Chris Kilford’s Post

CCP Propaganda Chart In this edition of 2-2-2, SCSP’s Liza Tobin, Channing Lee and David Lin decode underlying messages in PRC (CCP) propaganda. Since the People’s Republic of China (PRC) re-opened after COVID lockdowns early this year, a steady stream of senior U.S. officials, foreign leaders, and corporate executives have traveled to China or sought other face-to-face engagements with PRC counterparts. 1 The U.S government has emphasized that “intense competition requires intense and tough diplomacy.” Both government and business leaders likely aim to use face-to-face meetings to strengthen their competitive edge in their respective domains and provide a degree of stability amid geopolitical tensions.  More important than the meeting itself, however, is understanding the context and leveraging it for national or business advantage. U.S. and PRC diplomats famously battle over every detail of protocol for these meetings, from negotiating the right government level under which to conduct a meeting, to the logistics surrounding the stairs to plane and deplane from official aircraft. These dynamics are not new: decades of experience negotiating with the PRC since the 1970s should make Americans cognizant of Beijing's skill shaping optics and narratives and wary of taking its words at face value.  Source: Special Competitive Studies Project https://lnkd.in/gEjKihFV Ylli Bajraktari

My article “Taiwan: on the frontline of authoritarian expansion” was just published web exclusively by Uttryck Magazine, for UF Uppsala - The Association of Foreign Affairs. Read it to learn more about the relations between Sweden and Taiwan, based on material from my interview with Taiwanese Ambassador Dr. Klement Gu. In addition, the article provides an overview of the unique political situation of Taiwan; one of high stakes and with global implications. https://lnkd.in/de-T9w8P

❔Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam on December 12-13, 2023, marking the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2008. This visit carried significant implications for China-Vietnam relations: Historic Milestone🤔 Vietnam’s state media referred to the visit as a “historic milestone” that would elevate China-Vietnam inter-party and inter-state relations to a higher level. President Xi penned a commentary for Vietnam’s “Nhan Dan” newspaper, suggesting that building a China-Vietnam “community of common destiny” would carry strategic meanings across all areas of the bilateral relationship. Key Outcomes💡 Vietnam and China signed 36 documents on political exchanges, foreign policy, national defense, and maritime cooperation. Vietnam reaffirmed its “Four Nos” foreign policy, emphasizing that its efforts to foster ties with other countries do not constitute an anti-China policy. General Secretary of the ☂️Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong expressed support for China in building socialism and highlighted that developing ties with China was Hanoi’s priority and strategic choice. Vietnam’s Policy of Assurance💞 Since normalizing ties with China in 1991, Vietnam has consistently adopted a policy of assurance toward China.😶🌫️ This policy aims to deter China from invading or coercing Vietnam by assuring Beijing that Vietnam prioritizes relations with China and improvements with other countries do not constitute an anti-China stance. Vietnam’s foreign policy serves the purpose of preventing a repeat of the disastrous clashes of the 1970s and 1980s.🛡️💡❓

While the ‘procession’ of US government officials visiting China for inconsequential diplomatic meetings continues, China is moving deeper and deeper into our Western Hemisphere. Not only is China raking deal after deal to secure its access to critical mineral resources in South America but it is also consolidating its geopolitical influence across Central America, a strategically vital region because of its maritime importance. A humble piece of advice for our foreign policy ‘experts’: remove the dust from your US history books and learn a few lessons from what Teddy Roosevelt did more than a century ago to secure the US geopolitical leadership across the Americas!

On August 7th, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said both he and Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi want to strengthen EU-China relations, following a call between the two. In July, Wang Yi called for the EU to clarify its position on its strategic partnership with Beijing, as EU leaders called for reduced dependence on China. This shows that the EU is stuck in a toxic relationship with China, both wanting to lessen its dependence on China, while also aiming to maintain a lucrative partnership with its largest import partner. Chinese corporations wanting to venture into the EU must recognize and understand the evolving dynamics to make informed decisions on a global stage. Download our special to find out more: https://lnkd.in/edEhYFRS

📌 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the EU-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Unfortunately, these past two decades have not gone as smoothly as hoped. Since the first establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1975, the two blocs have moved both closer to and further away from each other, resulting in the current European institutions’ view on China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival. The EU and China now frequently find themselves embroiled in geopolitical competition, trade disputes and ideological discord. As a result, officials from Beijing to Brussels are often uncertain about what the next two decades of their relationship will hold. ➡️ Don't miss our annual forum, as we delve further into the topic: frnds.eu/EUChina23 #EUChina #CSP #EUTrade

Xi Jinping continues the purge on the Chinese state apparatus. Qin Gang was a growing star, one of the hawks in the CCP’s technostructure. Ambassador to the United States left a strong impression on diplomatic circles for his intelligence and knowledge. He is a nationalist in favour of China’s aggressive geostrategic policy. He wanted to be a conceptor of Chinese foreign policy, not a mere executor of Xi’s decisions. Xi did not tolerate it.  "Former Chinese minister who disappeared was expelled from Communist Party Central Committee Qin Gang, 57, was one of the youngest rulers to take office. He did so in December 2022, after a period as a representative in the United States. The decision was reviewed during a meeting of the Politburo, the power summit in China, held earlier this month, and formally approved at the four-day meeting of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP, which ends this Thursday, state television CCTV reported." #china #ccp #xijinping #communism #powerstruggle #leadership #foreignaffairs #asia #eastwest

Spoke to CNA on Asia Now, providing comments on North Korea's recently-announced changes to its unification policy. These developments mark a significant juncture in North Korea's strategic approach to inter-Korean relations. Yet, it is key that its implications are interpreted against domestic and regional contexts, as well as upcoming political events in the year ahead. Looking forward to closely following these developments and writing further about this in the near future. Many thanks for the opportunity to contribute. “Manufacturing crisis is a key aspect of Pyongyang’s foreign policy, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s actions to label South Korea an enemy and do away with the aim of reunification between both Koreas are further examples of such discourse, says Mr Gordon Kang, senior analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). Both North and South Korea should be careful and understand where the limits of provocation lie, so as not to inadvertently escalate tensions in the Korean peninsula into a conflict, he tells CNA’s Asia Now.” https://lnkd.in/gGZRnnq4