Why does China support Maduro in Venezuela? A United Nations human rights expert calls for the release of detainees in Russia. The competition between China and democratic countries in the Pacific intensifies. Plus, the crackdown on 'formalism at your fingertips' in China and the manipulation of China by Putin. Join us on Simply Politics as we delve into these pressing issues and their implications.
Sources:
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-venezuela/7727958.html
https://news.un.org/zh/story/2024/08/1130371
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-and-major-democracies-step-up-competition-in-the-pacific-20240801/7726616.html
https://www.voachinese.com/a/7727413.html
Outline:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:00:45) In Venezuela, why does China support Maduro?
(00:03:21) United Nations Human Rights Expert: Russia must release all human rights maintenanceers, journalists and anti -war critics
(00:05:26) China and major democratic countries strengthen their competition in the Pacific
(00:07:35) Everyone talks about current affairs: How can the Politburo shot if the Chinese officialdom is trapped in the "fingertips"? Master Putin is manipulating China. Is this the truth of China -Russia relations?
Simply Politics, from China
China’s Support for Maduro, Human Rights Violations in Russia, Geopolitical Competition in the Pacific, and China-Russia Relations
Why does China support Maduro in Venezuela? A United Nations human rights expert calls for the release of detainees in Russia. The competition between China and democratic countries in the Pacific intensifies. Plus, the crackdown on 'formalism at your fingertips' in China and the manipulation of China by Putin. Join us on Simply Politics as we delve into these pressing issues and their implications.Sources:https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-venezuela/7727958.htmlhttps://news.un.org/zh/story/2024/08/1130371https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-and-major-democracies-step-up-competition-in-the-pacific-20240801/7726616.htmlhttps://www.voachinese.com/a/7727413.htmlOutline:(00:00:00) Introduction(00:00:45) In Venezuela, why does China support Maduro?(00:03:21) United Nations Human Rights Expert: Russia must release all human rights maintenanceers, journalists and anti -war critics(00:05:26) China and major democratic countries strengthen their competition in the Pacific(00:07:35) Everyone talks about current affairs: How can the Politburo shot if the Chinese officialdom is trapped in the "fingertips"? Master Putin is manipulating China. Is this the truth of China -Russia relations?
- Duration:
- 10m
- Broadcast on:
- 03 Aug 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
[MUSIC PLAYING] Good morning, and welcome to Simply Politics from China. It's Saturday, August 3. On today's show, we delve into why China supports Maduro in Venezuela, and a United Nations human rights expert calls for Russia to release all human rights maintainers, journalists, and anti-war critics. Plus, we explore the strengthening competition between China and major democratic countries in the Pacific, this coverage in more, up next. I'm David, and you're listening to Simply Politics from China. We start off with the recent Venezuelan presidential election, which has stirred controversy not only within the country, but also on the international stage. The US government has recognized opposition candidate at Mundo Gonzales as the winner, while China and Russia have acknowledged the victory of incumbent Nicolas Maduro. This divergence in recognition has raised questions about China's stance. Here to delve deeper into this issue is Michael, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you shed some light on why China chose to recognize Maduro's victory? Certainly, David. China's recognition of Maduro's victory stands in contrast not only to Western governments like the US, UK, Canada, and the European Union, but also to most Latin American countries, where China is seeking to expand its influence. Seven Latin American countries, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, have explicitly refused to recognize Maduro's election. So, what could be the reason behind China's decision to support Maduro? Shortly after the National Electoral Council of Venezuela announced Maduro's victory, Xi Jinping called Maduro to congratulate him and emphasize China's unwavering support for Venezuela in safeguarding its national sovereignty and combating external forces. According to Antonio Rosales, an assistant professor at York University in Canada, China's choice of Maduro represents stability in China's view. Interesting. And how does this decision align with China's broader foreign policy objectives? China's foreign policy is often guided by principles of non-interference and respect for national sovereignty. In this case, recognizing Maduro's victory could be seen as a reflection of these principles. However, it's also worth noting that China has significant economic interests in Venezuela, particularly in the oil sector. The decision to support Maduro could be seen as a strategic move to protect these interests. That's a significant point. How might this decision impact China's relations with other countries, particularly those in Latin America that have refused to recognize Maduro's election? China's decision could potentially strain its relations with these countries. However, China has been successful in maintaining diplomatic relations with countries, despite differences in political views. It remains to be seen how this situation will evolve and what impact it will have on China's influence in Latin America. Thanks for that report, Michael. Shifting our focus to another complex geopolitical situation, Russia recently conducted a prisoner exchange with Western countries, including the United States and Germany. However, UN human rights experts have expressed concern over Russia's continued detention of political prisoners. Here to discuss this further is Bella, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you tell us more about this prisoner exchange? Certainly, David. On August 1st, Russia released several individuals, including Evan Gerskovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine. In return, Western countries released several Russians, including a former member of Russia's security agency. What has been the response of human rights experts to this exchange? Human rights experts have stated that most of those released by Russia were arbitrarily detained for peacefully opposing the Russian government and its war against Ukraine. Their detention violated international human rights standards and is indicative of the intensifying crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. What concerns have been raised about those who remain in detention in Russia? The experts expressed concern over Russia's continued politically motivated imprisonment of between 700 to 1,372 political prisoners. They pointed out that continued detention would expose these individuals to further human rights risks, including torture, ill treatment, and enforced disappearance. What are the experts calling for in response to this situation? The experts are calling on the Russian government to immediately and unconditionally release all detained political prisoners. They are also urging Russia to repeal laws restricting freedom of expression and to amend the criminal code to prevent the abuse of national security laws to suppress dissent and target opposition figures, human rights defenders, and journalists. Thanks for that report, Bella. Shifting our focus to the Pacific in recent weeks, geopolitical competition in the region has been heating up with China and democratic countries like Australia and Japan intensifying their engagement with Pacific island nations. This is particularly evident in the realm of security. Here to discuss this further is Celeste, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you tell us more about this escalating competition? Certainly, David. As traditional partners roll out new activities and new partners continue to show fresh interest, the geopolitical competition in the Pacific is indeed intensifying. This is according to Mihai Sora, head of the Pacific Islands program at Australia's Loi Institute. What are some recent examples of this intensified engagement? Earlier this month, the prime ministers of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu made high-profile visits to China, pledging to deepen their comprehensive, strategic partnership with the country. The Solomon Islands prime minister, Jeremiah Manelli, announced that China would provide more than $20 million in budget support to the Pacific island nation. Although the Chinese government has not publicly confirmed this, China also reiterated its commitment to help support and train the Solomon Islands police force. And how are other countries like Japan responding to this? Japan is also stepping up its role in the region. Following a three-day summit held in Tokyo in mid-July, leaders from 18 Pacific island countries agreed to strengthen Japan's growing role in the region. They announced a joint action plan to increase port calls by Japan's self-defense forces and deepen cooperation between maritime police agencies. What are the implications of this escalating competition in the Pacific? This intensifying competition could have significant implications for the balance of power in the Pacific. It could also impact the relationships between these Pacific island nations and the competing powers, potentially leading to shifts in alliances and strategic partnerships. Thanks for that report on a complex situation, Celeste. Shifting gears, the political bureau of the Communist Party of China has recently ordered the rectification of what's being referred to as formalism at the fingertips. This refers to the inefficient use of digital tools in government affairs, which has been a longstanding issue in Chinese officialdom. Here to discuss this further is Abi, a correspondent for Simply Politics from China. Can you explain what formalism at the fingertips means? Certainly, David. Formalism at the fingertips refers to the inefficient use of digital tools in government affairs. This includes frequent check-ins, inefficient video conferences, and the use of numerous government affairs apps. These practices have been criticized for wasting administrative resources. Is this formalism at the fingertips seen as another form of lying flat in the officialdom? There could be some parallels drawn between the two. Both lying flat and formalism at the fingertips can be seen as forms of resistance or avoidance of productive work. However, it's important to note that lying flat is a social phenomenon primarily among young people, while formalism at the fingertips is a critique of bureaucratic inefficiencies. What might be the result of the political bureau's intervention in this matter? The political bureau's intervention could lead to changes in how digital tools are used in government affairs. This could potentially result in more efficient use of these tools and a reduction in administrative waste. However, it remains to be seen how these changes will be implemented and what impact they will have. Switching gears a bit, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Campbell recently commented on the relationship between China and Russia. Can you shed some light on this? Campbell suggested that Russian President Putin has been very effective in manipulating China. This comment reflects the complex and often contentious relationship between China and Russia, which is characterized by both cooperation and competition. The exact nature of this relationship is a subject of ongoing debate among analysts. Thanks for that report, Abby. It's certainly a complex situation in China. And that wraps up our stories for today. Thanks for listening to Simply Politics from China. We'll see you back here tomorrow. (upbeat music) [BLANK_AUDIO]