Posted on 11/29/2019 8:46:45 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
FULL TITLE: Momentum grows for dropping 'President' from title of China's leader; Remove 'veneer' of legitimacy
The Trump administration, with a simple change in rhetoric, has signaled a subtle shift in its approach to China in recent weeks — and in the process has deepened a rift with the Communist Party leadership in Beijing.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a major foreign policy speech late last month in which he referred to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as “general secretary” rather than “president.” The seemingly minor tweak, national security sources and analysts say, carries a much deeper meaning and suggests China hawks in the administration are employing unprecedented bluntness in calling out the lack of democracy and free elections in China.
The policy does not appear to have spread throughout the administration. President Trump referred to “President Xi” when speaking to reporters Tuesday in the Oval Office about the prospects of a trade deal. But sources see growing momentum in Washington to describe the Chinese leader as someone not bound by the will of his people or other democratic checks and balances.
China’s leader technically wears multiple hats. Mr. Xi, 66, is general secretary of the Communist Party of China; president of the People’s Republic of China, a largely ceremonial position making him head of state in protocol terms; and chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission. As part of a concerted drive to cement his power and extend his term, Mr. Xi also secured the title of “core leader” from the Communist Party three years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
This will undoubtedly be very confusing for Michael Bloomberg, who apparently still thinks the Chinese leader is accountable to the Chinese people.
At least Pompeo is standing firm. I discovered a quote from FDR days about his squishy State Dept: “There is an increasing demand that the president and Secretary Hull get rid of the unteachable group in the State Department of men who have not learned, after ten years of experience, that appeasement has never worked anywhere, at any time. Elmer Davis
Chinese communists hate being called what they truly are, as are all communists. “President” implies or at least gives a connotation that he was elected, which he was not. Just tell the truth, don’t embellish it for their sake. Good for you Pompeo.
Everyone calls Kim in North Korea, Chairman Kim, as he’s chairman of the communist party. Chairman Mao was the chairman of the Chinese communists in his era.
Call a spade a spade.
Perhaps the Chinese would claim they have free and fair elections, and that president Xi was freely elected. In any case we know the communist party is in charge .
And that is what Nixon is most praised for.
Figures.
Right now I’m reading Hornfishcer’s book ‘Neptune’s Inferno’ about the Navy’s role in the battle of Guadalcanal. Early in the book he refers to FDRs using a personal envoy to Britain to bypass Ambassador Kennedy. Obviously an impeachable offense had Congress known...
Why not just call him a dictator?
What? Self Appointed Emperor for Life wasn’t available as a title?
“And that is what Nixon is most praised for.”
Nixon was playing with a bust hand after extracting the US from Vietnam. Opening China was ugly balance of power politics but probably necessary to offset what at that time looked like an ascendant Soviet Union. It was like arming the Taliban against the Soviets. A least worst alternative that we have paid for dearly.
Figures.
Bloomberg said really nice things about Xi Jinping in order to protect his company’s fast-growing Chinese revenues which, at $24,000 per terminal per year and 5,500 Chinese terminals, are easily worth over $100m a year. Did he really mean Xi Jinping wasn’t a dictator? Probably not. Many would have switched subjects. But he also needed to protect his Chinese reporters and access to Chinese news stories. Since then, Bloomberg LP has come out with many negative (and positive) news stories about China. That’s the function of a business news provider - to provide an overall view so investors understand the big economic picture. But he hasn’t gone after Xi directly.
And stop calling it the PRC. It’s Red China.
In his latest book, “Trump vs. China”, Newt Gingrich strongly recommends that our leaders call Xi Secretary General, rather than President. Apparently our Secretary of State decided to follow his advice.
“ Speaker of the House Xi?”
(DNC) Chairman.
New executive order needed. No trade with communist nations ever. Shut it down. We will be much better off if we don’t trade with china at all.
Bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.