Over 70 items covering a wide array of critical sectors are expected to be announced as part of the bilateral meeting between the two leaders…reports Asian Lite News
President Joe Biden on Wednesday hosted Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for a state visit and held a crucial Oval Office meeting, reinforcing his commitment to bolstering the vital partnership in the Indo-Pacific amid a militarily and economically resurgent China.
Over 70 items covering a wide array of critical sectors are expected to be announced as part of the bilateral meeting between Biden and Kishida, according to senior administration officials.
These include a commitment to changing the US force structure in Japan to improve how Japanese and US forces are integrated, establish a ‘military-industrial council’ to evaluate where the two countries can co-produce defence weapons to improve cooperation, and items related to integrating anti-missile defence between the US, Australia and Japan, according to officials.
The announcements are all part of a major update to the nation’s military alliance but elements of them will take some time to implement, including the change to the US force structure, which will take several months for both countries to work through, a senior official noted, according to CNN.
Speaking on the White House, South Lawns, on Wednesday morning, Biden touched on the “monumental alliance between our two great democracies.”
“Together, we made it closer, stronger and more effective than ever before in history,” Biden said at an official arrival ceremony.
He also recognised Japan’s gift of 3,000 cherry trees more than 100 years ago as a symbol of that alliance, blooming each spring in Washington, DC. Japan has committed to planting 250 new trees along the Tidal Basin to honour the US’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Biden acknowledged the ‘devastating’ history between the US and Japan. He travelled to Hiroshima last year for a summit with G7 leaders and toured the Hiroshima Peace Museum, which chronicles the vast destruction of the US atomic bomb in the city in 1945, in the closing days of World War II.
It would have been easy for the two countries to remain adversaries given their bloody history, Biden noted.
“Instead,” he said, “we made a far better choice: We became the closest of friends.”
“Today”, Biden added, “Our democracies are beacons of freedom shining across the globe.”
The leaders are also expected to detail space collaboration at a time when Japan has signalled an interest in landing its first astronaut on the Moon and lay out ways to increase people-to-people ties amid lagging student exchanges between the two countries in recent years. The astronaut would be the first non-American to set foot on the moon.
Some of these partnerships include a joint artificial intelligence research initiative between Carnegie Mellon University and Keio University in Tokyo, as well as another AI-related exchange between the University of Washington and Washington State and Tsukuba University in Japan, according to the officials. This will also include creating a scholarship to fund high school students from the US to travel to Japan to study and vice versa.
But even as the US and Japan are bolstering their cooperation across a range of sectors, the two countries have seen a recent difference on the economic front with the president opposing Japan’s efforts to purchase US Steel.
Responding during a joint news conference to a question about the acquisition of the company– at one point one of the most powerful companies in the world–by Japan-based Nippon Steel, Kishida described the USD 14.1 billion acquisition as an ‘investment’ in the United States.
“We hope these discussions will unfold in directions that would be positive for both sides,” Kishida said. However, he did not directly address whether the two leaders discussed the acquisition during a private meeting held earlier in the day.
Biden, who previously said it was ‘vital’ that the company remain American-owned and operated, said during the press conference–the first he’s held in 2024–that he stands by “my commitment to American workers”.
The meeting between Biden and Kishida will be followed later this week by the first-ever leaders’ summit between the US, Japan and the Philippines with Biden working to draw Pacific allies and partners closer as the region grapples with China’s aggression and nuclear provocations from North Korea.
Kishida said during the news conference that Japan will continue to call on China to “fulfil its responsibilities as a major power”, while also striving to establish a ‘constructive and stable’ relationship with the superpower.
“We confirmed that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion is absolutely unacceptable wherever it may be,” he added.
All of the deliverables on the agenda are part of a concerted military, diplomatic and strategic effort to try and ‘flip the script’ and counter Chinese efforts to isolate American allies such as the Philippines and Japan, according to the senior administration official.
“The idea of switching to a multilateral, lattice-like strategic architecture is to flip the script and isolate China,” the official added.
Further Japan has been at the centre of Biden’s alliance building in the Indo-Pacific, as officials have seen a willing partner in Kishida, who has significantly shifted the country’s defence posture in recent years and provided ongoing support to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (ANI)
The Chinese Embassy in Canada denied any interference in Canadian affairs….reports Asian Lite News
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said China tried to meddle in the election process in his country twice –2019 and 2021, but asserted that it was fair.
The elections were decided by Candians, Trudeau said on Wednesday in his testimony before a commission probing alleged foreign interference in the polls.
The commission was set up last year after media reports about China’s interference in the polls.
However, the Chinese Embassy in Canada denied any interference in Canadian affairs.
The commission is set to complete its initial report by May 3 and final report by 2024 end, The Guardian reported.
Earlier, India was accused of meddling in the polls and later the allegation was ruled out by Canada.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) on Monday said that China has “clandestinely and deceptively” interfered in the Canadian elections.
“We know that the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC) clandestinely and deceptively interfered in both the 2019 and 2021 elections,” CSIS said during a briefing to the commission.
Trudeau’s Liberal Party had won both the elections.
The Conservatives lead campaigner, during the 2021 election, Erin O’Toole, estimated Chinese “interference” cost his party up to nine seats.
India’s GDP growth exceeded China’s annually for the past few years, with India’s growth averaging over 7.5 per cent in 2023, while China’s is 5.2 per cent…reports Asian Lite News
Pointing out the sustained growth of the Indian economy over the past decade, European Parliament think tank expert, Angelos Delivorias said that India’s GDP growth exceeding that of China reflects New Delhi’s emergence as a formidable economic powerhouse in the global arena.
“India has surpassed the growth rate of China, and experts think that it will continue doing so, at least in the short term,” remarked Delivorias, underlining India’s unprecedented economic momentum.
India’s GDP growth exceeded China’s annually for the past few years, with India’s growth averaging over 7.5 per cent in 2023, while China’s is 5.2 per cent. India’s GDP is also expected to reach 7 per cent by 2026, while China is expected to reach 4.6 per cent. The IMF projects China’s 2024 growth at 4.6 per cent, declining towards 3.5 per cent in 2028.
Angelos, with a specialisation in external policies (including India), is a policy expert at European Parliamentary Research (EPRS), which provides comprehensive research and analytical support to the Members of the European Parliament.
With India’s ambitious infrastructure projects and recent strides in space exploration, Delivorias highlighted the nation’s comprehensive economic strategy.
“And apart from high GDP growth, India has done significant investments in national infrastructure projects to sustain that economic growth. It takes part in international infrastructure projects and last year we even see that it has a complete space programme. It landed on the moon. So it has a comprehensive economic strategy in that respect,” the European Parliament policy expert said in an interview by EPRS on the rise of ‘India, why it matters, and what this means for the EU’.
He also emphasised that India’s strategic significance burgeoned in the Indo-Pacific region amid the changing geopolitical tides.
“India has increased its diplomatic importance as part of its strategy over the last decade,” Delivorias noted, adding, “Its prominence grows in the Indo-Pacific region due to current geopolitical evolutions.”
He also said that against the backdrop of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and increasing assertiveness in global affairs, India’s rise holds profound implications for the European Union and the wider international community.
“What I mean by that is that since the announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative on behalf of China, since its more aggressive stance in the South China Sea, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we see that the Indo-Pacific as an area and this Southern Asia as a region grows in importance, both for us, the European Union, both for the West in general, and also for its regional partners,” said Angelos.
He also drew parallels between India and China’s demographic pyramid noting that the former’s is younger than that of the latter’s, which will lead to New Delhi’s GDP continued growth in the ensuing years.
“From the economic perspective, the fact that India is the largest population on the planet, but also its population is younger, if we see the demographic pyramid of India, we see that it’s younger than China’s, implies that it has more people in the labour market and it has less expenditures in the health sectors or for pensions, which means it can keep growing its GDP in the next few years,” he added. (ANI)
Yellen highlighted the significant strides taken by the United States to stabilize its relationship with China…reports Asian Lite News
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent visit to China concluded with remarks indicating an improvement in the relationship between the United States and China. Yellen stated that the US-China relationship was on a stronger footing compared to the previous year. She emphasized the importance of recent diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing relations between the two economic giants. Yellen’s visit, spanning six days, was strategically designed to ease tensions and foster dialogue between the two countries.
Yellen highlighted the significant strides taken by the United States to stabilize its relationship with China. She noted that economic and financial officials from both nations would convene in working groups the following week to address US concerns regarding Chinese industrial oversupply. This move towards dialogue and cooperation underscores a concerted effort to find common ground and resolve contentious issues.
Acknowledging the complexity of the US-China relationship, Yellen emphasized that the progress made was not inevitable but a result of deliberate diplomatic efforts. President Biden’s directive to intensify diplomacy with China played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for improved relations. Yellen’s meetings with key Chinese officials, including economic advisors and central bank representatives, focused on a range of issues from industrial overcapacity to financial stability.
Despite the cordial tone of discussions, underlying tensions between the two nations persist. The United States remains vigilant regarding Chinese activities in areas such as the South China Sea. President Biden is expected to caution President Xi Jinping against such actions during their forthcoming discussions. Additionally, the Treasury has voiced concerns about China’s over-subsidization of its green-tech industry, warning against the potential ramifications of flooding global markets with cheap products.
Yellen drew attention to historical precedents, particularly China’s past practices in flooding global steel markets, which led to adverse effects on industries worldwide. The Treasury Secretary stressed that the Biden administration would not tolerate a similar scenario unfolding with green technologies. Such concerns are shared by US allies and partners, underlining the global significance of addressing Chinese industrial practices.
However, Chinese officials have refuted US claims of oversupply and subsidies. China’s Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao, asserted that the country’s renewable energy and electric vehicle industries were driven by innovation and market competition rather than subsidies. This response underscores the divergence in perspectives between the two nations on key economic issues.
Despite the disparities in viewpoints, both countries recognize the importance of dialogue and cooperation in maintaining stability and promoting economic growth. While challenges remain, efforts to engage in constructive dialogue and address mutual concerns are vital for navigating the complexities of the US-China relationship.
Taiwanese armed forces have monitored the situation and deployed naval vessels and coastal systems in response to China’s activities…reports Asian Lite News
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) said it tracked four Chinese naval ships around Taiwan between 6 am on Sunday to 6 am on Monday.
In an official tweet on X, Taiwan Defence Ministry said that “4 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond.”
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence, Taiwanese armed forces have monitored the situation and deployed naval vessels and coastal systems in response to China’s activities.
No People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered the country’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) during that time.
Earlier, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence tracked six Chinese naval vessels operating around the country from 6 am (local time) on April 6 to 6 am (local time) on April 7
In a statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence stated, “6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed Navy vessels and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.”
“Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entering Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ during this timeframe,” it added.
On April 6, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) observed the seven Chinese naval vessels and one aircraft around Taiwan between 6 am (local time) on Friday and 6 am (local time) on Saturday.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND), Chinese aircraft entered Taiwan’s Eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships and air defence missile systems to monitor China’s activity.
In a post on X, Taiwan’s MND stated, “1 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s eastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond.”
So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 40 times and naval vessels 45 times.
Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.
Gray zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.” (ANI)
Janet Yellen, who is on a five-day visit to China, has raised concern with Chinese officials regarding state subsidies that fuel manufacturing overcapacity in industries like electric vehicles, solar panels and semiconductors, reports Asian Lite News
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who is on five-day visit to China, has urged Chinese officials to address its industrial overcapacity, reform its trade practices and create a “healthy economic relationship” with the United States, VOA News reported.
Yellen, who is on a five-day visit to China, has raised concern with Chinese officials regarding state subsidies that fuel manufacturing overcapacity in industries like electric vehicles, solar panels and semiconductors.
In her remarks in China’s Guangzhou, Yellen said, “The United States seeks a healthy economic relationship with China that benefits both sides.” She added, “But a healthy relationship must provide a level playing field for firms and workers in both countries.”
She also held a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and other high-level central bank officials on Friday. During the meeting, Yellen told Chinese officials that their industrial overcapacity, especially in green energy sectors, threatens American production of electric vehicles and solar panel parts, VOA News reported.
Secretary Yellen during a meeting with Vice Premier He Lifeng
China has backed its solar panel and EV makers through subsidies, building production capacity far beyond the domestic market’s demand and exporting its products across the world. The production has cheapened prices for these green products. The US and European governments have expressed worry that Chinese products will flood the market and put their own domestic production at risk.
During a meeting with Guangdong province Governor Wang Weizhong, Yellen said the US and China must hold talks on areas of disagreement, including green industrial policy. She said, “This includes the issue of China’s industrial overcapacity, which the United States and other countries are concerned can cause global spillovers.”
China has tried to downplay these concerns, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin earlier this week saying that China’s green production is a positive in global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Wang said US reluctance to export technology to China meddles with global supply and demand.
Wang Wenbin said, “As for who is doing nonmarket manipulation, the fact is for everyone to see.” He said, “The US has not stopped taking measures to contain China’s trade and technology. This is not ‘de-risking,’ rather, it is creating risks,” VOA News reported.
During her visit to China, Yellen also expressed concerns about Chinese trade practices. She said that China has been using “unfair economic practices, including imposing barriers to access for foreign firms and taking coercive actions against American companies.” She called on Chinese officials to reform these policies.
Yellen during a meeting with Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong
In her address at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Guangzhou, Yellen said, “I strongly believe that this doesn’t only hurt these American firms.” She further said, “Ending these unfair practices would benefit China by improving the business climate here.”
Yellen’s visit to China marks the first visit by a senior US official to China since November meetings between US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Jenet Yellen said, “It also remains crucial for the two largest economies to seek progress on global challenges like climate change and debt distress in emerging markets in developing countries and to closely communicate on issues of concern such as overcapacity and national security-related economic actions.”
She further said that efforts to push Chinese policies are geared towards reducing global risk. Yellen noted, “This is not anti-China policy” and called it an effort by the US “to mitigate the risks from the inevitable global economic dislocation that will result if China doesn’t adjust its policies.”
On Friday, Yellen stated in a post on X, “Many American business executives have expressed the challenges of operating in China. I’ll also discuss with my Chinese counterparts the risks associated with overcapacity. These exchanges will help lead to building a healthy bilateral economic relationship.”
US officials and economists have warned that China’s overcapacity will further reduce prices and cost jobs, particularly if Beijing wants to offload excess production through exports rather than domestic consumption.
During the telephonic conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said China’s “unfair” trade policies and “non-market” practices harm the interests of US workers and families, VOA News reported.
While addressing a regular briefing on Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that Biden and Xi Jinping spoke on trade. He said, “the US has adopted a string of measures to suppress China’s trade and technology development and is adding more and more Chinese entities to its sanctions lists. This is not ‘de-risking,’ but creating risks.”
Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said that for capital-intensive industries like steel, oil refining and semiconductors, when capacity utilisation is below 75 per cent for an extended period of time, the majority of observers would call it excess capacity.
Speaking to VOA News, Hufbauer said that China’s government-stimulated and bank-financed investment has led to almost all of China’s capital-intensive manufacturing industries having overcapacity.
He said, “If China does pursue a massive export ‘solution,’ that will hurt manufacturing firms in Japan, the EU, Korea and other industrial countries. But low prices will be welcome in many developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.”
Last week the VOA cited a report by New York-based Rhodium Group, which researches the Chinese market, stating that the utilisation rate of China’s silicon wafer capacity witnessed a drop from 78 per cent in 2019 to 57 per cent in 2022.
In 2022, China’s lithium-ion battery production reached 1.9 times the domestic installation volume, which demonstrates that overcapacity in clean energy fields is emerging.
China’s exports of electric vehicles, solar cells and lithium batteries have witnessed a rise even more significantly. According to 2023 data, China’s electric vehicle export volume was seven times that of 2019, while its solar cell export volume in 2023 was five times that of 2018, which shows a rise of 40 per cent from 2022.
According to the report, temporary overcapacity might be harmless and a normal part of the market cycle. However, it becomes a problem when it is perpetuated by the involvement of the government.
The report released by the Rhodium Group said that China’s National People’s Congress in March focused on industrial policies that provide benefits to high-tech industries, while there is little financial support for household consumption.
The report said, “This policy mix will compound the growing imbalance between domestic supply and demand.” It said, “Systemic bias toward supporting producers rather than households or consumers allows Chinese firms to ramp up production despite low margins, without the fear of bankruptcy that constrains firms in market economies.” (ANI)
A Microsoft Threat Analysis team warned that China will exploit AI-generated content in upcoming elections in India, South Korea, and the United States, reports Asian Lite News
With major elections taking place around the world this year, particularly in India, South Korea and the US, a Microsoft Threat Analysis team has warned that China will create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its interests.
Despite the chances of such content in affecting election results remaining low, China’s increasing experimentation in augmenting memes, videos, and audio will likely continue – and may prove more effective down the line.
According to the tech giant, China is using fake social media accounts to poll voters on what divides them most to sow division and possibly influence the outcome of the US presidential election in its favour.
“China has also increased its use of AI-generated content to further its goals around the world. North Korea has increased its cryptocurrency heists and supply chain attacks to fund and further its military goals and intelligence collection. It has also begun to use AI to make its operations more effective and efficient,” the company said in a blog post.
Deceptive social media accounts by Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-affiliated actors have already started to pose contentious questions on controversial US domestic issues to better understand the key issues that divide US voters.
“This could be to gather intelligence and precision on key voting demographics ahead of the US presidential election,” the company warned.
China’s geopolitical priorities remain unchanged but it has doubled down on its targets and increased the sophistication of its influence operations (IO) attacks.
Indian Americans voters casting their vote in the quadrennial U.S. presidential elections in Jersey City, US. (Photo: Mohammed Jaffer/IANS)
The Taiwanese presidential election in January this year also saw a surge in the use of AI-generated content by China-affiliated cyber criminals.
“This was the first time that Microsoft Threat Intelligence has witnessed a nation-state actor using AI content in attempts to influence a foreign election,” said the team.
This comes after a terrorist attack resulting in the death of five Chinese nationals in Pakistan, reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all the security agencies to ensure fool-proof security arrangements for the Chinese citizens working on various projects in Pakistan following a recent terrorist attack in Shangla district on March 26, as reported by Geo News.
The terrorist attack had targeted a vehicle, resulting in the killing of a woman five Chinese nationals, and a Pakistani driver.
Subsequently, work on the hydropower project has been suspended since the attack, as per Geo News.
The victims were killed when an explosive-laden vehicle hit the bus carrying them on the Karakoram Highway in the Bisham area on March 26.
While chairing a meeting in Islamabad focused on the nation’s security, he emphasised the need for stringent security measures to safeguard Chinese nationals involved in various projects across Pakistan.
According to Geo News, PM Sharif said that he had decided to personally review the meetings concerning the overall security of the country, especially the security of Chinese citizens.
Additionally, he stated that the war against the menace of terror will continue until its eradication from the country.
He directed the interior ministry to increase collaboration with the provinces to further improve the provincial anti-terrorism departments.
Security personnel are seen at the incident site after five Chinese nationals were killed in a suicide attack in Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (Photo: IANS)
The PM also directed to chalk out a comprehensive strategy for the regular audit of the security standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The meeting was attended by the federal interior minister, heads of security institutes and relevant authorities. PM Shehbaz was briefed about the comprehensive security situation in the country. He vowed to continue waging war against terrorism until its annihilation.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department asked relevant authorities to upgrade the security for Dasu Hydropower Project amid the terrorist attack.
Chinese engineers are currently working on several projects in Pakistan, with Beijing investing over USD 65 billion in infrastructure works as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under Beijing’s wider Belt and Road initiative.
In a letter, the KP Home Department asked the inspector general of police, Upper Kohistan deputy commissioner, project director and other relevant authorities to provide security so that work could be resumed on the dam project.
The News on March 29 reported that civil work at the sites of the Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha Dams had been temporarily suspended by the Chinese companies overseeing operations due to security concerns, a day after work was also suspended at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project.
Around 991 Chinese engineers were working on both projects, while the local staff had been told to stay at home till further instructions, an official working on the project confirmed to the publication.
Around 741 Chinese and 6,000 locals are working on the 4,320 MW Dasu Dam in District Upper Kohistan.
Work on the Mohmand Dam in KP remains ongoing, with Chinese engineers continuing their operations at the site.
Similarly, the General Manager of Diamer-Bhasha Dam (DBD), Nazakat Hussain, also confirmed that the Chinese company had suspended work on the dam.
“Around 500 Chinese nationals were engaged in DBD but the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) staff continues to work. Around 6,000 locals are busy with dam construction,” He said.
He hoped that the situation would normalise in a few days, leading to the return of Chinese employees. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam would produce 4,800 MW of electricity through hydropower generation.
Once completed, the Mohmand Dam will generate 740 MWs of hydroelectricity, irrigate 15,100 acres of land and control floods downstream. (ANI)
The call comes amid heavy global turbulence – the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, were topics of discussion…reports Asian Lite News
President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, marking the first conversation between the leaders since their historic in-person summit in November and the latest in ongoing efforts by US and Chinese officials to defuse tensions between the two superpowers.
The call comes amid heavy global turbulence – the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, were topics of discussion. Other issues that have strained the Washington-Beijing relationship also came up, including Taiwan, China’s recent provocations in the South China Sea and Beijing’s human rights abuses.
The two leaders also discussed a number of issues where US and Chinese officials see room for cooperation, including countering narcotics, the fast-developing world of artificial intelligence and climate change, according to a White House readout.
The White House described the one-hour-45-minute conversation as “candid and constructive” on a range of issues on which the leaders agreed and disagreed. Biden stressed the need to maintain “peace and stability” across the Taiwan Strait and he also raised his concerns over China’s support for Russia’s defense industry, the White House added.
Biden also noted his worries about China’s trade tactics that the White House said harm American workers and emphasized that the US will do what it must to prevent “advanced US technologies from being used to undermine our national security, without unduly limiting trade and investment.”
“The two leaders welcomed ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication and responsibly manage the relationship through high-level diplomacy and working-level consultations in the weeks and months ahead,” the readout stated, noting Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China.
The Biden-Xi chat represents a follow-through on a simple commitment that Biden made publicly after meeting with Xi for multiple hours in Woodside, California, last fall: That, moving forward, the two leaders would pick up the phone and call each other more often, with an eye towards preventing potentially dangerous misunderstandings between two of the most powerful countries in the world.
A senior administration official previewing the call was quick to note that despite the great lengths to which both countries have gone to over the last year to de-escalate historic high tensions in US-China relations, a phrase Biden had uttered after his summit with Xi still remains operable: “Trust but verify.”
“I don’t think we ever really take the Chinese at their word when they say they will or will not do something. It is about verifying, as the president says,” the official told CNN when asked about Xi’s pledge that Beijing will not interfere in the US’ 2024 election. “Verifying the results we see, the actions we see, and then continuing to underscore and press on what our concerns are.”
That fraught dynamic was underscored during November’s summit when Biden – after underscoring the constructive nature of his meeting with Xi – told a CNN reporter that he would still refer to the Chinese leader as a dictator. The label, which Biden had previously used to describe Xi, quickly drew the ire of the Chinese government, and marked an awkward end to what was a momentous meeting between the two leaders.
The Biden administration plans to continue stressing to Beijing the US’ grave concerns about Chinese efforts to hack US critical infrastructure, the official said.
CNN reported exclusively in January that Xi had told Biden when they met in November that China would not interfere in the US presidential election, and that that assurance had also been reiterated by the Chinese foreign minister to Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Biden and Xi also planned to examine some of the announcements that had come out of their California summit last year, including the re-establishment of the two countries’ military-to-military communications and their pledge to work together to curb the production of fentanyl. The conversation was meant to serve as a “check in” on the progress made over the last year in those areas, the official said.
Biden was also expected to address China’s support for Russia over its continued war in Ukraine on Tuesday’s call, on the heels of Xi’s recent pledge to “strengthen strategic coordination” between China and Russia on a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.
And while China has shied away from publicly providing lethal aid to Russia to assist in its invasion of Ukraine, the official warned that China’s support for Russia has allowed the country “to rebuild Russia’s defense industrial base, essentially backfilling the trade from European partners.”
“China, of course, is a sovereign country, it will make its own decisions about its relationships, but quite concerned about the direction of travel on this one, and I’m certain it will come up,” the official said Monday.
“We would hope there would be a chance for another in-person meeting” in the near future, the senior administration official said.
In a significant mark of the Biden administration’s ongoing engagement with Beijing, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is scheduled to visit China later this week, where she’ll meet with her Chinese counterparts in her second visit to the country as Treasury secretary.
Yellen is scheduled to make two stops, traveling to Guangzhou and Beijing, for meetings with economists, students and members of the business community. A Treasury official told reporters Monday she planned to have frank discussions on what the administration considers “unfair” trade practices from China.
The Treasury secretary has vocally warned of the threat China’s overcapacity poses to the global economy, but has also cautioned that decoupling with the manufacturing juggernaut would be “disastrous” for the US.
China has been harassing Philippine resupply missions to the Sierra Madre’s garrison of Philippine marines for more than a decade, but last year it intensified these efforts to an alarming scale…reports Asian Lite News
Chairman Xi Jinping, as part of his hardening stance against the Philippines, has obviously instructed agencies like the China Coast Guard (CCG), which is directly under his command, to demonstrate greater vigor in the South China Sea.
Indeed, Second Thomas Shoal has emerged as a potent flashpoint in the South China Sea, a submerged reef situated 194km west of the Philippine island of Palawan. This reef is where the Philippine Navy’s old landing ship BRP Sierra Madre was grounded in 1999 to reinforce Manila’s territorial claim. Second Thomas Shoal is located just 32km from China’s own Mischief Reef military base.
China has been harassing Philippine resupply missions to the Sierra Madre’s garrison of Philippine marines for more than a decade, but last year it intensified these efforts to an alarming scale. For example, a swarm of 38 Chinese vessels maneuvered recklessly and employed water cannon during a resupply mission on 10 November 2023. Then, on 10 December 2023, the CCG deliberately rammed a Philippine vessel.
In further resupply missions this year, the CCG has routinely employed water cannon against Philippine civilian resupply vessels, resulting in damage to boats and injuries to crew.
Concerning the most recent incident in late March, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela complained, “Their barbaric act of using water cannon to attack the resupply boat that endangered the lives of the Filipino troops is a clear manifestation of their blatant disregard of international law.”
The CCG and People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) are the culpable parties in these acts of gray-zone coercion, but the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) plays a supporting role. For instance, a PLA Z-8 helicopter was recently filmed hovering low over a team of Philippine scientists on Sandy Cay, just 3km from Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, in a deliberate attempt to force them off the sandbar.
Before they withdrew, the scientists confirmed that the fish and coral were in a “very poor state” amidst a manmade pile of rubble. Chinese dredging and land reclamation has given that country an extra 1,300 hectares of land in the Spratly Islands.
The Philippines occupies eight features in the Spratly Island chain, the largest of which is Thitu Island. PAFMM vessels have swarmed other shoals in the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with 135 boats detected at Whitsun Reef last December, for example. Beijing’s sea control tactics feature swarming to achieve temporary local control, plus mission-kill actions like water cannon, ramming and now the use of helicopters. Unfortunately, the Philippines does not have the necessary fleet nor size of ships to effectively counter such tactics, plus it is reticent to employ more capable Philippine Navy assets in case it amplifies tensions.
Why is China doing this? It reflects Beijing’s exceptionalist stance, whereby it believes international law does not apply to it. The most obvious example is the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling in 2016 that Beijing’s South China Sea territorial claims have no legal basis whatsoever. China is prosecuting aggressive expansionist maritime territorial claims, and it is adamant it wants to control everything within its illegal and ambiguous Nine-Dash Line claim.
Sino-Philippine ties were relatively good under Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, primarily because he complied with Chinese demands. As long as the Philippine government remained subservient to Beijing, China held its forces in check. However, as soon as Manila stood up for its rights, China took its gloves off.
Today, China persistently refers to an “agreement” whereby the Philippines promised to remove Sierra Madre from Second Thomas Shoal. For example, China maintains that Manila “has gone back on its own words, refused to fulfill its commitment, repeatedly broken its promise made to China, and severely violated Article 5 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea”.
The Philippines denies that any such agreement exists. Duterte possibly made such a commitment, but he certainly did not put it on paper because it would have been deeply unpopular at home. Furthermore, China has failed to provide any evidence of such an agreement.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been more proactive in defending Philippine sovereignty than Duterte ever was, and he has scotched any promises his predecessor may have made. In January 2023, Marcos met Xi and they agreed to resolve differences peacefully. However, that very same month, Filipino fishermen inside the Philippine EEZ were chased away by the CCG, and the following month the CCG aimed a laser at a PCG vessel.
The CCG is supposed to be enforcing maritime laws and enhancing maritime safety. Instead, the force is a blunt weapon in the government’s arsenal of nationalistic territory grabbing and coercion.
In the face of China’s blatant aggression, Manila has changed tack. As PCG spokesman Tarriela pointed out: “…The Philippine government has chosen to expose China’s aggression and unlawful actions in the West Philippine Sea. It is important to clarify that the escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea are not caused by the United States, but by the PRC. While the US is an ally of the Philippines, it is not the root cause of the tensions. The Chinese government should avoid confusion and learn to recognize that if they were only sincere in their words and chose not to bully other countries in the South China Sea, tensions would not be as high. Unless, of course, what China means on lowering tension is being submissive or not reacting to their bullying and aggressive actions!”
From 2016 to June 2022, Manila filed 388 diplomatic protests against China concerning the latter’s actions in the South China Sea. The Marcos administration had filed an extra 147 protests as of late March 2024. Philippine-US ties rebounded after Duterte, who is staunchly anti-American, departed.
However, the two Mutual Defense Treaty partners need to decide what an “armed confrontation” entails and how they will respond to Chinese provocation. The American military is stretched taut by current commitments and conflicts in places like Ukraine and the Middle East, though its P-8A aircraft have provided overwatch during Second Thomas Shoal resupply missions.
Manila’s induction of BrahMos coastal missile batteries and the eventual acquisition of multirole fighters will give the Philippines more heft, but such assets are wholly inappropriate against China’s gray-zone tactics. This is precisely Beijing’s purpose. It operates just under the threshold that it believes equates to armed conflict, but at the same time it continues to push the boundaries. The PCG and Philippine Navy need a stronger presence to deter an emboldened China, though without unnecessarily stoking tensions.
China will not mind pressuring the Philippines into an unfortunate incident, as indicated by the following type of comment. Hu Xijin, a former editor of the Chinese Global Times tabloid, tweeted, “As a media professional, I strongly advocate that China should not fire the first shot in various frictions. This should be upheld as a principle of goodwill for peace in the South China Sea. But the Philippines should listen carefully: Once the Philippines fires the first shot, I fully support China’s PLA in making Philippine ships riddled with bullets. I believe most Chinese people will support it by then.”
Collin Koh, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies of the S.Rajaratnam School of International in Singapore, countered, “[If the] PRC fires the first shot, it triggers the Mutual Defense Treaty. [If the] Philippines fires the first shot in defense of legitimate maritime interests and the PRC hits back, it also triggers the Mutual Defense Treaty. You may quibble whether the Americans will commit, but any prudent PRC defense planner won’t take these calculations in a cavalier manner.”
It is clear that a South China Sea Code of Conduct between China and other claimants, which Beijing has been stalling for years, will achieve nothing either. Instead, the Philippines needs to widen its circle of international supporters. Indeed, numerous nations have come out in favor of Manila and have lambasted China for its violent actions.
Last year, the Philippines gave permission for the USA to access four new military sites, in addition to five already approved for American use. The USA is investing USD109 million in infrastructure improvements at seven of these bases. On 11 April, President Joe Biden will host President Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in their first-ever trilateral summit that marks a growing confluence of support.
As another example, Japan’s navy is planning to take part in a Philippine-US military training exercise in the South China Sea later this year. The three conducted a trilateral coast guard exercise last year, all indications of increasing cooperation.
Tokyo is expected to elevate the Philippines to a “quasi-ally” status, similar to the level of Australia or the UK. China is highly critical of US support for the Philippines. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian asked, “Who has been stirring up trouble and making provocations on the South China Sea issue? Who has been breaching the common understandings between our two countries and reneged on their own commitments? Who has been staging a show and hyping up tensions? Who has been pulling forces outside the region to interfere in the issue?”
Likewise, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines remarked that “inviting wolves into the house” and forming “exclusive cliques” would not help resolve South China Sea differences, but would ultimately backfire. In similar vein, Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the Second Session of the 14th National People’s Congress, said last month, “China is opposed to bloc confrontation, and its cooperation with neighboring countries is open, inclusive and not exclusive.”
He accused Manila of “smearing China’s legitimate, reasonable and restrained measures that aimed to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights”.
Yet these territorial issues fall under the purview of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Manila anchors its claim on its legitimate EEZ as outlined by UNCLOS, while China’s basis is its “historical” Nine-Dash Line that holds absolutely no legal authority.
China’s argument is that it refused to participate in the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration case, and that therefore it is not bound by its conclusions. However, the tribunal can proceed even if one party refuses to engage. That means that the validity and enforcement of the tribunal’s decisions do not hinge at all upon China’s participation. By signing and ratifying the UNCLOS treaty itself, China has already bound itself to the court’s authority and rulings, despite protests to the contrary.
Unfortunately, China is encouraging its law enforcement and military personnel to be even more vigorous in enforcing illegal territorial claims. There is a legacy of idolizing military personnel who go beyond the call of duty, a prime example being PLA pilot Wang Wei whose J-8II fighter collided with an American EP-3E reconnaissance plane 110km from the Chinese coast on 1 April 2001.
Wang died as a result of his gung-ho antics, and the Singaporean academic Koh noted: “Wang was known before his demise for his bold, sometimes daredevil and overzealous flying. His departure served as a rallying point for the Chinese Communist Party, and his ‘feats’ regularly upheld as a role model for younger generations of PLA combat aviators, which is itself worrisome.”
The Philippines has been using civilian vessels, supported by PCG boats, to resupply the Second Thomas Shoal garrison. It must now implement best practices for resupplying the garrison, and eventually replace this grounded rust bucket that was only ever an interim solution. China’s actions have already prompted Manila to consider establishing a more permanent outpost there. For example, an oil platform- type structure that can land helicopters would increase the potential cost of Chinese interference.
Naturally, restoring Philippine control over its EEZ requires the full spectrum of diplomatic, economic and information tools. Manila cannot afford to lose control of Second Thomas Shoal, as it did with Scarborough Shoal in 2012. In the face of such withering and dangerous Chinese actions, Manila must show strong resolve, a stance for which it needs the support of America and other allies. (ANI)
