China’s leader Xi arrived in Moscow for a three day visit this morning as a bolster to Vladimir Putin, his new Junior Partner …
The trip is significant for what it signals regarding Sino-Russian relations. It is the first trip of Xi’s third term, which is something of an honor — especially coming on the heels of an arrest warrant from the ICJ. It also comes on the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War, which plunged once-mighty Babylon into years of chaos and cost the United States "blood and treasure,” as the pundits say. One of the main reasons for Xi’s trip is a performative discussion of Beijing’s peace plan for the Ukraine, which has been largely derided as nebulous. The twelve point plan is not so much of a plan as it is, quite frankly, an assemblage of anodyne CCP talking points, like decrying a “Cold War mentality” among certain nations, unnamed, but who are clearly obvious.
Further, Beijing’s twelve-point plan calls for a de-escalation on both sides and the creation of humanitarian corridors. Such an event if it were to occur immediately would give Russia an advantage as the war has almost exclusively been fought on Ukrainian territory, with Bakhmut nearly encircled. "Calling for a ceasefire that does not include the removal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest,” is how the State Department described it.
But then America —- and its State Department — are adversaries of both China and Russia. And while China is taking a diplomatic victory lap after brokering a re-establishment of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, it is also looking to be seen as an objective international agent, in stark contrast to the United States. It is in the interests of both China and its new Junior Partner to diminish the standing of the United States globally, so it is no surprise that Blinken and the State Department should hit back, diminishing the importance of the visit. Those objections notwithstanding, the visit is indeed important. While intelligence shows that China is considering sending drones and hard ammunition for use in the Ukraine, Beijing, apparently, has not made any final decision on the matter. Which makes this Sino-Russian summit to interesting to watch in what is said and not said.
All of this is occurring in a bipartisan Washington environment of what can only be properly construed as “Beijing skepticism.” Biden’s plan to undermine China’s semiconductor fabrication capabilities is rather remarkable in its similarity to the Trump administration’s trade policy outlook and a clear break with Establishmentarian thinking. And there are few more prominent Establishmentarians than Joe Biden, before 2016.
Some examples of bipartisan Beijing skepticism. Observe: TikTok, one of the most popular social media platforms in the world as well as the focal point of national security concerns about out technology center. Both President Biden and former President Trump agree that something needs to be done legislatively about TikTok. The Biden administration is demanding that the app’s Chinese owners sell their stakes, or face a ban in the US; a deal that had the blessing of the Trump administration at the time to sell US operations of TikTok to WallMart and Oracle fell apart. It is rare that Biden and Trump agree on any issue, but there is some consistency on trade regarding China.
But back to the Xi-Putin summit, which will probably not involve any provocative announcement of drones or hard ammunition to Russia. "Although the two leaders have previously met around 40 times, Putin said Xi’s current visit is a symbolic one, adding that the two countries have ‘plenty of common tasks and objectives,"“ write Jenna Moon and Karina Tsui in SEMAFOR.
China Sends Military Drones to Democratic Republic of the Congo Amid Fears of Regional War (The Diplomat)
Where Are They Now?: The Pundits Who Got Iraq Wrong (Parker Molloy)
China’s Mideast deal could shield Iran’s nuclear program (SEMAFOR)
Netanyahu softens judicial overhaul but showdown with top court looms (Reuters)
“ ‘The stuff was illegally dug up’: New York’s Met Museum sees reputation erode over collection practices.” (The Guardian)
A Sandwich Shop, a Tent City and an American Crisis (NYT)
Former Vice CEO Shane Smith Pocketed $100 Million From the Media Company (The Wrap)
Long COVID comes into the light. (Slate)