January 2026 - Friends of Socialist China

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.

Strategic dialogue enhances China-Pakistan friendship

Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, visited China from January 3-5, 2026 and co-chaired the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart and host Wang Yi on January 4.

Following the dialogue a detailed Joint Press Communiqué was issued setting out its decisions. Among its key points are:

The two sides announced the launch of commemorative activities in 2026 celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, which will serve as an opportunity to consolidate China-Pakistan friendship and expand new areas of cooperation so that China-Pakistan friendship could grow from strength to strength and pass from generation to generation.

The two sides reaffirmed their unyielding support for each other on issues concerning their respective core interests. Pakistan reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Pakistan firmly supports every effort of China to achieve national reunification and opposes any form of “Taiwan independence” and any attempt to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

China reiterated its steadfast support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. China supports Pakistan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and achieving economic prosperity and supports Pakistan in firmly combating terrorism and playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs.

The two sides agreed to further align their development plans and priorities and build an upgraded version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides agreed to focus on the three key sectors of industry, agriculture and mining, promote the building and operation of the Gwadar Port, ensure the smooth passage of the Karakoram Highway, and enhance Pakistan’s capacity for sustainable development. The two sides will deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, technical and vocational training and education, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

The two sides welcomed third-party participation in CPEC cooperation that conforms with the modalities set by China and Pakistan.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at their expanding space cooperation and for the expected early entrance of Pakistani astronauts into the China Space Station. They agreed to explore space in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner for greater economic and social development and prosperity.

The two sides agreed that it is essential to firmly uphold the outcomes of the victory of World War II, adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, reject attempts to distort historical facts, and oppose the plotted resurgence of fascism and militarism.

The two sides emphasised the importance of a South Asian regional order underpinned by the UN Charter, international law, and the basic norms governing international relations, reiterated opposition to any unilateral actions, and reaffirmed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the necessity of resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and consultation.

The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on its position on and latest developments of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. China reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.

The two sides expressed readiness to continue leveraging the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue and the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation mechanism to deliver new outcomes.

Pakistan highly commended China’s efforts to safeguard developing countries’ right to sustainable development.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over their cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and agreed to deepen coordination and collaboration to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, their support for multilateralism and free trade, and their opposition to hegemonism, bullying behaviours violating national sovereignty of other countries, the forming of “small circles” and bloc confrontation.

China congratulated Pakistan on its outstanding performance during its UN Security Council presidency and expressed full support for Pakistan to work as the rotating president of the SCO from 2026 to 2027.

The two sides agreed to keep in close communication and coordination on the Afghan issue, work with the international community to encourage the Afghan government to build an inclusive political framework, adopt moderate policies, focus on development, pursue good-neighbourliness, and play a constructive role in helping Afghanistan achieve stable development and integrate into the international community. The two sides called for more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan which continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security and prevent terrorist organisations from using the Afghan territory for terrorism against any other country and to endanger any other country.

The two sides called for an unconditional, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the implementation of the two-state solution with the establishment of an independent state of Palestine. The two sides also expressed their concern at the situation in the occupied West Bank and urged the need for urgently addressing it.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad next year on mutually convenient dates.

The following is the full text of the joint communiqué. It was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

CPC greets Lao party congress

The 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) opened on January 6 in the capital Vientiane.

The congress is being held under the theme “Enhancing the Party’s Strong Leadership, Proactively Building an Independent and Self-Reliant Economy, Continuing to Consolidate the People’s Democratic Regime, and Advancing towards Socialism.”

In a congratulatory message, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) writes:

“As the strong leadership core of the Lao people and the socialist cause of Laos, since the 11th national congress of the party, the Central Committee of the LPRP, led by General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, has been committed to promoting the party’s self-building, consolidated its leadership position, united and led the people of all ethnic groups in Laos, actively explored a socialist development path that suits the country’s national conditions, and achieved a series of important progress and results in the party and the country’s various undertakings.”

It adds that both China and Laos are socialist countries led by communist parties and the CPC and the Chinese government have always viewed and handled the relationship between the two parties and countries from a strategic and long-term perspective.

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

BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) on the opening of its 12th National Congress.

As the strong leadership core of the Lao people and the socialist cause of Laos, the message said, since the 11th national congress of the party, the Central Committee of the LPRP, led by General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, has been committed to promoting the party’s self-building, consolidated its leadership position, united and led the people of all ethnic groups in Laos, actively explored a socialist development path that suits the country’s national conditions, and achieved a series of important progress and results in the party and the country’s various undertakings.

In the message, the CPC Central Committee said it is sincerely pleased with these achievements and highly evaluates them.

The 12th congress is a milestone in the development process of Laos’ socialist cause, said the message, adding that it will review and approve the party’s third Political Programme and other important political documents, as well as make strategic plans and specific arrangements for the development of the party and the country’s various undertakings in the coming period.

It is believed that under the strong leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will successfully achieve the goals and tasks set by the congress and advance Laos’ socialist cause to a new stage of development, it said.

Both China and Laos are socialist countries led by communist parties, it noted, adding that the CPC and the Chinese government have always viewed and handled the relationship between the two parties and countries from a strategic and long-term perspective.

In the current new situation, China is willing to work with Laos, following the important consensus of the highest leaders of both parties and countries as the fundamental guide, to strengthen strategic communication, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and steadily promote the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future, it said.

This will help push forward the continuous, sound and stable development of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, benefit both countries and peoples, and make new positive contributions to world peace, development and progress, it said.

Remembering Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – Architect of China-Pakistan Friendship

Third World Solidarity organised a meeting on Monday January 5, 2026, marking the 98^th birth anniversary of the late Pakistani leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who made an outstanding contribution to the friendship between his country and China.

The meeting, held in the Baseline Studios, home to a number of community organisations and projects in west London, was attended by many prominent members of the Pakistani community, and others who have been friends with members of the Bhutto family.

Chairing the meeting, Mushtaq Lasharie, Chair of Third World Solidarity, the British Pakistani Mayors Association and Lancaster West Residents Association, drew attention to the price that has often been paid by leaders of the Global South who stand for independence and popular democracy, from the martyrdom of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto, to today’s illegal kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife. This was also one of the themes that was returned to in the discussion period following the main speeches, in which Keith Bennett explained how the hand of US imperialism was present in all these cases, whether overtly or covertly.

The first speaker was London-based Pakistani journalist Javed Soomro, whose family has long had a close relationship with the Bhuttos. He explained that before Z.A. Bhutto founded and led the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), politics in the country had been confined to the feudal class and the boardrooms of the industrialists. The people were irrelevant. Bhutto was “the first to bring the voices of the masses and ordinary people” to the political arena. The basic slogan of the PPP was for clothes, food and shelter. [Note: In its simplicity and profundity this has echoes of the Bolshevik call for bread, peace and land.]

In 1974, he organised a major conference aimed at uniting the Muslim countries. This effort was key to the animosity that the United States came to harbour for Bhutto. [This has clear parallels with the way that the efforts of the late Hugo Chávez and President Maduro to unite the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean has intensified the hatred of the United States for the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela.]

Javed was followed by Keith Bennett, co-editor of Friends of Socialist China, who spoke on the great contributions of Z.A. Bhutto, as well as his daughter Benazir Bhutto and grandson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to Pakistan’s friendship with both the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The full text of Keith’s speech is reproduced below.

The final speaker was Victoria Schofield, author of ‘Bhutto: Trial and Execution’ (1979) and ‘The Fragrance of Tears: My Friendship with Benazir Bhutto’ (2020).

Victoria forged a close friendship with Benazir Bhutto when they were fellow students at Oxford University. With Benazir’s encouragement she succeeded her as President of the Oxford Union. She travelled to Pakistan in 1978, when Z.A. Bhutto was on trial and subsequently hanged, at Benazir’s invitation. She was one of the last people to see Bhutto alive and recalled how Benazir was not even allowed to hug her father on their last meeting, just a couple of days before he was executed.

She further recalled Bhutto’s vision for his country, as outlined to the Spectator:

“My vision is that of a Pakistan whose social standards are comparable to some parts of Europe. This means a war against illiteracy and ignorance. It means fighting prejudice and obscurantism. It involves the equality of men and women. It demands the mobilisation of the people’s selected energies. It dictates the restoration of dignity to the human person… It requires a check on the growth of population and easy access to education and medical care throughout the country. It contemplates better towns and cities and cleaner villages. It raises 100 challenges. It is a long haul. We have braced ourselves for it.”

Following a lively Q&A, closing remarks were delivered by Mian Saleem, President of PPP Greater London.

The formal proceedings were followed by two songs from Hugh Goodacre on guitar and dinner.

The following is the full text of Keith’s speech.

After Venezuela, who’s next? A warning to the Global South

We are pleased to publish below an original article by Wu Yanni, a Beijing-based political commentator and contributor to Chinese and international media, which draws attention to the destabilising consequences of unchecked US power in international affairs. Drawing on Kofi Annan’s observation that the world resembles an interconnected community, Wu Yanni argues that when a single hegemonic actor behaves as a bully without meaningful constraint, global norms erode and instability spreads, creating a dangerous “broken windows effect” in global politics.

The article centres on the Trump administration’s kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro not as an isolated event, but as a warning to the Global South. It recounts accusations made at the UN General Assembly last year by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil, who charged Washington with resource plunder, orchestrating regime change, assassination attempts, mercenary incursions, and economic warfare expressed through over 1,000 unilateral sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil industry and productive sectors. The author emphasises that Venezuela foresaw these threats, yet its appeals were largely ignored, demonstrating a global asymmetry where moral condemnation has failed to translate into real limits on US conduct.

To underline that this is a structural, not episodic, problem, the article revisits historical US interventions – including the 1989 invasion and seizure of Panama’s president, the 1973 coup in Chile, and the 1954 CIA-backed overthrow in Guatemala – portraying a consistent pattern of military force, subversion, espionage and sanctions.

The author concludes that solidarity without power is insufficient. The Global South must transform shared principles into durable institutions, pursue substantive UN reform to give international law binding force, and strengthen regional and cross-regional alliances, financial systems and energy cooperation to resist unilateral coercion. The crisis, she insists, will define the next era of geopolitics: if the power gap remains unfilled, “international order” will become an empty phrase.

As ex-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan observed, the world is like a global village. However, if a single “village bully” is able to operate with impunity for years and the village council in question–the United Nations–is not working as it should, there will be concerns. Such multiple violations of norms and rules have the potential to set off a “broken windows effect,” encouraging other world powers to follow suit and ultimately throwing the international order into disarray. This is not just a Venezuela crisis; this is a warning for countries in the Global South. If today it’s Venezuela, what will tomorrow be?

China at UN: Venezuela has every right to defend its sovereignty and national dignity

China has again declared its solidarity with Venezuela and its strong condemnation of the United States’ flagrant and brigandish acts of aggression, including the illegal kidnapping of the country’s President and First Lady.

Speaking at an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on January 5, requested by Colombia and supported by China, Russia and other countries, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Sun Lei said that:

“On January 3, the United States blatantly launched large-scale military strikes against Venezuela, forcibly seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and took them out of the country. It claimed that it would ‘run’ Venezuela and even did not rule out launching a second round of military operations on an even larger scale. China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the unilateral, illegal, and bullying acts by the United States.”

Noting that the council had already previously convened two emergency meetings in connection with the US sanctions, blockade, and threats of force against Venezuela, he said that, “the US has disregarded the grave concerns of the international community, wantonly trampled upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests, and seriously violated the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and the prohibition of the use of force in international relations. These principles constitute the fundamental tenets of the UN Charter and form the cornerstone of maintaining international peace and security. The US has placed its own power above multilateralism and military actions above diplomatic efforts, posing a grave threat to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean and even internationally. China firmly opposes this, and the international community has also expressed widespread grave concerns and strong condemnation.”

US invasion act of imperialist aggression: China Daily editorial

China Daily published a hard-hitting editorial on January 4, branding US actions against Venezuela an invasion and an act of imperialist aggression.

It began by noting that: “The international community is deeply shocked by the United States’ blatant use of force against Venezuela, including large-scale air strikes on the country and the forcible seizure of its president and his wife. Its actions should be condemned as they constitute a naked act of armed aggression against a sovereign state and flagrantly violate international law…

“By any definition, the US military operation amounts to an invasion. It dangerously escalates the so-called ‘Monroe Doctrine’ from a 19th-century, isolationist-era concept into a 21st-century doctrine of force and coercion. This sets an alarming precedent for Latin America and the Caribbean, posing a direct threat to the sovereignty and security of countries across the region.”

Dealing with various pretexts advanced by the US, it points out: “Washington’s justification of it being a ‘counter narcotics’ action is neither credible nor legitimate. No such pretext can justify the bombing of a sovereign country or the abduction of its head of state. If such reasoning were to be accepted, it would effectively grant powerful nations a license to intervene militarily wherever they see fit, under a pretext given by themselves, hollowing out international law and replacing it with the law of the jungle.”

And referring to Trump’s statements that the US would “run” Venezuela to “get the oil flowing”, it responds: “These remarks tore away the already thin veil of moral pretence, exposing the operation for what it was: a resource-grabbing power play. Any veneer of pursuing justice or stability was blasted away in a blatant demonstration of lawless hypocrisy. The pattern is disturbingly reminiscent of the Iraq War — another chapter in Washington’s long record of seizing other countries’ resources under false pretences.”

While Washington speaks of “strategic retrenchment”: “For other countries in the Americas, this is not retrenchment but imperialist expansion — an aggressive reassertion of arrogant conceit. Venezuela is unlikely to be the last victim if this logic is allowed to prevail. The military action also aims to intimidate regional countries and deter them from deepening cooperation with other partners in the fields that the US is trying to dominate.”

“From fabricated charges to military strikes and regime change, the operation follows a familiar and deeply troubling script — one that reflects the logic of state piracy. Sovereign governments are first delegitimised, then destroyed by force, after which foreign capital moves in to carve up natural resources. This behaviour drags the world back toward a barbaric colonial era of plunder, in open defiance of international law… No wonder even some in the US political circle said they never again wanted to hear US leaders preach about a so-called ‘rules-based’ international order.”

It concludes: “What the world is witnessing is not a ‘rules-based’ order, but colonial pillaging. Upholding sovereignty, equality and non-interference is not optional. It is the foundation of global stability — and it must be defended.”

The following is the full text of the editorial.

Trump’s National Security Strategy lays bare the imperialist ambitions of the US ruling class

The following article by Carlos Martinez argues that the Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy (NSS) marks a sharper and less diplomatic phase of US imperial policy. Its most notable feature is the explicit reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine, pledging to block “non-Hemispheric competitors” from controlling strategic assets or positioning forces in the Americas. The article interprets this as a signal of escalating hybrid war against Latin American and Caribbean states that resist US dominance and maintain strong ties with China, Russia, Iran and other countries that resist imperialist hegemony.

A parallel theme is Europe’s changing role in US strategy. While previous Cold War alliances treated Western Europe as Washington’s primary partner against the Soviet Union, the NSS portrays Europe as economically weakened, politically fragmented, and strategically unreliable. The US instead expects Europe to accept a more clearly subordinate relationship, to spend its taxpayers’ money on the US military-industrial complex, to align fully with US sanctions and technology controls, and to absorb higher tariffs or punishment if it deviates. The document’s rhetoric on migration, “demographic collapse” and low birthrates is fuel for rising far-right nationalist politics that Washington may leverage.

Despite limited direct mentions of China, the NSS outlines a long-term confrontation strategy focused on the Indo-Pacific, strengthening US military presence in the Western Pacific, reinforcing the First Island Chain, boosting allies’ military budgets, and deepening support for Taiwan as a geopolitical flashpoint. The article concludes that the NSS prioritises maintaining US hegemony, disrupting China’s global influence, and suppressing multipolar alternatives, framing the strategy as a continuation and escalation of the US’s longstanding campaign of containment and encirclement of China.

A shorter version of this article first appeared in Beijing Review.

The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy (NSS), released in late November, has inspired widespread comment and a diverse array of interpretations.

The most striking feature of the document is its explicit re-assertion of the Monroe Doctrine, shifting the focus of US military strategy towards “defending our hemisphere”, with “more troops, bases and military operations” in the Americas. Hegemony over the Western Hemisphere is of course a constant of US foreign policy, but previous administrations have at least made some pretence at multilateralism and respect for international law. The NSS does away with any such niceties:

Chinese scholar says resistance is only viable approach but patience is needed

The following is the text of an interview conducted by the Tehran Times with Chinese scholar Professor Jin Liangxiang on the sidelines of the recent Conference on People’s Rights and Legitimate Freedoms in the Thoughts of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Professor Jin notes that: “The Americans like to talk about liberal democracy and, when doing so, they link it to human rights. They even intervene in the domestic affairs of countries in the Middle East – such as Iran and many others – in the name of humanitarian concerns.

“But in Gaza and Palestine, we have witnessed atrocities committed by Israel, resulting in more than 70,000 deaths. In this regard, the Americans have turned a blind eye. So, I believe the United States is not in a position to lecture others about liberal democracy or to intervene under the banner of humanitarianism.”

Responding to a question on different perceptions of people’s rights and freedoms, he stresses that resistance is the only way out:

“When we talk about freedom, we must begin with justice. The most serious challenge to justice in the region is hegemony and power politics. Therefore, resistance becomes the only viable approach to achieving justice.

“We should not assume that hegemonic powers will make concessions on their own. Those policies will not disappear by themselves. The only way to deliver justice is through resistance. Even though the Middle East has experienced some changes in recent years, as long as oppression exists, resistance will continue.”

However: “The evolution of the international order will be a long process. People across the region – not only Iranians – do not accept hegemony. But weakening hegemonic structures and transforming the global order will take time… So, patience is required. BRICS is developing strong momentum and is expanding with new members. It will need time for internal integration, improving mechanisms, and organising resources. But it will become an important mechanism in shaping the future international order, playing a growing role not only financially but also politically and in the security arena.”

Jin is a senior research fellow at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS) as well as a nonresident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, based in Doha, Qatar.

The following article was originally published by Tehran Times. A video of the interview may be viewed here.

Xi Jinping assails unilateral and bullying acts in meeting with Irish leader

Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken the opportunity of his first meeting with a foreign visitor in 2026 to denounce unilateral and bullying acts in international relations – a clear reference not least to the piratical action of the United States in brutally kidnapping, maltreating and attempting to humiliate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Xi was meeting on the morning of January 5 with Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, who began an official visit to China the previous day. It is the first visit to China by an Irish head of government in 14 years and will last until January 8.

At the start of his opening remarks, Xi Jinping made a significant statement, noting that both China and Ireland are peace-loving, open, inclusive, self-reliant and enterprising. The two countries achieved independence and national liberation through the struggle of the people and have advanced toward modernisation with the hard work of one generation after another.

He added that mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit are valuable experience gathered from long-term steady development of China-Ireland relations. He said the two sides should jointly pass them down and carry them forward and underlined the need for China and Ireland to maintain friendly exchanges at multiple levels and in different fields, continuously enhance communication and understanding, accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns, cement political mutual trust, and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with Ireland to step up economic and trade cooperation, seek synergy of development strategies in such areas as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and pharmaceuticals and health, and encourage two-way investment, so as to draw on each other’s strengths, share opportunities, and pursue common development. The two sides need to strengthen cooperation in education, culture and tourism, and foster closer people-to-people bonds. China welcomes more Irish youth to come to China for study and exchanges.

President Xi then pointed out that the world today is undergoing changes and turbulence. Unilateral and bullying acts are dealing a serious blow to the international order. All countries should respect other countries’ development paths chosen independently by their people and observe international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Major countries, in particular, should lead by example. Both China and Ireland support multilateralism and advocate international fairness and justice. The two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs, jointly uphold the authority of the UN, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system.

China strongly condemns US aggression against Venezuela, kidnapping of President Maduro

China has immediately responded to the latest US aggression against Venezuela and its brigandish and gangster-like kidnapping, in blatant violation of international law, of the country’s President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro.

On Saturday January 3, in a statement issued prior to confirmation of President Maduro’s arrival in New York, a foreign ministry spokesperson said that China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president, adding:

“Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region.”

The next day, in a further statement, the Foreign Ministry said that China called on the United States to immediaetely release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

“China calls on the United States to ensure the personal safety of Maduro and his wife, release them at once, stop toppling the government of Venezuela, and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation.”

Also, on Sunday January 4, the issue was directly addressed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

When holding the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing, Wang Yi said that China always opposes the use or threat of force, as well as any imposition of one country’s will on another.

“We never believe that any country can play the role of world policeman, nor do we agree that any country can claim itself to be an international judge,” Wang said, adding that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected by international law.

China is willing to work with the international community, including Pakistan, to firmly uphold the United Nations Charter, maintain the bottom line of international morality, adhere to the equality of all countries’ sovereignty, and jointly safeguard world peace and development and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

On China-Pakistan relations, Wang said China hopes this visit will kick off the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to unite the Global South to safeguard common interests, uphold the UN Charter, and oppose bullying acts that violate the sovereignty of other countries.

On January 3, the Xinhua News Agency issued a commentary entitled, ‘Venezuela strike shows who is really undermining the International law’. It said:

“The US military incursion into Venezuela and the action against its President, Nicolás Maduro, as announced by the US administration, once again lays bare Washington’s reliance on unilateral force to shape outcomes beyond its borders. This aggression also hollows out decades of US rhetoric positioning America as the guardian of international rules.

“Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, a foundational principle of international law, explicitly prohibits the use or threat of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Therefore, the action against a sovereign nation’s leader has shown the world, unequivocally, who stands as the true transgressor of international law.

“History offers ample precedent. From Iraq and Libya to Panama and Grenada, the United States has repeatedly used or threatened force under dubious justifications… Venezuela, long subjected to sanctions and political pressure, now joins that list, with diplomacy once again sidelined in favor of military coercion.”

China brokers peace between Thailand and Cambodia

Intensive diplomatic efforts by China to halt the resumed armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia and to address its underlying causes scored a significant success with a December 29, 2025, trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Cambodia, and Thailand, held in Yuxi, Yunnan Province.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that since the outbreak of the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, China has upheld the spirit of the Global Security Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping, actively mediating and using its good offices. Chinese leaders have maintained friendly communication with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, and the foreign ministers have held multiple phone conversations. The Chinese special envoy has made four shuttle visits for the important objective of listening to the two sides, accommodating their legitimate concerns, and seeking a path to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation. Thanks to the joint efforts of all parties, the militaries of Cambodia and Thailand recently reached a ceasefire agreement, and China is pleased to see this progress.

Wang said that the trilateral meeting is timely. The three parties have held multiple bilateral talks here, and especially, the diplomatic and military departments of Cambodia and Thailand have engaged in face-to-face, in-depth exchanges. The discussions among the three parties were beneficial and constructive, leading to important consensus that:

It is necessary to look forward and move ahead together. The ceasefire agreement is hard-won and must not stagnate or be derailed halfway, let alone allow conflict to be reignited. This is not what the people want, nor what China hopes for.

Both sides should proceed step by step without stopping. The implementation of the ceasefire arrangement requires continuous communication and consultation. The restoration of bilateral relations should be gradually advanced. But as long as both sides maintain confidence and engage in equal dialogue, the goals will surely be achieved.

Rebuilding mutual trust is paramount. The conflict has led to a loss of trust, but Cambodia and Thailand are eternal neighbours with a long history of friendly exchanges. This gathering by the Fuxian Lake is intended to heal the wounds caused by the conflict, dispel the estrangement between the two sides, and truly restore friendly relations. This serves the interests of the Cambodian and Thai peoples and is the shared expectation of all parties. China will always be a promoter of the development of Cambodia-Thailand relations and is willing to provide all necessary assistance and support, including ceasefire monitoring, humanitarian aid, and demining cooperation.

After the trilateral meeting, a press release was issued, specifying five areas where Cambodia and Thailand will further strengthen communication and enhance understanding:

Jimmy Lai convicted: the truth behind Hong Kong’s US‑backed colour revolution

In the clip embedded below, Ileana Chan of Empire Watch interviews KJ Noh about the recent conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, which Western outlets have framed as an attack on press freedom. KJ notes that Jimmy Lai was found guilty on two counts of collusion with foreign forces and one count of sedition under Hong Kong’s national security laws following a 156-day trial.

Discussing the political context of the trial, KJ explains that the 2019 Hong Kong riots evolved into an attempted “colour revolution”, backed by the US, and observes that Lai used his media influence and resources to coordinate and publicise this movement. KJ also observes that Lai actively lobbied US officials to apply sanctions against China.

As such, KJ argues that Lai received a fair trial within Hong Kong’s legal system and that his conviction was justified given his involvement in sedition.

The interview expands into a discussion of Hong Kong’s colonial past, with KJ pointing out that Hong Kong under British control was not the model of liberal democracy it is sometimes painted as, but rather an apartheid colony.

China denounces Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

China has officially declared that it firmly opposes Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland as an “independent sovereign state” and its agreement to establish “diplomatic relations” with it.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced this at a regular press conference in Beijing on December 29, 2025, stating that China firmly supports Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and opposes any moves that undermine them.

China has noted that the federal government of Somalia immediately issued a statement firmly rejecting the move, and regional organisations including the African Union, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development have also expressed strong dissatisfaction and condemnation, Lin said.

He added that the Somaliland issue is entirely an internal affair of Somalia and should be resolved by the Somali people in a manner consistent with their national conditions and constitution. He also highlighted that countries outside the region should cease inappropriate interference and no country should incite or support separatist forces within another nation for its own selfish interests.

“We urge the Somaliland authorities to recognise the situation and immediately cease separatist activities and collusion with external forces.”

China has consistently supported Somalia in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Later, on December 29, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the situation at the request of Somalia, Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Guyana.

Addressing the session, Chinese Ambassador Sun Lei began by stating that China fully supported the four countries’ request, adding that Israel’s action had, “further increased the tensions in the Horn of Africa, drawing immediate and strong criticism and condemnations from regional organisations, including the AU [African Union], the Arab League, the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council], the OIC [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation], and IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development], as well as many regional countries. China also expresses grave concerns over this move and firmly opposes it.”

He went on to say that: “Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of the UN Charter and an unshakable cornerstone of international law and international relations, which all UN member states must strictly observe. Somaliland is an integral part of Somali territory. China firmly supports Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and opposes any act to split its territory. China has always maintained that the Somaliland issue is entirely Somalia’s internal affair. It should be resolved by the Somali people in a way consistent with the national conditions and the constitution… We urge the Somaliland authorities to grasp the situation, immediately stop separatist activities and collusion with external forces, and return to the track of dialogue with the federal government of Somalia as soon as possible to avoid further threatening regional peace and stability and opening the door to more tensions and conflicts.”

CPC delegation strengthens ties with Cambodia and Laos

At the invitation of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Xie Chuntao, Vice President of the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), led a CPC delegation on visits to Cambodia and Laos from December 22-26, 2025.

During the visits, Xie met with Cambodian and Lao party and government leaders, including CPP President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.

Cambodian and Lao leaders highly praised the importance of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee for China and the world and expressed willingness to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote the building of a community with a shared future.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen reaffirmed the iron-clad friendship between the two countries and called for expanded joint capacity-building programs between the two parties.

President Thongloun praised the close cooperation between the two parties and countries and stressed the importance of implementing the master plan on building a Lao-China community with a shared future. He thanked the delegation for briefing Lao leaders on the outcomes of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, noting that China’s development experience offers valuable lessons for Laos.

Xie Chuntao expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed China’s commitment to translating agreements between the two leaders into practical cooperation across various sectors. He also conveyed best wishes for the success of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s 12th National Congress, scheduled for January 6-8, 2026.

During the visit, the delegation also held working meetings with senior Lao officials and delivered presentations on major CPC policy developments.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency, Agence Kampuchea Presse and the KPL Lao News Agency.

CPC delegation visits Cambodia, Laos

VIENTIANE, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) — At the invitation of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Xie Chuntao, vice president of the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), led a CPC delegation on visits to Cambodia and Laos from Dec. 22 to 26.

Xie briefed the party and government officials from both countries on the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Cambodian and Lao leaders highly praised the importance of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee for China and the world, and expressed willingness to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote the building of a community with a shared future.

President Xi: No issue of the people is too small; we care for every leaf and tend every branch in the garden of people’s well-being

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his New Year Address for 2026, on December 31, 2025.

Below we reprint the full text of the address, as released in English by the Xinhua News Agency, preceded by a short introductory commentary by our co-editor Keith Bennett.

President Xi Jinping’s inspiring new year address represents a message of confidence, determination and optimism which stands in stark contrast to the depression, crisis and sense of drift prevailing in the major capitalist countries. Both in tone and content it reflects how socialism, with a strong communist party at its core, is again rising and assuming an enhanced role in the world in terms of both achievement and attraction.

This spirit animates the entire speech. As President Xi notes, this year just past saw the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the celebration of which, immediately following the largest ever gatherings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where the Global Governance Initiative was unveiled, further raised the international prestige and standing of socialist China, with the participation of leaders from dozens of countries, the elucidation of ways and means to achieve a better world, and the demonstration of China’s ever growing defensive military prowess which constitutes a fundamental guarantee of peace.

A similar message can be seen in the economy and domestic development. With the world having experienced a ‘Deep Seek moment’, President Xi underlined the purpose of socialist competition as being a “race to the top”, a ‘win win’ concept contrasting with the race to the bottom that characterizes the decadent stage of monopoly capitalism.

In turn, the cultural self-confidence that this facilitates and embodies, from humanoid robots performing kung fu kicks, through Wukong and Nezha, to the grassroots football leagues of Guizhou, shows both how life for the masses of the Chinese people is becoming more dignified and joyful as well as the growing attraction of Chinese civilization, culture and ‘soft power’ for people throughout the world – and most importantly how these two aspects are inextricably interconnected and mutually reinforcing.

When President Xi speaks of how the rights and interests of workers in new forms of employment, not least the ‘gig economy’, have been better protected, better facilities have been created for the elderly, and increased subsidies provided to help families with childcare, it is simply impossible not to draw comparisons with our situation in Britain, where ‘gig economy’ workers lack the most basic protections, social care for the elderly is a national shame that successive governments have been singularly unwilling and unable to tackle, and ever growing numbers of children are being raised in poverty, with consequences they will carry for the rest of their lives.