of Chinese mediators. China is probably the only country with an ability to influence Russian policy-makers in a peaceful direction.

Emmanuel Macron

Presidents of France Emmanuel Macron in 2022. By President.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview of the Normandy Proposal and its Potential Role in Future Agreements for Ukraine.

President Macron was the prime mover for action on what was called the Normany Proposal involving negotiation among Russia and Ukraine, France and Germany. The proposal was to build on the Minsk agreement concerning the two pro-Russian People’s Republics of Ukraine which would remain in Ukraine with a modified Ukrainian constitution recognizing a good deal of autonomy to the People’s Republics. The Minsk Agreement was never acted upon with no action to modify the Ukrainian constitution. Since the 2022 Russian invasion, the situation has grown more complex and difficult. However, the Normandy ideas are probably the basis of any future agreement after a first cease-fire.

Ms Ursula von der Leyen

The President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen and The President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Nicos Anastasiades make statements to the Press. University of Cyprus campus, Lefkosia, Cyprus, 8. July 2021. By Stavros Ioannides, P.I.O. Photo Department., CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.

Anticipated Increase in Fighting in Ukraine and the Importance of Alternative Solutions.

Military observers predict an increase in fighting in Ukraine now that the winter is over and troops can move more easily. Thus the immediate need to present alternatives to more fighting and the start of serious negotiations. The Macron-Xi talks may have set the stage for at least the preliminaries.

President of China Xi Jinping

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping addresses Chinese and foreign journalists at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct 23, 2022. By China News Service, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. 

René Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens

 

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Protest symbols in China Apelaciones

Lo que expresarían si se pudiera. Símbolo de protesta…

Imagen destacada: Foto por  Nuno Alberto.  en Unsplash

Una página en blanco, vacía en alto; se ha convertido en el símbolo de protesta en las manifestaciones que actualmente se extienden por diferentes partes de China. Así como el grito “Mujeres-Vida-Libertad”, las mujeres que se cortan el pelo largo en público, y la quema del velo obligatorio se han convertido en símbolos de protesta en Irán, la página en blanco vacía es la manifestación exterior de una larga frustración de la incapacidad de expresar ideas que no sean las del Partido Comunista de China y su líder Xi Jinping.

Xi Jinping

El secretario general del Partido Comunista Chino (PCCh), Xi Jinping, se dirige a periodistas chinos y extranjeros en el Gran Salón del Pueblo en Beijing, el 23 de octubre de 2022. Por China News Service, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by /3.0>, vía Wikimedia Commons.

Como escribió James Connolly, líder del levantamiento de Pascua de 1916 en Dublín, Irlanda:

” Ningún movimiento revolucionario está completo sin su expresión política. Si tal movimiento se ha apoderado de la imaginación de las masas, buscarán desahogar en el canto las aspiraciones, los miedos y las esperanzas, los amores y los odios engendrados por la lucha. Hasta que el movimiento esté marcado por el canto alegre y desafiante de canciones revolucionarias, carece de una de las marcas más distintivas de un movimiento popular revolucionario.”

James Connolly

James Connolly. Por David Granville, Dominio público, vía Wikimedia Commons.

Desafío Político.

El canto iraní “Mujeres-Vida-Libertad” constantemente repetido podría considerarse como un canto revolucionario. En China, algunos de los manifestantes cantan L’Internationale, el modelo de la canción revolucionaria. Gene Sharp, un teórico del cambio político no violento que ahora se suele llamar “desafío político”, dijo que este tipo de protestas, como la música, son tan poco ortodoxas que la policía no sabe qué hacer. Este tipo de actividad permite que la resistencia continúe cuando se han neutralizado, controlado o destruido bases más grandes para la resistencia.

El gobierno chino ha respondido a las protestas de la forma habitual: culpabilizando a los agitadores extranjeros, deteniendo a un gran número de personas con la policía acudiendo a los domicilios de los posibles manifestantes y advirtiendo de detenciones si salen. Ha aumentado el control de las redes sociales y la censura. La ideología del gobierno se ha incrementado dentro de las escuelas y universidades. La represión gubernamental en Irán y en China es muy parecida, aunque sus bases ideológicas sean muy diferentes.

Women-Life-Liberty

Imagen: Miles de personas acuden a Melbourne para solidarizarse con las protestas que han estallado en Irán tras la muerte de Mahsa (también conocida como Jina o Zhina) Amini, de 22 años, a manos de la brutal dictadura del país y su ‘moralidad’ policía. Por Matt Hrkac de Geelong/Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, vía Wikimedia Commons.

Irán: Mujer-Vida-Libertad.

“Adelante, no hay nada que ver aquí”.

Las manifestaciones han puesto de manifiesto una brecha generacional. Jóvenes que nunca han conocido otras formas de gobierno han tomado la delantera en las protestas. Aunque las redes sociales han sido censuradas, los jóvenes encuentran formas de comunicarse entre ellos.

Una técnica del gobierno chino es mencionar lo menos posible las manifestaciones. “Adelante, aquí no hay nada que ver” está a la orden del día. Sin embargo, las manifestaciones tienen el potencial de sacar a la luz las causas de los conflictos. Es difícil saber de antemano cuánto tiempo durarán las manifestaciones, en qué medida evolucionarán las demandas de cambio y qué tipo de respuesta más allá de la represión tomará el gobierno. Una situación a observar lo más de cerca posible.

 

Rene Wadlow, Presidente, Asociación de Ciudadanos del Mundo.

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Protest symbols in China Appeals

What I would say if I could. Protest symbols…

Featured Image: Photo by Nuno Alberto.  Unsplash

An empty white page held high has become the symbol of protest in the manifestations currently spreading to different parts of China.  Just as the cry “Women-Life- Liberty “, women cutting their long hair in public, and the burning of the mandatory veil have become the symbols of protest in Iran, so the empty white page is the outward manifestation of a long frustration of the inability to express ideas that are not those of the Communist Party of China and its leader Xi Jinping.

Xi Jinping

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping addresses Chinese and foreign journalists at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct 23, 2022. By China News Service, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.

As James Connolly, a leader of the 1916 Dublin, Ireland Easter uprising wrote:

” No revolutionary movement is complete without its political expression. If such a movement has caught hold of the imagination of the masses, they will seek a vent in song for the aspirations, the fears and the hopes, the loves and the hatreds engendered by the struggle.  Until the movement is marked by the joyous, defiant singing of revolutionary songs, it lacks one of the most distinctive marks of a popular revolutionary movement.”

James Connolly

James Connolly. By David Granville, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Political Defiance.

The Iranian chant “Women-Life-Liberty” constantly repeated could be considered as a revolutionary song.  In China, some of the protesters sing L’Internationale, the model of the revolutionary song.  Gene Sharp, a theorist of nonviolent political change now often called “Political Defiance”  said that such types of protest such as music are so unorthodox that the police do not know what to do.  This type of activity enables resistance to continue when larger bases for resistance have been neutralized, controlled, or destroyed.

The Chinese government has responded to the protests in its usual way: blaming foreign agitators, arresting a large number of people with the police going to the homes of potential protesters and warning of arrests if they go out.  Control of the social media and censorship has increased.  Government ideology has been increased within schools and universities.  Government repression in Iran and in China are very much the same even if their ideological foundations are very different.

Women-Life-Liberty

 Image: Thousands turn out in Melbourne to stand in solidarity with protests that have broken out in Iran following the death of 22-year old Mahsa (also known as Jina or Zhina) Amini at the hands of the country’s brutal dictatorship and its ‘morality’ police. By Matt Hrkac from Geelong / Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.

Iran: Women-Life-Liberty.

“Move on, there is nothing to see here”.

The manifestations have highlighted a generational gap.  Youth who have never known other forms of government have taken a lead in the protests.  Although the social media has been censored, youth find ways of communicating among themselves.

One technique of the Chinese government is to mention the least possible the manifestations.  “Move on, there is nothing to see here” is the order of the day.  However, the manifestations have the potential of bringing the causes of the conflicts to the light of day.  It is difficult to know in advance how long the manifestations will go on, to what extent the demands for change will evolve, and what type of response beyond repression the government will take.  A situation to watch as closely as possible.

 

Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens.

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