The American Infiltration of China's Xinjiang -- September 24, 2020

 

 

The American Infiltration of China's Xinjiang

 

 By LARRY ROMANOFF – September 24, 2020

 

  

 

I want to set the stage for this topic by telling you a story.

 

 

When I was a university student, I worked during one summer at a huge supermarket in my city. It was a great place to work, with good management and very high standards of customer service, so much so that our location was the exemplar of perfection in our city and the envy of our competitors. As one example, no customers were permitted to carry their groceries to their car; that was part of our job. The entire staff was a group of young kids. We worked hard, we got along well together, we partied together and we were genuinely happy.

 

 

Then one day a young man in his early 30s, an organiser for one of the country's prominent labor unions, began appearing in our supermarket and talking to the staff about forming a union. I wasn't interested and was in any case returning to school in the fall, so the matter didn't much concern me. But after repeated visits, some of the staff began attending meetings with this man in off-hours, and soon all of them were attending.

 

 

And we rapidly experienced an astonishing climate change, with our formerly happy workplace becoming infused with bitterness, resentment and anger, for no perceptible reason. The staff soon voted to form a union, and within a couple of weeks voted to begin a strike. I had never seen such a rapid transformation. The entire store had gone from an almost ideal labor environment to one filled with bitterness and hatred, and without discernible cause. It was so bad that one weekend some of the staff cut the power lines to the supermarket during the night so that all the frozen food and perishables would have to be discarded on Monday morning. Many of the huge two-story high front windows were smashed during the nights.

 

 

Threatening Mergers -- September 24, 2020

 

 

 

 

Threatening Mergers

 

 By LARRY ROMANOFF – September 24, 2020

 

In joining the WTO, China made substantial commitments to relax the restrictions on foreign investment, on ownership of assets and the transfer of technology. Coupled with increasingly open capital markets, these acquisitions created convenient conditions for the expansion of foreign control of many economic sectors, with takeovers increasing almost exponentially, led by US and European multinationals. It was originally hoped that the large influx of foreign corporations would inject vitality into the development of China's economy, and it may have done so, but at the same time, has also brought serious negative effects. In particular, foreign Joint Ventures evolved from initial cooperative efforts to a situation where an increasing number of industries and industry segments were dominated by a few foreign MNCs, forming virtual monopolies in some cases.

 

These foreign-funded enterprises now number about 450,000, and have grown at a double-digit rate, often controlling a market share of 30% or more, accounting for more than half of China's total exports and 20% of its tax revenue. In some developed regions, these foreign enterprises once accounted for more than 40% of all assets, 35% of all added value creation, and a large number of employees. The number of foreign takeovers and acquisitions in China has been growing at a rate of 50% or 60% in the recent few years. In 2010, China recorded 1,800 mergers and acquisitions with a value of $82 billion. Among other effects, these developments greatly increased the cost of commercial development land in smaller centers like Suzhou and Kunshan, and other red lights were flashing as well. And according to a World Bank study of some 12,500 foreign firms in more than 100 Chinese cities, their return on investment was well over 20% - much higher than that of domestic firms - but with a much lower average tax burden. In a real sense, these firms were being paid to take over the country's commerce.

 

Tarnished American Philanthropy in China – September 24, 2020

 

 

Tarnished American Philanthropy in China

 

By LARRY ROMANOFF – September 24, 2020

 

 

According to Chinese state authorities, Ron Brown of the AGAPE Foundation of Peachtree City, Georgia, traveled to Wuhan in late 2004 and signed a contract with several domestic charitable organisations in China to provide 2 million RMB each year of medical supplies and materials, in part to assist with cardiac surgery and treatments, but the overall purpose was stated as being "to improve the lives of orphans and the lonely elderly". So far, so good.

 

 

Some time after the signing of this agreement, AGAPE shipped its first 'donation' of medical devices to Shaoyang City in Hunan. I happened to be in Shanghai at the time and was watching a TV news program which included a segment on this first AGAPE donation of medical supplies, the container being opened in the presence of local medical officials and a TV news crew. The shipment included heart surgery kits, medical outfits, medical gloves, pledgets, adhesive tapes, waste bins, catheters, sutures, syringes, and other accessories. We watched while the Customs Officers and medical staff examined the contents of these containers. What we saw was appalling.

 

 

The donated “medical supplies” had been re-packed in old boxes bearing labels for foodstuffs, electronics, and even Coca Cola and KFC, many of which were soiled by mildew, oil, and dirt stains and emitted strong odors. All of the medicines, drugs, pharmaceuticals, were past (or long past) their safe-use dates. Carton after carton of syringes, bandages, sterile wrappings and similar items were all in packages that had been opened and were no longer sterile. It was easy, even on TV, to see that many of the syringes had been used, then replaced in their packages, and one could see the cockroaches crawling around inside the supposedly-sterile cartons. Catheters that were supposedly to be used for heart surgery, were clearly used, were in non-sterile packaging, and suitable only for discard. The disposable syringes contained a suspicious black fluid and had lost their sterility through exposure to the air, while reagents and disinfectants had leaked, contaminating other items.

VLADIMIR PUTIN at 75th session of the UN General Assembly

  

75th session of the UN General Assembly

Vladimir Putin delivered a pre-recorded video address to the 75^th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly.

September 22, 2020

19:15

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

This year, the international community celebrates two, without exaggeration, historic anniversaries: the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and establishment of the United Nations.

The importance of these two forever interlinked events cannot be overemphasized. In 1945, Nazism was defeated, the ideology of aggression and hatred was crushed, and the experience and spirit of alliance, as well as the awareness of the huge price that had been paid for peace and our common Victory, helped construct the post-war world order. It was built on the ultimate foundation of the UN Charter that remains the main source of international law to this day.

I am convinced that this anniversary makes it incumbent upon all of us to recall the timeless principles of inter-State communication enshrined in the UN Charter and formulated by the founding fathers of our universal Organization in the clearest and most unambiguous terms. These principles include the equality of sovereign States, non-interference with their domestic affairs, the right of peoples to determine their own future, non-use of force or the threat of force, and political settlement of disputes.

Looking back at the past decades, one can say that despite all difficulties of the Cold War period, major geopolitical shifts and all the intricacies of today's global politics, the UN has been ably fulfilling its mission of protecting peace, promoting sustainable development of the peoples and continents and providing assistance in mitigating local crises.

This enormous potential and expertise of the UN is relevant and serves as a solid basis for moving ahead. After all, just like any other international organization or regional entity, the UN should not grow stiff, but evolve in accordance with the dynamics of the 21st century and consistently adapt to the realia of the modern world that is indeed becoming more complicated, multipolar and multidimensional.

The current changes certainly have an effect on the principal UN body, the Security Council, as well as on the debate concerning the approaches to its reform. Our logic is that the Security Council should be more inclusive of the interests of all countries, as well as the diversity of their positions, base its work on the principle of the broadest possible consensus among States and, at the same time, continue to serve as the cornerstone of global governance, which cannot be achieved unless the permanent members of the Security Council retain their veto power.

Such a right pertaining to the five nuclear powers, the victors of the Second World War, remains indicative of the actual military and political balance to this day. Most importantly, it is an essential and unique instrument that helps prevent unilateral actions that may result in a direct military confrontation between major States, and provides an opportunity to seek compromise or at least avoid solutions that would be completely unacceptable to others and act within the framework of international law, rather than a vague, gray area of arbitrariness and illegitimacy.

As diplomatic practice shows, this instrument actually works, unlike the infamous pre-war League of Nations with its endless discussions, declarations without mechanisms for real action and with States and peoples in need not having the right to assistance and protection.

Forgetting the lessons of history is short-sighted and extremely irresponsible, just like the politicized attempts to arbitrarily interpret the causes, course and outcomes of the Second World War and twist the decisions of the conferences of the Allies and the Nuremberg Tribunal that are based on speculation instead of facts.

It is not just vile and offending the memory of the fighters against Nazism. It is a direct and devastating blow to the very foundation of the post-war world order, which is particularly dangerous in view of the global stability facing serious challenges, the arms control system breaking down, regional conflicts continuing unabated, and threats posed by terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking intensifying.

We are also experiencing a whole new challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. This disease has directly affected millions of people and claimed the most important thing: the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Quarantines, border closures, numerous serious troubles to citizens of almost all States constitute the present-day realia. It has been especially difficult for elderly people who, due to the necessary restrictions, have not been able to hug their loved ones, children and grandchildren for weeks or even months.

Experts are yet to fully assess the scale of the social and economic shock caused by the pandemic and all its long-term consequences. However, it is already evident that it will take a really, really long time to restore the global economy. Furthermore, even the proven anti-crisis measures will not always work. We will need new innovative solutions.

The only way to elaborate such solutions is to work together, which is the most important task for both the UN and G20 States, as well as other leading inter-State organizations and integration associations that are also going through tough times due to the pandemic impact and need fundamentally new horizons and scope of development.

This very idea of a qualitative integrative growth, the ”integration of integrations“, is the one behind Russia's initiative to form a Greater Eurasian Partnership involving all Asian and European countries without exception. It is purely pragmatic and increasingly relevant.

Besides, I would like to draw attention once again to Russia's proposal to create so-called ”green corridors“ free from trade wars and sanctions, primarily for essential goods, food, medicine and personal protective equipment needed to fight the pandemic.

In general, freeing the world trade from barriers, bans, restrictions and illegitimate sanctions would be of great help in revitalizing global growth and reducing unemployment. According to experts, total or partial reduction in global employment in the second quarter of this year equals to the loss of 400 million jobs, and we have to do our utmost to prevent this unemployment from growing long-term and ensure that people return to work and can support their families instead of finding themselves imprisoned by poverty with no prospects in life.

This is indeed a most acute global social problem, so the politics has a mission now to pave the way for trade, joint projects and fair competition, rather than tie the hands of business and discourage business initiative.

The pandemic has also pinpointed a series of ethical, technological and humanitarian matters. For instance, advanced digital technologies helped quickly reorganize education, trade and services, as well as set up distant learning and online courses for people of different ages. Artificial intelligence has assisted doctors in making more accurate and timely diagnoses and finding the best treatment.

However, just like any other innovation, digital technologies tend to spread uncontrollably and, just like conventional weapons, can fall into the hands of various radicals and extremists not only in the regional conflict zones, but also in quite prosperous countries, thus engendering enormous risks.

In this regard, matters related to cybersecurity and the use of advanced digital technology also deserve a most serious deliberation within the UN. It is important to hear and appreciate the concerns of people over the protection of their rights, such as the right to privacy, property and security, in the new era.

We must learn to use new technologies for the benefit of humankind, seek for a right balance between encouraging the development of artificial intelligence and justifiable restrictions to limit it, and work together towards a consensus in the field of regulation that would avert potential threats in terms of both military and technological security, as well as traditions, law, and morals of human communication.

I would like to point out that during the pandemic, doctors, volunteers and citizens of various countries have been showing us examples of mutual assistance and support, and such solidarity defies borders. Many countries have also been helping each other selflessly and open-heartedly. However, there have been cases showing the deficit of humanity and, if you will, kindness in the relations at the official inter-State level.

We believe that the UN prestige could strengthen and enhance the role of the humanitarian or human component in multilateral and bilateral relations, namely in people-to-people and youth exchanges, cultural ties, social and educational programs, as well as cooperation in sports, science, technology, environment and health protection.

As to healthcare, just like in economy, we now need to remove, as many as possible, obstacles to partner relations. Our country has been actively contributing to global and regional counter-COVID-19 efforts, providing assistance to most affected states both bilaterally and within multilateral formats.

In doing so, we first of all take into account the central coordinating role of the World Health Organization, which is part of the UN system. We believe it essential to qualitatively strengthen the WHO capability. This work has already begun, and Russia is genuinely motivated to engage in it.

Building on the scientific, industrial and clinical experience of its doctors Russia has promptly developed a range of test systems and medicines to detect and treat the coronavirus, as well as registered the world’s first vaccine, “Sputnik-V.”

I would like to reiterate that we are completely open to partner relations and willing to cooperate. In this context, we are proposing to hold an online high-level conference shortly for countries interested in cooperation in the development of anti-coronavirus vaccines.

We are ready to share experience and continue cooperating with all States and international entities, including in supplying the Russian vaccine which has proved reliable, safe, and effective, to other countries. Russia is sure that all capacities of the global pharmaceutical industry need to be employed so as to provide a free access to vaccination for the population of all states in the foreseeable future.

A dangerous virus can affect anyone. The coronavirus has struck the staff of the United Nations, its headquarters and regional structures just like everyone else. Russia is ready to provide the UN with all the necessary qualified assistance; in particular, we are offering to provide our vaccine, free of charge, for the voluntary vaccination of the staff of the UN and its offices. We have received requests from our UN colleagues in this respect, and we will respond to those.

There are other critical items on today’s agenda. The issues of both environmental protection and climate change should remain the focus of joint efforts.

The specialized multilateral UN conventions, treaties and protocols have proved fully relevant. We are calling on all states to comply with them in good faith, particularly in working to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Dear colleagues! I would like to underline again, that Russia will make every effort to contribute to peaceful political and diplomatic resolution of regional crises and conflicts, as well as to ensuring strategic stability.

For all the disputes and differences, at times misunderstanding and even distrust on the part of some colleagues, we will consistently advance constructive, uniting initiatives, first of all in arms control and strengthening the treaty regimes existing in this area. This includes the prohibition of chemical, biological and toxin weapons.

The issue of primary importance that should and must be promptly dealt with is, of course, the extension of the Russia-US Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which will expire shortly, i.e. in February 2021. We are engaged in negotiations with our US partners on the matter.

We also expect that mutual restraint would be exercised with regard to deploying new missile systems. I would like to add that as early as last year, Russia declared a moratorium on deploying ground-launched medium and short-range missiles in Europe and other regions as long as the United States of America refrains from such actions. Unfortunately, we have not received any reaction to our proposal from either our US partners or their allies.

I believe that such reciprocal steps on specific issues would provide a sound basis for launching a serious, profound dialogue on the entire range of factors affecting strategic stability. It would aim at achieving comprehensive arrangements, shaping a solid foundation for the international security architecture that would build on prior experience in this field and in line with both the existing and future politico-military and technological realia.

In particular, Russia is putting forward an initiative to sign a binding agreement between all the leading space powers that would provide for the prohibition of the placement of weapons in outer space, threat or use of force against outer space objects.

We are well aware of the fact that security issues as well as other problems discussed by this jubilee UN General Assembly call for consolidated efforts on the basis of values that unite us, our shared memory of the lessons of history, and the spirit of alliance which guided the anti-Hitler coalition participants who found it possible to raise above differences and ideological preferences for the sake of Victory and peace for all nations on the Earth.

In the current challenging environment, it is important for all countries to show political will, wisdom and foresight. The permanent members of the UN Security Council – those powers that, for 75 years now, have been bearing particular responsibility for international peace and security, the preservation of the foundations of international law – should take the lead here.

Fully realizing this responsibility, Russia has suggested convening a G5 summit. It would aim at reaffirming the key principles of behavior in international affairs, elaborating ways to effectively address today’s most burning issues. It is encouraging that our partners have supported the initiative. We expect to hold such summit – in person – as soon as epidemiological situation makes it possible.

I would like to reiterate that in an interrelated, interdependent world, amid the whirlpool of international developments, we need to work together drawing on the principles and norms of international law enshrined in the UN Charter. This is the only way for us to carry out the paramount mission of our Organization and provide a decent life for the present and future generations.

I wish all the peoples of our planet peace and well-being.

Thank you.

Full text: Xi Jinping's speech at the General Debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

  

Full text: Xi Jinping's speech at the General Debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

CGTN

14:43

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday delivered a speech via video link at the annual General Debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Here is the full text:

Mr. President, 
Colleagues, 

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations (UN). Yesterday, the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN was held. The meeting was a significant one, as it reaffirmed our abiding commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter on the basis of reviewing the historical experience and lessons of the World Anti-Fascist War. 

Mr. President, 

We humans are battling COVID-19, a virus that has ravaged the world and has kept resurging. In this fight, we have witnessed the efforts of governments, dedication of medical workers, exploration of scientists, and perseverance of the public. People of different countries have come together. With courage, resolve and compassion which lit the dark hour, we have confronted the disaster head on. The virus will be defeated. Humanity will win this battle! 

— Facing the virus, we should put people and life first. We should mobilize all resources to make a science-based and targeted response. No case should be missed and no patient should be left untreated. The spread of the virus must be contained. 

— Facing the virus, we should enhance solidarity and get this through together. We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization, and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic. Any attempt of politicizing the issue or stigmatization must be rejected. 

IN MEMORIAM: Andre Vltchek, 1962-2020 por Flávio Gonçalves

  

IN MEMORIAM: Andre Vltchek, 1962-2020

Foto: selfie da autoria do próprio Andre Vltchek 

O corpo do jornalista de investigação, cineasta e filósofo Andre Vltchek foi encontrado sem vida na madrugada de dia 22, num automóvel, em Istambul.

Por Flávio Gonçalves

23 de Setembro de 2020

A notícia chegou-nos como um choque, para vos sermos sinceros estamos ainda em negação à espera de receber um qualquer relato contraditório em como houve um erro de identificação e Andre Vltchek ainda se encontra vivo, perpetuamente em viagem a relatar os crimes e as injustiças do Império, sempre imparável, um verdadeiro titã na defesa dos oprimidos.

Os leitores das edições em língua inglesa e em língua portuguesa do Pravda.ru estavam familiarizados com o seu nome, em Portugal os seus textos eram também publicados nos portais libertaria.pt, tiremasmaosdavenezuela.com e resistir.info, vários deles traduzidos por mim para publicação no Pravda.ru e posteriormente reencaminhados para reprodução em portais como o do Centre for Research on Globalization, era também presença habitual nos canais de televisão da iraniana PressTV, da russa RT e até da venezuelana TeleSUR, isto nos tempos de glória deste ambicioso projecto chavista.

Foi uma das primeiras vozes internacionais a defender Lula, publicando inclusivamente a obra “Por Lula: O Brasil de Bolsonaro, O Novo Tubarão Num Mar Infestado de Tubarões” em 2018, sendo que aquando da segunda edição em Abril de 2019 me pediu inclusivamente para interceder junto do núcleo do Núcleo de Lisboa do Partido dos Trabalhadores para determinar se alguém poderia fazer com que um exemplar fosse entregue ao próprio.

Ainda não foram divulgadas as causas da sua morte, não nos surpreenderiam se não fossem naturais do mesmo modo que não será qualquer surpresa se o forem. O último ano foi particularmente intenso e cruel para com Andre Vltchek, tanto física como psicologicamente, quem o seguia nas redes sociais testemunhou quão frustrado se sentia com a generalizada falta de apoio ao seu trabalho, com milhares de seguidores e dezenas ou até mesmo centenas de milhar de leitores em todo o mundo, em língua portuguesa, inglesa e castelhana, a verdade é que contava com menos de uma trintena de patronos.

Migalhas Para um Revolucionário

Desabafava frequentemente que os seus leitores ocidentais só estavam interessados em borlas, em lê-lo talvez por mero entretenimento político ou alívio de consciência, mas que todos os elogios, traduções e partilhas e gostos não se repercutiam em qualquer apoio directo e que tampouco compravam os seus livros, o seu Patreon contava apenas com 26 patronos, sendo um deles este que aqui vos escreve. No último ano contraiu uma infecção que o deixou febril e parcialmente cego numa das suas passagens pela Ásia, na altura pediu-me conselhos de tratamento uma vez que eu próprio no início de 2019 também contraí uma infecção que me deixou parcialmente cego durante uma semana em Lisboa.

Após uma estadia forçada no Chile – que aproveitou para nos deliciar com reportagens em primeira mão sobre os movimentos sociais locais – seguiu para a Venezuela e depois para a Europa após várias jornadas que o levaram a colapsar em Berlim de exaustão. Era uma máquina viva o nosso Andre, sempre em movimento viveu por largas temporadas no Líbano, no Chile – que considerava o seu segundo lar –, no Japão e até no coração do Grande Satanás, os EUA, onde obteve cidadania.

FR -- LARRY ROMANOFF -- L’Exceptionnalisme américain -- August 22, 2020

 

 

L’Exceptionnalisme américain

LARRY ROMANOFF • 22 aout 2020

中文  ENGLISH  ESPAÑOL  FRANÇAIS PORTUGUÊS

 

“Bienvenue en Amérique, la Terre de la Liberté” indique le panneau à Washington, à l’aéroport International de DC, alors que vous faites la queue pour la prise d’empreintes digitales, et les palpations des services de sécurité pour inspecter les dispositifs nucléaires.

 J’aurais pu titrer cet article : « Piéger le chat parmi les pigeons ». Pour tenter de prévenir une avalanche de protestations attendues, je confirme être au courant des statistiques émises par toute une série d’individus et d’institutions qui varient toutes largement par leur intention et leur idéologie ; et qui peuvent « prouver » pratiquement n’importe quoi que l’on puisse prouver, les coefficients GINI en étant un exemple facile. Les statistiques qui sont basées sur cet article n’ont pas été sélectionnées sans précaution, et ne sont pas invalidées selon la désapprobation du lecteur.

Les États-Unis ne sont les Meilleurs que pour être les Pires 

 

Aujourd’hui, les Etats-Unis ont le plus grand niveau d’inégalité de revenus de toutes les nations occidentales (1) (2) surpassant la Chine, et plus que quelques nations sous-développées, également. A présent, Ils ont la mobilité sociale la plus basse de la plupart des nations (3) ce qui signifie qu’améliorer un niveau de vie dans la vie devient presque complètement impossible. Si vos parents n’ont pas fait d’études et ne sont pas riches, vous ne le serez pas non plus, et le rêve Américain est mort. Actuellement les Etats-Unis a la classe moyenne la plus petite et la plus grande classe ouvrière parmi toutes les grandes nations, la classe moyenne étant celle qui a été la plus éventrée en 2008, ce mécanisme s’est enfin achevé de lui-même aujourd’hui et ne pourra plus s’en remettre, jamais. Les Américains détiennent les plus grands montants de dettes personnelles parmi toutes les nations (4), y compris les cartes de crédit et les prêts étudiants les plus importants, lesquels ne sont pas remboursables, et maintenant les États-Unis détiennent la palme mondiale de toutes les faillites personnelles (5). Depuis 2008, selon les statistiques du propre gouvernement Américain, les Etats-Unis ont le pourcentage le plus bas de propriété privée soit 57 % (6) se classant au 43^ème rang mondial, loin derrière la Chine, à 90 % (7) et dorénavant l’Amérique a une épidémie virtuelle de sans-abris comparée à la plupart des autres nations, avec des millions de familles sans-abris avec enfants. (Non gonflés)