#Xi Jinping diplomacy

[latestnews-now]

Explore the critical discussions between President Biden and Xi Jinping as they address North Korea's support for Russia, China’s geopolitical role, and what lies ahead for U.S.-China relations under Donald Trump. Stay tuned for detailed analysis and insights!

[ttpd-chair]

🐼

[dailybehbeh]

Behbeh

[kneedeepincynade]

A better future for humanity is not only possible,it must be achieved before our species is wiped out

The post is machine translated

Translation is at the bottom

The collective is on telegram

🥰 人类命运共同体 | COSTRUIRE INSIEME UN FUTURO CONDIVISO PER L'UMANITÀ

🇨🇳 Il 年1月9日, il Compagno Wang Yi - Direttore dell'Ufficio Generale della Commissione Centrale per gli Affari Esteri del Partito Comunista e Ministro degli Affari Esteri della Repubblica Popolare Cinese, ha evidenziato i 年中国外交六大亮点 - Sei Punti Salienti della Diplomazia Cinese nel 2023, durante il Simposio sulla Situazione Internazionale a Pechino 🐲

🌸 Chi segue Collettivo Shaoshan da tempo conosce molto bene il nobile concetto di 人类命运共同体 - Comunità dal Futuro Condiviso. Esso riconosce che Umanità (人类) ha un Destino Comune (命运共同), e che la Cooperazione è il corretto percorso per il raggiungimento della Prosperità Comune (共同富裕) 😍

🇨🇳 Nel 2023, di fronte ad una situazione internazionale sempre più caotica e turbolenta, con sconquassi geopolitici e tensioni in crescita, la Diplomazia Cinese, costruita sui 和平共处五项原则 - Cinque Principi per la Coesistenza Pacifica, ha promosso attivamente la Pace, il Dialogo e la Cooperazione 🤝

🤔 Ecco alcuni eventi avvenuti nel 2023, che dimostrano pienamente la Saggezza Cinese:

一 Il Terzo "Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum", dal Tema 高质量共建‘一带一路’，携手实现共同发展繁荣 - ovvero: Costruire congiuntamente una Nuova Via della Seta di Alta Qualità (高质量), per raggiungere uno Sviluppo Comune (共同发展) e la Prosperità (繁荣) 🥰

二 獨木不成林單弦不成音 | Più alberi creano una foresta, Futuro Condiviso per i Paesi in Via di Sviluppo | Allargamento dei BRICS

三 Il Vertice Cina - Asia Centrale, dove il Presidente Xi Jinping ha presentato i Quattro Principi della Cina per la Costruzione di una Comunità dal Futuro Condiviso, nonché gli Otto Punti per la Cooperazione 🤝

四 Ultimo, ma non per importanza, la Mediazione Cinese nella Rinascita dei Rapporti tra il Regno dell'Arabia Saudita e la Repubblica Islamica dell'Iran 😍

🔍 Per chi volesse approfondire l'argomento, ecco qui tre post di Collettivo Shaoshan:

❤️ Evento storico grazie alla Mediazione Cinese: Arabia Saudita e Iran riprenderanno le Relazioni Diplomatiche 👏

❤️ Promuovere la Riconciliazione, ricostruire il proprio Destino 🇨🇳❤️🇮🇷🇸🇦❤️

千里之行，始于足下 Mille miglia iniziano con un solo passo, scrivere un Nuovo Capitolo nella Storia del Medio Oriente 😍

⭐️ Nel 2023, l'agenda del 领袖 è stata molto fitta. Il Presidente Xi Jinping ha effettuato importanti visite all'estero, e ha tenuto più di 100 incontri, dimostrando apertura mentale e interesse, e promuovendo sempre due Principi Cinesi:

一 相互尊重 - Rispetto Reciproco 🤝

二 合作共赢 - Cooperazione a Mutuo Vantaggio 🤝

🇨🇳 La Diplomazia Cinese è entrata in una Nuova Era. Il 2024, l'Anno del Drago, sarà estremamente importante per la Cina. A ottobre, si festeggerà il 75° Anniversario della Fondazione della Repubblica Popolare Cinese, e - inoltre, il 2024 sarà un anno cruciale per il raggiungimento degli obiettivi del 14° Piano Quinquennale ⭐️

🇨🇳 La Cina ha agito, agisce e agirà sempre come Paese responsabile:

💬 «Sosterremo sempre l'Equità e la Giustizia, chiederemo la costruzione di un Mondo Multipolare che sia equo e ordinato, praticheremo il 真正的多边主义 - Vero Multilateralismo e promuovere la Democrazia nelle Relazioni Internazionali. Tutti i Paesi, grandi o piccoli, sono uguali. Ogni Paese dovrebbe avere la propria posizione nel sistema multipolare internazionale» | Wang Yi 🇨🇳

🔍 Approfondimenti:

一 Quali sono, nel dettaglio, i Sei Punti Salienti? 🤔

二 Diplomazia Cinese: il concetto di Partenariato e i Cinque Principi della Coesistenza Pacifica 🐲

🌸 Iscriviti 👉 @collettivoshaoshan 😘

🥰 人类命运共同体 | BUILDING A SHARED FUTURE FOR HUMANITY TOGETHER

🇨🇳 On 年1月9日, Comrade Wang Yi - Director of the General Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, highlighted the 年中国外交六大亮点 - Six Highlights of Chinese Diplomacy in 2023, during the Symposium on the International Situation in Beijing 🐲

🌸 Those who have been following Shaoshan Collective for some time know very well the noble concept of 人类命运共同体 - Community with a Shared Future. It recognizes that Humanity (人类) has a Common Destiny (命运共同), and that Cooperation is the correct path to achieving Common Prosperity (共同富裕) 😍

🇨🇳 In 2023, faced with an increasingly chaotic and turbulent international situation, with geopolitical upheavals and growing tensions, Chinese Diplomacy, built on the 和平共处五项原则 - Five Principles for Peaceful Coexistence, actively promoted Peace, Dialogue and Cooperation 🤝

🤔 Here are some events that occurred in 2023, which fully demonstrate Chinese Wisdom:

一 The Third "Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum", with the Theme 高质量共建'一带一路'，携手实现共同发展繁荣 - that is: Jointly Building a High-Quality New Silk Road (高质量), to achieve a Common Development (共同发展) and Prosperity (繁荣) 🥰

二 獨木不成林單弦不成音 | More trees create a forest, Shared Future for Developing Countries | BRICS enlargement

三 The China - Central Asia Summit, where President Xi Jinping presented China's Four Principles for Building a Community with a Shared Future, as well as the Eight Points for Cooperation 🤝

四 Last, but not least, Chinese Mediation in the Rebirth of Relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran 😍

🔍 For those who want to delve deeper into the topic, here are three posts from the Shaoshan Collective:

❤️ Historic event thanks to Chinese Mediation: Saudi Arabia and Iran will resume Diplomatic Relations 👏

❤️ Promote Reconciliation, rebuild your Destiny 🇨🇳❤️🇮🇷🇸🇦❤️

千里之行，始于足下 A thousand miles begin with a single step, writing a New Chapter in the History of the Middle East 😍

⭐️ In 2023, the 领袖 agenda was very busy. President Xi Jinping has made important visits abroad, and held more than 100 meetings, demonstrating open-mindedness and interest, and always promoting two Chinese Principles:

一相互尊重 - Mutual Respect 🤝

二 合作共赢 - Mutual Benefit Cooperation 🤝

🇨🇳 Chinese Diplomacy has entered a New Era. 2024, the Year of the Dragon, will be extremely important for China. In October, we will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, and - furthermore, 2024 will be a crucial year for achieving the goals of the 14th Five-Year Plan ⭐️

🇨🇳 China has acted, acts and will always act as a responsible country:

💬 «We will always support Equity and Justice, we will ask for the construction of a Multipolar World that is fair and orderly, we will practice 真正的多边主义 - True Multilateralism and promote Democracy in International Relations. All countries, large or small, are the same. Each country should have its own position in the international multipolar system" | Wang Yi 🇨🇳

🔍 Further information:

一 What are the six highlights in detail? 🤔

二 Chinese Diplomacy: the Concept of Partnership and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence 🐲

🌸 Subscribe 👉 @collectivoshaoshan 😘

[trendynewsnow]

Biden and Xi Discuss Future of U.S.-China Relations Ahead of Transition

Biden and Xi: A Meeting Before Transition In a significant diplomatic encounter, Joe Biden met with China’s President Xi Jinping for what would be their final discussion before Biden exits the White House in January, transitioning power back to Donald Trump. Xi, already looking ahead to the potential return of Trump’s ‘America First’ policies, expressed that Beijing is prepared to collaborate…

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - August 8-14

Like these weekly* compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my new(ly repurposed) Patreon! (*sorry this one’s a day late, I had a family emergency)

1. Rio’s grassroots agroforestry sustains birds, bees & communities

“[Community-created and -maintained] agroforests have reshaped the urban landscape and now attract an array of fauna, from birds to bees and even fireflies, drawn by the diversity of plant life thriving on improved soils. Perhaps most importantly, the agroforests offer free food and medicines to residents in need, plus shade and educational opportunities for the whole community[….]”

2. First giant pandas from China in decades make their public debut in San Diego

(image source) “Tensions between the U.S. and China had temporarily paused the program known as "panda diplomacy" in which China loans its native animals to zoos around the world […] as a show of goodwill[….] But the presence of [the two pandas in San Diego] appears to show a mending of the diplomatic relationship, which Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work toward in a meeting with President Biden last year. [… Gov. Newsom] called the giant pandas an example of how strong worldly partnerships can protect wildlife and their habitats[….]”

3. Good news for Europe's top economies as disposable income rises

“Poland experienced the largest increase in disposable income per capita, rising by 10.2% compared with a decrease of 2.7% in the last quarter of 2023. According to the OECD, this growth was "mainly driven by increases in employee compensation, social benefits other than in-kind transfers, and property income". […] In Germany, [household income per capita] rose by 1.4%, compared to just 0.1% in the previous quarter, partly driven by an increase in employee compensation.”

4. FDA approves nasal spray as first needle-free treatment for anaphylaxis

“The spray, which will be sold under the brand name Neffy, is seen as an alternative to EpiPen and other autoinjectors. […] “Some people, particularly children, may delay or avoid treatment due to fear of injections,” said Kelly Stone, an associate director at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, adding that the availability of the nasal spray may reduce barriers to rapid treatment.”

5. [Colin Farrell] is launching a foundation to support adult[s] who have an intellectual disability

““We want to take a good look at residential potential for families with young adults who are ready to go out into the world and have a greater sense of community and connection,” says the actor. […] "It’s really important for James and for all of our kids to feel like they are wanted, to feel like they’re part of the community. Not just out of charitable endeavors or being nice and doing the right thing, but out of a sincere desire to engage and learn about each other."”

6. The Berlin Zoo is hoping for more German-born giant pandas as scans confirm a pregnancy

“Giant pandas have difficulty breeding and births are particularly welcomed. There are about 1,800 pandas living in the wild in China and a few hundred in captivity worldwide. […] The zoo noted that female pandas are only capable of reproducing for about 72 hours per year.”

7. Arizona school district highlights the benefits of free lunch

“A study by the University of Washington found free meals at school help reduce hunger, reduce the stigma tied to free lunch, and can help reduce childhood obesity. [… A cafeteria worker] said since the school district began offering free lunch, they have seen a positive shift in the cafeteria culture, and students seem happier. […] In September of 2023, the USDA […] loosened up its application threshold for applicants, allowing an estimated 3,000 more school districts in high-need areas to participate in the [CEP] program.”

8. Gigantic millipede lost to science for 126 years rediscovered in remote Madagascan jungle

“A further 20 species 'lost' to science were rediscovered during the expedition, including three iridescent species of fish and several species of ant-like flower beetles.”

9. The climate law’s $8.8B in home energy rebates are starting to roll out

“New York and Wisconsin are the first to launch their long-awaited Inflation Reduction Act programs meant to deploy everything from heat pumps to insulation. […] Once deployed, the DOE estimates, the home energy rebates will help save consumers up to $1 billion in annual energy costs and support an estimated 50,000 U.S. jobs in construction, manufacturing, and other sectors. They’ll also help clean up buildings, one of the biggest sources of carbon pollution in the country.”

10. Advance in stem cell therapy: New technique for manipulating stem cells opens door to novel treatments

“Recently, a team of McGill researchers discovered that by stretching, bending and flattening the nuclei of stem cells to differing degrees, they could generate precisely targeted cells that they could direct to become either bone or fat cells. […] The first applications of this discovery are likely to involve bone regeneration, possibly relating to dental or cranio-facial repair[….]”

August 1-7 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[justbeingnamaste]

When a strong leader is elected, the whole world takes notice—and for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese Communist Party’s Xi Jinping, the return of Donald Trump to the White House is a daunting reality that can’t be ignored. They know Trump doesn’t play games.

World leaders are already preparing for a new era of diplomacy and mutual respect, with the potential for peace felt across every corner of the globe, just as during Trump’s first term in office.

In his first public remarks on Trump’s second term win, Putin praised the Republican president-elect’s stance on foreign relations, especially his commitment to mending strained ties with Russia and addressing the Ukrainian crisis.

“I would like to take this opportunity to offer my congratulations on his election as President of the United States. As I said before, we are going to work with any head of state that is going to garner the trust of the American people, and this is what’s going to happen in practice,” Putin said during a speech at the Valdai forum in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

[nostalgebraist]

The weakest of the group was “Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy” (习近平外交思想), which dropped one level to Tier 6.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Lula says China and Brazil advocate for 'peace and dialogue'; Xi Jinping urges international community to do more for Gaza

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva highlighted the Ukraine war, asserting that Brazil and China prioritize "peace and dialogue" in their international relations. This statement followed a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which trade agreements were also signed. Xi noted that "the world is not at peace," advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and acknowledging the complexity of the Eastern European conflict.

— In a world plagued by armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions, China and Brazil place peace, diplomacy, and dialogue first — said Lula. — The 'Common Understandings between Brazil and China for a Political Resolution to the Ukraine Crisis' exemplify our shared vision on international security. We will never overcome the scourge of hunger amidst the folly of wars," Lula added, advocating for global governance reform.

The Chinese president stated that only when the world embraces common security will it pursue a path of universal security:

— Regarding the Ukraine crisis, there is no simple solution to such a complex issue. China and Brazil have issued common understandings on a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis and created the group of peace friends with other Global South allies to facilitate a solution. We must gather more voices advocating for peace.

Continue reading.

[latestnews-now]

Discover how China’s President Xi Jinping addressed the U.S. at the APEC summit, warning against crossing the "red line" on Taiwan while proposing a cooperative approach with president-elect Donald Trump. Get insights into key issues like Taiwan, the South China Sea, Ukraine, and future U.S.-China relations.

[zvaigzdelasas]

“How did we lose to China in Indonesia!?”

This is the question being worriedly debated in government offices and executive suites throughout Japan. [...]

Japan’s project plan called for a five year construction period, including a full one year trial operation period. If construction were to start in 2018 the line would be ready to take passengers in 2023. Total cost would be some Rupiah 64 trillion (JPY 534.6 billion, or $4.5 billion).   The Japanese government operating through JICA (the Japanese International Cooperation Agency) would finance 75% of the cost with a 0.1% long term yen loan (terms and conditions in conformity with international convention for concessionary financing). The remaining 25% would have to be raised by the Indonesian government and private enterprises.   Importantly, Japan’s concessionary loan would--in accordance with international conventions for official government lending--require an Indonesian government guarantee.   Then, in October 2014, as the Japanese agencies and companies prepared for the project, something happened in Indonesia:  the swearing in as president of Joko Widoko.  Campaigning for office Joko had called for greater infrastructure investment, and it was taken for granted that he was a supporter of the Java high speed rail project. However, Joko had campaigned as a “man of the people” whose priority would be improving welfare for Indonesia’s common and rural people over the more affluent people in the big cities.[...]

on March 26, Joko visited Beijing and met Chinese president Xi Jinping.  Xi publicly announced support for the Indonesian high speed project and the two governments signed a memorandum specifying China’s interest in the Jakarta-Bandung line. Well before the Joko-Xi meeting China had entered competition for the project. China’s proposal was for a total project cost of Rupiah 74 trillion (JPY 618.2 billion, $5.2 billion). The cost was higher than Japan’s, but China committed to financing the entire amount at an interest rate of 2%.  Moreover, the project would be completed in three years--meaning taking passengers in 2018 [lol]. [...]

That China was awarded the project and Japan rejected seems to owe mainly to China’s willingness to accept the financial risk of the project (i.e., to forego an Indonesian government guarantee and also, thereby, possibly to finesse international ODA norms) and of Japan’s inability or unwillingness to do so.   The Toyo Keizei piece makes the point that such projects’ risks are not small. Taiwan is an example. Taiwan’s high-speed rail line enjoys relatively heavy business passenger traffic, which allows relatively expensive ticket prices. But the high prices seem to have discouraged non-business passengers, such that ridership numbers have fallen short of forecasts and revenues have proven insufficient to cover debt service requirements.   Compared with Taiwan, Indonesia is a very poor country. Given that business traffic will be relatively limited, ticket prices will have to be set low to be affordable for average citizens (and to avoid political backlash). Generating sufficient cash flow for debt service looks like a formidable challenge. That China is willing to take the risk speaks volumes about how China views infrastructure aid in the Asian region.  According to press reports China sweetened its offer in other ways as well, including committing to establish a joint venture with Indonesian firms to produce rolling stock for high-speed rail, electric rail, light rail systems, not only for Indonesia, but also for export to other Asian countries; to transfer related technology [!!]; and also to renovate and rebuild train stations.

2015

[kneedeepincynade]

Where is the west? Throwing 120 billion to their favourite puppet state in Eastern Europe of course, too busy sending the people of the Ukraine to die than spare a single cent or even just lift sections against earthquake-stricken Syria

⚠️ CINA, ALTRI PAESI ORIENTALI E ARABI INVIANO AIUTI ALLA SIRIA DISASTRATA DAL TERREMOTO - L'OCCIDENTE DOV'È? ⚠️

💕 La Cina, insieme altri paesi solitamente "bombardati" dalla propaganda occidentale, si è subito attivata per organizzare gli aiuti, insieme a Pakistan, Iraq, Egitto e agli altri Paesi Arabi, alla Repubblica Araba di Siria, duramente colpita dai terremoti 😔

🤔 Chi manca? Sul serio, chi manca? Dov'è l'intero Occidente? Dove sono tutti quei paesi i cui politici si arrogano, ogni due per te, una "superiorità morale" sui paesi asiatici, africani, latinoamericani e mediorientali?

🤬 Nel mentre i veri paesi solidali aiutano la Siria, "la Repubblica" posta un articolo rivolante e raccapricciante, commentato perfettamente da Francesco Dall'Aglio sul suo canale War Room, a cui consiglio di iscriversi: I, II, III.

🇨🇳 La Cina, come scritto ieri, ha subito iniziato a fornire aiuti umanitari e ad organizzare aiuti monetari alla Turchia e alla Siria, inviando squadre di soccorso e mediche nelle aree colpite 🫂

🇨🇳 Inoltre, oggi - 8 febbraio - Mao Ning, Portavoce del Ministero degli Affari Esteri della Repubblica Popolare Cinese, ha affermato che la Cina manderà ancora più aiuti, fornendo assistenza umanitaria, medica e di emergenza per un valore di 30 milioni di Yuan, e che le Autorità Cinesi coopereranno strettamente con il Governo Siriano di Bashar al-Assad per garantire che l'assistenza sia fornita tempestivamente 💕

🌸 Iscriviti 👉 @collettivoshaoshan

⚠️ CHINA, OTHER EASTERN AND ARAB COUNTRIES SEND AID TO EARTHQUAKE DISASTRATED SYRIA - WHERE IS THE WEST? ⚠️

💕 China, together with other countries usually "bombarded" by Western propaganda, immediately took action to organize aid, together with Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt and other Arab countries, to the Arab Republic of Syria, severely hit by earthquakes 😔

🤔 Who is missing? Seriously, who's missing? Where is the whole West? Where are all those countries whose politicians claim, every two for you, a "moral superiority" over Asian, African, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries?

🤬 While the real solidarity countries help Syria, "la Repubblica" posts a creepy and revolting article, perfectly commented by Francesco Dall'Aglio on his War Room channel, which I suggest you subscribe to: I, II, III.

(In normal circumstances I would have removed this as it refers to an Italian journal and as such not very relevant to our international audience but on this occasion, I believe everyone should see how horrid some "journalists" can be)

🇨🇳 China, as written yesterday, immediately started providing humanitarian aid and organizing monetary aid to Turkey and Syria, sending rescue and medical teams to the affected areas 🫂

🇨🇳 Also, today - February 8 - Mao Ning, Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, said that China will send even more aid, providing humanitarian, medical and emergency assistance worth 30 million Yuan, and that the Chinese authorities will cooperate closely with the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad to ensure that assistance is provided in a timely manner 💕

🌸 Subscribe 👉 @collettivoshaoshan

[trendynewsnow]

Biden and Xi Jinping's Diplomatic Meeting in Peru: A Key Moment for U.S.-China Relations

Biden and Xi Jinping Meet in Peru: A Turning Point in U.S.-China Relations In a significant diplomatic encounter, President Joe Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Saturday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum held in Lima, Peru. This meeting marks a pivotal moment in the complex and often contentious relationship between the two global superpowers, particularly as…

[mariacallous]

VSquare SPICY SCOOPS  

There is always a lot of information that we hear and find interesting and newsworthy but don’t publish as part of our investigative reporting — and share instead in this newsletter.  

ORBÁN’S KEY EU PRESIDENCY EVENT FACES UNCERTAINTY

Remember when Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán kicked off Hungary's EU presidency with that "peace mission" tour, visiting Putin, Xi Jinping, and Donald Trump? And that he plotted his Kremlin visit behind his allies’ back? Well, Hungary’s EU allies haven’t forgotten, and they're not exactly thrilled. Many have already responded by boycotting high-level EU meetings hosted by Budapest. Leading the snub squad are the Nordic and Baltic countries, which have recently decided to jointly skip these events on a political level – no ministers or prime ministers allowed. But for Orbán, the only important events in Budapest are the European Political Community (EPC) summit and the informal EU summit focused on the Western Balkans, which will be held on November 7-8. As I previously reported, Orbán originally had high hopes that Donald Trump himself would show up (at least virtually).  However, since July, not only are Trump’s election chances in jeopardy, but so is the full participation of EU leaders at the Budapest EPC/EU summits. According to multiple diplomats I’ve talked to, EU capitals are watching Orbán’s next move before making a decision about whether they’ll participate. While the coordination between Nordic and Baltic countries suggests that they’re the most likely to pull out, there’s also speculation that Poland and even the Czech Republic may boycott at least the informal EU summit. It will mostly come down to what Orbán does next with his controversial Ukraine-Russia policy, one source said, noting that this is the key issue uniting the aforementioned countries. “But, for example, if Orbán continues his “peace mission” by visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it might only anger a few of them,” the source continued, adding that there’s still time for these countries’ leaders to make their decision.  

HUNGARIAN EU PRESIDENCY BUREAUCRATS QUIETLY FRUSTRATED AND WORRIED

In addition to keeping EU countries in the dark about his visit to Putin, it turns out Orbán also left his own EU presidency team in the lurch. Several foreign officials told me that Hungarian bureaucrats were just as blindsided as their EU counterparts were, with many initially assuring these foreign officials that Hungary's EU presidency would be non-controversial and professional. These Hungarian bureaucrats, who regularly interact with EU officials, are now feeling the brunt of Orbán's unpredictable diplomacy – and feeling quite embarrassed. A Hungarian government-connected source acknowledged “quiet but real frustration” over how Orbán's erratic diplomatic moves have undermined the hard work of his own loyal staff tasked with managing the Hungarian EU presidency, adding that “many worry what’s coming next.” However, according to a different source connected to the Hungarian government, while high-level Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental meetings are indeed expected in the coming weeks, these will focus on less explosive – economic and financial – issues unrelated to Ukraine.  

PATRIOTS FOR EUROPE’S FIRST RIFT – OVER HUNGARY AND VENEZUELA

Orbán was recently directly warned by his own people about the fallout of his pro-Russian foreign policy, according to a well-connected Hungarian political insider. In late July, Hungary blocked an EU statement condemning Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a Putin ally, for election fraud. This move not only angered EU governments but also shocked Orbán’s closest allies within the far-right Patriots for Europe group. According to the political insider, senior Hungarian MEP Enikő Győri immediately informed Orbán that Hungary’s stance caused a significant rift within the group, potentially risking its unity and future. Sheltering a far-left socialist strongman seemed utterly absurd to the group's predominantly anti-Communist, right-wing members, such as Spain's Vox delegation. However, the insider couldn't confirm if this led to Orbán’s subsequent U-turn, in which Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó even reached out to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to express Hungary's support. (Orbán’s spokesperson didn’t respond to my request for comment. Enikő Győri directed me to a press officer who didn’t get back to me yet.)

GEERT WILDERS ENJOYING VACATIONS IN HUNGARY – AND FULL SECURITY PROTECTION

There’s one ally from the Patriots for Europe gang who’s extremely unlikely to turn against Orbán: Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders. Kasper Goethals, a great journalist from the Belgian newspaper De Standaard, helped me out with this scoop by sharing information about Wilders’ frequent trips to Hungary based on a source close to the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) leader. Wilders’s fondness for Hungary – his wife’s ancestral home – is well known, but it’s not clear how he manages to travel there so frequently. Wilders requires serious Dutch security protection because of death threats, meaning much about his travel plans is kept under wraps. But according to Kasper’s source, while multiple other countries refuse to provide Wilders with the necessary protection, making it difficult for him to travel as he can’t bring armed or sufficient security to ensure his safety, Hungary always guarantees full security. This means that Wilders not only frequents Hungary because it’s his dream destination, but also because it’s the rare place where he can feel both protected and respected.  For example, when Wilders visited a rally of Tommy Robinson’s supporters in the UK, his Dutch security detail was not allowed to carry their weapons. Not so in Hungary, and according to Kasper’s source, the red carpet treatment means that Wilders is tied closely to Orbán, and he usually can't visit Hungary without the Hungarian Prime Minister insisting on a friendly one-on-one meeting. According to a different source – this time an official involved in Dutch-Hungarian relations – the security cooperation between the countries on Wilders’s protection is excellent, a confirmation that Hungarian authorities provide their Dutch colleagues with whatever they need. It is unclear, however, how much Wilders’s trips and vacations cost Hungarian taxpayers. Meanwhile, a former high-ranking Hungarian law enforcement officer told me that such security arrangements are reciprocal, meaning Hungarian dignitaries, including Orbán, also benefit from Dutch security services when visiting the Netherlands. When I asked if Wilders' security detail in Hungary includes Hungarian officers, the source bluntly stated that “this information is classified”. (Hungary’s government didn’t react to my request for comment.)  

CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCE NETWORK CASTS ITS WEB ON ALBANIA

When discussing trendy new holiday spots, Albania is hard to overlook – especially with Trump’s daughter and son-in-law building a luxury resort there. The country isn’t just a hotspot for dubious real estate projects but has also caught the eye of international far-right and conservative influence networks (read our earlier article on Ordo Iuris and their allies). According to a draft agenda I obtained, the right-wing Albanian Policy Center will host a significant international conference in Tirana on September 10 titled “Forum on the Future of Albania – The Conservative Way Forward,” featuring key foreign partners like The Heritage Foundation (US), Nazione Futura (Italy), Center for Fundamental Rights (Hungary) and Ordo Iuris (Poland). “After more than two decades of Soros-dominated US foreign policy on this part of the world, it is time for Conservatives in South-Eastern Europe to move out of their comfort zone and take up the challenge of presenting themselves and their ideas to the world,” the draft agenda reads. Viktor Orbán is expected to send a video greeting, while anti-Muslim and ultra-Catholic figures from Poland’s Ordo Iuris are likely to find an eye-opening networking opportunity with Albania’s local conservatives in the predominantly Muslim country. What’s even more intriguing is that the organizers are also expecting a representative from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung – the foundation of Germany’s moderate right-wing CDU party – to participate in the George Soros-bashing.

[the-psudo]

National Security Leaders Endorse Harris

September 22, 2024

To the American People,

We are former public servants who swore an oath to the Constitution. Many of us risked our lives for it. We are retired generals, admirals, senior noncommissioned officers, ambassadors, and senior civilian national security leaders. We are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. We are loyal to the ideals of our nation—like freedom, democracy, and the rule of law—not to any one individual or party.

We do not agree on everything, but we all adhere to two fundamental principles. First, we believe America’s national security requires a serious and capable Commander-in-Chief. Second, we believe American democracy is invaluable. Each generation has a responsibility to defend it. That is why we, the undersigned, proudly endorse Kamala Harris to be the next President of the United States.

This election is a choice between serious leadership and vengeful impulsiveness. It is a choice between democracy and authoritarianism. Vice President Harris defends America’s democratic ideals, while former President Donald Trump endangers them.

We do not make such an assessment lightly. We are trained to make sober, rational decisions. That is how we know Vice President Harris would make an excellent Commander-in-Chief, while Mr. Trump has proven he is not up to the job. As leaders, we know effective leadership requires in-depth knowledge, careful deliberation, understanding of your adversaries, and empathy for those you lead. It requires listening to those with expertise and not firing them when they disagree with you.

Vice President Harris has proven she is an effective leader able to advance American national security interests. Her relentless diplomacy with allies around the globe preserved a united front in support of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. She grasps the reality of American military deterrence, promising to preserve the American military’s status as the most “lethal” force in the world.

The contrast with Mr. Trump is clear: where Vice President Harris is prepared and strategic, he is impulsive and ill-informed. He has heaped praise on adversarial dictators like China’s Xi Jinping, North Korea’s Kim Jung Un, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, as well as the terrorist leaders of Hezbollah. Conversely, he has publicly and privately excoriated the leaders of our most steadfast allies, including the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, Canada, and Germany. He abandoned our Kurdish allies while ceding influence in the Middle East to Russia, Iran, and China.

Further, Mr. Trump denigrates our great country and does not believe in the American ideal that our leaders should reflect the will of the people. While Vice President Harris follows the democratic norms we expect of any political leader—including promising to abide by the outcome of the pending election and respecting the rule of law—Mr. Trump is the first president in American history to actively undermine the peaceful transfer of power, the bedrock of American democracy.

Mr. Trump threatens our democratic system; he has said so himself. He has called for the “termination” of parts of the Constitution. He said he wants to be a “dictator,” and his clarification that he would only be a dictator for a day is not reassuring. He has undermined faith in our elections by repeating lies, without evidence, of “millions” of fraudulent votes.

He has shown no remorse for trying to overturn the 2020 election on January 6th, promises to pardon the convicted perpetrators, and has made clear he will not respect the results of the 2024 election should he lose again.

That alone proves Mr. Trump is unfit to be Commander-in-Chief.

We believe, as President Ronald Reagan said, that “America is a shining city on a hill.” Yet in this election, one of President Reagan’s more ominous warnings is equally relevant. “Freedom,” he said, “is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Our endorsement of Vice President Harris is an endorsement of freedom and an act of patriotism. It is an endorsement of democratic ideals, of competence, and of relentless optimism in America’s future. We hope you will join us in voting for her.

Sincerely,

President of National Security Leaders for America:

[see the list of 740+ signatories, including 230 'generals and flag officers']

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Matt Davies :: Strange love

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

June 20, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

JUN 21, 2024

Yesterday, in North Korea, Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a security partnership between their countries that said they would “provide mutual assistance in case of aggression.” The two authoritarian leaders essentially resurrected a 1961 agreement between North Korea and the Soviet Union. According to the North Korean News Agency, the agreement also calls for the two countries to work together toward a “just and multipolar new world order.”

The United States and other western allies have been concerned for two years about the strengthening ties between the two countries. Putin needs weapons for the war in Ukraine, and in exchange, he might provide not only the economic support Kim Jong Un needs—North Korea is one of the poorest countries in Asia—but also transfer the technology North Korea needs to develop nuclear weapons. 

In the New York Times today, David Sanger pointed out that Putin and China’s leader Xi Jinping have partnered against the West in the past decade but have always agreed that North Korea must not be able to develop a nuclear weapon. Now, it appears, Putin is desperate enough for munitions that he is willing to provide the technologies North Korea needs to obtain one, along with missiles to deliver it. 

Meanwhile, Joby Warrick reported yesterday in the Washington Post that Iran has launched big expansions of two key nuclear enrichment plants, and leaders of the country’s nuclear program have begun to say they could build a nuclear weapon quickly if asked to do so. On X, security analyst Jon Wolfsthal recalled the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that successfully limited Iran’s nuclear program and that Trump abandoned with vows to produce something better. Wolfsthal noted that diplomacy worked when “wars and ‘promises’ of a better deal could not.”   

Still, the meeting between Putin and Kim Jong Un is a sign of weakness, not strength. As The Telegraph pointed out, just ten years ago, Putin was welcomed to the G8 (now the G7) by the leaders of the richest countries in the world. “Now he has to go cap in hand to the pariah state of North Korea,” it pointed out. National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby added that “Russia is absolutely isolated on the world stage. They’ve been forced to rely, again, on countries like North Korea and Iran. Meanwhile…, Ukraine just organized a successful peace summit in Switzerland that had more than 100 countries and organizations sign up to support President Zelenskyy’s vision for a just peace.” 

In that same press conference, Kirby noted that the U.S. is delaying planned deliveries of foreign military sales to other countries, particularly of air defense missiles, sending the weapons to Ukraine instead. Also today, the U.S. emphasized that Ukraine can use American-supplied weapons to hit Russian forces in Russia. This is at least partly in response to recent reports that Russia is pulverizing Ukrainian front-line cities to force inhabitants to abandon them. Ukraine can slow the barrage by hitting the Russian airstrips from which the planes are coming.

China, which declared a “no limits” partnership with Russia in February 2022 just before Russia invaded Ukraine, kept distant from the new agreement between Russia and North Korea. Tong Zhao of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told Laurie Chen and Josh Smith of Reuters: "China is…careful not to create the perception of a de facto alliance among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang, as this will not be helpful for China to maintain practical cooperation with key Western countries.”

Greg Torode, Gerry Doyle, and Laurie Chen published an exclusive story in Reuters tonight, reporting that in March, for the first time in five years, delegates from the U.S. and China resumed semi-official talks about nuclear arms, although official talks have stalled.

The office of president of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Yoon Suk Yeol, condemned the agreement. “It’s absurd that two parties with a history of launching wars of invasion—the Korean War and the war in Ukraine—are now vowing mutual military cooperation on the premise of a preemptive attack by the international community that will never happen,” it said. An ROK national security official added that the government, which has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, will now consider supplying weapons. This is no small threat: ROK is one of the world’s top ten arms exporters.  

In the U.S., John Kirby told reporters that while cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a concern, the U.S. has been strengthening and bolstering alliances and partnerships throughout the Indo-Pacific region since President Joe Biden took office. It brokered the historic trilateral agreement between the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the United States; launched AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.; and expanded cooperation with the Philippines. 

On Tuesday, at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Washington, D.C., NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained the cooperation between Russia and North Korea like this. “Russia’s war in Ukraine is…propped up by China, North Korea, and Iran,” he said. “They want to see the United States fail. They want to see NATO fail. If they succeed in Ukraine, it will make us more vulnerable and the world more dangerous. 

To that, The Bulwark today added journalist Anne Applebaum’s comments about the determination of those countries to disrupt liberal democracies. Dictators, she said, “are betting that Trump will be the person who destroys the United States, whether he makes it ungovernable, whether he assaults the institutions so that they no longer function, whether he creates so much division and chaos that the U.S. can’t have a foreign policy anymore. That’s what they want, and that’s what they’re hoping he will do.”

Trump himself is a more and more problematic candidate. This week, author Ramin Setoodeh, who has a new book coming out soon about Trump’s transformation from failed businessman to reality TV star on the way to the presidency, has told reporters that Trump has “severe memory issues” adding that “he couldn’t remember things, he couldn’t even remember me.”

Trump is supposed to participate in a debate with President Biden on June 27, and while Biden is preparing as candidates traditionally do, with policy reviews and practice, Trump’s team has been downplaying Trump’s need for preparation, saying that his rallies and interviews with friendly media are enough. 

With new polls showing Biden overtaking the lead in the presidential contest, right-wing media has been pushing so-called cheap fakes: videos that don’t use AI but misrepresent what happened by deceptively cutting the film or the shot. 

Social media has been flooded with images of Biden appearing to bend over for no apparent reason at a D-Day commemoration; the clip cuts off both the chair behind him and that everyone else was sitting down, too. Another, from the recent G7 summit, appears to show the president wandering away from a group of leaders during a skydiving demonstration; in fact, he was walking toward and speaking to a parachute jumper who had just landed but was off camera. A third appears to show Biden unable to say the name of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; in fact, he was teasing Mayorkas, and the film cuts off just before Biden says his name.  

On Monday, June 17, Judd Legum of Popular information produced a deep report on how the right-wing Sinclair Broadcast Group has been flooding its local media websites with these and other stories suggesting that President Biden is “mentally unfit for office.” Legum noted that these stories appeared simultaneously on at least 86 local news websites Sinclair owns.

Finally, today, in the New York Times, Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer reported that two of Judge Aileen Cannon’s more experienced colleagues on Florida’s federal bench—including the chief judge, a George W. Bush appointee—urged her to hand off the case of Trump’s retention of classified documents to someone else when it was assigned to her. They noted that she was inexperienced, having been appointed by Trump only very late in his term, and that taking the case would look bad since she had previously been rebuked by a conservative appeals court after helping Trump in the criminal investigation that led to the indictment. 

She refused to pass the assignment to someone else.  

Trump’s lawyers’ approach to the case has been to try to delay it until after the election. Judge Cannon’s decisions appear to have made that strategy succeed.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON