China Daily Global Edition (USA)
FM: Bring ties with US back on right track
Changes to electoral system will see return of rational society
The United States should not interfere in the domestic affairs of another country, and it is expected to work with China toward the same goals by lifting restrictions on bilateral cooperation, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. Wang made the statement at his annual news conference on Sunday in Beijing on the sidelines of the ongoing annual two sessions.
China-US relations were in the spotlight as several of the 27 questions proposed by reporters at the news conference directly addressed the interactions between the world’s top two economies.
Beijing is ready to work with Washington to follow through on the outcomes of last month’s phone call between President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, and set China-US relations on a new path of healthy and steady growth, Wang said.
As two countries with different social systems, China and the US “naturally have differences and disagreements”, and what matters most is to manage them effectively through candid communication to prevent strategic miscalculation and avoid conflict and confrontation in the interest of the two countries and the world, Wang said.
“We hope that the US will move in the same direction and remove all of its unreasonable restrictions on bilateral cooperation as early as possible, and stop creating new obstacles,” he said.
Wang criticized the US for willfully interfering in other countries’ internal affairs in the name of democracy and human rights, and “this has created lots of trouble in the world and, in some cases, turbulence and conflict”.
“It is important that the US recognize this as soon as possible. Otherwise, the world will remain far from tranquillity,” he added.
When asked about what has been called a competition of different ideologies between China and the West, particularly the US, Wang said, “In Chinese culture, seeking harmony without uniformity is a philosophy of the virtuous. Western culture values respect as a quality of a gentleman.”
Wang stressed that the progress of human civilization cannot be achieved with only one pathway or model, and smearing or attacking others for their different system or even claiming superiority is in essence “hegemony of a system”.
“Our world cannot afford to fall apart, still less return to conflicts,” he added.
Speaking on the Taiwan question, Wang warned, “There is no room for compromise or concession from the Chinese government.” He said the one-China principle is the political foundation of the China-US relationship and is “a red line that should not be crossed”.
Wang said the two sides of the Taiwan Straits must be and will surely be reunified. “This is the trend of history and the collective will of the entire Chinese nation. It will not and cannot be changed,” he said.
The new US administration is expected to “appreciate the great sensitivity” of the Taiwan question and abide by the one-China principle and the three landmark ChinaUS communiques, he said.
“We would hope to see a clear departure from the previous administration’s dangerous practice of ‘crossing the red line’ and ‘playing with fire’, and we hope that the Taiwan question will be handled prudently and properly,” he added.
When asked about Beijing’s plan to bolster collaboration with the US and Europe on tackling climate change, Wang said China welcomes the US’ return to the Paris Agreement on climate change and expects that the US will shoulder its responsibility and make its due contribution.
“We hope that renewed ChinaUS cooperation on climate change will bring a positive ‘climate change’ to the relations between China and the US,” Wang added.
In a meeting with Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Saturday, Vice-Premier Han Zheng underlined the importance of ensuring the “one country, two systems” practice in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region always moves in the right direction.
During the meeting with Hong Kong and Macao SAR members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing, Han emphasized the “patriots administering Hong Kong” principle and said the electoral system reform should fit the reality of the HKSAR.
Han, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said the HKSAR government should fully implement the changes to improve the electoral system once it has been made by the National People’s Congress, as well as amendments to the two annexes of the Hong Kong Basic Law.
A draft decision to improve Hong Kong’s electoral system, centering on reform and greater empowerment of the city’s Election Committee as part of the overall system design, was submitted to the fourth session of the 13th NPC for deliberation on Friday.
Han stressed the need to ensure that the electoral system reflects the interests of society as a whole and to guarantee Hong Kong compatriots’ extensive and balanced engagement in politics in accordance with the law. He also said patriots must hold the right to manage and administer Hong Kong.
Wang Chen, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered a speech on Friday explaining the draft decision at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th NPC.
Wang said the rioting and turbulence that occurred in the HKSAR revealed that its existing electoral system has clear loopholes and deficiencies, which anti-China and destabilizing elements took advantage of in an attempt to take into their hands the power to administer Hong Kong.
He added that the overall design of the system will be centered around the reformation and greater empowerment of Hong Kong’s Election Committee.
The size, composition and formation method of the committee will be adjusted and improved. The chief executive will continue to be elected by the committee, and the committee will be entrusted with the new function of electing a relatively large number of Legislative Council members and the direct participation in the nomination of all candidates. A qualification review mechanism will also be established throughout the entire electoral process.
Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, vicepresident of the Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ and Exporters’ Association, said the city will see rational debate and stability return to the city’s legislature and society with an improved electoral system.
In an interview with China Daily, Wong said that only with stability will the city then be able to move on and have the space to discuss how to tackle some issues related to the city’s economy and people’s livelihoods.
Wong, who is also a CPPCC National Committee member, said the central government has prerogative to determine matters related to HKSAR’s political system, including how the city elects its top officials and lawmakers.
“This is our domestic policy and we’re doing it in accordance with China’s Constitution,” said Wong, citing Article 31 of the Constitution.
Article 31 clearly stipulates that the State may establish SARs when necessary. The systems to be instituted in SARs shall be prescribed by law enacted by the NPC in light of specific conditions.
Wong said the social unrest in 2019, political conflicts in previous Legislative Council meetings and the emergence of pro-independence advocacies in the city are living embodiments of why it is important and necessary to improve Hong Kong’s electoral system and put emphasis on “patriots administering Hong Kong”.
Business leader Henry Tan, a Hong Kong deputy to the NPC, also weighed in.
Tan expected Hong Kong to embrace a bright future led by patriotic political leaders once the system is improved.
He stressed that allowing only patriots to govern the city is no different to similar requirements in other places around the world.
“All countries and regions expect their political leaders and government officials to love their country or city,” Tan said.