The Davos Forum has become a proxy war between the United States and China… China: “Lift export restrictions and invest in us”
Photo = AP The World Economic Forum (WEF, Davos Forum), held annually in Davos, Switzerland, has become a “diplomatic warground” between the United States and China this year. This is the first international event to be held amid rising tensions between the two countries following the victory of anti-China Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-de in Taiwan’s presidential election last weekend.
Li Chang’s sales in China
Politico, an American political media outlet, reported on the 15th that “the large Chinese delegation is making American diplomats in Davos nervous.” An internal US State Department document from the 12th obtained by POLITICO expresses concern about the exclusion of the United States from the diplomatic battle following the news that “Premier Li Qiang, the second highest ranking person in China, is present at the Forum from Davos with a large delegation of around 10 ministerial officials.” It is said to have contained this.
The US State Department states in the document: “China’s No. 2 (referring to Premier Li) will hold a meeting with Swiss representatives” and “US Ambassador to Switzerland Scott Miller said that S (secretary Tony Blinken’s short name ) will meet Viola Amhert.” “I think we should at least shake hands with the Swiss president,” he suggested. This is China’s active diplomatic war against Switzerland, a neutral country.
In fact, China is focusing all its efforts on “sales to China” using the Davos Forum as a stage. On the 16th, Prime Minister Li Chang met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and asked her to ease restrictions on exports of high-tech products to China. On the same day, she attended a lunch hosted by the president of the Davos Forum, Klaus Schwab, and said: “Investing in China will bring huge returns and a better future.”
It is known that the heads of 14 multinational companies were present at the event, including JP Morgan, Intel, BASF and Volkswagen. Bloomberg News and other sources reported: “Prime Minister Lee stepped forward to change the mindset of elites around the world at the Davos Forum.” The explanation is that it is a call to increase the scale of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI), which recently fell to its lowest level since 2020 due to geopolitical uncertainty and the real estate crisis.
Blinken: China’s pressure on Taiwan is counterproductive
There were also a number of China-related comments from senior US officials attending the Davos Forum. Secretary Blinken told CNBC today: “China’s increasing aggressiveness toward Taiwan is harming China’s national interests.” He repeatedly congratulated pro-American candidate Lai Ching-de on his election as president of Taiwan and reaffirmed his previous position to “oppose any unilateral change in the status of cross-Strait relations.” He went on to warn: “China’s economic, military and diplomatic pressure and Taiwan’s isolation in recent years have had an adverse effect on China’s interests.”
On the same day, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said in a speech at the Davos Forum: “We are managing important relationships in the world, and the U.S.-China relationship is more important than anything else.” He said, “The United States is competing with China on multiple levels,” but he added, “We are not seeking confrontation or conflict (with China).”
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, engaged in a diplomatic tug-of-war between the United States and China, issued a statement today revoking its intention to join the China-led international conference body. Saudi Arabia’s Trade Minister Majid Al-Kasabi said at the Davos Forum: “Saudi Arabia has been invited to the BRICS (five emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), but has not yet officially joined”. This is a reversal from Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan’s formalization of membership earlier this month, saying: “BRICS is a beneficial and important channel for strengthening economic cooperation.”
Reporter Kim Rian [email protected]
2024-01-17 06:16:49
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