On Friday the 29th of June, I had the pleasure to appear on TV China 24 that belongs to the CGNT channel. They interviewed me about the ‘Chinese White Papers’ subject. During the interview, I had the honor to share the space with a Senior Research Fellow Su Qingyi from the Institute of World Economics and Politics Chinese Academy of Social Science. Continue reading “On Friday 29th of June, CGTN interviewed me about the Whitepapers”
Published: Global Times 05/07/2018
While half of the world is focused on the release of the white paper about China’s relationship with the WTO, the other half has been occupied with migration as countries are struggling over which member was in charge of sheltering the illegal immigrants who were shipwrecked. Continue reading “Europe sails without a humanitarian goal”
Published: Global Times 01/07/2018
When in December of 1978, the Chinese government decided to reform and open up their economy under Deng Xiaoping’s guidelines, no foreign observer could foresee the deep changes that the economy and society would experience in the following years. Not only the socialist market economy learned how to hunt mice, but also became the world’s second largest by nominal GDP (2017). Besides, China is the world’s largest manufacturing economy and exporter of goods, the world’s fastest-growing consumer market, and second-largest importer of goods.
In the past few years, China has blossomed into the largest trading nation and played an outstanding role in international trade by increasingly engaging with trade organizations and treaties. Nowadays, the government promotes multilateral cooperation and pursues free trade through it. During the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the G20 Hangzhou Summit, and the BRICS Xiamen Summit, all hosted by China, the country increased coordination with all parties concerned and secured its stance on opposing protectionism in the summit declarations. But, every story with a happy ending has a not so good beginning. This one goes back to 17 years, to December 11, 2001. The People’s Republic of China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Usually, the acceptance of a newcomer’s petition for joining the organization is not exempt from tough demands by members. Nonetheless, China consistently reformed and developed the socialist market economy and its legal system to satisfy the requirements. The reform and opening-up have been so skillfully undertaken that even American and European defenders of the free market were forced to again take the path of protectionism in some sectors, given the exponential rise in the sale of Chinese products in their markets.
Certainly, the entry into the WTO promoted the rise of China. However, the country must have accepted some abusive clauses that affected its economy and led to the malaise. The US and EU’s clauses don’t always go along with Chinese national interests. Adherence to WTO rules come through talks dominated by Western interests.
Nobody likes to get older but these 17 years have not passed in vain for the Chinese government. As a fully-fledged member of the WTO, China accomplished a set of remarkable landmarks in different areas such as the review and revision of relevant laws and regulations, involving 2,300 laws, regulations and departmental rules at central government level, and 190,000 policies and regulations at sub-central government levels, according to the white paper titled “China and the World Trade Organization” released last Thursday.
Second, import tariffs have been substantively reduced. In the agriculture sector, one of the most sensitive for the players, China’s maximum bound tariff rate for products is 65 percent, while the corresponding rates of the US, the EU, and Japan are 440 percent, 408 percent, and 1,706 percent respectively. Third, the IPR legal system has been developed with three IPR courts in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, and special judicial organs at 15 intermediate courts in Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuhan, Xi’an, and other cities.
In spite of China creating a more business-friendly environment for foreign investment, the country didn’t forget its origins. As the largest developing country, China understands the difficulties of developing members to benefit from global value chains. Hence, the government worked hard to make trade an enabler of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China has reinforced its aid to other developing members, especially least-developed countries.
China has released white papers over commercial disputes with the US. The Trump administration reacted to that with skepticism. They doubt that China is willing to make more progress soon on trade issues. Nonetheless, according to WTO statistics, China’s imports accounted for 10.2 percent of the world’s total merchandise imports in 2017, and its exports 12.8 percent. China’s exports have provided quality and inexpensive products to businesses and people around the world. The government had the moral obligation of pursuing opening-up. In a world with 194 countries, almost two-thirds depend on Chinese goods.
Yet, the white paper is proof of what China has been doing for the last 17 years. It shows a country that is not a newcomer but an experienced player. China and the EU now have an opportunity of sharing the space. They can face each other as equals and negotiate the new rules of the multilateral system. While the US remains withdrawn, a new Asian-European front will be born.
During former president Hu Jintao’s term in office, China got the opportunity to join the WTO while under President Xi Jinping’s directives, the country has the chance to forge a greater role in the organization.
Source: Global Times
Publicado: Diario De Verdad Digital 11/06/2018
Versión en Inglés publicada por Global Times
El viernes 1 de junio, los españoles observaron cómo se hizo la historia. No fue solo que el primer ministro español, Mariano Rajoy, fue expulsado, perdiendo un voto de censura provocado por un escándalo de corrupción, sino que también después de 40 años de democracia fue la primera vez que el Congreso cambió la administración. Además, es la primera vez que el partido del primer ministro no tiene una mayoría, así como la primera vez que el primer ministro no tiene un asiento en el Congreso y, finalmente, también es la primera vez que hay un primer ministro que no tiene la presidencia del Congreso.
En menos de una semana, la situación política cambió 180 grados. Hoy en día, un viejo viajero no podría reconocer la nueva España. De hecho, el espectador se sentiría como si los guionistas de ‘House of Cards’ o ‘Game of Thrones’ con un bolígrafo mágico estuvieran escribiendo el ‘argumento de Game of Moncloa’. Están todos los elementos de una producción de Hollywood: el héroe y sus aliados, la banda de los malos, las personas que esperan que el héroe aparezca en la pantalla, las conspiraciones. Pero ¿qué pasa con este llamado Mr Handsome, es él el nuevo héroe? Bueno, al menos podemos estar seguros de una cosa: su biografía es tan impresionante que le quitaríamos el sombrero.
En 2015, Pedro Sánchez intentó llegar a la Moncloa y fracasó porque el líder del partido socialista no obtuvo el apoyo de los dos nuevos partidos, PODEMOS, y Cs. Debido a sus respectivos intereses políticos y electorales, los dos líderes, Pablo Iglesias y Albert Rivera, demostraron ser incompatibles a investir a Sánchez como presidente del Gobierno. Después de las elecciones generales de 2016, ya pesar de lograr el peor resultado electoral en la historia de su partido, y solo con 84 diputados socialistas, Sánchez quiso volver a intentarlo. Pero no le permitieron la mayoría de los presidentes regionales y referentes socialistas, que terminaron forzando su renuncia como secretario general en el convulsivo comité federal el 1 de octubre de 2016. Como resultado, y sin tener que facilitar con su voto la investidura de Mariano Rajoy (líder derechista) con la abstención decidida por el presidente de la gestora de su partido, Sánchez también optó por renunciar a su escaño en el Congreso.
Contra todo pronóstico, Sánchez recuperó el cargo de secretario general del partido socialista en las primarias el 21 de mayo de 2017, es decir, hace un año, cuando muchos ya lo habían tomado por muerto políticamente: “nadie daba un céntimo por mi candidatura”, admitió.
El primer ministro Pedro Sánchez no es solo un fénix que se levanta de sus cenizas sino también un subproducto político de la convulsión europea. La crisis financiera mundial en 2008 trajo a Europa un nuevo escenario. Una creciente movilización social a través del continente contra la gestión de la crisis por parte de los gobiernos y sus efectos sobre los ciudadanos.
Las protestas eran comunes a casi toda Europa, pero sus ideologías, intensidad y efectos variaban en los países. En general, los países acreedores como Alemania, Holanda, las naciones escandinavas, estaban en un lado de la balanza, mientras que los países del sur de Europa e Irlanda estaban en el otro lado. Francia y el Reino Unido sufrieron la crisis pero no llegaron a un estado de bancarrota. La situación económica dio lugar a nuevos partidos con una comprensión menos convencional de las soluciones económicas y políticas, mientras que los partidos tradicionales se unieron para hacer frente a la nueva amenaza.
Específicamente, el movimiento antiausteridad en España, también conocido como el Movimiento 15-M, comenzó el 15 de mayo de 2011, cerca de las elecciones locales y regionales. Los manifestantes protestaron por los profundos recortes en el bienestar, el alto desempleo, los políticos españoles y sus prácticas corruptas, las instituciones políticas disfuncionales y su sistema bipartidista. Como resultado, la crisis en los partidos tradicionales llevó a nuevos partidos a entrar en el círculo nacional. Con Cs y PODEMOS, el sistema bipartidista se convirtió en un sistema multipartidista. La característica central de los dos partidos recién nacidos es su postura ideológica no convencional. No se definieron ni como derechistas ni como izquierdistas. Por lo tanto, los últimos acontecimientos en España no deberían sorprender a nadie, ya que el hilo de trama data de hace siete años. Además, el primer ministro Pedro Sánchez está compartiendo el enfoque con el gobierno italiano en estos días. Sin embargo, no son iguales. La institución multipartidaria de España no ha provocado un fenómeno que se asemeje al Movimiento Cinco Estrellas de Italia, y mucho menos a un partido antiinmigrante de extrema derecha similar a la Liga. El euroescepticismo tampoco es una fuerza en España. Es una medida del consenso pro-europeo en Madrid que Pedro Sánchez ha prometido abrazar el presupuesto restringido para 2018 que fue aprobado recientemente.
Muchos se preguntan qué sucederá después en España, pero nadie se atreve a adivinar. De todos modos, lo cierto es que el nuevo gobierno socialista debe actuar rápidamente. No hay tiempo para un período de transición. En algunos días, casi 1,500 personas dejarán el cargo y los recién llegados entrarán. El partido saliente seguirá una política de desgaste desde el primer día para forzar las elecciones nacionales anticipadas. El nuevo primer ministro necesita prepararse para luchar o estos siete años esperando un cambio terminarán de un vistazo.
Fuente: Diario De Verdad Digital
Published: Global Times 08/06/2018
Spanish version published by Diario De Verdad Digital
On Friday, June 1, Spaniards observed how history was made. It was not only that the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, was forced out, losing a no-confidence vote triggered by a corruption scandal — but also after 40 years of democracy it was the first time that the Congress did change the administration. Also, it is the first time that the prime minister’s party doesn’t have a majority as well as the first time that the prime minister doesn’t have a seat in the Congress and finally it is also the first time that there is a prime minister who doesn’t have the presidency of the Congress.
In less than a week, the political situation turned 180 degrees. Nowadays, an old traveler wouldn’t be able to recognize the new Spain. Indeed, the onlooker would feel like the screenwriters of ‘House of Cards’ or ‘Game of Thrones’ with a magic pen were writing the ‘Game of Moncloa’s plot’. There are all the elements of a Hollywood production: the hero and his allies, the band of bad guys, the people who wait for the hero to appear on screen, conspiracies. But what about this so-called Mr. Handsome, is he the new hero? Well, we can at least be assured of one thing — his biography is so impressive that we would doff our hat to him.
In 2015, Pedro Sánchez tried to reach to the Moncloa and failed because the leader of the socialist party did not get the support of the two new parties, PODEMOS, and Cs. Due to their respective political and electoral interests, the two leaders Pablo Iglesias and Albert Rivera proved incompatible in investing Sánchez as president of the Government. After the general elections of 2016, and despite achieving the worst electoral result in the history of his party, and only with 84 Socialist deputies, Sánchez wanted to try again. But he was not allowed by most of the regional presidents and socialist referents, who ended up forcing his resignation as secretary general in the convulsive federal committee on October 1, 2016. As a result, and not having to facilitate with his vote the investiture of Mariano Rajoy (right-wing leader) with the abstention decided by the manager of his party, Sánchez also opted to resign his seat in Congress.
Against all odds, Sánchez regained the position of general secretary of the socialist party in the primaries on May 21, 2017, that is, a year ago, when many had already taken him for politically dead — “nobody gave a penny to my candidacy”, he admitted.
Prime minister Pedro Sánchez is not only a phoenix that rises from its ashes but also a political byproduct of the European convulsion. The global financial crisis in 2008 brought to Europe a new scenario. A growing social mobilization through the continent against the management of the crisis by governments and its effects on citizens.
The protests were common to almost all of Europe, but their ideologies, intensity, and effects varied in countries. Generally, creditor countries such as Germany, Holland, the Scandinavian nations, were on one side of the balance while the southern European countries and Ireland were on the other side. France and the UK found themselves suffering the crisis but not reaching a state of bankruptcy. The economic situation gave rise to new parties with a less conventional understanding of economic and political solutions while the traditional parties came together to face a new threat.
Specifically, the anti-austerity movement in Spain also referred to as the 15-M Movement, started on May 15, 2011, close to local and regional elections. Demonstrators protested steep welfare cuts, high unemployment, Spanish politicians and their corrupt practices, dysfunctional political institutions, and its two-party system. As a result, the crisis in traditional parties led new parties to get into the national ring. With Cs and PODEMOS, the two-party system became a multi-party system. The core characteristic of the two new-born parties is their non-conventional ideological stance. They defined themselves neither as right-wing nor left-wing.
So, the latest events in Spain shouldn’t shock anyone since the weft yarn dates back seven years. Moreover, prime minister Pedro Sánchez is sharing the focus with the Italian incumbent government these days. However, they are not alike. Spain’s multi-party institution has not brought on a phenomenon resembling Italy’s Five Star Movement, let alone an anti-immigrant, far-right party akin to the League. Nor is Euroscepticism a force in Spain. It is a measure of the pro-European consensus in Madrid that Pedro Sánchez has promised to embrace the restrained 2018 budget that was recently approved.
Many wonder what will happen next in Spain but no one dares to guess. Anyway, what is certain is that the new socialist government must act quickly. There’s no time for a period of transition. In some days, almost 1,500 people will leave office and newcomers will come in. The outgoing party will carry on a policy of attrition from day one in order to force early national elections. The new prime minister needs to get ready to fight back or these seven years waiting for a change will end up at a glance.
Source: Global Times
Cristina Font Haro 