DUAL POWER IN JAPAN: JAPAN-CHINA ASSOC & CABINET

In late March, it was reported that Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, the most prominent pro-China politician in Japan and former Secretary General of Liberal Democratic party (LDP), would assume a position of a chairman of the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association that is an association of pro-China members of the Japanese Parliament.

It is likely that Japan will have a political structure of dual power in the coming months - (I) "pro-China power" represented by the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association in the Japanese Parliament and (II) "pro-US power" represented by the Japanese Cabinet - just like Russia of 1917 where the dual power of the Soviets, particularly the Petrograd Soviet, and the Russian Provisional Government was existing during the time period between the February Revolution and the October Revolution.


[Alexander Kerensky who led the Russian Provisional Government and Vladimir Lenin who led the communist Bolshevik and called for "All Power to the Soviets"]

And, just like the Soviets led by Vladimir Lenin overwhelmed the Russian Provisional Government led by Alexander Kerensky, the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association led by Mr. Nikai will eventually overwhelm the Japanese Cabinet led by PM Kishida.


[Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan (left) and Toshihiro Nikai, a chairman of the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association]


Currently, the Japanese Cabinet is under the control of the US because PM Kishida is completely obedient to the US government.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has become a prime minister, thanks to receiving support from the US as he publicly promised that he would remove from a position of LDP Secretary General Mr. Toshihiro Nikai who is pro-China. In addition, after becoming a prime minister, PM Kishida was constantly threatened by the US with the Unification Church scandal. So, he has become completely obedient to the US.


[Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden]

Accordingly, PM Kishida has decided that Japan should possess offensive weapons, violating Japan's pacifist constitution. He has also decided to double Japan's defense budget and, for that purpose, to impose tax increase. The US government praised PM Kishida very much.

The Japanese government is going to develop long-range cruise missiles and procure Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US. New missile bases have been constructed along the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa Prefecture including Ishigaki-jima island that is located only 300 kilometers to the east of Taiwan.





The US is trying to use Japan as a proxy to attack China in Taiwan crisis just like it is using Ukraine as a proxy to attack Russia.


On the other hand, in contrast, the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association will function as a bridge between China and Japan and an iron-bastion of pro-China Japanese politicians and pro-China Japanese businesses. The association is consisted of pro-China members of the Japanese Parliament from both ruling parties and opposition parties.


[In 2019, members of the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association visited China and met with Tang Jiaxuan, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association and former Chinese foreign minister (center)]

The origin of the association dates back to 1952 when the Japan-China Trade Facilitation Parliamentary Association had been formed by multi-partisan members of the Japanese Parliament, which contributed to normalization of China and Japan of 1972. In 1973, it was renamed into the current one. Since then, the association has been contributing to friendly relations between China and Japan mainly in economic area. And, now, it is becoming "the" most important organization for China-Japan relations with having Mr. Nikai as a chairman.


Actually, as a matter of fact, the dual power in Japan has been existing for years. Under PM Shinzo Abe and PM Yoshihide Suga, Mr. Nikai was Secretary General of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2016 to 2021. As the top official of the ruling party, Mr. Nikai worked very hard to facilitate better relations between China and Japan while PM Abe and PM Suga tended to be obedient to the US.


[Mr. Toshiro Nikai, Secretary General of LDP (at that time), and President Xi Jinping, Beijing in 2017]

Back in 2015, when Mr. Nikai visited China and met with President Xi Jinping, he took with him as many as three thousand (yes, 3,000) business persons to China. [1]


[Toshihiro Nikai, Chairman of General Council of LDP (at that time) and his delegation met with President Xi Jinping, Beijing in 2015]


[Yang Jiechi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission (at that time), Toshihiro Nikai, Chairman of General Council of LDP (at that time), and President Xi Jinping, Beijing in 2015]

After Mr. Nikai and his delegation's visit to China in 2015, economic relations between China and Japan was boosted very much.

In 2017, Mr. Nikai led his delegation to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing, despite the Japanese government's official position not to join the Belt and Road Initiative due to US intervention.


[Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary General of LDP (at that time) and his delegation to the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in 2017]


In 2020, CSIS (The Center for Strategic and International Studies), one of the most influential US think-tanks, published a report in which Mr. Nikai was criticized that he was promoting China-Japan relations in cooperating China's Belt and Road Initiative with trampling the US interests. [2]

So, the US decided to remove Mr. Nikai from the position of Secretary General of LDP by supporting Mr. Fumio Kishida who pledged that he would remove Mr. Nikai.

The US believed that, as PM Kishida had removed Mr. Nikai from the position of LDP Secretary General in 2021, Mr. Nikai's pro-China power would disappear.

But, the US was wrong.

Mr. Nikai is now starting to use the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association as his new powerful political apparatus to exert pro-China political power. This time, he can exert power not only toward ruling parties but opposition parties as well because the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association is a multi-partisan association.


Mr. Nikai is planning to visit China in June. When he visits China, he will take with him dozens of members of the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association and thousands of pro-China Japanese business persons from manufacturing industries, financial industries, transportation industries, IT industries, tourism industries and so on.

Mr. Nikai's political power is not his personal individual power. He is powerful because the broad range of Japanese businesses, hundreds of thousands of Japanese companies and tens of millions of Japanese business persons who want to do business with China support him.

In his interview of February 2023, Mr. Nikai mentioned, "What is important is cultural, diplomatic, economic relations and, above all, the people's power that back up and support them. The people's power of expression and power of actions matter. Therefore, I took a large number of people to China as I had opportunities. Usually, politicians visit foreign countries alone arrogantly. But, nothing works unless the people understand." [3]


When he visits china in June, Mr. Nikai will meet with President Xi Jinping. President Xi Jinping will welcome him and dozens of members of the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association as well as thousands of pro-China Japanese business persons.

And, President Xi Jinping will emphasize People-First Principle and the power of the people.


[Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary General of LDP (at that time) and President Xi Jinping]


Mr. Nikai will meet with Mr. Wang Yi, Senior Chinese diplomat too.


[Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary General of LDP (at that time) and Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister (at that time)]


Also, Mr. Nikai will meet with Mr. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Mr. Wang Huning is the No.4 of CPC and the top of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, Chinese: 中国人民政治协商会议), which is a supreme political advisory body in the People's Republic of China.


[Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (right), when he met with Andrew Hsia, vice chairman of KMT of Taiwan, in Beijing in February 2023]

After the meeting with President Xi Jinping, Mr. Wang Yi and Mr. Wang Huning, Mr. Nikai will make a joint statement together with Mr. Wang Yi or Mr. Wang Huning in which followings will be confirmed.

- the importance of the People-First principle
- Japan's adherence to One-China principle
- the importance of Non-Interference in a nation's internal affairs
- recognition that peaceful reunification of China and Taiwan is pursued and supported while China reserves the option of taking all measures necessary
- recognition that it is already the multipolar world
- the importance of preserving national sovereignty and territorial integrity
- promoting equal win-win relations
- facilitating digital economy

The bright prospect of economic relations between China and Japan and peace in East Asia will contribute to the better relations between the two countries and strengthen Mr. Nikai's political influence in Japan.


Furthermore, during his visit to China in June, Mr. Nikai will negotiate with Chinese leadership on release of a Japanese businessman who is now in custody in China, being charged with espionage.

Mr. Nikai will succeed in the negotiation and return together with a released Japanese businessman, which will make Mr. Nikai a hero and boost his popularity among the Japanese people.

The Japanese people have a tendency to enthusiastically praise a politician who succeeds in releasing a Japanese person or persons from custody in a foreign country.


[Japanese persons who were released from detention in North Korea and returned to Japan in 2002]

For instance, in 2002, PM Jyunichiro Koizumi's popularity was boosted when he visited North Korea, negotiated and succeeded in recovering Japanese persons who had been in detention in North Korea. It helped PM Koizumi to consolidate his political power.

Likewise, after his visit to China in coming June and recovering a Japanese businessman in custody, Mr. Nikai's political power will be boosted and consolidated significantly.

In politics, power attracts more power.

So, it is possible that, after June, many LDP members of the Japanese Parliament would join Mr. Nikai's faction. In addition, some opposition parties' members of the Japanese Parliament could leave their parties and join Mr. Nikai's faction. Mr. Nikai's faction could become the largest one within LDP.

For example, PM Kishida's faction was originally pro-China faction. So, some members of PM Kishida's faction must be frustrated and even feel indignant to PM Kishida's obedient attitude to the US. Some members of PM Kishida's faction could join Mr. Nikai's faction, damaging PM Kishida's standing.

Then, pressures within LDP and from the Japanese people that call for PM Kishida to resign will increase very much. PM Kishida's approval rate is as low as around 30% in polls even today.


[The Kishida administration's approval rate was as low as 26.5% as of January 2023]

Under the pressures, even a small wrong comment of PM Kishida or a single defeat in a by-election could trigger a resignation of PM Kishida and his cabinet.

Or, as some ministers of the Kishida cabinet are from Mr. Nikai's faction, Mr. Nikai can let them resign one after another, which will force PM Kishida to resign.

PM Kishida would not be able to resort to a snap election because his defeat and decrease of LDP's seats in the Japanese Parliament is a sure thing.


After the resignation of PM Kishida and his cabinet, Mr. Nikai, working with other factions, would organize a new cabinet as a king-maker. He might pick up Mr. Taro Kono as the next prime minister since he is relatively popular among the Japanese people for his frank and untraditional style. Whoever becomes the next prime minister, he and his cabinet would be totally under the control of Mr. Nikai because it is Mr. Nikai who would make him a prime minister.



The new PM and his cabinet would be pro-China. Japan's restriction on exporting semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China would be lifted immediately.

Above all, the new PM and his cabinet would declare that Japan would not allow US military forces to use US military bases in Japan for the purpose of intervening in Taiwan crisis because China-Taiwan relations should be solved through dialogue between them. This will significantly enhance the probability of peaceful reunification of China and Taiwan because US military forces would not be able to conduct effective operations to intervene Taiwan crisis without using US military bases in Japan.

Japan's declaration that Japan would not allow US military forces to use US military bases in Japan for the purpose of intervening in Taiwan crisis will affect Taiwan voters and make them convince that a peaceful reunification with China is the only choice for Taiwan. Consequently, in Taiwan's presidential election of January 2024, a pro-China KMT candidate will win over a pro-US candidate of DPP.




Incidentally, in case Mr. Nikai's faction should have a difficulty to be most influential in LDP even after his visit to China in June, it is possible for Mr. Nikai to form a new pro-China political party based upon the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association. In that event, the Komei-to party that is pro-China will sever relations with LDP and support the new pro-China party in a general election. Without support of the Komei-to party, LDP will lose badly in the election.

According to polls, currently, approximately 70% of the Japanese people answer that they have no party they can support. The Japanese people will find a path to the peace and bright future in the new pro-China party and cast huge ballots for it. After a victory in the election, the new pro-China party and the Komei-to party can form a pro-China coalition government together.


The US would try to counter by supporting anti-China parties such as the Nippon Ishin no Kai and Democratic Party For the People (DPFP). The US may stage false flag events such as crush of a Japanese warplane and sinking of a Japanese warship to blame China. Or, the US may even try to assassinate pro-China Japanese politicians and stage a coup in Japan. But, all of these will fail in the face of tens of millions of Japanese business persons supporting pro-China politicians and tens of millions of the Japanese people seeking for peace.


Under a new pro-China Japanese PM and his cabinet, Japan would be able to avoid joining intervention in Taiwan crisis, and Japan's economy would grow drastically in such critical areas as EVs, clean energies, digital economy, aerospace assemblies, consumer goods and so on, cooperating and having win-win relations with China.

Thank you.


References:
(1) 「習主席が『二階3000人訪中団』に語ったこと」、２０１５年５月２４日、東洋経済

(2) China’s Influence in Japan: Everywhere Yet Nowhere in Particular, July 2020, CSIS

(3) "重鎮・二階俊博に田原総一朗がホンネ直撃！「勝手なことをするんじゃない！」 自民党が大揺れ！岸田首相軍拡路線に痛烈警告"、２０２３年２月２日、サンデー毎日２月１２日号


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.

EX TV ANCHORS & STAFFS FOR PRO-CHINA TV PROGRAM

The US is trying to use Japan as a proxy to attack China just like it is using Ukraine as a proxy to attack Russia.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has become a prime minister, receiving support from the US as he publicly promised that he would remove from a position of LDP Secretary General Mr. Toshihiro Nikai who is pro-China. After becoming a prime minister, PM Kishida was threatened by the US with the Unification Church scandal. So, he has become completely obedient to the US.


[Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden]

PM Kishida has decided that Japan should possess offensive weapons, violating Japan's pacifist constitution. He has also decided to double Japan's defense budget and, for that purpose, to impose tax increase.

The Japanese government has decided to develop long-range cruise missiles and procure Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US. A new missile bases have been constructed along the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa Prefecture including Ishigaki-jima island that is located only 300 kilometers to Taiwan.





Just like it did in Sino-Japanese War and the Second World War, Japan is embarking upon military aggression toward China without repenting at all its past war crimes.

However, despite all these reckless and outrageous moves of the Japanese government, a large scale opposition and protest of the Japanese people doesn't happen. The Japanese people are acquiescent and even obedient to the US.

Why is that?

It is mainly due to Japan's media that spread biased disinformation and misinformation among the Japanese people, implanting false notions of "China threat" and "Japan's critical national security situation endangered by China, North Korea and Russia".

Japanese media such as major TV stations and news papers are under control of the US. TBS and the Mainichi Shimbun are pro-US Democratic Party. NTV and the Yomiuri Shimbun are pro-US whether Democratic party or Republican party. Fuji TV and the Sankei Shimbun are pro-US Republican Party and pro-Japanese Conservatives. TV Asahi and the Asahi Shimbun are pro-US although it is pretending to be liberal. NHK is obedient and pandering to the authority whether US or Japanese. In other words, Japanese media are a propaganda machine for the US.



Also, the Japanese people as a race have a tendency not to seek for facts of the reality. Instead, they tend to follow and be harmonious to surrounding people. They don't form individual independent thoughts based upon observation of facts of the reality and value systems. They feel content as long as surrounding people are cordial and amiable even if Japan is going toward a war of aggression.

However, this is a path to ruin and destruction of Japan itself because if Japan attacks China in such a case of Taiwan crisis, China will retaliate most severely and violently with all her might.

Japanese media is spreading misinformation that, in case of conflict between China and Japan, China would attack only Ryukyu islands of Okinawa Prefecture. No way! In case of conflict, China will attack Tokyo first of all just like the US attacked Tokyo first of all in the Second World War. It's a common sense of military operations.

Thereafter, launching ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, China will attack all military bases, all weapon factories, oil and gas storage tanks, power stations, railways, highways and communication networks in Japan so that Japan would not be able to continue fighting. If Japan attacks China, China's retaliation will be enormous, thorough, rapid and saturated, not gradual or cautious, and Japan will be ruined and destroyed completely.


In the first place, there is no China threat. China will never attack Japan as long as Japan does not attack China. That's the fact of the reality. China wants to maintain peaceful and stable relations with Japan because it is good for both China and Japan. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government's policy is "people-first". Therefore, they seek for peace, not a war.

In late March, Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi met with former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda. Wang praised Fukuda for his contributions to China-Japan friendship over the years and hoped more people in Japan would play a positive role in improving China-Japan relations.


[Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi]

Wang stated that China hopes Japan will return to the four China-Japan political documents, paving the way for the two countries' relationship and exchanges in various sectors to be revitalized.

What is important is for the Japanese people to know facts of the reality. But, we can't expect Japanese mainstream media to report facts to the Japanese people. Therefore, efforts should be made to spread facts of the reality to the Japanese people. Disinformation and misinformation of propaganda must be overwhelmed by facts.


Under these circumstances, Japanese ex-TV anchors and ex-TV staffs can start internet TV programs in which true facts of the reality on China and situation of East Asia will be reported and provided to the Japanese audience.

For example, Mr. Ichiro Furutachi was famous for his objective and critical attitude toward right-wing tendency of Japanese politics when he was an anchor of evening TV news program.


[Mr. Ichiro Furutachi]

In 2016, he reported about the danger of a provision on national emergency that LDP was mulling to include into the Japanese Constitution, correctly telling that insertion of a provision on national emergency to the Japanese Constitution would pave the way to dictatorship just like insertion of a provision on national emergency to the Weimar Constitution of Germany lead to Hitler dictatorship of Nazi Germany.





Mr. Furutachi left the program after the reporting. Also, reportedly, staffs including a producer on the reporting left the TV station.

Under the current critical juncture, Mr. Furutachi and his TV staffs can start an internet TV program in which true facts of the reality on China and situation of East Asia will be reported to the Japanese audience so that Japan's joining intervention in Taiwan crisis and attacking China would be prevented.

Or, perhaps, Mr. Furutachi, making the most of his own experiences as an anchor, can be an executive producer and organize ex-anchors and ex-TV staffs to start an internet TV program in which true facts of the reality on China and situation of East Asia will be reported.

Japanese companies whose major sales and income are from the Chinese market such as Nidec Corporation (日本電産), Panasonic, TOYOTA, TDK and so on will provide sponsorships to Mr. Furutachi's internet news program. Also donations will be provided to the program from peace-loving Japanese people.



Currently, the Internet has become main information sources for many Japanese people. So, an internet TV news program can be very influential and effective.


As for news contents, Mr. Furutachi's news program can cooperate with China's CGTN (China Global Television Network) to receive permission so that Mr. Furutachi's program can use CGTN's news clips.

CGTN is providing 24/7 English news program through the Internet for free. CGTN's news program "The World Today" reports extensive world news at every top of the hour. Mr. Furutachi's news program can translate CGTN's English news into Japanese language and use them.



CGTN's news reporting is very objective and fair with full of facts. Also, as China is growing and advancing rapidly, most news are forward-looking, bright and healthy, which makes viewers pleasant, compared to contents of Japanese news programs which are glum, gloomy, and pessimistic. Therefore, Japanese viewers who are fed up with Japanese biased news programs would very much welcome Mr. Furutachi's news program.


Most of CGTN's news are world news, covering every part of the world ranging from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Central America, South America to Pacific regions.

CGTN's foreign correspondents are very excellent and international. Instead of sending Chinese reporters to various regions, CGTN recruits and employs local reporters who know every nook and cranny to report each region's news. So, their reporting are superb.

For example, as for Eastern Europe, Mr. Aljoša Milenković reports.




As for Turkey, Ms. Michal Bardavid reports.




As for DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), Mr. Chris Ocamringa reports.




As for France, Mr. Ross Cullen reports.




As for Russia, Ms. Dasha Chernyshova reports.




As for the US, Mr. Nathan King reports among others.




Also, correspondents who are specialized in each region provide reporting.

For example, Mr. Stuart Smith reports from Russia.



Mr. Furutachi's program can translate and use these correspondents' reporting to provide facts of the world reality to the Japanese audience.


In addition, Mr. Furutachi's program can translate and broadcast CGTN's programs such as follows:

CGTN's China 24 reports mainly focusing on China's domestic news.




In CGTN's World Insight with Tien Wei, Ms. Tien Wei ask direct questions to prominent people of the world.




In CGTN's The Point with Liu Xin, Ms. Liu Xin interviews key persons of the latest topics.




In CGTN's The Heat, debates are made on the hottest themes.




In addition to Mr. Furutachi's program, ex-anchors and ex-staffs of TBS news programs can start an internet TV news program too.


Providing facts of the reality to Japanese audience will enable the Japanese people to think independently without being brainwashed by propaganda of Japanese mainstream media. It will prevent Japan from joining intervention in Taiwan crisis, enhance mutual understanding between the Chinese people and the Japanese people and thereby solidify stable, friendly and mutually prosperous relations of China and Japan.

Thank you.


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.

CHINA ADVANCES PEOPLE-FIRST PRINCIPLE GLOBALLY

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's people-first approach to be applied regionally and globally

China applies the people-first principle regionally and globally as well.

(a) China's Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative

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 nations.


[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) China's Global Security Initiative

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. [5]

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. [6]



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. [7]


[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.




[The Chinese peacekeeping force during the UN Peace Medal of Honor awarding ceremony held by MINUSMA in Mali, March 2019]


3. China has launched Global Civilization Initiative

(a) China's tradition of people-first

As mentioned above, 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.

This applies not only China but any countries of the world as well.

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. [8]





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."


This 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." [9]


[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. [10]


[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. [11]

Mao Zedong said "serving the people wholeheartedly". [12]

Deng Xiaoping said "taking into account the support, approval, satisfaction, and consent of the people in carrying out its work". [13]

Jiang Zemin said "representing the fundamental interests of the broadest possible majority of the Chinese people". [14]

Hu Jintao said "putting people first". [15]

Xi Jinping said "people-centered philosophy of development". [16]


[President Xi Jinping and factory workers in Zhengzhou, Henan Province][17]


[President Xi Jinping and children of the Wa minority ethnic group in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong, Yunnan Province][18]


[President Xi Jinping talking with villagers in Shibadong Village, Hunan Province][19]

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 Western civilization, the study of the Greek and Roman classics was traditionally considered to be the foundation of their activities, and has, therefore, traditionally been the cornerstone of a typical European and US elite education. [20]

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, it is a very peculiar, unfair, deceptive and cruel governing system.

The Western democracies' purpose is to protect the interests of 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.


(c) 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.

In proposing Global Civilization Initiative, Chinese President Xi Jinping 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.





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) Full text: The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, February 21st 2023, The Global Times

(6) 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

(7) "Xi, Putin stress talks as solution to Ukraine crisis", March 21st 2023, CGTN

(8) "Full text of Xi Jinping's keynote address at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting", March 16th 2023, Xinhua

(9) Quotations from Mao Tse Tung, 8. People's War, Marxists Internet Archive

(10) Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung, SERVE THE PEOPLE
, Marxists Internet Archive

(11) People First - Political Commitment of the Century-Old Communist Party of China, June 2021, New China Research, Xinhua News Agency

(12) Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. III, Chin. ed., People's Publishing
House, 1991, p.1094.

(13) 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.

(14) Speech by Jiang Zemin at a national meeting to mark the 80th founding
anniversary of the CPC, July 1, 2001.

(15) Report delivered by Hu Jintao at the 18th CPC National Congress,
November 8, 2012.
33

(16) Report delivered by Xi Jinping at the 19th CPC National Congress, October
18, 2017.

(17) "Xi inspects manufacturing enterprise, Yellow River ecological protection in central China", September 17th 2019, Xinhua

(18) "Xi visits Yunnan on inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year", January 19th 2020, Xinhua

(19)
"Xi Jinping and China's anti-poverty war he commands", October 17th 2020, Xinhua

(20) Classics, Wikipedia


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.