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CHINESE LEADERS FACE a challenge: how to deal with Donald Trump.
Weeks before taking office, the incoming American president is riling Beijing with confrontation and online statements that appear to foreshadow a tougher foreign policy toward China.
China woke up this morning to sharp criticism posted by Trump on Twitter, days after Beijing responded to his telephone conversation with Taiwan’s president by accusing the Taiwanese of playing a “small trick” on Trump.
Trump wrote:
Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the U.S. doesn’t tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea?
“I don’t think so!”
Personality
That was apparently prompted by China’s response to Trump’s talk Friday with Tsai Ing-wen, the first time an American president or president-elect is known to have spoken to a Taiwanese leader since the US broke off formal diplomatic relations in 1979.
So far, China has avoided responding with open hostility. Today, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China would have “no comment on what motivated the Trump team” to make the tweets, but said he believed both sides would continue to support a “sound and a stable bilateral relationship.”
“For us, for China, we do not comment on his personality,” Lu said.
We focus on his policies, especially his policies toward China.
China’s reaction to Trump’s call with Tsai was relatively low-key given the sensitivity China places on Taiwan.
The US and Taiwan retain strong unofficial ties, and the US sells weapons to the self-governing island. But American leaders have for decades avoided any official recognition in deference to China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, to be captured by force if necessary.
Trump’s reference in another tweet to Tsai as “the President of Taiwan” was sure to inflame China, which considers any reference to Taiwan having a president as a grave insult.
Punish
But China only said it would make a “solemn representation” in Washington, and Lu declined to expand on that statement today.
Instead, China seemed to offer Trump a face-saving way out of an apparent blunder by blaming the Taiwanese.
English-language commentaries then appeared in two state-run newspapers known to be used by China’s ruling Communist Party leadership to send messages abroad.
“Trump might be looking for some opportunities by making waves,” the Global Times said in an editorial today headlined, “Talk to Trump, punish Tsai administration.”
“However, he has zero diplomatic experience and is unaware of the repercussions of shaking up Sino-US relations,” the newspaper said.
It is certain that Trump doesn’t want a showdown with China, because it is not his ambition, and neither was it included in his promise to the electorate.
He puts out feelers to sound China out and chalk up some petty benefits.
China’s response was characteristically coded. But it now faces an incoming president who deals in outspoken tweets, not communiques.
Not true
Trump used a platform banned by censors in mainland China to renew several of his criticisms during the US presidential campaign. Some of his arguments aren’t true.
Taiwan’s official Central News Agency, citing anonymous sources on Saturday, said Edwin Feulner, founder of the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, was a “crucial figure” in setting up communication channels between the sides.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence yesterday said that the phone call shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as a shift in US policy. He shrugged off the attention to the incident as media hype.
“It was a courtesy call,” Pence told NBC’s Meet the Press.
Ned Price, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said Trump’s conversation does not signal any change to long-standing US policy — although some in Taiwan expressed hopes for strong US support from the incoming administration.
In terms of Trump’s criticisms, Chinese imports are taxed at standard US rates, while Washington has recently slapped painful punitive tariffs on Chinese steel, solar panels and other goods.
And while China once kept a tight grip on the value of the yuan, also known as the renminbi, it now allows it to trade within a bandwidth 2% above or below a daily target set by the People’s Bank of China.
The yuan is currently trading at around a six-year low against the dollar. But economists now conclude that the currency is more or less properly valued in relation to the dollar and other foreign currencies.
Controls
And with economic growth slowing considerably and more Chinese trying to move money out of the country, the government is now spending massively to hold up the yuan’s value rather than depressing it as Trump and other critics accuse it of doing.
It has also imposed strict controls on Chinese moving money out of the country.
China has built up its military and constructed man-made islands in the South China Sea, and made sweeping territorial claims over almost the entire critical waterway. Those claims were broadly rejected in June by an international tribunal in The Hague.
Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at People’s University in Beijing, predicted China would not lash out immediately, but calibrate its response over the next several months after Trump enters the White House.
“Trump’s remarks will certainly raise the concerns of Chinese leaders,” Shi said. “But at the moment, they will be restrained and watch his moves closely.”
Calm
Meanwhile, Taiwan has urged China to stay calm after the Taiwanese leader’s unprecedented phone call to US President-elect Donald Trump angered Beijing, as residents and analysts in Taipei expressed fears at the possible fallout.
Ties between Taipei and Beijing have grown increasingly frosty since China-sceptic Tsai Ing-wen took power in Taiwan in May, ending eight years of cross-strait rapprochement.
Beijing has since cut off all official communication with the self-ruled island, which it still views as part of its territory.
Today Taiwan’s China affairs minister Chang Hsiao-yueh urged Beijing to consider the matter with a “calm attitude”. She told reporters:
The government values ties with [China] and the president has reiterated time and again that Taiwan will not go back to the old way of confrontation… I don’t think there is an act of provocation.
Tsai herself has made no comment but the presidential office has insisted there is “no conflict” between Taiwan maintaining relations with the US and with China.
In Taipei some said they now fear a Beijing backlash.
“I doubt that a short phone call will help Taiwan that much in the long-term, but it will infuriate China and they will likely take vengeful moves against Taiwan,” said receptionist Hu Chi-hui, 38.
Saleswoman Ho Li-chin, 43, told AFP she fears China will try to isolate Taiwan even more in the international community.
More harm than good
Political analysts said Tsai was gambling that the call would increase her bargaining power with Beijing.
Fan Shih-ping of the National Taiwan Normal University, said Tsai wanted to show Beijing that “giving Taiwan the cold shoulder would drive it further towards the US”.
But as she battles falling approval ratings at home over domestic issues, observers agreed the move was unlikely to significantly improve her popularity – and could damage it further.
“Beijing will not leave the matter at that and this could do Tsai more harm than good, such as prompting Beijing to get Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to switch recognition,” said Tang Shao-cheng, a political scientist at the National Chengchi University.
However, some residents voiced support for Tsai.
“Taiwan has the right to maintain relations with other countries and we shouldn’t look to China before taking our moves,” said pensioner Lin Ji-chen in Taipei. ”Taiwan should walk its own path.”
With reporting from AFP. - © AFP, 2016
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If I was going to investigate international hacking, I’d definitely get an old guy who can’t use a computer to head the team.
Can Michael O’Leary fly a plane?
O’Leary would certainly be a better choice to head the team.
You suck at analogies. He knows more than most about the aviation industry & business. I’d bet Rudy can barely use a computer, let alone lead a team of hacking investigators.
@Congress Tart: Rudi is a Yes man, put in there to dumb down the staff.
It was between rudi and a 10 year old..
” So we had to get very, very tough on cyber and cyber warfare. It is a huge problem. I have a son—he’s 10 years old. He has computers. He is so good with these computers. It’s unbelievable. The security aspect of cyber is very, very tough. And maybe, it’s hardly doable. But I will say, we are not doing the job we should be doing. But that’s true throughout our whole governmental society. We have so many things that we have to do better, Lester. And certainly cyber is one of them.”
Trump
Congress Tart. Old and not computer literate go hand in hand in your little ageist world do they?
@Bridget O’Hanlon: yes, from experience. It’s not “ageist” – it’s true. Stop being overly PC for no reason.
Your experience is very limited then. No need to throw around the pc football. It’s got nothing to do with being pc. It’s to do with you being ageist and wrong
Doesn’t he have business ties to the Russian government? And the Qataris? And the Iranians?
It’s like asking Fred Flintstone to advise on Nuclear Physics
So who better to look into these improprieties?
Hmmm I dunno…..maybe….someone with expertise in cyber crime….
I don’t know dave usually an honest person would cite evidence when making accusations like that.
We are in a post-truth world, evidence should never be allowed to get in the way of spurious allegations.
Or was that never let the truth get in the way of a good story
@Jason Fallon We could say the same thing about a lot of members of our current government.. but we don’t
@Jason, how misinformed you are, he has been dealing with cyber security issues for years through his private security firm. He has plenty of expertise in the area.
So he has a confict of interest ?
Or you could just have a memory. Remember all the reasons why he couldn’t be secretary of state? https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/us/politics/donald-trump-cabinet-rudy-giuliani.html
“Records show Mr. Giuliani has had ties dating to at least 2004 to TriGlobal, a company that has provided image consulting to Russian oligarchs and clients with deep Kremlin ties. They have included Transneft, Russia’s state-owned oil pipeline giant”
@Siegheil Valtazar: So cute the way you jump to Papa Donald’s defence every time, bless your cotton socks! *ruffles hair*
Dave O’Keefe the journals premier Clinton propagandist now super concerned about potential conflicts of interest.
Oh the shock of it all, business people with ties to Russian business, quick run and tell the Guards. Even better just call Joe Biden, I am sure his some will be right up to speed with that sphere of influence. Or maybe Soros, he has some great long-term ties to Russia.
Run away, run away now, the Russians are coming.
Meanwhile in real news, Obama makes the Ministry of Truth a reality.
Obama Quietly Signs The “Countering Disinformation And Propaganda Act” Into Law
Late on Friday, with the US population embracing the upcoming holidays and oblivious of most news emerging from the administration, Obama quietly signed into law the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which authorizes $611 billion for the military in 2017.
Recall that as we reported in early June, “a bill to implement the U.S.’ very own de facto Ministry of Truth had been quietly introduced in Congress. As with any legislation attempting to dodge the public spotlight the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 marks a further curtailment of press freedom and another avenue to stultify avenues of accurate information. Introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Ted Lieu, H.R. 5181 seeks a “whole-government approach without the bureaucratic restrictions” to counter “foreign disinformation and manipulation,” which they believe threaten the world’s “security and stability.”
Mikhail, interesting how you and Pádraig change tactics once I produce the article. Both before it saying nah, no way, liar. Now Pádraig has decided that every business man has links to Russia (even though he previously said I was lying about Rudy) and your new tactic is to tie me to a (unt who was in my opinion the best of a bad lot at the last election. If you haven’t noticed I have not been talking about her at all.
They say unnamed statements are like a Cinderella shoe, they only fit those that have the right feet. Others just walk on by knowing the shoe did not fit.
Funny old world
Pádraig, how on earth did that make it through a Republican house and Senate? You almost make it seem like he wrote it and signed it without approval from anywhere else. Also, it may have been news when “Tyler Durden” wrote the article 3 weeks ago.
Pádraig, it was a section of the article I posted a link to which provides the sources. Why ask for proof and then not read it when it’s provided?
@Mikhail Valtazar:
“I don’t know dave usually an honest person would cite evidence when making accusations like that.”
You wrote that did you not? One of the posters seems to have some confusion.
Maybe he left his glasses at home, not sure. Seems to mix up statements with questions to people.
Funny old fellow
Dave all you’ve done is provide an article that proves Mr Giuliani has private business interests like so many other successful people, your bias is then allowing you to draw all kinds of imaginary links.
Mikhail, the bit you’re missing is that’s also all I claimed, that he has business ties to the Russian government and the Qataris and the Iranians. There’s a real link. Where is the part that I imagined?
Pádraig, you do know people can just scroll and see what else he and you said right? You’re some man for editing after the fact.
New edit tools, I must have the wrong version of the app installed.
Scans about, nope no edit tools here.
Pádraig, for a well read individual sometimes it does look as if you can’t read.
“But Mr. Giuliani’s business ties are a major red flag. He built a lucrative consulting and speechmaking career after leaving City Hall. His firm, Giuliani Partners, has had contracts with the government of Qatar and the Canadian company that is building the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and Mr. Giuliani has given paid speeches to a shadowy Iranian opposition group that until 2012 was on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations.”
Wonder if it is anything like Hillary that sat on the board fo directors to the company working with ISIS. Or the Sadi connection or indeed many of the other, it’s just out foundation getting the coin.
We would not be running double standards, would we?
No, never, that would be hypocritical –
http://www.mintpressnews.com/hillary-clinton-served-on-the-board-of-a-company-who-funds-is/219060/
Newsflash: Hillary didn’t win, Trump did. I don’t think you’re quite seeing the difference between the judgement of a private citizen and that of a person heading an investigation potentially into actions of his former business partners.
If it was fine during campaign time it would have been fine during office. There are ties to all kinds of weird and smelly places in the current office, the previous office, and the next office. It is all straws, writ large because some people have their nose out of joint.
You say that as if I said it was OK, I didn’t. So your stance is that it’s OK because it’s happened before? I’m saying surely there’s someone with less “sensitive” connections that can do just as good a job.
Anyone can start a company in any given field and come up with a shoddy website to boot. Doesn’t mean that they’re in any way an expert in that field.
Some might say ‘sensitive’ other might say understands the business and cultural environment better. Unless, of course, you cast aspersions on his character due to third party connections and speeches. Now that would be some underhanded sentiments.
There’s plenty of factual evidence out there about Giuliani’s character if you’d care to look. But you’re to blinkered to see it. You claim not to be a Trump supporter but you’re here every day defending his every move. Are you really saying that a guy with friends in the Kremlin is the best person to investigate hacks that his boss believes were ordered by the Kremlin and other countries?
@Dave O Keeffe:
Of course Padraig supports Trump – Padraig is the Kremlin’s man on the Journal, and Trump is the Kremlin’s man in the US.
Feel free anytime to highlight where I have supported Trump – and don’t forget that pesky content you all hate so much that again highlights how wrong you are. But sure, spurious is the player’s card of so many of the soundbite pundits.
Funny enough the narrative your ilk push some say is just giving wind to his sails.
The Deep State Goes to War with President-Elect, Using Unverified Claims, as Democrats Cheer
IN JANUARY, 1961, Dwight Eisenhower delivered his farewell address after serving two terms as U.S. president; the five-star general chose to warn Americans of this specific threat to democracy: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” That warning was issued prior to the decadelong escalation of the Vietnam War, three more decades of Cold War mania, and the post-9/11 era, all of which radically expanded that unelected faction’s power even further.
This is the faction that is now engaged in open warfare against the duly elected and already widely disliked president-elect, Donald Trump. They are using classic Cold War dirty tactics and the defining ingredients of what has until recently been denounced as “Fake News.”
Pádraig, your comments on this article are you supporting him and his choices. Even going as far as to use deception to do so. So, hey, I found you supporting Trump, scroll to see it. Yesterday you edited a quote of his so as to actually change the meaning of it so you could use it to prove he didn’t say what he did say. I’d also like to point out that “my ilk” I questioned his business ties. Then you questioned the business ties of a private citizen. So you might want to take notice of yourself being of similar ilk.
So cyber terrorism and foreign governments hacking US organisations is a thing now? I thought it was all Fake. Donald… Donald… Donald were you lying?
Strawman argument. Sad!
Mikhail: Kek! Happy!
He also hasn’t a clue whatsoever how to tackle cyber terrorism/hacking. clown
Giulianai has been dealing with cyber security issues for years through his private security firm. He has plenty of expertise in the field.
@Mikhail Valtazar: You seem to be the person that seems to know a thing or two..Can you provide exactly what his company does? Thanks in advance.
He’s spending too much time out in that field when he should be inside, learning how to use a computer.
@Francis Mc Carthy:
No mention of cyber security services on Giuliani’s website. Still, I’m sure Mikhail knows best…..
http://www.giulianisecurity.com/index.php/us/services
@Avina Laaf:
I was hoping that I could pass some great news onto this Zak guy,but alas, it looks like Mikhail vanished into the night
I’ll leave your mans details on here… just in case..
https://medium.com/@zackwhittaker/how-to-contact-me-securely-38dc5c5bc756#.m0dhzjf6i
Watch the documentary called “zero days” cyberterrorism is scary stuff
The latest on Donald’s, ahem, favourite past-times! http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/twitter-is-drowning-in-a-goldenshower/news-story/17f297c7c86510cf986011201ab88d85
I heard Hilary likes to watch
Giuliani – LOL & OMFG – This is the same wizard that moved the emergency command center to the Twin Towers AFTER the first terror attack in ’93.
Family mob ties, first wife was his second cousin, allowed his mistress to use the nypd as a taxi service, the list goes on
Call in the geriatric swat team. Headed up by the high tech minded Rudy!…..Eh,I think not.He dosent even know how to turn on a computer
Old grey ‘mare he ain’t what he used to be
The same Rudi who claimed there wasn’t a terrorist attack on united states soil until Obama took office?
The wind industry are hacking my phone trying to find out about planning law. If I could help it I would have nothing private on the internet, but I have to do a lot of stuff there. Some fine day hackets will get into the bank accounts and then there will be mayhem
What on earth are you on about?
I posted there now, but it does not appear to have loaded for some reason.
Call, on a serious note, is everything OK?
*Val
Anyone see the add where Trump is flogging a ‘perfume’ and Gulianni is dressed as a transvestite? Trump nuzzles his/her ‘breasts’. Really weird.
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