January 2026 - Friends of Socialist China

Xi Jinping approves new round of aid from the People’s Republic of China to Cuba

Following on from reports earlier this week about a new Chinese emergency aid program delivering 30,000 tons of rice to Cuba, China’s ambassador in Havana, Hua Xin, has announced a further set of assistance measures agreed by the Chinese government.

We republish below a report from the Cuban Communist Party (translated by The Left Chapter), notes that the newly-announced aid package includes US$80 million in financial assistance and a donation of 60,000 tons of rice. The financial assistance is aimed specifically at helping Cuba to resolve its energy crisis – caused by the US’s illegal blockade on the island, and exacerbated by the reduced flow of oil from Venezuela following the US’s flagrantly illegal attack on that country.

The report is followed by an article in Brasil de Fato providing further information and noting that, while most of Cuba’s electricity is still generated from fossil fuels, “Chinese investment in renewables seeks to reduce dependence on imported fuels and strengthen the stability of the country’s electricity supply”.

Xi Jinping approves new round of aid from the People’s Republic of China to Cuba

January 21 (The Left Chapter) – The President of the People’s Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping, approved a new round of aid to Cuba that includes emergency financial assistance valued at 80 million dollars for the acquisition of electrical equipment and other urgent needs that the country has, as well as a donation of 60,000 tons of rice.

The Chinese ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, reported this to Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the Palace of the Revolution.

Fatah delegation visits China

Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), met in Beijing on January 16 with a visiting delegation of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement Fatah led by Bassam Zakarneh, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine and Fatah’s Deputy Minister of Arab Relations and Chinese Affairs.

Liu said that the CPC is willing to work with Fatah to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns, enhance experience exchange in state governance and administration and cooperation in areas such as youth and women, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote greater development of China-Palestine strategic partnership through inter-party channels.

Zakarneh said, Palestine spoke highly of the profound and enduring friendship between Palestine and China and sincerely thanks China for the long-term strong support and selfless assistance to the Palestinian people. Palestine will, as always, firmly support China’s core concerns and the cause of reunification.

The following article was originally published on the IDCPC website.

Liu Haixing Meets with a Fatah Delegation of Palestine

Beijing, January 16th (IDCPC) — Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with a delegation led by Bassam Zakarneh, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine and Fatah’s Deputy Minister of Arab Relations and Chinese Affairs.

Liu said, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Mahmoud Abbas, China-Palestine relations have maintained good momentum of development. The CPC is willing to work with Fatah to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns, enhance experience exchange in state governance and administration and cooperation in areas such as youth and women, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote greater development of China-Palestine strategic partnership through inter-party channels. Liu also introduced the main achievements of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Zakarneh said, Palestine highly spoke of the profound and enduring friendship between Palestine and China and sincerely thanks China for the long-term strong support and selfless assistance to the Palestinian people. Palestine will, as always, firmly support China’s core concerns and the cause of reunification. Fatah pays close attention to the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and is willing to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, learn from China’s successful experiences in aspects such as comprehensively exercising rigorous governance over the Party, cultivation of cadres and economic development.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Jin Xin, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, Firas Shomaly, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine, and Jawad Mohammed Qutish Awad, Palestinian Ambassador to China, and others, were present.

Special Envoy conveys Xi’s greetings to Lao party leader

The successful conclusion of the 12^th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) on January 8 has served as a spur to the further development of the socialist country’s fraternal relationship with neighbouring China.

A January 11 report published by the Xinhua News Agency noted that the congress had summarised Laos’ achievements over the past five years, charting the future direction of the country’s socialist development, and injecting new impetus into the advancement of China-Laos relations.

It added that: “The congress reviewed and adopted a series of key political documents, including the political report of the 11th Central Committee and the 10th Five-Year Plan for Socio-Economic Development (2026-2030). Under the plan, Laos aims to achieve an average annual economic growth rate of six percent during the 2026-2030 period.

“A key highlight of the congress was the adoption of the Party’s third political program, which clearly sets the goal of transforming the country into an upper-middle-income developing nation by 2055, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the LPRP.”

In this regard, the China-Laos Railway was frequently cited as a key driver of national development. However, besides transport infrastructure, “cooperation between the two countries has expanded across a wide range of sectors under the strategic guidance of senior leaders from both sides. Substantial progress has been made in energy, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and other key areas, further consolidating the China-Laos community with a shared future.”

Noting that the successful conclusion of the congress opens a new chapter in Laos’ socialist development and heralds fresh historical opportunities for advancing the China-Laos community with a shared future, the article said that Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao President, stated that Laos stands ready to work with China to fully implement the action plan for building the China-Laos community with a shared future, strengthen unity and cooperation, jointly address risks and challenges arising from changes in the international and regional landscape, and safeguard the shared interests of both parties and countries.

And Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong reaffirmed China’s commitment to working closely with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries. She noted that the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos presents an opportunity to deepen exchanges on governance experience, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote the development of both countries’ socialist causes.

On January 13, Thongloun Sisoulith met in the Lao capital Vientiane with Liu Haixing, Special Envoy of General Secretary Xi Jinping and Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC).

Tariff war: China has outsmarted the US

In the edition of Empire Watch embedded below, livestreamed on 16 January, Friends of Socialist China co-editor Carlos Martinez joined Ileana Chan to host a discussion on a number of important geopolitical topics related to China, including China-Iran relations; the impact of the US’s tariff war and the news that China recorded a $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025; China’s restrictions on rare earth exports to Japan; Japan’s escalating militarisation and its implications for regional peace; South Korea-Japan relations in the context of US efforts to contain China; and more.

From 42 minutes in, Ileana and Carlos are joined by Lotte Rørtoft-Madsen, chairperson of the Danish Communist Party, for a detailed assessment of President Trump’s threat to invade Greenland, and how this connects to the US campaign to encircle and contain China and Russia.

Storming the heavens – A masterful Marxist study of China’s revolution

In the following article, which was originally published in the Morning Star, Ben Chacko acclaims Jenny Clegg’s recently published, ‘Storming the Heavens: Peasants and Revolution in China, 1925-1949 Viewed Through a Marxist Lens’ as a “a masterful analysis that puts class struggle back at the heart of our understanding of China’s revolution.”

Ben begins by noting that: “China’s revolution is arguably the most enduringly significant of the great 20th-century revolutions. Not simply because the Russian Revolution, whose impact on socialist thinking across the West is greater, ended in counterrevolution from 1989-91 — but because the Chinese people ‘standing up,’ to use Mao Zedong’s phrase, set the country on a path which is today shifting the global balance of power, and bringing an end to almost five centuries in which Europe and its settler-colonial offshoots have come to dominate the world.”

This he notes was a revolution in which the peasantry were the main revolutionary force, something that upended most traditional Marxist assessments. This, Ben argues, is “significant in ways an internationalist left needs to understand because the current transformation of the world seems, again, to have more to do with a Third World that’s ‘standing up’ than with workers’ revolution in the capitalist core.”

The review notes how Jenny demonstrates Mao’s careful assessment of class contradictions in the countryside from the 1920s on, and the way, over time, that the Communist Party of China (CPC’s) handling of them changed, both through experience gained by trial and error, summing up, adjustment and rectification, as well as in response to changed conditions, not least Japanese aggression and the ensuing nationwide war of resistance.

According to Ben: “The book tells the history of particular developments in China and makes no claim to impart lessons for British socialists today: given the utterly different social and economic conditions, that might seem ambitious (the slogan ‘to everyone land, a house and a horse’ might not address a modern British worker’s most pressing needs).”

Certainly, the vast differences in social and economic conditions speak for themselves. Although the right to a secure, decent and warm home and the adequate provision of safe, affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly public transport might well be welcomed by many workers in all parts of Britain.

Indeed, Ben goes straight on to note that: “The left here, though, has repeatedly failed to build a winning alliance that unites a majority who are all working class, but within which there are significant gradations of income and assets, against an elite enriched by its control of capital. The Chinese Communist approach of testing policies that cement unity within a class despite differences is certainly worth emulating.”

In concluding, Ben explains how Jenny introduces the reader to a “many-sided, long-running debate on the nature of China’s revolution and the character of its ‘new democracy’, built on an alliance of different social classes. China’s story emerges on its own terms, where many Western socialists have tried to interpret it in light of their attitudes to Russia’s. People will still debate, for example, whether Stalin or Trotsky was right about Chinese communist policy in the 1920s: Clegg establishes that — understandably — neither had as strong a grasp on Chinese realities as Mao.

CPC greets Vietnamese party congress

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) opened its 14^th National Congress in Hanoi on January 20.

In a message of greetings sent the same day, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said that the CPV is the strong leadership core of the Vietnamese people and the cause of socialism in Vietnam. Since the 13th National Congress of the CPV, the Central Committee of the CPV has united and led the Vietnamese people in making remarkable achievements in advancing socialist construction and reform.

It added that amid complex international situations, Vietnam has maintained political and social stability, experienced rapid and sustainable economic development, and seen its international status rise steadily. These accomplishments have demonstrated the advantages of the communist party leadership and the socialist system, and have made positive contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

The message further emphasised that the CPC and the government of China attach great importance to developing the relations between the two parties and countries, and are willing to work together with the Vietnamese side to adhere to the principles of “long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighbourly friendship and all-round cooperation,” and the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, good partners,” to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message on the convening of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

The CPV is the strong leadership core of the Vietnamese people and the cause of socialism in Vietnam. Since the 13th National Congress of the CPV, the Central Committee of the CPV has united and led the Vietnamese people in making remarkable achievements in advancing socialist construction and reform, read the message.

Amid complex international situations, Vietnam has maintained political and social stability, experienced rapid and sustainable economic development, and seen its international status rise steadily. These accomplishments have demonstrated the advantages of the communist party leadership and the socialist system, and have made positive contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world, it said.

China delivers emergency rice aid to Cuba

A Chinese emergency aid program has delivered its first shipment of rice to Cuba, which is facing shortages as a result of the tightening US blockade on the island.

Under the new program, China will send 30,000 tons of rice. The first shipment was handed over on Monday 19 January.

At the handover ceremony – attended by Vice Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, Minister of Domestic Trade Betsy Díaz Velázquez, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Déborah Rivas Saavedra and Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Hua Xin, among others – Ambassador Hua stated that “each grain of rice represents the unbreakable commitment of the Chinese people” to the island.

He continued:

We’re convinced that, with the joint effort of Cuba and China, no blockade will be able to turn off the light of hope, no difficulty will be able to block the path of progress.

Hua Xin added that China’s solidarity with Cuba “not only embodies the deep bonds of special friendship between both nations, but also demonstrates the unwavering commitment to remain united even in difficult times”.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez commented on X that the aid “is a sign of the close brotherhood and historical ties of friendship and solidarity that unite both nations”.

Daniel Lambert, manager of the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, made an apposite comment on social media: “Due to crippling sanctions the USA has illegally placed on Cuba for 64 years its population struggles to now survive. Yesterday China sent 30,000 tons of rice to assist the Cuban people. As the US starves its neighbour a nation across the world tries to assist.”

We publish below reports from Xinhua Spanish and Prensa Latina. The Xinhua report has been translated by us.

China delivers first batch of emergency food aid to Cuba

HAVANA, Jan 19 (Xinhua) — On Monday, Cuba officially received the first batch of a donation of 30,000 tons of rice from China, sent as emergency aid to support efforts aimed at guaranteeing the food supply of the population of the Caribbean island.

At the handover ceremony, held at the Ministry of Domestic Trade in Havana, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister and Head of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Óscar Pérez-Oliva, thanked China for the donation, describing it as “a concrete expression of China’s exemplary, unconditional and selfless cooperation with Cuba”.

Mark Carney’s visit seals reset in Canada-China relations

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney paid an official visit to China from January 13-17 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang. It was the first China visit by a Canadian head of government in eight years, and all reports indicate that it may be considered as marking a definitive start to a new chapter in mutually respectful and beneficial relations following a sharp downturn in traditionally friendly ties occasioned by the supine approach taken to US imperialism by Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau.

Capitulating to US demands, in December 2018, Canada had arrested Chief Financial Officer of telecommunications firm Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, whilst she was in transit to Mexico. After a persistent struggle, she was finally able to return home in September 2021.

Despite such craven behaviour on the part of his northern neighbour, President Donald Trump’s reward has been to threaten Canada with annexation as the “51^st state” and to subject the country to arbitrary and punitive tariffs and other forms of pressure.

Previewing Carney’s Beijing visit, the Chinese newspaper Global Times quoted Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, as noting that, “China and Canada have long shared strong economic complementarity and close people-to-people ties, but in recent years under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada’s China policy veered off course under ideological influence and excessive alignment with US policy. Since Mark Carney took office, Canada has gone through a process of serious reassessment. As major changes in US policy have shattered Canada’s previous illusions, Ottawa has begun to shed some of the constraints and ideological biases that previously limited its China policy.”

In a 12 January commentary published by CGTN, Professor Radhika Desai of the University of Manitoba noted that Carney, “is visiting China while the US is breathing threateningly and aggressively down Canada’s neck in its Trump II rogue avatar in the most unwelcome way possible.”

She adds that: “Canadians gave Carney’s Liberal Party an overwhelming mandate just last spring to pry Canada loose from the clutches of the US and diversify the country’s economic relations. The logical implication of deepening relations with China would be non-controversial were it not for sections of the political and corporate class which prefer to kowtow to Trump’s bullying.”

At the same time, she cautions that: “Canada remains part of the imperial world. Although without formal colonies, it is a settler-colonial society ensconced for centuries in a very favourable niche in the imperial system. As such, it has difficulty facing up to today’s multipolar world in which non-Western powers, preeminently China, loom large, while at the same time nursing the illusion that closer relations with the UK and the EU could suffice as an alternative to the US.”

Nevertheless, “closer relations between China and Canada will be to the mutual benefit of Canadians and Chinese… While Canada’s very deep entanglement with the US, in economic terms, not to mention security terms, will make progress in advancing China-Canada economic relations difficult, the urgency of diversifying away from the US is unlikely to diminish, and China is Canada’s most attractive option.”

President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Carney on the morning of January 16.

According to the report of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Xi pointed out that his meeting with Prime Minister Carney in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea (ROK), last October marked a turnaround of the relationship and placed it on a new trajectory of positive development.

The sound and steady growth of China-Canada relations serves the common interests of the two countries and contributes to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the world. With a sense of responsibility for history, for the people and for the world, the two sides should advance the China-Canada new Strategic Partnership, steer their ties onto the track of sound, steady and sustainable development, and bring more benefits to both peoples.

China extends support to Iran

China has underlined its support for, and friendship with, Iran in the context of the current tense situation caused by externally instigated and fuelled riots and attempts at destabilisation, which are in turn used as the pretext for threatening the country with overt external aggression.

In a January 15 phone call with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi explained that the recent unrest in his county was incited by external forces and that the situation has now stabilised. He said that Iran is prepared to respond to external interference, while keeping the door open for dialogue, and expressed hope that China will play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi said that China opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, opposes imposing one’s own will on others, and opposes a return of the world to the law of the jungle. China believes that the Iranian government and people will stand united, overcome difficulties, maintain national stability and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. He reiterated China’s willingness to play a constructive role in the current situation.

The following article was originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Useful background can be found in this interview of Professor Seyed Marandi with George Galloway.

On January 15, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments in the situation in Iran, stressing that the recent unrest in Iran was incited by external forces and that the situation has now stabilized. He said that Iran is prepared to respond to external interference, while keeping the door open for dialogue, and expressed hope that China will play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi stated that China consistently advocates for adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, opposes imposing one’s own will on others, and opposes a return of the world to the law of the jungle. China believes that the Iranian government and people will stand united, overcome difficulties, maintain national stability and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. Wang Yi expressed hope that all parties will cherish peace, exercise restraint, and resolve differences through dialogue. China is ready to play a constructive role to this end.

Book launch: Jenny Clegg – Storming the Heavens (14 February)

📆 Saturday 14 February 2026, 3pm Britain, 10am US Eastern

Join us in person or online for a discussion of Jenny Clegg’s Storming the Heavens: Peasants and Revolution in China, 1925-1949.

The book launch will be held at Marx Memorial Library. This event will feature a discussion of the book’s themes with the author along with China specialists and leading Marxist scholars, followed by a Q&A session and book signing.

‘A major accomplishment … (combining) detailed historical analysis..with a keen sense of theory….’ David Laibman, Editor Emeritus, Science & Society

‘Extremely useful in all capitalist countries, especially those in the South’ Cheng Enfu, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

‘An essential guide to negotiating the complex terrain of the agrarian class structure in pre-revolutionary China’ Utsa Patnaik, Professor Emerita, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.

‘A masterful analysis that puts class struggle back at the heart of our understanding of China’s revolution’, Ben Chacko, editor, Morning Star

Storming the Heavens sets peasant mass struggle centre-stage in the Chinese revolution: the peasant movement changed China and China changed the world. Revolutions, said Marx, project themselves towards the future: nothing could be more true than the case of China today with the special characteristics of its ongoing socialist modernisation rooted in this history of societal transformation.

There will be copies of the book available for purchase!

Speakers

Jenny Clegg, author and researcher
Vijay Prashad (video link), author and historian
Cheng Enfu (video link), President of the World Association for Political Economy
Michael Dutton, Emeritus Professor, Goldsmiths, University of London
John Foster, Emeritus Professor of Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland
Chair: Radhika Desai, Professor, University of Manitoba

Organisers

Is China doing “colonialism” in Africa?

In the following Substack article, ecologist and anthropologist Jason Hickel tackles a popular trope about the People’s Republic of China: that it is engaged in colonialism in Africa. Hickel shows that such a claim is historically inaccurate, analytically sloppy, and serves to obscure the continuing reality of Western neocolonial power on the continent.

The charge of Chinese colonialism, popularised in Western political discourse and media over the last two decades, equates China’s economic engagement in Africa with Western colonialism and neocolonialism. Hickel argues convincingly that this is a politically-motivated falsehood that trivialises the extreme violence of colonial rule.

The article starts by clarifying the actual characteristics of colonial and neocolonial power: military aggression, wars of regime change, proxy wars, political destabilisation, economic coercion, sanctions, financial control, loan conditionality and structural adjustment. France’s ongoing control of the CFA franc and the US network of African bases exemplify the persistence of neocolonial dynamics following the end of the colonial era.

China, by contrast, has never invaded an African country; does not engage in destabilisation; does not orchestrate coups and assassinations, control currencies, impose sanctions or attach structural adjustment conditions to loans. Nothing in China’s behaviour remotely resembles Western imperial practices.

On the question of resource extraction in Africa, the author observes that Western firms overwhelmingly dominate African mining and fossil fuel expansion; Chinese firms control only a small share. Regarding the accusations of China setting “debt traps”, Hickel notes that only 12 precent of Africa’s external debt is owed to China, compared with several times that amount owed to Western private creditors – at significantly higher interest rates and less flexible repayment terms.

Imperial power means the US and its allies can and regularly do destroy entire states halfway across the world, violating international law with impunity. They can and do bomb any individual or movement they don’t like, anywhere on the planet, for any reason. They can and do impose crushing sanctions, killing millions of people and bending governments to their will. China simply does not project this kind of power.

Western politicians and journalists often claim that China is doing “colonialism” in Africa. This narrative has roots in US government discourse going back nearly two decades, and is exemplified by a US Congressional hearing that was held under the headline “China in Africa: The New Colonialism?” In the same year, the US business magazine Forbes claimed the purpose of China’s involvement in Africa is “to exploit the people and take their resources. It’s the same thing European colonists did… except worse.”

Certainly there are reasons to criticise the activities of Chinese firms in Africa, but to claim that China is exercising colonial power within the continent — drawing a direct equivalence to Western colonialism and imperialism — is empirically incorrect, stretches these terms into meaninglessness, and amounts to denying the violence of actually-existing colonialism.

Debunking myths about the Chinese economy

In the following article, which was originally published on his website, The Next Recession, the Marxist economist Michael Roberts presents an objective analysis of the present state and prospects of the Chinese economy, in the course of which he also debunks many of the myths and misunderstandings perpetrated by mainstream economists, joined by many avowed Marxists, in the West.

Michael begins by noting that, in his New Year address, Chinese President Xi Jinping had “praised the country’s advancements in key sectors. Images ranging from humanoid robots performing kung fu to new hydropower projects rolled on the screen as he spoke.”

He goes on to argue that: “China’s 15th five-year plan is all about AI. The 14th Plan (2021-2025), which has just ended, focused on the ‘dual circulation’ strategy (domestic + foreign trade) i.e driving economic growth not just through exports, but also through investment in the domestic economy, particularly aiming at self-dependence in technology. The new plan will continue that drive for technological independence, but this time through the diffusion of AI into industrial processes, consumer products, health care, education and digital government. The plan is that by 2030 AI is expected to be as widespread as electricity or the internet – and so a big driver of economic growth. The government talks of China becoming an ‘intelligent society’ by 2035.”

In this regard he highlights a key difference with the capitalist economies: “It seems that China’s leaders are even more committed to making AI succeed than in the major economies of the West, where there are sceptical voices about what it can deliver in new discoveries, higher productivity and profitability. To me, the difference is that in China there is a plan to meet key targets in technology that will boost the whole economy etc., while in the major capitalist economies, all the AI eggs are in a basket owned by the privately-owned AI hyperscalers and the Magnificent Seven giant tech media companies – and for them, profitability is key, not technology outcomes.”

China commences its next five-year plan this spring, with the current plan having, “achieved mostly what it set out to do in the previous plan. China looks set to achieve 5% real GDP growth in 2025, and while its annual real GDP growth is no longer in double-digits, it is still growing twice as fast as the US economy, which managed 2.5% in 2025, at best, while the rest of the G7 economies struggled to expand by more than 1%… Depending on how you measure it, China’s GDP is close to surpassing that of the US and will, at current rates of growth, do so by the end of this new five-year plan.”

However: “China’s Western critics say that if you compare nominal GDP growth, which includes inflation, then US nominal GDP rose 5% in 2025, as much as China’s nominal rate. This shows that China is in a deflationary spiral that is weakening consumer spending and lowering investment growth. Many Western mainstream economists argue that ‘moderate’ inflation is good for an economy. If there is deflation (falling prices), then consumers may spend less on goods and services and save their money in the hope that prices will fall further, and so economic growth will slow.”

To this Michael pointedly responds: “But what is good is ‘moderate and steady’ inflation for capitalist enterprises to give them room to raise prices to maintain profits. This argument should apply to China too. But it does not apply to average households in the US, Europe and now Japan, facing unending rises in prices of essential goods, while in China prices are steady and even falling.”

Dealing with capitalist perspectives on the absence of inflation in the Chinese economy, he notes: “Apparently, it is all to do with ‘involution’. Veteran ‘China watcher’, American economist Stephen Roach explains that persistent deflation in prices in China reflects involution… referring to price declines arising from disorderly, overly aggressive competition in several key industries. Prices are falling because competition among producers of vehicles, solar panels, batteries etc. is too strong! And yet we are always told in mainstream economics that competition is good.”

This, in turn, leads to the much-hyped theory that China’s economy is staring at the prospect of ‘Japanification’: “According to [US economist Stephen] Roach and other Western observers, including many on the left, without greater consumer demand, the Chinese economy remains at risk of falling into a Japanese-like [from the late 1980s on] quagmire of falling prices and rising debt.”

South African and Swazi communists back one-China principle

The communist parties of South Africa and Swaziland have strongly condemned the US plan to sell US$ 11 billion worth of arms to the separatist authorities in Taiwan and reaffirmed their full backing for the one-China principle.

In a January 3, 2026, statement, the South African Communist Party (SACP) said that the proposed package would represent one of the largest US weapons sales to Taiwan and the most drastic US imperialistic intervention in China’s domestic political matters in recent history. It would also grossly violate the one-China policy and the three China-US joint communiques, in addition to infringing China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and underming peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

It added: “The SACP remains steadfast in its firm support of the one-China principle and China’s inalienable right to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

In a December 29, 2025, statement, the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) noted: “To the Swazi people, the arming of the Taiwan administration represents not only interference in China’s internal affairs but also, direct reinforcement of the Mswati dictatorship. Such military supplies inevitably find their way into the hands of oppressive regimes, strengthening authoritarian rule and perpetuating human rights abuses in our country.”

It declared that the CPS “stands in firm solidarity with the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China in all efforts to mobilise against this provocation.”

As indicated above, the proposed US action is of particular concern to the CPS. Swaziland is an absolute monarchy in which the CPS and other progressive and democratic forces have to struggle under condition of clandestinity and repression. It is also the only country in Africa that maintains so-called ‘diplomatic relations’ with the Taiwan authorities. [NOTE: King Mswati III changed the name of the country to Eswatini in April 2018 but this is not recognised by the CPS and other left-wing and progressive parties.]

Accordingly, on October 23, 2025, the CPS issued a perspectives paper on the Taiwan issue. It states that, “The CPS, as a Marxist-Leninist Party, adheres to principles that emphasise the importance of national sovereignty, anti-imperialism, and the unity of socialist states. The Party views the Taiwan issue through the lens of class struggle… [and] expresses strong solidarity with the PRC [People’s Republic of China], viewing it as a leading force in the global socialist movement.” The party’s support for the PRC’s stance on Taiwan aligns with its broader ideological commitment to socialism and the fight against imperialism. “The CPS strongly criticises any separatist movements in Taiwan, framing them as counter-revolutionary or influenced by foreign interests. We argue that such movements undermine the struggle for socialism and threaten the stability of the region.”

The perspectives note that: “By supporting the PRC’s position on Taiwan, the CPS argues that it contributes to regional stability in Southern Africa and Africa. We advocate for closer ties with other African nations that share similar views on sovereignty and territorial integrity, fostering a united front against perceived imperialist encroachments via the political base which Taiwan is establishing in Swaziland.”

The party’s advocacy for a unified stance on the Taiwan question, it argues, resonates with other political entities in Swaziland, where even ordinary people across ideological divides feel that the relationship with Taiwan, “only serves the interests of the monarchy and political elites. Setting out very well our stand on Taiwan will potentially lead to broader discussions on foreign policy and national identity for the future People’s Republic of Swaziland. This could create a political environment where socialist principles gain more traction in domestic discourse against imperialism.”

The party also highlights the economic implications of aligning with the PRC, emphasising the potential for increased and mutually beneficial investment, trade, and development collaboration with China and adds:

“The Party’s stance reflects a broader commitment to the principles of national sovereignty, anti-colonialism, and the pursuit of socialism on a global scale.”

The following articles were originally published by Solidnet and on the website of the Communist Party of Swaziland.

South African CP, SACP condemns proposed US weapons package to Taiwan, calls for respect of China’s national sovereignty

January 3 (Solidnet) – The South African Communist Party (SACP) condemns the proposed US massive arms package sale to Taiwan, valued at 11 billion dollars. If approved by the US Congress, this package would represent one of the largest US weapons packages to Taiwan and the most drastic US imperialistic intervention in China’s domestic political matters in recent history. It would also constitute one of the most aggressive actions of the US in Taiwan in violation of China’s sovereignty.

The intended arms sale would grossly violate the one-China policy and the three China-US joint communiques, in addition to infringing China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The intended arms sale also sends an unfortunate and gravely wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” forces, wrongly interpreting a provincial, domestic internal dispute into an international question with diplomatic implications.

The SACP remains steadfast in its firm support of the one-China principle and China’s inalienable right to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In the interest of international security and global stability, the SACP calls on all countries to respect the sovereignty of other states and to stand with the Chinese people in this instance where its sovereignty is being undermined by the imperialist US regime.

CPS calls for global mobilisation denouncing USA arms deal with the Taiwan region illegitimate separatists administration.

December 29 (CPS) – The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) strongly condemns the recent United States $11.1 billion arms package to the Taiwan
region of China. This provocative act constitutes a blatant violation of the One-China principle and undermines regional
stability and global peace.

It is common cause to believe that the USA is either effectively donating these arms to right-wing forces in Taiwan or
laying the basis for a military presence within Chinese territory. At no point can one be convinced that the bankrupt
and poorly managed separatist administration could sustain an $11.1 billion transaction. This deal will ultimately
become another costly imperialist war burden imposed on the ordinary people of the USA.

Historically, imperialist wars financed through massive US budgets have resulted in severe economic setbacks for working
people while simultaneously undermining global peace, economic stability, and universal justice.

To the Swazi people, the arming of the Taiwan administration represents not only interference in China’s internal affairs
but also direct reinforcement of the Mswati dictatorship. Such military supplies inevitably find their way into the hands
of oppressive regimes, strengthening authoritarian rule and perpetuating human rights abuses in our country.

Whether through so-called high-level diplomatic visits or direct military transfers, these criminal packages embolden
dictatorships at the expense of the people’s freedom. This mirrors US diplomatic trends toward Swaziland that have
consistently prioritised geopolitical interests over democracy and human rights.

The CPS stands in firm solidarity with the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China in all efforts to
mobilise against this provocation. We call upon all progressive forces and peace-loving people worldwide to:

Denounce US interference in China’s internal affairs.
Support the One-China principle and China’s territorial integrity.
Recognise that attacks on China’s sovereignty strengthen dictatorships everywhere.
Build international solidarity against imperialist policies that arm oppressive and illegitimate regimes.

The struggle for Taiwan’s reunification with mainland China is inseparable from our own struggle for democracy in Swaziland. Imperialism abroad reinforces dictatorship at home. Only international solidarity can bring genuine liberation for all peoples.

Long live international solidarity!
Long live the People’s Republic of China!
Down with imperialism and dictatorship!

Communist Party of Swaziland’s (CPS) Perspectives on the Taiwan Question in Swaziland.

October 23 (CPS) – Overview of the Taiwan Question

The Taiwan question is a significant geopolitical issue that has persisted since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. The island of Taiwan operates under its own government, known as the Republic of China (ROC), while the mainland is governed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland, while the separatist maintains a distinct political identity, with its own so called democratic institutions. The international community remains divided, with some countries recognizing the PRC and others maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan.

Historical Context

1. Colonial and Post-Colonial Dynamics

Taiwan’s history is marked by periods of colonial rule, first under the Dutch, then the Qing Dynasty, and later Japanese occupation. After World War II, Taiwan was placed under the control of the Nationalist government, which fled to the island following its defeat by the Communists led revolution which needed the civil war. This historical backdrop has shaped Taiwan’s identity and its complex relationship with the mainland

2. Cold War Influences

During the Cold War, Taiwan became a focal point in the struggle between communist and capitalist ideologies. The United States supported the ‘ROC’ as a counterbalance to communist expansion in Asia, leading to a complicated diplomatic landscape. The PRC, in turn, sought to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, promoting the One China principle as a means to reclaim sovereignty over the island.

3. Recent Developments

In recent years, tensions have escalated as Taiwan has moved toward a more assertive identity, with increasing support for independence among some political factions. The PRC has responded with military posturing and diplomatic pressure, to resolve this complicated the situation.

Ideological Foundations of the CPS Position

1. Marxist-Leninist Principles

The CPS, as a Marxist-Leninist Party, adheres to principles that emphasize the importance of national sovereignty, anti-imperialism, and the unity of socialist states. The Party views the Taiwan issue through the lens of class struggle, asserting that any division among socialist movements weakens the global fight against capitalism.

2. Solidarity with the PRC

The CPS expresses strong solidarity with the PRC, viewing it as a leading force in the global socialist movement. Their support for the PRC’s stance on Taiwan aligns with their broader ideological commitment to socialism and the fight against imperialism.

3. Critique of Western Imperialism

The CPS frames its position on Taiwan within a broader critique of Western imperialism, arguing that support for Taiwan’s independence is part of a strategy by imperialist powers to weaken socialist states. This perspective emphasizes the need for unity among socialist and anti Imperialist countries and forces to resist external pressures.

Specific Stances and Advocacy

1. Support for the One China Policy

The CPS actively endorse the One China policy, advocating for international recognition of the PRC’s stand that Taiwan is part of China and there is one China whose only state administration is in Beijing. This stance reflects our commitment to national sovereignty and the belief that Taiwan’s status should be resolved through peaceful means, rather than through foreign interference which practically disrupts the peace process..

2. Criticism of Separatist Movements

The CPS strongly criticizes any separatist movements in Taiwan, framing them as counter-revolutionary or influenced by foreign interests. We argue that such movements undermine the struggle for socialism and threaten the stability of the region.

3. Educational and Cultural Initiatives

The CPS will engage in educational initiatives to raise awareness about the historical context of the Taiwan issue and promote narratives that align with our principled ideological stance. This will include organising seminars, producing publications, and leveraging social media to disseminate their views.

4. Diplomatic Advocacy

The CPS call upon the governments to put pressure to ISOLATE the Mswati regime which is the HARBOUR BASE of Taiwan administration in Africa. These governments must continue to of strengthen its diplomatic ties with the PRC. We will advocate for policies that align with the PRC’s interests in the region, potentially exposing the Swaziland foreign relations with other countries as hypocrite and scandalous.

5. Collaboration with Other Leftist Movements

The CPS seek alliances with other leftist parties and organizations globally and in the country that share a similar stance on the Taiwan question. This collaboration will involve joint statements, coordinated actions, and mutual support in international forums and campaigns for democracy in the country.

Broader Implications for Domestic and Foreign Policy

1. Expose tinkundla and Mswatis Disastrous Foreign Relations

The CPS’s position on the Taiwan question significantly influence the struggle for democracy in Swaziland to assume a posture of One China Policy. This shift will weaken the strong ties that exist between the Mswati dictatorship and Taiwan , particularly given the growing influence of China in Africa whose positive outlook bypasses the people of Swaziland presently.

2. Regional Stability and Cooperation

By supporting the PRC’s position on Taiwan, the CPS argues that it contributes to regional stability in Southern Africa and Africa. We advocate for closer ties with other African nations that share similar views on sovereignty and territorial integrity, fostering a united front against perceived imperialist encroachments via the political base which Taiwan is establishing in Swaziland.

3. Impact on Local Political Dynamics

The CPS’s advocacy for a unified stance on the Taiwan question resonates with other political entities in Swaziland where even ordinary people across ideological divide, feels the Taiwan/tinkundla relationships only serves the interests of the monarchy and political elites. Setting up very well our stand on Taiwan will potentially lead to broader discussions on foreign policy and national identity for the future People’s Republic of Swaziland. This could create a political environment where socialist principles gain more traction in domestic discourse against Imperialism.

4. Economic Considerations

The CPS highlight the economic implications of aligning with the PRC, emphasizing the potential for increased investment, trade, and development mutually benefiting collaboration with China. This economic dimension is our persuasive argument for supporting the PRC’s over Taiwan.

5. Human development and Governance:

While advocating for solidarity with the PRC, the CPS promotes the achievements of the PRC government on improving the lives of ordinary people, ending poverty and improve Human development index with a stable and efficient governance and production ethics and cultural practices. The Party navigates these complexities while maintaining its ideological stance, potentially exposing criticisms of the PRC as part of an imperialist narrative which only entrenches the Mswati dictatorship and Taiwan colonial hegemony in our country.

Conclusion

The Communist Party of Swaziland’s position on the Taiwan question is deeply rooted in its Marxist-Leninist ideology, emphasizing solidarity with the PRC and opposition to perceived imperialist interventions. By advocating for the One China policy and criticizing separatism, the CPS seeks to align the struggle for democracy in Swaziland to the popular anti Imperialist campaigns to influence foreign policy with its ideological commitments, which have significant implications for the future democratic Swaziland diplomatic relations and regional dynamics. The Party’s stance reflects a broader commitment to the principles of national sovereignty, anti-colonialism, and the pursuit of socialism on a global scale. As the situation evolves, the CPS will continue to navigate the complexities of international relations while promoting its ideological clarity to explain with clarity these dynamics to the majority of our population.

Nicaragua inaugurates major Chinese-invested projects

Nicaragua has recently inaugurated two major industrial projects, built with investment and support from China, that will make a substantial contribution to the country’s industrial development and modernisation.

On December 23, 2025, Presidential Adviser Laureano Ortega Murillo inaugurated the American Recycling Steel and Materials Processing Plant alongside Nicaraguan and Chinese officials. This steel plant is considered the most sophisticated and largest in all of Central America. US$ 60 million were invested in its construction and it will directly create 500 jobs.

Ortega said that, with the commissioning of this plant, Nicaragua and the Central American region will have steel products for construction, made under the highest standards of quality and sustainability.

“Within the framework of our brotherhood, in that brotherhood cemented between the Communist Party of China and the Sandinista National Liberation Front, we take on the task of continuing to promote and facilitate the investments of our Chinese brothers in Nicaragua and from Nicaragua, to promote and project this relationship for all of Central America and also framed in compliance with adherence to all the initiatives that President Xi Jinping has proposed: Belt and Road, Global Development, Global Security, Global Governance Initiative and all cooperation programs with Latin America; here we are working with our brothers in the People’s Republic of China for the development of Nicaragua and mutual benefit,” he said.

Then, on January 14 2026, a further plant that will manufacture PVC-based materials, galvanised steel sheets and related products which will be used for construction in the country as well as for export, was also opened by Laureano Ortega Murillo.

Suyen Ang, General Manager of L&L Contemporary Exteriors said: “We are here to contribute to the development of Nicaragua and the generation of employment and strengthening the national industry. Nicaragua is an attractive country for investment and is favourable for doing business.”

The following articles were originally published by La Gente – Radio La Primerísima.

Largest steel plant inaugurated in Central America

December 23 (Radio La Primerísima) – A steel plant, considered the most sophisticated and largest in all of Central America, was inaugurated on Tuesday morning by officials of the Sandinista Government and the People’s Republic of China.

The American Recycling Materials Recycling and Processing Steel Plant is located on the Masaya–Tipitapa highway, kilometer 29, in the Guanacastillo region.

60 million dollars were invested in the construction of the plant.

During the opening ceremony, Laureano Ortega Murillo, presidential advisor for the Promotion of Investment, Trade and Cooperation, explained that the project is located on a 150 thousand square meter plot of land, of which 70 thousand square meters correspond to the recycling plant.

Venezuela and China reaffirm mutual solidarity

Venezuela and China have taken several opportunities to reaffirm their continued mutual support and solidarity following the brigandish US aggression which saw the kidnap of President Maduro and his wife, the murder of numerous Venezuelans and Cuban internationalists, and repeated hegemonic acts and utterances by the US, seeking, among other things, to estrange Venezuela from its closest friends, including China, Cuba and Russia.

On January 9, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez reported that she had met the previous day with Chinese Ambassador Lan Hu and expressed gratitude to China for condemning the US aggression against Venezuela and the seizure of the country’s legitimate President and First Lady. She noted that Caracas values China’s firm position in strongly denouncing the grave violations of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.

For her part, responding to Rodriguez’s comments on social media, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that China attaches importance to its relations with Venezuela and maintains sound communication and cooperation with the Venezuelan government.

Also on January 8, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil once again expressed his gratitude to China for its support for Venezuela in social media posts. Posting on X, he said that: “We thank China for its firm position in rejecting the violation of international law and of Venezuela’s sovereignty. The Venezuelan people reaffirm their commitment to political, territorial sovereignty and over their natural resources.”

He also posted a video of Mao Ning responding to questions on Venezuela and stated on Telegram that: “Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to deepening trade and economic agreements with the People’s Republic of China.”

In a previous posting on X, Gil stated that: “We particularly value its [China’s] warning that no country can place its norms and foreign policies above the international provisions that govern and protect all our peoples. Likewise, we extend our gratitude for China’s willingness to collaborate with the Latin American and Caribbean region in preserving the status of peace zone.”

The following article was originally published by Global Times.

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday expressed gratitude to China for condemning the US aggression against Venezuela and the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, according to a post Rodriguez published on Instagram.

Wang Yi continues 36-year tradition with first visit of 2026 to Africa

For the 36^th consecutive year, the Chinese Foreign Minister has begun his program of diplomatic visits for 2026 by visiting Africa.

Beginning January 7, Wang Yi visited Ethiopia (which is also the home of the African Union), followed by Tanzania and Lesotho.

On January 8, Wang and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf jointly held the ninth China-AU Strategic Dialogue at the AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Wang Yi said that the AU is the “locomotive” driving African unity and cooperation, playing an important and unique role in China-Africa relations. President Xi Jinping has sent congratulatory messages to the AU Summits for 13 consecutive years, which fully demonstrates China’s high regard for developing relations with the AU. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and also the 36th consecutive year for Africa to be the destination of the Chinese Foreign Minister’s first overseas trip in a new year.

Elaborating on the significance of this, Wang said that it is the inheritance of the China-Africa friendship. China-Africa friendship was forged in their arm-in-arm struggle for the cause of national independence and liberation and has matured through their respective national development and economic growth. It demonstrates the solidarity of developing countries. Both China and Africa belong to the Global South and share similar historical experiences and common aspirations. The unity and concerted efforts of more than 2.8 billion people in China and Africa will enable them to overcome any difficulties and challenges, accelerate the pace of their shared path toward modernisation, and contribute to a more equitable, cooperative, harmonious and stable world.

China is willing to leverage its own development to provide support for the vast number of developing countries, including those in Africa, to achieve modernisation together and jointly safeguard the interests of the Global South. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has played an important role in the common development of China and Africa, blazing a path of win-win cooperation between China and Africa. Both sides should continue to make good use of this platform to deepen practical cooperation.

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said that China is a partner that Africa can fully trust and rely on. The fact that the Chinese foreign ministers have made Africa the destination of their first overseas visit in a new year for 36 consecutive years fully reflects China’s strategic emphasis on Africa. Africa-China friendship, based on mutual respect and a shared vision for peace and development, has become a model of cooperation in the Global South. The AU appreciates China’s long-standing partnership with Africa across various fields and its selfless support for Africa’s development. It further highly commends the fruitful outcomes of the FOCAC and the tangible benefits it has brought to the people of Africa and China.

Youssouf added that the AU congratulates China on successfully hosting the Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. At a time when power politics and bullying are on the rise and multilateralism is under attack, Africa and China are at a critical moment to remember history, look to the future, and defend sovereignty. It is even more necessary for Africa and China to deepen their partnership.

In a Joint Press Release of the African Union-China Strategic Dialogue, both sides noted that China and the African Union, members of the Global South, share broad consensus on major international and regional issues. They underscored the importance of jointly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other to safeguard their respective core interests and major concerns. In this regard, they emphasised the need to further strengthen coordination and cooperation in order to inject positive momentum into global and regional peace, stability, and development.

The two sides reiterated the imperative of upholding a global order based on international law, in particular the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes and specifically expressed concerns on the recent developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, reaffirmimg that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, and the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law must be adhered to.

Xi Jinping congratulates Lao leader on re-election

The 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) concluded on January 8, with the re-election of Thongloun Sisoulith as General Secretary.

On the same day, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, sent a congratulatory message to Thongloun Sisoulith.

Xi wrote that the successful convening of the 12th National Congress of the LPRP is highly significant for building on past achievements and opening up new prospects for the development of the party and the socialist cause in Laos. He expressed the hope that under the strong leadership of the LPRP Central Committee with Thongloun Sisoulith at its core, the LPRP and the Lao people will remain united and continue their efforts to successfully fulfill all goals and tasks set forth by the 12th National Congress of the LPRP, continuously make new advances in the socialist cause of Laos, and press forward with resolve toward the party’s centenary goal in 2055.

He added that China and Laos are friendly socialist neighbours connected by shared mountains and rivers. In recent years, through joint efforts of both sides, China-Laos relations have been at their best in history, with the endeavor to build the China-Laos community of shared future with strategic significance steadily deepening and becoming more tangible, yielding a series of fruitful results.

Xi Jinping said he is ready to work with General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith to strengthen the strategic guidance for the development of China-Laos relations, carry forward the traditional friendship between China and Laos, deepen the exchange of experience in both party and state governance, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and drive the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future toward a high-standard, high-quality and high-level goal, with a view to bring greater benefits to the two peoples, better serve the development of the socialist cause of both countries, and make new contributions to promoting peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

Among the similar messages received by Thongloun Sisoulith were those from General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, and President of the Cambodian People’s Party Hun Sen.

The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and by the KPL Lao News Agency.

International law a casualty in US assault on Venezuela

The following opinion piece from China Daily, written by Beijing-based commentator Xu Ying, vehemently decries the US’s bombing of Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

It was not an internationally sanctioned action. It was a unilateral act of force against a sovereign state — one that directly violates the United Nations Charter and undermines the most basic norms governing relations between nations.

The author points out:

The prohibition on the use of force is not a marginal rule of international law, it is its cornerstone. Article 2 of the UN Charter leaves no ambiguity: states must refrain from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of other states. Only two exceptions exist — self-defence against an armed attack, or authorisation by the UN Security Council. The US’ action against Venezuela satisfies neither.

While the Trump administration has sought to justify its actions on the basis of absurd claims about narcotics trafficking by top Venezuelan officials, the article points out that “international law does not recognise the extraterritorial enforcement of domestic criminal law through military means”.

The US government’s statements about “managing” Venezuela and running its oil industry “strip Venezuelan sovereignty of any real meaning” and “treat a UN member state as an object to be administered rather than as a subject of international law”.

The article concludes by saying that “Governance imposed at gunpoint is no governance at all, and abandoning restraint today risks a world where, tomorrow, no rule, no border and no state will be secure”. The correct approach to international relations is that taken by China:

China advocates a multipolar world where all countries, regardless of size or strength, enjoy equal sovereignty. Upholding international law is not a rhetorical preference, it is a practical necessity for global stability.

On Jan 3, 2026, the United States crossed a line that the postwar international order was explicitly designed to prevent. In a coordinated military operation involving air strikes and special forces, US troops entered Venezuelan territory, forcibly seized the country’s sitting president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and transferred them to the United States to face domestic criminal charges. Washington subsequently announced its intention to oversee a “transition” in Venezuela and facilitate the entry of US oil companies into the country’s energy sector.

BK Basu – Indian doctor and internationalist in China

In the following article, which was originally published on the Indian website Scroll, Ajay Kamalakaran shares fascinating details regarding the five Indian doctors, particularly Dr. BK Basu, who served on the frontlines during the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression, providing critically needed medical care.

Prior to their August 1938 departure from Bombay (now Mumbai) they were cautioned by Indian independence movement leader Sarojini Naidu: “You are undertaking a dangerous task…some, or one of you, may not return.”

They were all aware of the risks, but as the 28-year-old Dr. Basu wrote, their anxieties were outweighed by the pride they felt in taking part in an act of “internationalism and anti-imperialism”.

Throughout a long voyage, the Indian doctors received an impressive welcome at each port of call.

In Colombo [Ceylon now Sri Lanka], an enthusiastic Chinese store owner took a photo with the group in front of his shop. In Penang [Malaya], a “welcoming mass of people”, predominantly overseas Chinese and Indians, garlanded the doctors.

“Singapore was much the same, with large crowds at the pier waving Indian and Chinese flags… In Hong Kong, too, they were greeted with cheers and applause.”

Reaching Guangzhou, then known as Canton, they were feted by Soong Ching-ling, the widow of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and later a Vice-President and finally the Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China.

Reaching Changsha, in Hunan province, “the spirit of international support was palpable… Volunteers from the United States, Europe, Russia and even Java joined a banquet hosted for the Indians by Ye Jianying, the chief of the Eight Route Army, the larger of the two communist forces that fought the Japanese. Among those at the banquet was the writer-journalist Agnes Smedley, an ardent supporter of Indian independence.” [An account of Smedley’s role in the fight for Indian independence may be read here.]

Basu developed a particularly close relationship with Dr. DK Kotnis, who was admitted to membership of the Communist Party of China and died of illness in 1942, aged just 32. “Together their efforts extended beyond treating the wounded. When crossing enemy lines, they would actively sabotage infrastructure used by the Japanese, including railway tracks.”

Community or Command: China, the American Pole, and the battle for Latin America

The following article from Weaponized Information, published in late December 2025, frames the current period as a pivotal moment for Latin America and the Caribbean, with competing visions of how the region fits into broader geopolitical shifts.

“Within weeks of each other, two texts appeared that quietly announced Latin America and the Caribbean as a decisive front in the struggle over the next world order. China released its third Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, framing the present as a moment of ‘changes unseen in a century’, with the Global South rising in influence while unilateral coercion destabilises peace and development. At nearly the same time, the Trump administration issued its National Security Strategy, declaring that American power had been ‘restored’, borders militarised, tariffs weaponised, and the Western Hemisphere re-centred as a strategic priority under an unapologetic America First doctrine. These are not parallel statements. They are opposing blueprints.”

China’s policy paper presents the region as an active political subject and an essential force within the rising Global South. It emphasises integration through trade, infrastructure, industrial cooperation, technology transfer, cultural exchange, regional institution-building, local-currency settlement, and engagement via multilateral bodies such as CELAC. In China’s vision, sovereignty is strengthened through diversified partnerships that reduce exposure to US financial vetoes, sanctions and conditional lending.

The Trump administration’s NSS, by contrast, is framed in terms of the restoration and enforcement of US hegemony. It asserts that US power has been “restored” under an unapologetic America First doctrine, militarising borders, weaponising tariffs and engaging in direct military aggression. Such a strategy does not treat Latin America and the Caribbean as a collective political subject at all, but as a managed perimeter and strategic rear base, echoing the Monroe Doctrine without any liberal euphemism. Infrastructure, ports, supply chains, payment systems and information spaces are reclassified as assets to be locked down or insulated from “non-hemispheric competitors”. Security becomes the alibi for expanded coercive reach.

The article highlights that in the lived history of the Americas, “security” has often meant security for capital and compliant oligarchies, enforced through coups, lawfare and counterinsurgency against popular movements.

When China speaks of development without political conditions, it challenges the architecture that has historically converted economic dependency into political obedience. The US response to China’s role is to attempt to narrow options for countries of the region, via the threat of tariffs, sanctions, statecraft, destabilisation, lawfare and – as we are currently witnessing in Venezuela – direct military aggression and the blatant violation of the most basic principles of international law.

The author concludes that the difference between the US and Chinese approach is not about democracy versus authoritarianism, but community versus command. Multipolar integration introduces something disruptive the region has long been denied: the normalisation of choice. The intensity of the US’s reaction signals a historic shift – autonomy is no longer unthinkable. The hemisphere now faces a clear struggle over whether it remains frozen in managed dependency or expands sovereignty through cooperation and plural development paths.

The Hemisphere at the Breaking Point

There are moments when states stop improvising and start publishing doctrine. Not press statements, not campaign slogans, but documents meant to harden intentions into policy and turn instinct into structure. Late 2025 was one of those moments. Within weeks of each other, two texts appeared that quietly announced Latin America and the Caribbean as a decisive front in the struggle over the next world order. China released its third Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, framing the present as a moment of “changes unseen in a century,” with the Global South rising in influence while unilateral coercion destabilizes peace and development. At nearly the same time, the Trump administration issued its National Security Strategy, declaring that American power had been “restored,” borders militarized, tariffs weaponized, and the Western Hemisphere re-centered as a strategic priority under an unapologetic America First doctrine. These are not parallel statements. They are opposing blueprints.