China looks to turn a page with Japan, Britain, and Israel.
And India announces breakthrough with China on the troubled border.
It seems a good time to round up some pretty significant developments in the past week -from October 14 to 21, China told Israel, Britain, and Japan that it wanted to turn a page in bilateral ties, respectively. And today, India announced a significant breakthrough with China in ending the over four-year-long military standoff.
On October 14, Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, had a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Much of the Chinese readout was repeating China’s stance in the Middle East. A Reuters report’s title is “China urges caution in Israel-Iran tensions, calls for ceasefire." The Times of Israel’s title is “FM Katz tells Chinese counterpart Iran is threat to entire world, urges ‘balanced position’ on conflict.” The South China Morning Post’s title is “China calls on Israel and Iran to avoid ‘falling into vicious circle."
So China keeps repeating its stance, and Israel does the same. What’s noticeable here? Wang said
China maintains continuity and stability in its policy toward Israel, and is ready to resume exchanges in all aspects as soon as possible as the situation eases, so as to promote the sustainable development of the innovative comprehensive partnership between the two countries.
On October 18, Wang held talks with visiting British foreign secretary David Lammy in Beijing.
For background, here are some of the headlines:
Britain, China strike conciliatory note during top diplomat's visit (Reuters)
David Lammy raises human rights and Ukraine in Beijing talks (The Guardian)
U.K. Foreign Secretary Visits China in Bid to Reset Relations (The New York Times)
Indeed, while reiterating that the UK must not interfere with Chinese internal matters over Taiwan and Hong Kong, Wang said bilateral ties “now stand at a new starting point.”
Wang framed the change in bilateral ties following the August 23 phone call between Xi Jinping and Keir Starmer,
during which they reached important consensus on enhancing engagement and deepening cooperation between the two countries, boosting confidence in bilateral cooperation. China is willing to work together with the UK, guided by the consensus reached by the two leaders, to adhere to mutual understanding and respect, maintain openness and cooperation as the main theme, deepen strategic communication, promote practical cooperation, and advance China-UK relations into a new stage of stable development.
So, in Beijing’s framing
The Labour government of the United Kingdom has proposed developing a long-term, stable, and strategically meaningful relationship with China, which China views positively. This aligns with the historical logic and practical needs of bilateral relations, serves the fundamental interests of both peoples, and conforms to the trends of history and the global landscape…Both sides should respect each other’s concerns, strengthen dialogue on the basis of equality, and enhance mutual understanding to create a conducive environment for exchanges and cooperation.
China agrees to fully restore bilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms across various fields, and to actively engage in mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as trade, finance, green development, science and technology, health, education, and cultural exchanges.
In Tokyo, there is also a new government. According to Beijing, the new government’s China policy has also taken a turn, so Beijing reciprocates.
On October 21, Wang told Takeo Akiba, secretary general of Japan's National Security Secretariat and the Japanese lead person of the China-Japan high-level political dialogue, in a phone call.
Since the Shigeru Ishiba government, Japan has confirmed its commitment to fully advancing the mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests, with no intention of “decoupling” from China. Japan also upholds the bilateral consensus on the issue of discharging Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water into the sea and is willing to engage with China in high-level exchanges and dialogue in various fields. As a result, China-Japan relations have had a stable start.
China’s policy towards Japan remains consistent and stable, and China is willing to continue promoting the healthy and stable development of China-Japan relations in line with the principles and direction established in the four political documents between the two countries. China hopes that Japan will respect China’s core interests, adhere to its commitment to the One-China principle, and work together with China to maintain the positioning of China and Japan as cooperative partners that pose no threat to each other. Both sides should continue to support each other’s peaceful development, consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations, inject new vitality into cooperation in various fields, and contribute to regional peace and stability.
China hopes that Japan’s new cabinet will bring fresh momentum, and there is a new beginning in China-Japan relations…
Both sides have agreed to continue utilizing the high-level political dialogue mechanism and maintain regular communication.
The phone call follows Wang’s phone call with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi on October 9, where Wang said
China appreciates the positive signals sent by the new Japanese cabinet and Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi since his assumption of office, reflecting a willingness to stabilize and develop bilateral relations. China and Japan are close neighbors separated by a narrow strip of water, and mutually beneficial cooperation and shared development are in the fundamental interests of both peoples. Wang Yi expressed his hope that the new Japanese cabinet will bring new momentum and foster fresh developments in China-Japan relations. He called on both sides to learn from history.
Tokyo calls the water discharged from Fukushima Advanced Liquid Processing System-treated water, and Beijing insists on calling it nuclear-contaminated water, but I guess it doesn’t matter now.
Lastly, India today just announced it has reached a deal with China on the troubled border, where a deadly clash between the two countries’ soldiers killed dozens and sent bilateral ties to a low point.
The Press Trust of India says it’s “a major breakthrough in ending the over four-year-long military standoff ahead of a likely meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia this week.”
Beijing hasn’t spoken so far.
Last but not least -
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), where I’m attending a mid-career Master in Public Policy (MPP) now, will be holding an Open House on Friday, October 25 at 3 p.m. ET in Robertson Hall (with a livestream). Join to learn more about Princeton SPIA’s fully-funded graduate degree programs!
In-person, on campus Open House Registration:
https://spiaconnect.princeton.edu/register/Open-House-2024
Virtual Open House Registration:
https://spiaconnect.princeton.edu/register/Virtual-Open-House-2024