1. China's approach of the people-first
In early November 2020, the Chinese government stopped the IPO of Alibaba's Ant Group, which would have been the largest IPO in the history with as mush as $34.5 billion worth. It happened only days after Jack Ma, Alibaba's billionaire founder and (at the time) controlling shareholder, had publicly criticized the country’s regulatory system for stifling innovation. [1][2]
This incident indicates that, in China, the government is stronger than private companies however big they are. In China, the communist government represents the people's interests, not the interests of big companies.
[Xi Jinping at his inspection in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, November 2020]
Market economy is the engine of development. It releases people's energies and ideas to craft innovative businesses, which leads to the wealth of the nation and better living standards of the people.
However, market economy creates the inequality between the haves and the have-nots. The wealthy people become even more wealthy while economically-impoverished people remain impoverished.
Also, fierce competition under market economy pressures each business entity to take extreme measures. Seeking for maximum profits, some companies ignore safety and welfare of people in the process of manufacturing and selling their goods.
That's the reason why a government representing people's interests needs to govern market economy by setting up regulations and redistributing tax revenues. Without the government control, market economy leads to disorder and social conflicts, which ultimately destroy societies.
In China, the communist government represents the people's interests. The communist government drafts and implements 5-year plans to guide the nation's economic development. The Chinese government setts up regulations to protect people's interests and redistributes tax revenues.
Especially, the Chinese government has been striving to alleviate poverty in the nation. Chinese central and local governments have been making meticulous efforts for decades to research, suggest and organize suitable jobs for each region, sector and individual.
As a result of that, China has already succeeded domestically in getting as many as 800 million people out of poverty over the last decades. And, in November 2020, China that has as many as 1.4 billion population finally achieved Zero Poverty. China eliminated absolute poverty one month before self-imposed deadline. This is unprecedented great accomplishment in the history of the mankind. [3]
This people-first approach of China has also brought about the world largest middle class expanding every year, which enables Chinese economy to grow in a robust, sustainable and stable way.
China is aiming at establishing Common Prosperity (共同富裕) where everyone enjoys fruits of prosperity and no one is left behind. Common Prosperity is not only simple income distribution. It is more comprehensive social conditions including organizing fulfilling jobs, accessible education and universal health care.
The one third of China's 1.4 billion population has already achieved a living standard of developed countries. China is trying to make the remaining two-thirds of her population achieve the same living standard.
So, China is now implementing and promoting such policies and projects as Rural Revitalization, the Eastern Data and Western Computing and Digital Economy among others.
2. China: a supporting equal partner vs. the West: an exploiting brutal burglar
(a) China supports developing countries with BRI and GDI
The world should really focus upon it! For the first time in history, unlike other great powers, China is supporting developing countries, building infrastructures like railways, highways and communication networks, so that they can "develop independently by themselves".
It means that China maintains the people-first principle in her trade and doing businesses with other countries as well.
China launched Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative to expand trade with other countries and facilitate development of world nations together.
[The Chinese-built Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway]
[The Chinese-built highway in Montenegro]
Under Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative, China has been constructing critical infrastructures for developing countries because they are exactly what people of developing countries really need. China has been constructing railways, highways, ports and communication networks.
These infrastructures work as the basis for developing nations' economies to grow by themselves. They also facilitate trade and doing businesses between China and the regional nations. From her own experiences, China knows that development of one region will lead to development of other regions. Constructing critical infrastructures for developing countries will lead to China's economic growth in return as well. China has a long-term perspective.
[The Chinese-built Gwadar port in Pakistan]
[The Chinese-built communication network in South Africa]
Applying the people-first principle to her trade and doing businesses, China respects other nations' sovereignty and their freedom of businesses. So, unlike the US and other Western nations, China does not use military forces or stage a coup to expand businesses. Instead, China seeks and establishes equal win-win relations in her trade and doing businesses. China procures what she needs at the prices her counterparts agree. China researches what people of other nations want and provide them at affordable prices.
China is steadily expanding her cooperation with Asia, Africa, Central & South America and Pacific Island countries. In these areas, supply chains are well organized so that goods, services and raw materials are shipped and exchanged efficiently. China's economy will grow continually.
China is applying AI and Big Data to effectively and correctly supervise trade with these vast areas and population. China ensures equal win-win relations among nations. Because of equal win-win relations among nations, countries in these areas are willing to cooperate and help each other.
As a result, China's trade and doing businesses with other nations have expanded rapidly and steadily. Consequently, China is now the largest trading partner for more than 130 countries worldwide. China has proved economic growth and people's welfare can be achieved through equal win-win relations without waging a war or enslaving someone.
In March 2022, under the Global Development Initiative framework, China co-organized a seminar program with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The program has trained over 1,000 people from nearly 100 countries on cross-border e-commerce. Digital economy and e-commerce will expand trade and businesses even more. [4]
As exemplified by the above program, in addition to infrastructures, education for people is critical for developing countries to facilitate and achieve economic growth by themselves. With this regard, China may provide extensive online education services for developing countries as a part of Global Development Initiative.
The online education services may include such areas as economics, business management, finance, business law, engineering, mathematics and so on.
China can also develop education chat AIs that people of developing countries can download and use for free. In this sense, AI can be a great equalizer.
Furthermore, China would be able to help developing countries to have universal healthcare, assisting them in designing and planning a healthcare system tailored for each country.
(b) The West exploits developing countries
In stark contrast, the US, UK and EU have been treating developing countries as "objects" to exploit for centuries. The West don't support developing countries. They only exploit developing countries.
The latest instance is Peru. Under leftist President Pedro Castillo, there had been a movement to nationalize lithium deposit located in the south-eastern part of Peru so that the economic benefit out of lithium deposit would be enjoyed by whole population. It is estimated to be the world’s sixth-largest hard rock lithium deposit. [5]
[An open-pit lithium mine located in the district of Puno in the south-eastern part of Peru]
But, the US intervened to prevent the nationalization. A US-backed congressional coup took place in Peru in December 2022. The military arrested President Pedro Castillo, and he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. And a puppet president was installed. Under her initiative, the Peruvian government decided to privatize the nation's lithium deposit. [6]
[Peruvian soldiers deployed to suppress anti-coup protests following the 2022 coup]
[Coup-installed president Dina Boluarte (left)]
[CIA veteran and US ambassador in Peru, Lisa Kenna, with the country's mining minister, on January 18, 2023]
President Dina Boluarte is set to grant permits to the Macusani Yellowcake mining company for lithium exploration in the southern region of Puno, near the border with Bolivia. The Macusani Yellowcake mining company is owned by the Canadian company Plateau Energy Metals, which as of 2021 is a subsidiary of American Lithium Corp. [7]
Peru is the second-biggest copper producer in the world too.
A Peruvian far-right party congressman is even calling for Peru's military invasion against neighboring Bolivia to seize Bolivia's world's largest lithium reserves.
The US has repeatedly staged coups in various countries to exploit natural resources and contain communism. 1953: Iranian coup, 1954: Guatemalan coup, 1960 Laotian coup, 1963: South Vietnam coup, 1970: Cambodian coup, 1973: Chilean coup and 1976: Argentine coup among others.
[1953 Iranian coup - Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and CIA’s man in Tehran, Kermit Roosevelt]
[1973 Chilean coup - General Augusto Pinochet and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger]
The US staged so-called color revolutions too.
3. China: a peace maker vs. the West: a warmonger
(a) China makes peace
For achieving economic growth and poverty alleviation, peaceful conditions are indispensable. Also, if a war or a military conflict breaks out, it is people who suffered most. Therefore, peace is the most fundamental requirement that the people-first principle should fulfill.
The country with the people-first principle does not lead to a war of aggression.
The country with the people-first principle leads to peace-making.
Thus, China launched Global Security Initiative. China believes that communication and dialogue are the key to make peace. China suggests and persuade countries in conflict or confrontation that peaceful conditions are indispensable for economic growth and poverty alleviation. [8]
In the Middle East, Iran and Saudi Arabia had been in confrontation for a long time. In 2021, China made a 25 year agreement with Iran under which China would purchase Iran's oil and gas and build Iran's infrastructures. In 2022, China also made a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia under which China would purchase oil and gas and build Saudi Arabia's infrastructures.
Then, China has suggested and persuaded Iran and Saudi Arabia that peaceful conditions are indispensable for implementing the agreements and economic growth, which has resulted in a historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023.
[Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban (Left), Wang Yi, China's most senior diplomat and Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Beijing, March 2023]
As for Ukraine War, China released the 12 points peace plan in February 2023, in which China proposed a peace talk between Ukraine and Russia and reconstruction of Ukraine after the establishment of peace. China is the only great power that has proposed a peace plan on Ukraine War. [9]
Accordingly, when President Xi Jinping visited Russia in March 2023, President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement, stressing talks as the solution to the Ukraine crisis and calling for respect for the security concerns of all countries in resolving the crisis. [10]
[Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin]
With regard to the United Nations, China can reform the United Nations so that the organization would represent interests of all nations especially developing nations. Currently, the power of the United Nations is concentrated upon so-called Big 5 of victorious nations of the Second World War, i.e., the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China. Together with developing nations and with the support of the UN Secretary General, China can reform the United Nations to be more democratic and people-first.
(b) The West wages wars and proxy wars
In stark contrast, despite the end of the Cold War, the US, UK and EU have been expanding NATO eastward. They started even talking about Ukraine's joining NATO, from which Moscow can be hit by short-range missiles. In addition the Kiev government started mass-murdering Russian speaking people in Ukraine.
When Russia started a special military operation against Ukraine to protect Russian speaking people in Ukraine, the US, UK and EU supplied weapons and ammunitions to Ukraine, as planned, so as to use Ukraine as a proxy to attack Russia.
[President Biden and President Zelensky]
[President Biden visiting Lockheed Martin's plant]
When Russia and Ukraine were about to reach a peace deal, the US, UK and EU to prevented it for the purpose of prolonging the war as long as possible. The US, UK and EU are war mongers.
The US repeatedly waged wars and proxy wars to exploit natural resources and contain communism. Korean War (1950 – 1953), Vietnam War (1955 – 1975), Afghan–Soviet War (1979 – 1989), Gulf War (1990 – 1991), Bosnian War (1992 -1995), War in Afghanistan (2001 – 2021), and Iraq War (2003 - 2011).
4. Where does the difference come from? - Stark contrast of History, Culture and Tradition of China and the West
(a) China's tradition of people-first
The people-first and people-centered approach is deeply rooted in China's political tradition and history.
For example, the people-first and people-centered approach are the foundation of traditional thoughts of Confucianism, which is China's most prominent philosophy and system of thought originated by Confucius (c. 551 – c. 479 BC).
[Confucius and his disciples]
The Four Books and Five Classics (四書五經) are the authoritative books of Confucianism, which include the Analects (論語) and the Book of Documents (尚書).
Confucianism says:
民無信不立。《論語・顔淵第十二》
"Without the people's trust, the state will not stand." (The Analects of Confucius, Yan Hui Chapter 12)
Confucianism tells that the people is the basis of a country:
皇祖有訓, 民可近, 不可下, 民惟邦本, 本固邦寧。《尚書・夏書・五子之歌》
"It was the lesson of our great ancestral rulers: The people should be approached and communicated, and not looked down upon. It is only the people who are the basis of a country. If the base is stable, peace will reign in the country." (Shang shu (Book of Documents), Xia shu, Wu zizhi ge)
Confucianism emphasizes a ruler's morality:
子曰, 為政以徳, 譬如北辰居其所, 而衆星共之。《論語・為政》
The Master (Confucius) said, “A ruler should govern by virtue just like the north pole star keeps its place and all the stars turn around it.” (The Analects of Confucius, the Act of Governing)
For thousands of years, China's dynasties followed the wisdom of Confucianism in their act of governing.
For instance, in the 2nd century BC, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty enacted Balancing Transportation Act (均輸法) under which the government purchased goods in the regions where the supply was abundant and transported them to the regions where the supply was scarce so that prices of goods would be stabilized. Emperor Wu also enacted Leveling Price Act (平準法) under which the government purchased goods and stored them at the time when prices were low and sold them at the time when prices went up.
These acts were unpopular among merchants as their opportunities to speculate and take advantage of shortage of goods were lost, but the people were happy as prices of goods were stabilized.
Also, emperors of Chinese dynasties ordered to build critical infrastructures for the state including the Grand Canal. The oldest parts of the Grand Canal date back to the 5th century BC, but the most significant part was built during the Sui dynasty in the 6th and 7th centuries. During following dynasties, restoration and extension of the canal were made. The Grand Canal was built to facilitate transportation of goods so that the economy would prosper and people's lives would flourish. If the base is stable, peace reigns in the country. China was one of the largest and most prosperous countries in the world for centuries.
And, in the 20th century, as China was suffering from aggression of imperialism by the Western countries and Japan and went down to half-colonized conditions, Mao Zedong (1893 – 1976), a leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), combining and armed with revolutionary theories of Marxism, firmly established people-first principle as a core value of the party.
During the revolutionary war and confrontation against the Kuomintang government and Imperial Japan, Mao Zedong waged people's war.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1934:
"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; only mobilizing the masses and relying on them can wage it."
"What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion, which it is impossible, and impossible, for any force on earth to smash." [11]
[An art work on People's War]
Despite inferior arms and equipment, the CPC and its People Liberation Army (PLA) gradually pushed back Imperial Japan and the Kuomintang Army because millions of Chinese people enthusiastically supported the CPC and the PLA, providing supplies, foods and critical information. Consequently, the CPC and the PLA got victorious, overwhelming Imperial Japan and the Kuomintang Army.
Thus, "Serve the People" (Chinese: 为人民服务) has become a political slogan and the most fundamental core value of the CPC, which first appeared in a speech by Mao Zedong, delivered on 8 September 1944. [12]
[Mao Zedong talking with farmers]
In the speech, Mao Zedong said:
"Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies led by our Party are battalions of the revolution. These battalions of ours are wholly dedicated to the liberation of the people and work entirely in the people's interests."
"If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized, because we serve the people. Anyone, no matter who, may point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it. The idea of "better troops and simpler administration" was put forward by Mr. Li Ting-ming, who is not a Communist. He made a good suggestion which is of benefit to the people, and we have adopted it. If, in the interests of the people, we persist in doing what is right and correct what is wrong, our ranks will surely thrive."
Ever since, Chinese leaders have kept emphasizing the people-first principle. [13]
Mao Zedong said "serving the people wholeheartedly". [14]
Deng Xiaoping said "taking into account the support, approval, satisfaction, and consent of the people in carrying out its work". [15]
Jiang Zemin said "representing the fundamental interests of the broadest possible majority of the Chinese people". [16]
Hu Jintao said "putting people first". [17]
Xi Jinping said "people-centered philosophy of development". [18]
[President Xi Jinping and factory workers in Zhengzhou, Henan Province][19]
[President Xi Jinping and children of the Wa minority ethnic group in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong, Yunnan Province][20]
[President Xi Jinping talking with villagers in Shibadong Village, Hunan Province][21]
CPC leaderships have been enriching and transcending traditional people-oriented thinking. And, this great tradition of serving the people will continue indefinitely.
(b) The Western tradition of rich-people-first
On the other hand, the Western political statecraft and the Western modernization have been made according to the tradition of the ancient Roman civilization.
The Western political governing system is called democracy. Although the term democracy comes from the ancient Greek words "demos" meaning people and "kratos" meaning rule, it is the ancient Roman Republic that contributed significantly to many aspects of the Western democracy.
[The Roman Forum in Rome, Italy]
As a matter of fact, the Western democracy is only a "copy" of the governing system of the Roman Republic of more than 2,000 years ago. In the ancient Roman Republic, after ousting a bad king in 509 BC, there were separation of powers among a legislature (the Senate and the People's Assembly), an executive (the Consuls) and a judiciary.
But, real policy making was carried out through debate and discussion by the Senate that was a club of rich aristocrats. Some were owners of huge plantations, some were owners of merchant ships, some were owners of mineral mines, some were owners of arsenals, etc. Then, policies made in the Senate were ratified by the People's Assembly so that a formality could be attached as if they were people's will. Thereafter, the policies and the laws were executed by the Consuls who were elected by Roman citizens.
[The Roman Senate - A Rich aristocrats' club where real policy making was carried out through debate and discussion of rich people]
[The People's Assembly where any Roman citizens can attend]
[Roman Consuls - Two Consuls were elected for one-year terms]
So, Roman politics was essentially rich people's ruling. It was the government of rich people, by rich people, for rich people. Domestic policies, diplomacy, war plans, budgetary policies, everything was determined for the purpose of benefiting rich people. The ratification by the People's Assembly and election of the Consuls were used to provide legality and legitimacy to policies made by rich people.
And, in case people's power and demand became extraordinary, Roman rich people elected a Dictator to suppress, execute and subdue people, like Sulla's dictatorship (82–80 BC), so that interests of rich people could be protected.
Accordingly, there has been no people-first tradition in the Western politics. The Western politics has always been rich-people-first. Therefore, how to deceive, mobilize and suppress people for the interests of rich people has been a main theme of the Western politics even today.
Furthermore, the rich-people-first has been reflected and carried through in the Western countries' foreign policy too. Just like the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, the Western countries' foreign policy after the 15th century has been conquering, colonizing, enslaving and exploiting. There has been no equal win-win relations with developing countries in the Western foreign policy.
In the West, the Greek and Roman civilization has been considered to be the foundation of their civilization, and, therefore, the Greek and Roman Classics have traditionally been the cornerstone of a typical European and US elite education. European and US elites learn how to wage wars, how to make political conspiracies, how to stage a coup, how to produce a dictator, and how to deceive people from the Greek and Roman Classics. [22]
The world people do not have to follow the Western governing system and Western modernization that are based upon the ancient Roman civilization of more than 2,000 years ago. Actually, the Western governing system is a very peculiar, unfair, deceptive and cruel governing system.
The Western democracies' purpose is to protect the interests of rich people and their banking firms, military-industrial-complex, IT industries, semi-conductor industries etc. Therefore, the Western democracies impose economic sanctions, wage wars, stage coups, interfere other nations' internal affairs and disrupt other nations' supply chains.
The reason why the US maintains huge military forces is that US rich people want to monopolize and keep most of the wealth of the world by themselves while suppressing people who are without assets.
The Western countries like to call their political systems democracies. But, actually, they are not people-first but rich-people-first.
Western countries' democracies are "fake" democracies.
5. Where the difference between China and the West will lead to? - Conflict? Harmony? Or, overwhelming dominance of China?
(1) Case1: Conflict
Therefore, the US and UK would try to draw China into a Taiwan war and prolong the war as long as possible during which they would attempt to launch a coup as well as uprising in the Chinese mainland to topple the Chinese Communist Party government.
Just like the West is using Ukraine as a proxy to attack Russia, the West would try to transform Japan into a proxy to attack China.
In the process of transforming Japan into a proxy to attack China, the West would promote Japanese right-wing populist party Ishin No Kai that is very anti-China.
[US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and the president of right-wing populist party Ishin No Kai Nobuyuki Baba whom the US wants to promote as a "Japan's Zelensky"]
In case a Taiwan war breaks out by DPP's desperate declaration of independence forced by the US or the US's false-flag operation in which the US destroys its own warship and claims it's China's attack, a Taiwan war will be finished quickly by China's victory
As the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair, the US, Japan, Australia and NATO's intervention will be an aggression. Invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter, China will launch a legitimate legal just-cause defensive war against evil aggressors.
China will put into the operation a huge maximum massive amount of military personnel, warships, warplanes, military vehicles, missiles, paratroopers, special operation forces, civilian ships and everything that China can mobilize as much as possible from the very day one.
Also, China will destroy the US's military air bases in Japan and the Philippines with hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles so that China will have air supremacy over Taiwan.
Above all, Taiwan has only 90 days stockpiles of oil and two weeks stockpiles of natural gas. Considering China's probable saturated intensive attack against Taiwan's oil tanks and liquefied natural gas tanks, Taiwan will run up its oil and gas storage within a few weeks. A war is all about logistics. A Taiwan war will be finished quickly. [23]
At the same time, to prevent oil and gas supply, China will impose naval blockade around Taiwan so that no oil tankers, no liquefied natural gas carriers and no freight ships can approach.
On the side of the US, for the purpose of prolonging Taiwan War as long as possible, the US may launch the largest scale supply and logistical operations together with Japan, Australia and NATO countries to sustain Taiwan's resistance.
The US may desperately organize multi-national naval fleet and convoys that would supply weapons, ammunitions, oil, natural gas, foods and other necessities to Taiwan.
However, such convoy operations will be neutralized as China will have air supremacy. Convoys without air cover are suicidal.
The US would call for economic sanctions against China. But, Asian and African nations would not follow.
(2) Case 2: Harmony
Until they get ready to attack China (in other words, until they transform Japan into a proxy to attack China), the West may seek harmonious relations with China for the purpose of buying time just like they did using Minsk II agreement against Russia.
[U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in July 2023]
However, harmonious relations between the West and China would last only temporarily as the US wants to move to above-mentioned Case 1 as soon as they are ready (in other words, as soon as they transform Japan into a proxy to attack China). On the other hand, China will outpace the US to reach below-mentioned Case 3.
(3) Case 3: China’s dominance
(a) China will dominate in technology and economy
China is surpassing the US and EU in state of the art technologies too. China is dominating the 5G/6G race and AI, Big Data development against the US & EU, which means China will dominate not only manufacturing businesses but financial and service businesses as well. Actually, the Standard Chartered Bank of UK, a notorious colonial bank, is already beginning to be kicked out of Africa. [24]
China is exceeding the US & EU in such areas as space technologies, autonomous cars, IoT, robotics, smart factories, smart agriculture, EVs, and on and on and on.
De-dollarization will spread and expand. Introducing BRICS currency backed by gold will accelerate de-dollarization even more. As de-dollarization expands, US banking firms financial power will diminish.
China may reduce the amount of purchasing US treasury bonds, which will limit and undermine US policy choices.
(b) China will establish supply chains with the global south
China, cooperating with the global south, establish, maintain and constantly improve the most sophisticated supply chains.
Suggesting suitable products, services and minerals that each of the global south nations can provide, China will organize the most effective and efficient supply chains beneficial to all of members based upon equal win-win relations.
Asia and African nations will synchronize their productions and mineral supplies harmoniously with China’s 5 year plan so that each nation would supply what other nations need and each nation would receive what it needs.
The growth rate of Asian and African nations will overwhelm that of the declining West.
(c) China will turn her cooperation with global south into overwhelming international political power.
China will turn her cooperation with global south into overwhelming international political power.
Insisting that national sovereignty and territorial integrity should be preserved, China will work together with world nations to institutionalize the principle of non-interference in internal affairs into an international treaty that prohibits interference in a country’s internal affairs. Specifically, the treaty will ban CIA, NED, NSA and MI6’s staging a coup, sabotage and uprisings.
6. Various civilizations, the people-first principle and shared future of the mankind
Historically speaking, before the age of Discovery of the 15th century, the Islamic world was far more advanced and prosperous than the Western world. For example, Islamic mathematics and Islamic medical knowledge were far superior than those of the Western world.
China was advanced in practical science. The four great inventions of ancient China that contributed significantly to world civilization are the compass, gunpowder, papermaking and printing.
There are various civilizations in various regions of the world. Each of them is important. Actually, diversity makes the mankind strong.
Thus, in March 2023, Chinese president Xi Jinping made a speech and proposed Global Civilization Initiative at the CPC Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. He called for more than 500 political parties and political organizations from more than 150 countries to seek and apply the people-first principle in light of each country's national conditions. Now at last, the people-first is to be pursued and promoted globally and decisively not only economic development and security spheres but political sphere as well. [25]
In his speech, President Xi Jinping asks:
"Polarization or common prosperity? Pure materialistic pursuit or coordinated material and cultural-ethical advancement? Draining the pond to catch the fish or creating harmony between man and nature? Zero-sum game or win-win cooperation? Copying other countries' development model or achieving independent development in light of national conditions?"
By the word "polarization", he seems to have implied inequality between the haves and the have-nots.
In his speech, President Xi Jinping emphasizes the people-first principle:
"We must put the people first and ensure modernization is people-centered. The people are the creators of history and are the strongest bedrock and force in advancing modernization. The ultimate goal of modernization is people's free and well-rounded development. For a modernization path to work and work well, it must put the people first."
Chinese President Xi Jinping also emphasized the importance of diversity. History, culture, demography, religion differ from one country to another. Therefore, a path to modernization is different from one country to another.
[President Xi Jinping and President Raisi of Iran]
[President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia]
China does not intend to impose the Chinese model to other countries. China only advises and suggests that the principle of people-first should be upheld for the sake of each nation's prosperity, peace and stability.
The world of people-first can not be realized by China alone. Every country in the world should establish a party that promotes the people-first principle.
Together with people-first political parties in the world, China is aiming at establishing Common Prosperity (共同富裕) in the world where everyone enjoys fruits of prosperity and no one is left behind. Common prosperity is not only simple income distribution. It is more comprehensive social conditions including organizing fulfilling jobs, accessible education and universal health care.
[President Xi Jinping and African leaders during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, September 2018]
[President Xi Jinping is welcomed in Pretoria, South Africa, December 2015]
Capitalists of the Western countries would try to prevent spread of the people-first principle and Common Prosperity because capitalists of the Western countries want to monopolize and keep most of the wealth of the world by themselves while suppressing people who are without assets.
In order to prevent spread of the people-first principle and Common Prosperity, capitalists of the Western countries would do anything and launch military warfare, proxy warfare, information warfare, economic warfare, political warfare, diplomatic warfare and clandestine warfare.
However, an ultimate triumph of the people-first and Common Prosperity is a sure thing because people's power will be invincible, once mobilized and awaken through Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.
[The SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2022]
Once again, allow me to quote Mao Zedong.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1934:
"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; only mobilizing the masses and relying on them can wage it."
"What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion, which it is impossible, and impossible, for any force on earth to smash."
Thank you.
References:
(1) "Jack Ma: Traditional banks are operating with a 'pawn shop' mentality", October 29th 2022, ThinkChina
(2) "Ant Group forced to suspend biggest share offering in history", November 3rd 2022, The Guardian
(3) Full Text: Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution, April 2021, The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China
(4) "Global Development Initiative -- a path to sustainable development", September 22nd 2022, Xinhua
(5) Falchani Lithium Project, Puno, April 6th 2020, Mining Technology
(6) "Peru coup: CIA agent turned US ambassador met with defense minister day before president overthrown", December 14th 2023, Geopolitical Economy
(7) "Peru’s coup government is privatizing lithium mining", April 18th 2023, Peoples Dispatch
(8) Full text: The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, February 21st 2023, The Global Times
(9) China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, February 24th 2023, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
(10) "Xi, Putin stress talks as solution to Ukraine crisis", March 21st 2023, CGTN
(11) Quotations from Mao Tse Tung, 8. People's War, Marxists Internet Archive
(12) Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung, SERVE THE PEOPLE
, Marxists Internet Archive
(13) People First - Political Commitment of the Century-Old Communist Party of China, June 2021, New China Research, Xinhua News Agency
(14) Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. III, Chin. ed., People's Publishing House, 1991, p.1094.
(15) Deng Xiaoping's remarks, cited in a speech by Xi Jinping at the 7th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, June 25, 2013.
(16) Speech by Jiang Zemin at a national meeting to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the CPC, July 1, 2001.
(17) Report delivered by Hu Jintao at the 18th CPC National Congress, November 8, 2012.
(18) Report delivered by Xi Jinping at the 19th CPC National Congress, October 18, 2017.
(19) "Xi inspects manufacturing enterprise, Yellow River ecological protection in central China", September 17th 2019, Xinhua
(20) "Xi visits Yunnan on inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year", January 19th 2020, Xinhua
(21) "Xi Jinping and China's anti-poverty war he commands", October 17th 2020, Xinhua
(22) Classics, Wikipedia
(23) "Assessing Taiwan’s strategic energy stockpiles", May 7th 2023, Caribbean News Global
(24) "StanChart cuts seven minnow businesses in Africa and Middle East", April 14th 2022, Reuters
(25) "Full text of Xi Jinping's keynote address at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting", March 16th 2023, Xinhua
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect nor represent the policy or position of any government, party, or organization.
In early November 2020, the Chinese government stopped the IPO of Alibaba's Ant Group, which would have been the largest IPO in the history with as mush as $34.5 billion worth. It happened only days after Jack Ma, Alibaba's billionaire founder and (at the time) controlling shareholder, had publicly criticized the country’s regulatory system for stifling innovation. [1][2]
This incident indicates that, in China, the government is stronger than private companies however big they are. In China, the communist government represents the people's interests, not the interests of big companies.
[Xi Jinping at his inspection in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, November 2020]
Market economy is the engine of development. It releases people's energies and ideas to craft innovative businesses, which leads to the wealth of the nation and better living standards of the people.
However, market economy creates the inequality between the haves and the have-nots. The wealthy people become even more wealthy while economically-impoverished people remain impoverished.
Also, fierce competition under market economy pressures each business entity to take extreme measures. Seeking for maximum profits, some companies ignore safety and welfare of people in the process of manufacturing and selling their goods.
That's the reason why a government representing people's interests needs to govern market economy by setting up regulations and redistributing tax revenues. Without the government control, market economy leads to disorder and social conflicts, which ultimately destroy societies.
In China, the communist government represents the people's interests. The communist government drafts and implements 5-year plans to guide the nation's economic development. The Chinese government setts up regulations to protect people's interests and redistributes tax revenues.
Especially, the Chinese government has been striving to alleviate poverty in the nation. Chinese central and local governments have been making meticulous efforts for decades to research, suggest and organize suitable jobs for each region, sector and individual.
As a result of that, China has already succeeded domestically in getting as many as 800 million people out of poverty over the last decades. And, in November 2020, China that has as many as 1.4 billion population finally achieved Zero Poverty. China eliminated absolute poverty one month before self-imposed deadline. This is unprecedented great accomplishment in the history of the mankind. [3]
This people-first approach of China has also brought about the world largest middle class expanding every year, which enables Chinese economy to grow in a robust, sustainable and stable way.
China is aiming at establishing Common Prosperity (共同富裕) where everyone enjoys fruits of prosperity and no one is left behind. Common Prosperity is not only simple income distribution. It is more comprehensive social conditions including organizing fulfilling jobs, accessible education and universal health care.
The one third of China's 1.4 billion population has already achieved a living standard of developed countries. China is trying to make the remaining two-thirds of her population achieve the same living standard.
So, China is now implementing and promoting such policies and projects as Rural Revitalization, the Eastern Data and Western Computing and Digital Economy among others.
2. China: a supporting equal partner vs. the West: an exploiting brutal burglar
(a) China supports developing countries with BRI and GDI
The world should really focus upon it! For the first time in history, unlike other great powers, China is supporting developing countries, building infrastructures like railways, highways and communication networks, so that they can "develop independently by themselves".
It means that China maintains the people-first principle in her trade and doing businesses with other countries as well.
China launched Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative to expand trade with other countries and facilitate development of world nations together.
[The Chinese-built Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway]
[The Chinese-built highway in Montenegro]
Under Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative, China has been constructing critical infrastructures for developing countries because they are exactly what people of developing countries really need. China has been constructing railways, highways, ports and communication networks.
These infrastructures work as the basis for developing nations' economies to grow by themselves. They also facilitate trade and doing businesses between China and the regional nations. From her own experiences, China knows that development of one region will lead to development of other regions. Constructing critical infrastructures for developing countries will lead to China's economic growth in return as well. China has a long-term perspective.
[The Chinese-built Gwadar port in Pakistan]
[The Chinese-built communication network in South Africa]
Applying the people-first principle to her trade and doing businesses, China respects other nations' sovereignty and their freedom of businesses. So, unlike the US and other Western nations, China does not use military forces or stage a coup to expand businesses. Instead, China seeks and establishes equal win-win relations in her trade and doing businesses. China procures what she needs at the prices her counterparts agree. China researches what people of other nations want and provide them at affordable prices.
China is steadily expanding her cooperation with Asia, Africa, Central & South America and Pacific Island countries. In these areas, supply chains are well organized so that goods, services and raw materials are shipped and exchanged efficiently. China's economy will grow continually.
China is applying AI and Big Data to effectively and correctly supervise trade with these vast areas and population. China ensures equal win-win relations among nations. Because of equal win-win relations among nations, countries in these areas are willing to cooperate and help each other.
As a result, China's trade and doing businesses with other nations have expanded rapidly and steadily. Consequently, China is now the largest trading partner for more than 130 countries worldwide. China has proved economic growth and people's welfare can be achieved through equal win-win relations without waging a war or enslaving someone.
In March 2022, under the Global Development Initiative framework, China co-organized a seminar program with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The program has trained over 1,000 people from nearly 100 countries on cross-border e-commerce. Digital economy and e-commerce will expand trade and businesses even more. [4]
As exemplified by the above program, in addition to infrastructures, education for people is critical for developing countries to facilitate and achieve economic growth by themselves. With this regard, China may provide extensive online education services for developing countries as a part of Global Development Initiative.
The online education services may include such areas as economics, business management, finance, business law, engineering, mathematics and so on.
China can also develop education chat AIs that people of developing countries can download and use for free. In this sense, AI can be a great equalizer.
Furthermore, China would be able to help developing countries to have universal healthcare, assisting them in designing and planning a healthcare system tailored for each country.
(b) The West exploits developing countries
In stark contrast, the US, UK and EU have been treating developing countries as "objects" to exploit for centuries. The West don't support developing countries. They only exploit developing countries.
The latest instance is Peru. Under leftist President Pedro Castillo, there had been a movement to nationalize lithium deposit located in the south-eastern part of Peru so that the economic benefit out of lithium deposit would be enjoyed by whole population. It is estimated to be the world’s sixth-largest hard rock lithium deposit. [5]
[An open-pit lithium mine located in the district of Puno in the south-eastern part of Peru]
But, the US intervened to prevent the nationalization. A US-backed congressional coup took place in Peru in December 2022. The military arrested President Pedro Castillo, and he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. And a puppet president was installed. Under her initiative, the Peruvian government decided to privatize the nation's lithium deposit. [6]
[Peruvian soldiers deployed to suppress anti-coup protests following the 2022 coup]
[Coup-installed president Dina Boluarte (left)]
[CIA veteran and US ambassador in Peru, Lisa Kenna, with the country's mining minister, on January 18, 2023]
President Dina Boluarte is set to grant permits to the Macusani Yellowcake mining company for lithium exploration in the southern region of Puno, near the border with Bolivia. The Macusani Yellowcake mining company is owned by the Canadian company Plateau Energy Metals, which as of 2021 is a subsidiary of American Lithium Corp. [7]
Peru is the second-biggest copper producer in the world too.
A Peruvian far-right party congressman is even calling for Peru's military invasion against neighboring Bolivia to seize Bolivia's world's largest lithium reserves.
The US has repeatedly staged coups in various countries to exploit natural resources and contain communism. 1953: Iranian coup, 1954: Guatemalan coup, 1960 Laotian coup, 1963: South Vietnam coup, 1970: Cambodian coup, 1973: Chilean coup and 1976: Argentine coup among others.
[1953 Iranian coup - Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and CIA’s man in Tehran, Kermit Roosevelt]
[1973 Chilean coup - General Augusto Pinochet and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger]
The US staged so-called color revolutions too.
3. China: a peace maker vs. the West: a warmonger
(a) China makes peace
For achieving economic growth and poverty alleviation, peaceful conditions are indispensable. Also, if a war or a military conflict breaks out, it is people who suffered most. Therefore, peace is the most fundamental requirement that the people-first principle should fulfill.
The country with the people-first principle does not lead to a war of aggression.
The country with the people-first principle leads to peace-making.
Thus, China launched Global Security Initiative. China believes that communication and dialogue are the key to make peace. China suggests and persuade countries in conflict or confrontation that peaceful conditions are indispensable for economic growth and poverty alleviation. [8]
In the Middle East, Iran and Saudi Arabia had been in confrontation for a long time. In 2021, China made a 25 year agreement with Iran under which China would purchase Iran's oil and gas and build Iran's infrastructures. In 2022, China also made a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia under which China would purchase oil and gas and build Saudi Arabia's infrastructures.
Then, China has suggested and persuaded Iran and Saudi Arabia that peaceful conditions are indispensable for implementing the agreements and economic growth, which has resulted in a historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023.
[Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban (Left), Wang Yi, China's most senior diplomat and Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Beijing, March 2023]
As for Ukraine War, China released the 12 points peace plan in February 2023, in which China proposed a peace talk between Ukraine and Russia and reconstruction of Ukraine after the establishment of peace. China is the only great power that has proposed a peace plan on Ukraine War. [9]
Accordingly, when President Xi Jinping visited Russia in March 2023, President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement, stressing talks as the solution to the Ukraine crisis and calling for respect for the security concerns of all countries in resolving the crisis. [10]
[Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin]
With regard to the United Nations, China can reform the United Nations so that the organization would represent interests of all nations especially developing nations. Currently, the power of the United Nations is concentrated upon so-called Big 5 of victorious nations of the Second World War, i.e., the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China. Together with developing nations and with the support of the UN Secretary General, China can reform the United Nations to be more democratic and people-first.
(b) The West wages wars and proxy wars
In stark contrast, despite the end of the Cold War, the US, UK and EU have been expanding NATO eastward. They started even talking about Ukraine's joining NATO, from which Moscow can be hit by short-range missiles. In addition the Kiev government started mass-murdering Russian speaking people in Ukraine.
When Russia started a special military operation against Ukraine to protect Russian speaking people in Ukraine, the US, UK and EU supplied weapons and ammunitions to Ukraine, as planned, so as to use Ukraine as a proxy to attack Russia.
[President Biden and President Zelensky]
[President Biden visiting Lockheed Martin's plant]
When Russia and Ukraine were about to reach a peace deal, the US, UK and EU to prevented it for the purpose of prolonging the war as long as possible. The US, UK and EU are war mongers.
The US repeatedly waged wars and proxy wars to exploit natural resources and contain communism. Korean War (1950 – 1953), Vietnam War (1955 – 1975), Afghan–Soviet War (1979 – 1989), Gulf War (1990 – 1991), Bosnian War (1992 -1995), War in Afghanistan (2001 – 2021), and Iraq War (2003 - 2011).
4. Where does the difference come from? - Stark contrast of History, Culture and Tradition of China and the West
(a) China's tradition of people-first
The people-first and people-centered approach is deeply rooted in China's political tradition and history.
For example, the people-first and people-centered approach are the foundation of traditional thoughts of Confucianism, which is China's most prominent philosophy and system of thought originated by Confucius (c. 551 – c. 479 BC).
[Confucius and his disciples]
The Four Books and Five Classics (四書五經) are the authoritative books of Confucianism, which include the Analects (論語) and the Book of Documents (尚書).
Confucianism says:
民無信不立。《論語・顔淵第十二》
"Without the people's trust, the state will not stand." (The Analects of Confucius, Yan Hui Chapter 12)
Confucianism tells that the people is the basis of a country:
皇祖有訓, 民可近, 不可下, 民惟邦本, 本固邦寧。《尚書・夏書・五子之歌》
"It was the lesson of our great ancestral rulers: The people should be approached and communicated, and not looked down upon. It is only the people who are the basis of a country. If the base is stable, peace will reign in the country." (Shang shu (Book of Documents), Xia shu, Wu zizhi ge)
Confucianism emphasizes a ruler's morality:
子曰, 為政以徳, 譬如北辰居其所, 而衆星共之。《論語・為政》
The Master (Confucius) said, “A ruler should govern by virtue just like the north pole star keeps its place and all the stars turn around it.” (The Analects of Confucius, the Act of Governing)
For thousands of years, China's dynasties followed the wisdom of Confucianism in their act of governing.
For instance, in the 2nd century BC, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty enacted Balancing Transportation Act (均輸法) under which the government purchased goods in the regions where the supply was abundant and transported them to the regions where the supply was scarce so that prices of goods would be stabilized. Emperor Wu also enacted Leveling Price Act (平準法) under which the government purchased goods and stored them at the time when prices were low and sold them at the time when prices went up.
These acts were unpopular among merchants as their opportunities to speculate and take advantage of shortage of goods were lost, but the people were happy as prices of goods were stabilized.
Also, emperors of Chinese dynasties ordered to build critical infrastructures for the state including the Grand Canal. The oldest parts of the Grand Canal date back to the 5th century BC, but the most significant part was built during the Sui dynasty in the 6th and 7th centuries. During following dynasties, restoration and extension of the canal were made. The Grand Canal was built to facilitate transportation of goods so that the economy would prosper and people's lives would flourish. If the base is stable, peace reigns in the country. China was one of the largest and most prosperous countries in the world for centuries.
And, in the 20th century, as China was suffering from aggression of imperialism by the Western countries and Japan and went down to half-colonized conditions, Mao Zedong (1893 – 1976), a leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), combining and armed with revolutionary theories of Marxism, firmly established people-first principle as a core value of the party.
During the revolutionary war and confrontation against the Kuomintang government and Imperial Japan, Mao Zedong waged people's war.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1934:
"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; only mobilizing the masses and relying on them can wage it."
"What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion, which it is impossible, and impossible, for any force on earth to smash." [11]
[An art work on People's War]
Despite inferior arms and equipment, the CPC and its People Liberation Army (PLA) gradually pushed back Imperial Japan and the Kuomintang Army because millions of Chinese people enthusiastically supported the CPC and the PLA, providing supplies, foods and critical information. Consequently, the CPC and the PLA got victorious, overwhelming Imperial Japan and the Kuomintang Army.
Thus, "Serve the People" (Chinese: 为人民服务) has become a political slogan and the most fundamental core value of the CPC, which first appeared in a speech by Mao Zedong, delivered on 8 September 1944. [12]
[Mao Zedong talking with farmers]
In the speech, Mao Zedong said:
"Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies led by our Party are battalions of the revolution. These battalions of ours are wholly dedicated to the liberation of the people and work entirely in the people's interests."
"If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized, because we serve the people. Anyone, no matter who, may point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it. The idea of "better troops and simpler administration" was put forward by Mr. Li Ting-ming, who is not a Communist. He made a good suggestion which is of benefit to the people, and we have adopted it. If, in the interests of the people, we persist in doing what is right and correct what is wrong, our ranks will surely thrive."
Ever since, Chinese leaders have kept emphasizing the people-first principle. [13]
Mao Zedong said "serving the people wholeheartedly". [14]
Deng Xiaoping said "taking into account the support, approval, satisfaction, and consent of the people in carrying out its work". [15]
Jiang Zemin said "representing the fundamental interests of the broadest possible majority of the Chinese people". [16]
Hu Jintao said "putting people first". [17]
Xi Jinping said "people-centered philosophy of development". [18]
[President Xi Jinping and factory workers in Zhengzhou, Henan Province][19]
[President Xi Jinping and children of the Wa minority ethnic group in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong, Yunnan Province][20]
[President Xi Jinping talking with villagers in Shibadong Village, Hunan Province][21]
CPC leaderships have been enriching and transcending traditional people-oriented thinking. And, this great tradition of serving the people will continue indefinitely.
(b) The Western tradition of rich-people-first
On the other hand, the Western political statecraft and the Western modernization have been made according to the tradition of the ancient Roman civilization.
The Western political governing system is called democracy. Although the term democracy comes from the ancient Greek words "demos" meaning people and "kratos" meaning rule, it is the ancient Roman Republic that contributed significantly to many aspects of the Western democracy.
[The Roman Forum in Rome, Italy]
As a matter of fact, the Western democracy is only a "copy" of the governing system of the Roman Republic of more than 2,000 years ago. In the ancient Roman Republic, after ousting a bad king in 509 BC, there were separation of powers among a legislature (the Senate and the People's Assembly), an executive (the Consuls) and a judiciary.
But, real policy making was carried out through debate and discussion by the Senate that was a club of rich aristocrats. Some were owners of huge plantations, some were owners of merchant ships, some were owners of mineral mines, some were owners of arsenals, etc. Then, policies made in the Senate were ratified by the People's Assembly so that a formality could be attached as if they were people's will. Thereafter, the policies and the laws were executed by the Consuls who were elected by Roman citizens.
[The Roman Senate - A Rich aristocrats' club where real policy making was carried out through debate and discussion of rich people]
[The People's Assembly where any Roman citizens can attend]
[Roman Consuls - Two Consuls were elected for one-year terms]
So, Roman politics was essentially rich people's ruling. It was the government of rich people, by rich people, for rich people. Domestic policies, diplomacy, war plans, budgetary policies, everything was determined for the purpose of benefiting rich people. The ratification by the People's Assembly and election of the Consuls were used to provide legality and legitimacy to policies made by rich people.
And, in case people's power and demand became extraordinary, Roman rich people elected a Dictator to suppress, execute and subdue people, like Sulla's dictatorship (82–80 BC), so that interests of rich people could be protected.
Accordingly, there has been no people-first tradition in the Western politics. The Western politics has always been rich-people-first. Therefore, how to deceive, mobilize and suppress people for the interests of rich people has been a main theme of the Western politics even today.
Furthermore, the rich-people-first has been reflected and carried through in the Western countries' foreign policy too. Just like the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, the Western countries' foreign policy after the 15th century has been conquering, colonizing, enslaving and exploiting. There has been no equal win-win relations with developing countries in the Western foreign policy.
In the West, the Greek and Roman civilization has been considered to be the foundation of their civilization, and, therefore, the Greek and Roman Classics have traditionally been the cornerstone of a typical European and US elite education. European and US elites learn how to wage wars, how to make political conspiracies, how to stage a coup, how to produce a dictator, and how to deceive people from the Greek and Roman Classics. [22]
The world people do not have to follow the Western governing system and Western modernization that are based upon the ancient Roman civilization of more than 2,000 years ago. Actually, the Western governing system is a very peculiar, unfair, deceptive and cruel governing system.
The Western democracies' purpose is to protect the interests of rich people and their banking firms, military-industrial-complex, IT industries, semi-conductor industries etc. Therefore, the Western democracies impose economic sanctions, wage wars, stage coups, interfere other nations' internal affairs and disrupt other nations' supply chains.
The reason why the US maintains huge military forces is that US rich people want to monopolize and keep most of the wealth of the world by themselves while suppressing people who are without assets.
The Western countries like to call their political systems democracies. But, actually, they are not people-first but rich-people-first.
Western countries' democracies are "fake" democracies.
5. Where the difference between China and the West will lead to? - Conflict? Harmony? Or, overwhelming dominance of China?
(1) Case1: Conflict
Therefore, the US and UK would try to draw China into a Taiwan war and prolong the war as long as possible during which they would attempt to launch a coup as well as uprising in the Chinese mainland to topple the Chinese Communist Party government.
Just like the West is using Ukraine as a proxy to attack Russia, the West would try to transform Japan into a proxy to attack China.
In the process of transforming Japan into a proxy to attack China, the West would promote Japanese right-wing populist party Ishin No Kai that is very anti-China.
[US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and the president of right-wing populist party Ishin No Kai Nobuyuki Baba whom the US wants to promote as a "Japan's Zelensky"]
In case a Taiwan war breaks out by DPP's desperate declaration of independence forced by the US or the US's false-flag operation in which the US destroys its own warship and claims it's China's attack, a Taiwan war will be finished quickly by China's victory
As the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair, the US, Japan, Australia and NATO's intervention will be an aggression. Invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter, China will launch a legitimate legal just-cause defensive war against evil aggressors.
China will put into the operation a huge maximum massive amount of military personnel, warships, warplanes, military vehicles, missiles, paratroopers, special operation forces, civilian ships and everything that China can mobilize as much as possible from the very day one.
Also, China will destroy the US's military air bases in Japan and the Philippines with hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles so that China will have air supremacy over Taiwan.
Above all, Taiwan has only 90 days stockpiles of oil and two weeks stockpiles of natural gas. Considering China's probable saturated intensive attack against Taiwan's oil tanks and liquefied natural gas tanks, Taiwan will run up its oil and gas storage within a few weeks. A war is all about logistics. A Taiwan war will be finished quickly. [23]
At the same time, to prevent oil and gas supply, China will impose naval blockade around Taiwan so that no oil tankers, no liquefied natural gas carriers and no freight ships can approach.
On the side of the US, for the purpose of prolonging Taiwan War as long as possible, the US may launch the largest scale supply and logistical operations together with Japan, Australia and NATO countries to sustain Taiwan's resistance.
The US may desperately organize multi-national naval fleet and convoys that would supply weapons, ammunitions, oil, natural gas, foods and other necessities to Taiwan.
However, such convoy operations will be neutralized as China will have air supremacy. Convoys without air cover are suicidal.
The US would call for economic sanctions against China. But, Asian and African nations would not follow.
(2) Case 2: Harmony
Until they get ready to attack China (in other words, until they transform Japan into a proxy to attack China), the West may seek harmonious relations with China for the purpose of buying time just like they did using Minsk II agreement against Russia.
[U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in July 2023]
However, harmonious relations between the West and China would last only temporarily as the US wants to move to above-mentioned Case 1 as soon as they are ready (in other words, as soon as they transform Japan into a proxy to attack China). On the other hand, China will outpace the US to reach below-mentioned Case 3.
(3) Case 3: China’s dominance
(a) China will dominate in technology and economy
China is surpassing the US and EU in state of the art technologies too. China is dominating the 5G/6G race and AI, Big Data development against the US & EU, which means China will dominate not only manufacturing businesses but financial and service businesses as well. Actually, the Standard Chartered Bank of UK, a notorious colonial bank, is already beginning to be kicked out of Africa. [24]
China is exceeding the US & EU in such areas as space technologies, autonomous cars, IoT, robotics, smart factories, smart agriculture, EVs, and on and on and on.
De-dollarization will spread and expand. Introducing BRICS currency backed by gold will accelerate de-dollarization even more. As de-dollarization expands, US banking firms financial power will diminish.
China may reduce the amount of purchasing US treasury bonds, which will limit and undermine US policy choices.
(b) China will establish supply chains with the global south
China, cooperating with the global south, establish, maintain and constantly improve the most sophisticated supply chains.
Suggesting suitable products, services and minerals that each of the global south nations can provide, China will organize the most effective and efficient supply chains beneficial to all of members based upon equal win-win relations.
Asia and African nations will synchronize their productions and mineral supplies harmoniously with China’s 5 year plan so that each nation would supply what other nations need and each nation would receive what it needs.
The growth rate of Asian and African nations will overwhelm that of the declining West.
(c) China will turn her cooperation with global south into overwhelming international political power.
China will turn her cooperation with global south into overwhelming international political power.
Insisting that national sovereignty and territorial integrity should be preserved, China will work together with world nations to institutionalize the principle of non-interference in internal affairs into an international treaty that prohibits interference in a country’s internal affairs. Specifically, the treaty will ban CIA, NED, NSA and MI6’s staging a coup, sabotage and uprisings.
6. Various civilizations, the people-first principle and shared future of the mankind
Historically speaking, before the age of Discovery of the 15th century, the Islamic world was far more advanced and prosperous than the Western world. For example, Islamic mathematics and Islamic medical knowledge were far superior than those of the Western world.
China was advanced in practical science. The four great inventions of ancient China that contributed significantly to world civilization are the compass, gunpowder, papermaking and printing.
There are various civilizations in various regions of the world. Each of them is important. Actually, diversity makes the mankind strong.
Thus, in March 2023, Chinese president Xi Jinping made a speech and proposed Global Civilization Initiative at the CPC Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. He called for more than 500 political parties and political organizations from more than 150 countries to seek and apply the people-first principle in light of each country's national conditions. Now at last, the people-first is to be pursued and promoted globally and decisively not only economic development and security spheres but political sphere as well. [25]
In his speech, President Xi Jinping asks:
"Polarization or common prosperity? Pure materialistic pursuit or coordinated material and cultural-ethical advancement? Draining the pond to catch the fish or creating harmony between man and nature? Zero-sum game or win-win cooperation? Copying other countries' development model or achieving independent development in light of national conditions?"
By the word "polarization", he seems to have implied inequality between the haves and the have-nots.
In his speech, President Xi Jinping emphasizes the people-first principle:
"We must put the people first and ensure modernization is people-centered. The people are the creators of history and are the strongest bedrock and force in advancing modernization. The ultimate goal of modernization is people's free and well-rounded development. For a modernization path to work and work well, it must put the people first."
Chinese President Xi Jinping also emphasized the importance of diversity. History, culture, demography, religion differ from one country to another. Therefore, a path to modernization is different from one country to another.
[President Xi Jinping and President Raisi of Iran]
[President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia]
China does not intend to impose the Chinese model to other countries. China only advises and suggests that the principle of people-first should be upheld for the sake of each nation's prosperity, peace and stability.
The world of people-first can not be realized by China alone. Every country in the world should establish a party that promotes the people-first principle.
Together with people-first political parties in the world, China is aiming at establishing Common Prosperity (共同富裕) in the world where everyone enjoys fruits of prosperity and no one is left behind. Common prosperity is not only simple income distribution. It is more comprehensive social conditions including organizing fulfilling jobs, accessible education and universal health care.
[President Xi Jinping and African leaders during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, September 2018]
[President Xi Jinping is welcomed in Pretoria, South Africa, December 2015]
Capitalists of the Western countries would try to prevent spread of the people-first principle and Common Prosperity because capitalists of the Western countries want to monopolize and keep most of the wealth of the world by themselves while suppressing people who are without assets.
In order to prevent spread of the people-first principle and Common Prosperity, capitalists of the Western countries would do anything and launch military warfare, proxy warfare, information warfare, economic warfare, political warfare, diplomatic warfare and clandestine warfare.
However, an ultimate triumph of the people-first and Common Prosperity is a sure thing because people's power will be invincible, once mobilized and awaken through Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.
[The SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 2022]
Once again, allow me to quote Mao Zedong.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1934:
"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; only mobilizing the masses and relying on them can wage it."
"What is a true bastion of iron? It is the masses, the millions upon millions of people who genuinely and sincerely support the revolution. That is the real iron bastion, which it is impossible, and impossible, for any force on earth to smash."
Thank you.
References:
(1) "Jack Ma: Traditional banks are operating with a 'pawn shop' mentality", October 29th 2022, ThinkChina
(2) "Ant Group forced to suspend biggest share offering in history", November 3rd 2022, The Guardian
(3) Full Text: Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution, April 2021, The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China
(4) "Global Development Initiative -- a path to sustainable development", September 22nd 2022, Xinhua
(5) Falchani Lithium Project, Puno, April 6th 2020, Mining Technology
(6) "Peru coup: CIA agent turned US ambassador met with defense minister day before president overthrown", December 14th 2023, Geopolitical Economy
(7) "Peru’s coup government is privatizing lithium mining", April 18th 2023, Peoples Dispatch
(8) Full text: The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, February 21st 2023, The Global Times
(9) China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, February 24th 2023, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
(10) "Xi, Putin stress talks as solution to Ukraine crisis", March 21st 2023, CGTN
(11) Quotations from Mao Tse Tung, 8. People's War, Marxists Internet Archive
(12) Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung, SERVE THE PEOPLE
, Marxists Internet Archive
(13) People First - Political Commitment of the Century-Old Communist Party of China, June 2021, New China Research, Xinhua News Agency
(14) Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. III, Chin. ed., People's Publishing House, 1991, p.1094.
(15) Deng Xiaoping's remarks, cited in a speech by Xi Jinping at the 7th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, June 25, 2013.
(16) Speech by Jiang Zemin at a national meeting to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the CPC, July 1, 2001.
(17) Report delivered by Hu Jintao at the 18th CPC National Congress, November 8, 2012.
(18) Report delivered by Xi Jinping at the 19th CPC National Congress, October 18, 2017.
(19) "Xi inspects manufacturing enterprise, Yellow River ecological protection in central China", September 17th 2019, Xinhua
(20) "Xi visits Yunnan on inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year", January 19th 2020, Xinhua
(21) "Xi Jinping and China's anti-poverty war he commands", October 17th 2020, Xinhua
(22) Classics, Wikipedia
(23) "Assessing Taiwan’s strategic energy stockpiles", May 7th 2023, Caribbean News Global
(24) "StanChart cuts seven minnow businesses in Africa and Middle East", April 14th 2022, Reuters
(25) "Full text of Xi Jinping's keynote address at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting", March 16th 2023, Xinhua
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