China, 8-14-22

First, links to Associated Press, Reuters, and Tass reports. Coverage of China and U.S. relations with it have overshadowed that of the war in Ukraine. This China entry continues last Thursday’s, HERE. It includes links to two pieces from Consortium News and a link to a longer “explainer” published in May on the website of a think tank that describes itself as “The Hub of Realism and Restraint.” Finally, a link to the Wall Street Journal reporter’s interview with Henry Kissinger that Tass calls attention to, and Caitlin Johnstone commentary on that. — MCM

   

More US lawmakers visiting Taiwan 12 days after Pelosi trip. From the Associated Press. TAIPEI, Taiwan — A delegation of American lawmakers is visiting Taiwan just 12 days after a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that angered China. The five-member delegation, led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, will meet senior leaders to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade, investment and other issues, the American Institute in Taiwan said. The institute represents the U.S. government, which does not have official ties with Taiwan. READ MORE . . .

    –

U.S. lawmakers arrive in Taiwan with China tensions simmering, by Ben Blanchard and David Shepardson | Reuters TAIPEI / WASHINGTON — A delegation of U.S. lawmakers arrived in Taiwan today for a two-day trip during which they will meet President Tsai Ing-wen, the second high-level group to visit while there are military tensions between the self-ruled island and China. Beijing, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has conducted military drills around the island to express its anger over U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kissinger believes U.S. at the edge of war with Russia and China. From Tass. NEW YORK — Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger believes Washington is currently on the brink of war with Moscow and Beijing, he said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “We are at the edge of war with Russia and China on issues which we partly created, without any concept of how this is going to end or what it’s supposed to lead to,” he said. “You can’t just now say . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan elevates tensions, by David Crawshow and Lili Kuo | The Washington Post The visit lasted barely 19 hours. But Nancy Pelosi’s contentious trip was a defining moment in the increasingly bitter rivalry between China and the United States. A fuller picture of the Chinese response will emerge over the coming . .. READ MORE . . .

   

A rational conversation about China, by Vijay Prashad | Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research / Consortium News The U.S. legislative leader Nancy Pelosi’s journey to Taipei was part of the ongoing U.S. provocation of China. This campaign includes former President Barack Obama’s “pivot to Asia,” former President Donald Trump’s “trade war,” the creation of security partnerships — the Quad and AUKUS—and the gradual transformation of NATO into an instrument against China. This agenda continues with President Joe Biden’s assessment that China must be weakened since it is the “only competitor potentially capable . . . READ MORE . . .

   

U.S.-China climate talks in tatters, by Marcy Winograd | Consortium News It was only last year, in 2021, that U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry and China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua issued a joint statement  to strengthen the Paris Agreement by adopting  “long-term strategies aimed at net zero GHG emissions” to keep the world’s temperature below 2 degrees Celsius, with the goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. Such collaboration is urgently needed if the world is to thwart . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan: Upholding the status quo, by Peter Harris | Defense Priorities  FIVE KEY POINTS. 1. The U.S. has a goal to avoid a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, but the overriding U.S. interest is to avoid a ruinous war with China. The imperative to avoid a conflict with China should take priority for U.S. leaders. 2. Proposals to deter China by bolstering U.S. military deployments in the Western Pacific are unlikely to succeed and fraught with danger. China has . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Henry Kissinger is worried about ‘disequilibrium, by Laura Secor | The Wall Street Journal At 99 years old, Henry Kissinger has just published his 19th book, “Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy.” It is an analysis of the vision and historical achievements of an idiosyncratic pantheon of post-World War II leaders: Konrad Adenauer, Charles DeGaulle, Richard Nixon, Anwar Sadat, Lee Kuan-Yew and Margaret Thatcher. In the 1950s, “before I was involved in politics,” Mr. Kissinger tells me . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Modern U.S. warmongering is scaring Henry Kissinger, by Caitlin Johnstone | caitlinjohnstone.com In a new interview with The Wall Street Journal, immortal Hague fugitive Henry Kissinger says the US is acting in a crazy and irrational way that has brought it to the edge of war with Russia and China. . . . I don’t know about you, but to me this warning is much, much more ominous coming from . . . READ MORE . . .