Monday, October 30, 2017

Trump Visit to China and US-China Relations

What Xi Jinping’s power play means for U.S.-China relations 
PBS - Oct 25, 2017 
The Communist Party congress ended with the anticipated reveal of China's new leadership, but no clear successor to President Xi Jinping was named. With his ideology now enshrined in the party's constitution, Xi is solidifying his grip on power. John Yang speaks with Christopher Johnson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies about what this means for China.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-xi-jinpings-power-play-means-for-u-s-china-relations

China versus the Washington Consensus
China's economic growth is challenging long-held assumptions
by Adair Turner
EDINBURGH – In 2013, Chinese President Xi Xinping heartened many Western economists by committing to a “decisive role” for the market within China’s economy. Four years on, expectations of significant market-oriented reform have been dashed, and state influence over the economy has significantly increased. Yet the Chinese economy continues to grow rapidly and will likely continue to do so. If it does, longstanding assumptions about the optimal balance of state and market mechanisms in driving economic development will be severely challenged.


China’s New Helmsman
Where Xi Jinping Will Take the Middle Kingdom Next
By Rebecca Liao
Foreign Affairs - October 30, 2017
When Deng Xiaoping opened China to the world in the 1980s, the awe-inspiring economic growth he unleashed canonized him both within the Chinese Communist Party and the country’s history. But four decades of remarkable growth eventually slowed, weighted down by rampant corruption, widespread anger toward environmental pollution, and a social fabric torn by the stress of capitalistic life. It was only a matter of time before a leader would come around to challenge Deng’s formidable legacy.
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2017-10-30/chinas-new-helmsman?cid=soc-tw-rdr

Beijing warns US against trying to contain China’s rise
Trump’s plans for ‘Indo Pacific’ strategy bring rebuke from ambassador
by Shawn Donnan and Katrina Manson in Washington
Financial Times – October 31, 2017
China has fired back at the Trump administration’s plans for a new “Indo Pacific” strategy to counter Beijing’s growing economic and security hold on the region, warning that the world’s two biggest powers should not be treating their rivalry as a “zero-sum game”. Speaking ahead of a visit to Asia by President Donald Trump later this week, the Chinese ambassador to Washington warned that any US effort to contain China’s rise or intervene in the South China Sea would be viewed with scorn by Beijing.
https://www.ft.com/content/a9cfb41a-bd93-11e7-b8a3-38a6e068f464

Xi Jinping's newfound strength obscures China’s political risks 
Brahma Chellaney  
The National - October 28, 2017 
China is at a turning point in its history, one that will have profound implications for the rest of the world, but especially for Asia and the Middle East.  The just-concluded 19th Chinese Communist Party congress sanctioned president Xi Jinping’s centralisation of power by naming no clear successor to him and signalling the quiet demise of the collective leadership system that has governed China for more than a quarter century.  By enshrining “Xi Jinping thoughts on Chinese-style socialism in a new era” in its constitution, the party has made this new “ideology” – just like Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong’s thoughts – compulsory learning for Chinese students at all levels. 
https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/xi-jinping-s-newfound-strength-obscures-china-s-political-risks-1.671024 

What Will a Powerful Xi Mean For the China-U.S. Relationship? 
Paul Haenle      
Carnegie-Tsinghua - October 25, 2017 
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) concluded its 19th National Congress this week, where it amended its constitution, set policy priorities, and selected new members to serve in its highest leadership bodies—handing Chinese President Xi Jinping political power not seen since Mao Zedong was in charge of the country.  While the congress largely focused on domestic policy, the key announcements will be studied carefully in capitals around the world—especially in Washington. 
http://carnegietsinghua.org/2017/10/25/what-will-powerful-xi-mean-for-china-u.s.-relationship-pub-73550 

What the Return of Quadrilateral Says About India and Emerging Asian Geopolitics 
C. Raja Mohan      
Carnegie-India - October 30, 2017 
Some ideas are not easily killed. The proposal for quadrilateral cooperation among India, Japan, Australia and the United States may be one of those. The concept is inextricably linked to China’s emergence as a great power, second only to the United States. The fear of China’s growing unilateralism drives Asian nations to reduce the regional imbalance by banding together. But the attractions of doing business with China and the dangers of provoking it limit the impulses for collective action against Beijing. 
http://carnegieindia.org/2017/10/30/what-return-of-quadrilateral-says-about-india-and-emerging-asian-geopolitics-pub-73580 

Great Red Fleet: How China Was Inspired by Teddy Roosevelt  
James Holmes  
National Interests - October 30, 2017 
Theodore Roosevelt was an avowed Mahanian. He was also a closet Maoist! Or at least, his convictions about strategies for lesser competitors ran parallel to those made popular by Mao Zedong during the Chinese Civil War and Second Sino-Japanese War, as transposed to marine warfare by the Great Helmsman’s saltwater-minded successors. 
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/great-red-fleet-how-china-was-inspired-by-teddy-roosevelt-22968

Washington Has a Bad Case of China 
By Daniel Kliman, Zack Cooper
Foreign Policy | October 27, 2017 
As global attention fixes on the Trump administration’s North Korea and Iran policies, the White House is preparing for another consequential policy shift that’s gone almost unnoticed in comparison — this time on China. Reports suggest the Trump administration will soon adopt a more hard-edged strategy toward China’s unfair trade practices and pursuit of American technology, among other issues. In theory, this would represent a major departure from how the United States has approached China, now the world’s second-largest economy and military spender. 
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/10/27/washington-has-a-bad-case-of-china-adhd/

U.S.-China relations, 6 months into the Trump presidency 
Still in search of a strategy 
Jeffrey A. Bader, David Dollar, and Ryan Hass 
Brookings - Monday, August 14, 2017 
Through its first six months, the Trump administration has concentrated on two issues in its relationship with China: North Korea and trade. While it has secured Chinese buy-in for a new diplomatic framework for dialogue, the administration does not appear to have settled on an overarching China strategy. So far, there have been no major speeches or articles by senior foreign affairs officials on China or Asia, with the partial exception of an address by Defense Secretary Mattis in Singapore on regional military issues.  
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2017/08/14/u-s-china-relations-6-months-into-the-trump-presidency/
 

Saturday, October 28, 2017

China’s Israel

Ammar Ali Qureshi 

A book that traces the history of Sino-Pakistan relations

THE NEWS ON SUNDAY - October 22, 2017   

In 1960, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan’s natty and cocky minister in President Ayub Khan’s cabinet, abstained from voting on, instead of voting against, China’s membership of the United Nations. Using his discretionary powers as head of his country’s delegation to the United Nations in New York, Bhutto, by abstaining, had sent a personal signal to China about his preferred direction for Pakistan’s foreign policy. However, his action elicited strong protest from Washington, Pakistan’s closest ally, and Bhutto’s discretionary powers were revoked by Pakistan’s foreign minister.
Hardly a decade after independence from the British, Pakistan, at that time, was firmly entrenched in the Washington camp as a member of anti-Communist blocs such as CENTO and SEATO. On the other hand, India and China, during the 1950s, enjoyed a close relationship as leading anti-colonial and non-aligned states equidistant, politically, from both Washington and Moscow. The winds of change began to blow in 1959 when Tibet crises erupted and led to a full-blown Indo-China war in 1962; it resulted in a humiliating defeat for India and provided an opportunity to Islamabad to improve relations with Beijing.

READ MORE....

China-Israel Meat Technology Deal: Where’s The Beef?

Insights from Bruce Friedrich

By Mercy A. Kuo

THE DIPLOMAT - October 03, 2017

Trans-Pacific View author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into the U.S. Asia policy.  This conversation with Bruce Friedrich Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Good Food Institute and co-author of two books, including the forthcoming Clean Protein: The Revolution That Will Reshape Your Body, Boost Your Energy—and Save Our Planet with New York Times bestselling author Kathy Freston is the 110th in “The Trans-Pacific View Insight Series.”  
Briefly explain the significance of China’s trade agreement with Israel worth $300 million to import clean meat produced by three Israeli companies.
To be clear, although the media has reported that the agreement has to do with clean meat, that is not accurate. The agreement is extremely promising for clean meat, but clean meat is not explicitly addressed in the deal.

READ MORE...

Iran-China Trade Up 24%

FINANCIAL TRIBUNE - Wednesday, October 25, 2017 I

Iran-China trade during the eight months to Aug. 31, 2017 stood at $24.17 billion, registering a 24% increase compared with the corresponding period of last year.  Iran exported about $12.13 billion worth of goods to China during the period, indicating a 30% increase compared with the similar period of last year, Mehr News Agency reported, citing the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. Iran’s imports from China amounted to $12.04 billion, showing more than an 18% rise year-on-year.  China has long been Iran’s biggest trading partner in the world.

Turkey seeking to revive ancient Silk Road with China

Xinhua| 2017-10-28  

ISTANBUL, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday that his country is seeking to join efforts with China to revive the ancient Silk Road.  "China is an important country in all respects. It is a country that we want to develop our relations and revive the historical Silk Road together," the top Turkish envoy said in remarks delivered in Turkey's southeastern city of Sanliurfa.  "It includes many issues -- economy, security and others," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu Agency.  Cavusoglu noted that Emin Onen, a former member of parliament from Sanliurfa, has been appointed the ambassador to China.  "I am sure that Emin Onen will represent Turkey there in the best possible way," he said.  Turkey has agreed to align its Middle Corridor project with China's Belt and Road Initiative, or the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient trade routes.

Close cooperation on Belt and Road to fuel Chinese investments in Turkey

ELIF BINICI

Daily Sabah - October 27, 2017

Having gained momentum in the last decade, Turkish-Chinese cooperation is set to capitalize on further cooperation with additional joint investment projects to unlock the potential offered by the Belt and Road project  Energy, transportation, manufacturing, automobile, technology and telecommunications have been the prominent sectors that shaped the ever-increasing Turkish-Chinese economic partnership.  Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1971, the two countries have accelerated bilateral trade and economic cooperation in recent years, resulting in a $27-billion bilateral trade volume and more than $2 billion in Chinese investments in Turkey. The commitment of both countries to the Belt and Road initiative, designed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is considered promising for unleashing important business opportunities for both countries, as well as others located on the Silk Road.

READ MORE....

Why is Turkey so eager to be led down the Belt and Road?

Nicol Brodie, ANU 

East Asia Forum - 28 October 2017  

Ankara and Beijing are quickly becoming friends. Between souring discourse with the European Union, differing views on Syria and accusations of human rights abuses, Turkey’s formerly strong ties with NATO (its security benefactor) and Germany (its biggest export partner) have chilled. Amid this fallout, the Turkish Foreign Minister promised in August to eliminate any anti-Chinese media reports in Turkey, stating ‘we see China’s security as our security’. In May, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing.  This emergent relationship reveals the shared interests of China and Turkey as well as Beijing’s knack for picking out nations who are looking for alternatives to the West.

READ MORE....

China Is Eyeballing a Major Strategic Investment in Saudi Arabia’s Oil

Washington may have invented the petrodollar system, but Beijing is looking toward the future.

By Mishaal al Gergawi

FOREIGN POLICY | October 26, 2017

Since the election of Donald Trump, relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States have seemingly returned to their halcyon days. Saudi officials have been energized by Trump’s desire to roll back Iranian influence and his support for Saudi economic reforms, and they are enthusiastic about the two countries’ newfound unity of purpose.  But Saudi Arabia is not just being courted by the Trump administration. Without the pomp and circumstance of the Riyadh summit, where Trump addressed representatives from across the Muslim world earlier this year, the Chinese government is taking quiet steps to bring Saudi Arabia’s hydrocarbon reserves firmly into its orbit. Through its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative and a reported offer to invest in the kingdom’s state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, the Chinese are laying the groundwork for a profound economic shift in the Middle East and the world.

READ MORE.....

Xi’s China to affect world politics – as well as Turkey

By MURAT YETKİN

Hurriyet Daily - October 25, 2017

A possible “weak and irresolute” stance of the Chinese President Xi Jinping was suggested as the “second biggest threat to world security” (after unilateral decisions by U.S. President Donald Trump) by the Eurasia Group during the Munich Security Conference back in February.  The Chinese Communist Party’s congress, which was concluded on Oct. 24, showed that such a stance is not materializing. President Xi reinforced his power by reducing the number of his internal rivals, increasing his allies, and getting an ambitious economic and political program approved by the 2,300 delegates of the 19th National Congress.  Commentators have suggested that Xi has become the second strongest man in modern Chinese history after Mao Zedong, the Communist leader who established the People’s Republic of China through a civil war in 1949. At the congress, the Party approved the writing of Xi’s name and principles in Party by-laws, which is also the country’s constitution, next to those of Mao.

READ MORE.....

Discovery Channel China Time of Xi Episode 1: People’s Republic

Discovery Channel China Time of Xi Episode 1: People’s Republic

Discovery Channel China Time of Xi Episode 2: Running China Now

Discovery Channel China Time of Xi Episode 3: All Aboard

Friday, October 27, 2017

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Great Mosque of Xi'an



https://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/attraction/great-mosque.htm 

The Great Mosque, located at 30 Huajue (Change Feeling) Lane in the center of the city, is the largest and one of the most important Islamic places of worship in China. The Great Mosque was added to the UNESCO Islamic Heritage List in 1985. See famous churches and mosques in China. The History of the Mosque  It's construction started in 742 AD, the first year of the Tianbao Era of Emperor Xuanrong's reign in the Tang Dynasty, and additions were made during the Song (960-1279), Yuan (1271-1638), Ming (1368-1644), and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, which makes it an ancient architectural complex representative of many periods of time. In the Tang dynasty, Islam was introduced to China by the Arabian merchants. Many Muslims settled in China and married Han people. The Great Mosque was constructed at that time to honor the founders of Islam in China. Since then many other mosques have been erected across the county. he Structure of the Mosque Xi'an Great MosqueXi'an Great Mosque  Covering an area of 6,000 square meters, the whole complex can be divided into four courtyards.   In the first courtyard, there is a wooden arch. The arch is nine meters high, with glaze-covered tiles, and can be traced back to the seventeenth century. Three chambers stand either side of the arch, in which is now displayed some furniture preserved from the Ming and Qing dynasties.   In the center of the second courtyard stands a stone arch with two steles on both sides. On the steles are famous calligraphic writings from prominent ancient calligraphers.   At the entrance to the third courtyard is a hall that contains many steles from ancient times. In the center of the yard is the Xingxin Tower, where visitors can come to attend prayer services.   The fourth courtyard contains a big prayer hall which can accommodate over a thousand people.  The mosque is a combination of traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic art. In Chinese style, there are a series of pavilions, with the four courtyards of the mosque between them. The wall, however, is decorated with Islamic art. Travel Essentials for Planning a Trip Great Mosque  It is the only mosque in the country that is open to visitors. However, non-Muslim visitors are not allowed to enter the main prayer hall. 
Location: It is located at 30 Huajue Lane in the center of the city. 
How to get there: Take Tourism Bus No. 8 (610) or bus 4, 7, 32, 201 and get off at Zhonglou (Bell Tower) Station.
Open: 8am–7pm
Entrance fee: 25 yuan (March 1 to November 30 ); 15 yuan (December 1 to end of next February)















Thursday, October 12, 2017

INFOGRAPHIC: How the CCP Rules, a Guide to China’s leaders of party and state

http://fairbank.fas.harvard.edu/infographic-how-the-ccp-rules-a-guide-to-chinas-leaders-of-party-and-state/

U.S.-China Competition During the Cold War Professor Gregg Brazinsky

U.S.-China Competition During the Cold War Professor Gregg Brazinsky talked about the competition between the United States and China to influence newly independent African and Asian countries during the Cold War. He is the author of Winning the Third World: Sino-American Rivalry during the Cold War.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?428120-1/uschina-competition-cold-war

The Postcolonial Cold War

How the U.S. and China Fought Over the Third World

By Timothy Nunan

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - October 10, 2017

In an August interview with The American Prospect, then White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon said that the United States is “at economic war with China. It’s in all their literature. They’re not shy about saying what they’re doing. One of us is going to be a hegemon in 25 or 30 years and it’s gonna be them if we go down this path.” If the United States continues to lose the economic war, Bannon said, “we’re five years away, I think, ten years at the most, of hitting an inflection point from which we’ll never be able to recover.” Seemingly in line with these comments, U.S. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on an agenda of economic nationalism, has launched investigations into Chinese intellectual property theft that could lead to U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. At the same time, however, U.S. officials have sought to win Beijing’s cooperation in taming an increasingly belligerent North Korea. 

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

China will 'compel' Saudi Arabia to trade oil in yuan — and that's going to affect the US dollar

"I believe that yuan pricing of oil is coming and as soon as the Saudis move to accept it — as the Chinese will compel them to do — then the rest of the oil market will move along with them," Carl Weinberg, chief economist and managing director at High Frequency Economics, told CNBC     In recent years, several nations opposed to the dollar being the world's reserve currency have progressively sought to try and abandon it    

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia is at the crux of the petrodollar 

Sam Meredith    | @smeredith19

CNBC - OCTOBER 11, 2017

China will "compel" Saudi Arabia to trade oil in yuan and, when this happens, the rest of the oil market will follow suit and abandon the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency, a leading economist told CNBC on Monday.  Carl Weinberg, chief economist and managing director at High Frequency Economics, said Beijing stands to become the most dominant global player in oil demand since China usurped the U.S. as the "biggest oil importer on the planet."  Saudi Arabia has "to pay attention to this because even as much as one or two years from now, Chinese demand will dwarf U.S. demand," Weinberg said.  "I believe that yuan pricing of oil is coming and as soon as the Saudis move to accept it — as the Chinese will compel them to do — then the rest of the oil market will move along with them."

READ MORE....

The International Conference on the History and Governance of Turkey in the Context of the Changing Middle East October 14-15, 2017 Shaanxi Normal University


The International Conference on the History and Governance of Turkey in the Context of the Changing Middle East 
October 14-15, 2017
Shaanxi Normal University 
http://english.snnu.edu.cn/
 
研讨会议程Seminar Agenda1014日)
场次
时段
议题
主持人
评议人
发言人
发言题目
14

09:50
12:00

黄民兴
马瑞映
(主持)
20分钟/
Michael Gunter
1.Trump,Turkey and Kurds
杨光
2.推进中土经贸易合作的多边和投资视角
高有祯
3.土耳其与卡塔尔关系
Bill Park
4.Turkey’s Interlocking Kurdish Quagmires;Roadsto Nowhere?
陈晓律
5.欧洲与土耳其未来的发展路径
何志龙
6.土耳其与叙利亚内战
14:0018:30

安春英(主持)

孙德刚Tugrul
(评议)
15分钟/人(包括评议)
Gunter
1.Introduction to the Kurdish question in general and Turkey in Particular
黄昭宇
2.土耳其政治变革的本质是国家治理模式转型
田文林
3.土耳其模式述评
敏敬
4.伊斯兰教与土耳其亲伊斯兰政党的崛起
马晓霖
5.阿拉伯之春后的土耳其地区政策调整及意图
曲兵
6.欧洲难民危机背景下的欧盟与土耳其关系
李艳枝
7.试论正义与发展党执政以来的土耳其修宪公投
刘义
8.伊斯兰教与女性主义——土耳其社会-政治的性别维度
严天钦
9.土耳其化政策与土耳其的民族认同危机
朱传忠
10.土耳其新自由主义改革评析:成就与不足


黄昭宇
(主持)

田文林
李琪
(评议)
15分钟/人(包括评议)
Tugrul Keskin
1.Modern Kurdish Nationalism: Transregional Movement in the Context of US Foreign Policy
刘中民
2.奥斯曼帝国晚期的民族主义思潮与伊斯兰教
周少青
3.土耳其新课改:去世俗化的关键一步?
李亚男
4.土耳其国家身份重塑及其对内外政策的影响
哈宝玉
5.奥斯曼帝国时期宗教思想的演进与反思
李洁
6.土耳其宗教管理的经验及趋向辨析
梁娟娟
7.朋友、对手、敌人
——建构主义视角下的法图拉·葛兰外交思想

19:30
21:30


邹志强 (主持)
王林聪
李艳枝
Seevan
冀开运
(评议)
15分钟/人(包括评议)
龚鑫
1.库尔德工人党从追求独立到自治的曲折之路
李赛
2.盟友但非密友:土耳其反美主义研究
涂斌
3.苏莱曼大帝时期的地中海海军战略
梁钦
4.库尔德人民族独立运动
吉喆
5.土耳其与美国的毒品外交
赵烨玮
6.19世纪中后期奥斯曼帝国与阿富汗关系
史永强
7.德土使团赴阿富汗外交活动考略(1915-1916
研讨会议程 Seminar Agenda1015日)
场次
时段
议题
主持人
评议人
发言人
发言题目
15

08:00
09:20


刘中民(主持)
20分钟/

王林聪
1.“转型与重塑:土耳其发展道路再思考”
Tugrul Keskin
2.Turkish Studies Industry in the US
李秉忠
3. 埃尔多安时代土耳其的国家治理及西方的误读
Seevan
Saeed
4. The Kurds in Turkey: What Went Wrong Recently?

920
12:00




包胜利(主持)

刘义
Gunter
(评议)
15分钟/人(包括评议)
黄民兴
1.叙利亚库尔德人对叙利亚内战的影响及其前景
韩志斌
2.政治发展理论视阈下的阿曼政治变局探究
冀开运
3.土耳其与两伊战争
肖文超
4.一战后初期大英帝国对伊拉克库尔德人的政策演变
闵捷
5.中东穆斯林难民治理与中国的外交应对——以叙利亚为例





(一)

李新烽(主持)

韩志斌
Bill
(评议)
15分钟/人(包括评议)
牛新春
1.当前土耳其外交特征
孙德刚
2.新时期中国与土耳其关系:从双边主义到多边主义
陈广猛
3.土耳其智库及其对“一带一路”倡议的认知
章波
4.近年来中国和土耳其关系
刘昌鑫
5.1923年希腊与土耳其人口交换评析
14:00
17:15





(二)

王南
(主持)

牛新春
马晓霖
 (评议)
15分钟/人(包括评议)
李琪
1.土耳其与中亚:互动关系与政策取向
韩中义
2.土耳其与乌兹别克斯坦关系观察
王建
3.土耳其对叙利亚政策的两次逆转
尹建龙
4.简论欧盟与土耳其矛盾激化对欧洲一体化的影响
张波
5.土耳其当前反恐怖政策中的几个焦点
王林
6.库尔德人独立公投对土耳其反恐政策的影响
贺敏
7.19世纪上半期英国的土耳其形象研究:以大卫·厄克特为例
舒梦
8.土耳其:巴勒斯坦问题的新调停员?



 张金平
(主持)
李艳枝
王建
(评议)
15分钟/人(包括评议)
朱泉钢
1.试论土耳其军队经济行为及其影响
魏敏
2.土耳其的结构调整和产业政策效应——从能源政策的角度
李阳
3.“欧洲协调”与“全球治理”的起源
王南
4.“高速飞行列车”与中土铁路合作
邹志强
5.土耳其国家经济治理的危机与转型