Friends of Socialist China, Author at Friends of Socialist China

China continues to back Iran-Saudi rapprochement

Demonstrating the continued upward momentum in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, since China facilitated their resumption of relations on March 10, 2023, as well as the continuing role played by China to encourage the building of a united front among the countries of the region to address their common challenges, the third meeting of the China-Iran-Saudi Arabia Trilateral Joint Committee was held in the Iranian capital Tehran on December 9.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Majid Takht Ravanchi, with the participation of the Chinese delegation headed by Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Miao Deyu and the Saudi Arabian delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji.

A joint statement issued by the three countries said that Iran and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to all provisions of the Beijing Agreement, and pledged continued adherence to the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and international law, and their efforts to consolidate good-neighbourly and friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of respecting national sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and security. Iran and Saudi Arabia welcomed the continued positive role of China and held that China’s support and follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Agreement is of great importance.

The three countries welcomed the continuous progress in Iran-Saudi Arabia relations, which provides opportunities for direct exchanges between Iran and Saudi Arabia at all levels and across all sectors. The current escalation of regional tensions poses a threat to both regional and global security. Against this backdrop, it is very important for senior officials from Iran and Saudi Arabia to engage in contacts, meetings, and mutual visits. The participating parties welcomed the progress made in consular cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which enabled more than 85,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Hajj, and more than 210,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Umrah rituals with ease and security in 2025.

They also called for an immediate end to Israel’s actions that infringe upon Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, and condemned the infringement on Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Iranian side appreciated China and Saudi Arabia for taking a clear stance on the aforementioned acts of aggression. The three countries also reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni issue in accordance with internationally recognised principles under the auspices of the United Nations.

The previous day, Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu met with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi.

Miao Deyu said that in 2026, the two countries will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership. China is ready to take this opportunity, together with Iran, to further implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state and promote greater development of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership. China looks forward to working with Iran and Saudi Arabia to ensure the success of the upcoming meeting of the joint committee, injecting more positive factors into regional peace, stability and development.

China celebrates 50 years of Angolan independence

China last month marked the 50^th anniversary of Angolan independence (November 11^th 1975), which followed a protracted armed struggle for liberation against Portuguese colonialism and the overthrow of the fascist regime in Lisbon.

On November 28, Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu attended and spoke at the reception hosted by the Angolan Embassy in Beijing.

He stated that the friendship between China and Angola has a long history and enjoys a solid foundation. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, practical cooperation in various fields between China and Angola has yielded fruitful results, benefiting the peoples of both countries. China is willing to work with Angola to carry forward the traditional friendship, join hands in seeking common development, and make greater contributions to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Ambassador of Angola Dalva Maurĺcia Calombo Ringote Allen stated that Angola and China share a deep traditional friendship, and that bilateral relations are rooted in the values of friendship, peace, solidarity, respect, and mutual benefit. The Angolan side sincerely thanks the Chinese side for the valuable support it has long provided for Angola’s national independence, reconstruction and development.

Earlier, from November 10 to 11, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs Liu Yuxi visited Angola. Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço met with him, and they exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

Liu Yuxi handed over President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message on the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence and stated that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, the bilateral relationship between China and Angola has gained in-depth development, and mutually beneficial cooperation has yielded fruitful results.

President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço thanked President Xi Jinping for his congratulatory message, and expressed that Angola admires the historic achievements China has made under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, regards China as the most important partner for development cooperation, and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard the interests of the vast number of developing countries, including those in Africa.

During the visit, Liu Yuxi also held working exchanges with Foreign Minister Téte António and attended the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence on behalf of the Chinese side.

In all, some 45 foreign delegations, including more than a dozen heads of state or government, along with a number of former African Presidents, attended the celebrations in the capital Luanda, which included both civilian and military parades. Among them were the Presidents of Namibia, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cape Verde, Comoros, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), and Portugal, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the President of the Assembly of Mozambique, and the President of the Council of the Nation of Algeria. An especially warm welcome was given to Esteban Lazo Hernández, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State.

Granma, the newspaper of the PCC, reported: “Our country’s internationalist epic, especially during the heroic Operation Carlota, was an enduring page of altruism and solidarity, whose contribution was decisive in preserving and consolidating Angola’s independence and achieving that of Namibia, as well as making a significant contribution to the demise of the apartheid regime.

Group of Friends of Global Governance launched at UN

The formation of the Group of Friends of Global Governance was formally announced at the United Nations in New York on December 9. This follows President Xi Jinping launching the Global Governance Initiative at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus Meeting in Tianjin on September 1.

The group initially consists of 43 members. Besides China, among them are Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Palestine, Senegal, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The founders state that they reaffirm their firm commitment to upholding the legacy won by the Second World War, including the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on all the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in their entirety, including respecting sovereign equality, territorial integrity and political independence of any state, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other states, and refraining in their international relations from the threat or use of force.

They express particular concern over the serious under-representation of the Global South, the erosion of the authority of international law, including the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. “We emphasise the need to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions, economic, social and environmental in a balanced and integrated manner and address other urgent and emerging global challenges.”

They further welcome the Global Governance Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and its five core concepts – sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centred approach and taking real actions.

“Through this Group, we commit to deepening dialogue and coordination on global governance issues, engaging with relevant stakeholders, amplifying our collective voice, building and expanding consensus, and delivering concrete outcomes that respond to the yearns of our peoples and the legitimate aspirations of our nations.

“We emphasised that the international community must address the challenges and needs faced by developing countries, especially countries in special situations in particular, African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.”

Finally: “We extend a cordial invitation to all like-minded Member States to join this Group of Friends. Together, we stand ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation in pursuit of a more just and equitable global governance system and a brighter future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress for all.”

Around the world, China is turning on the lights

We are pleased to republish below a chapter from the recently-released China Changes Everything volume, which has been posted as an article on Workers World. The article, written by Gregory Dunkel, highlights the stark reality that around 700 million people in Africa still lack reliable electricity – a direct legacy of colonialism and ongoing impact of imperialism. Today however, African nations are increasingly turning to low-cost Chinese solar technology to overcome this imposed underdevelopment. With solar and wind power requiring cheap, abundant inputs, Chinese renewable technology has become far more attractive than expensive, fossil-fuel-based systems promoted by the United States and its allies.

China’s state-led policies have driven massive technological advances and cost reductions in green energy in the last 15 years. “In May 2025, in a rush to take advantage of lucrative government subsidies, Chinese solar firms installed nearly a hundred gigawatts of new solar capacity domestically — more than any other country had installed in all of 2024 — and set the world record for the most solar installations in a single month.” Dunkel writes that China is on track to account for over half of all the world’s renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade, and furthermore dominates the global photovoltaic supply chain.

The author highlights the example of Chad:

Currently, only 6.4% of Chad’s population has access to electricity. The government of Chad is planning to raise its electrification rate to 30% by 2027 and to 53% by 2030 using inexpensive Chinese solar panels. It plans to build a solar park in N’Djamena, its capital, with batteries to store power for nighttime access.

Outside Africa, similar green energy transformations are happening in Cuba, where Chinese-backed solar projects could soon eliminate blackouts, and in Pakistan, where households and mosques are adopting Chinese panels at a world-leading rate.

The article concludes that China’s renewable energy leadership is now indispensable — both for global climate solutions and for helping formerly colonised nations break out of centuries of enforced poverty and backwardness.

When the sun goes down, half of the people on the African continent — about 700 million people — have to live in the dark. They don’t have reliable access to electricity and thus have limited access to modern education, economic growth or ways to improve their quality of life. Of the dozens of countries in the world where more than a third of the population still has no access to electricity, only a tiny few, such as Haiti and Papua New Guinea, are not in Africa.

The Resistance Front and BRICS

The following article, written for Al Mayadeen by Australian author and academic Tim Anderson, addresses the frustration voiced by some anti-imperialists with regard to China and Russia’s abstention on UN Security Council Resolution 2803 – Trump’s ‘comprehensive plan’ to end the Gaza conflict.

Tim argues that much of the criticism of China and Russia stems from misunderstandings about the nature of the multipolar trajectory and from unrealistic expectations that countries outside the region would share the principles and methods of the Resistance Front in West Asia (Iran, the Palestinian Resistance, the Lebanese Resistance, Syria pre-December 2024, Ansar Allah-led Yemen, and the Iraqi Resistance).

The article observes that the Security Council resolution was supported by the Palestinian Authority and by the other states in the region, making it difficult for China or Russia to veto. “The US had the Gulf Arab regimes plus the PLO-Palestinian Authority in its pocket. Russia and China had no allies and would have had to oppose the PLO and bear the blame for blocking a PLO-supported end to the bombing.”

While both China and Russia maintain relations with the various organisations of Palestinian resistance, they also have historic ties with the PLO, and bilateral relations with the internationally-recognised government of the Palestinian State. Tim writes: “The widespread historical support for the PLO and the PA, and therefore also the ‘two-state’ notion promoted up to now by the PLO, is largely a consequence of Palestinian disunity and the failure of Resistance factions to be properly represented in the PLO, the only Palestinian body that has UN status. This is a problem for the Resistance. It is hard to expect allies in other continents to contradict the PLO-PA on this and opt for (without Palestinian leadership) a single democratic state in Palestine.”

Tim concludes:

We should understand and build realistic relations with a range of allies that may not share all our values. Russia and China are not part of the Resistance Front, but they are playing an important role in building structures to bypass US power and thus facilitate a multipolar and freer world, which will help all independent peoples. We should neither exaggerate their “saviour” capacities nor their failings. They will have an important place in the future as the only strategic alternative to the current global dictatorship.

Tim’s analysis correlates with the recently-published article on the topic by Massimiliano Ay, General Secretary of the Communist Party (Switzerland).

Supporters of the Resistance Front in West Asia are understandably disappointed by the failure of Russia and China to fully oppose Washington’s machinations at the UNSC over Gaza. This follows Syrian disappointment over Russia’s rapid engagement with al-Jolani’s regime in Damascus and Moscow’s ongoing relations with the Israelis.

However, there are common pro-Resistance misunderstandings of the great counterweights in the world, which lead to inaccurate claims that the BRICS leaders are ‘selling out’ or ‘betraying’ the Resistance. Those misunderstandings deserve some attention. At the core are principles of identifying the real enemies of the Resistance, as distinct from those with whom there might be normal or productive relations. We should neither exaggerate the ‘saviour’ status nor the failings of our potential allies.

China and Russia conduct strategic security consultation focused on Japan and Ukraine

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on December 2, co-chaired the 20th round of China-Russia strategic security consultation with Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Sergei Shoigu in Moscow.

The two sides conducted comprehensive and in-depth communication on major issues concerning the strategic security interests of both countries, reached new common understandings and enhanced strategic mutual trust. Both sides agreed to fully implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state in the field of strategic security, and advance bilateral strategic coordination toward higher quality.

Wang Yi stated that China-Russia relations have achieved high-level development this year. The two sides have carried out a series of important high-level exchanges, centred around 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. In particular, President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin met twice this year, once in Moscow and once in Beijing, providing guidance for the steady development of China-Russia relations amid a complex and changing environment and ensuring that the bilateral relationship continues to move forward at its own pace in an uncertain world.

Sergei Shoigu said that in the face of the complex changes in current international geopolitics and increasing challenges in global security, it is necessary for Russia and China, as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, to strengthen strategic alignment. The two heads of state met twice this year, charting the course for and driving the development of Russia-China relations. Russia-China strategic coordination is at an unprecedented high level, which is in line with the national interests of both countries and benefits regional and global peace. Russia and China develop bilateral relations based on mutual respect, free from external interference.

The two sides conducted strategic alignment on issues related to Japan, reaching a high degree of consensus. They agreed to resolutely safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War II won at the cost of lives and blood, firmly oppose any erroneous words and deeds that attempt to whitewash the history of colonial aggression, and resolutely counter any attempts to revive fascism or Japanese militarism. Both sides stressed that China and Russia, as major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, will shoulder their shared responsibility to safeguard world peace and security, and uphold historical truth and international justice.

They also had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis. Sergei Shoigu explained Russia’s position and considerations and expressed appreciation for China’s efforts in support of peace. He said Russia has the full capability and strong determination to achieve its strategic objectives and eliminate the root causes of the crisis. Wang Yi elaborated on China’s consistent stance, stating that the Chinese side supports all efforts conducive to achieving peace, supports reaching a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement, and will continue to maintain strategic communication with the Russian side on this matter.

Wang Yi also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the same day.

Tai Po and Grenfell: A tale of two fires

In the following article, which was originally published in the South China Morning Post, and is reprinted with the kind permission of the author, Alex Lo decries the cynical response of sections of the western media and others to the terrible fire in Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, Hong Kong, which broke out on November 26 and which claimed the lives of 160 people.

Alex writes: “As sure as night follows day, you can always count on the big Western media outlets to politicise anything bad that happens in Hong Kong or on the mainland.”

Reinforcing his point, he goes on to note: “Even as the bodies were still being recovered and identified, these Western ‘experts’ already seemed to know what had happened. Are they so all-knowing or just reprehensibly presumptuous?

“Here are some headlines: ‘Deadly Fire Highlights Hong Kong’s Predicament’ (with the standfirst, ‘The tragedy confirmed to many locals that the city’s freedoms have vanished’), ‘The killer Hong Kong fire shows how freedom is an even greater loss than you’d think’, ‘Deadly Hong Kong fire is a test of Beijing’s rule in the city’.”

To this, Alex responds:

“In handling the aftermath of such a deadly fire, there is always room for improvement, and not every demand can be met immediately.

“But the victims were immediately taken care of, including 294 of their pets rescued from the fire. The living allowance for every affected household has been doubled from HK$50,000 (US$6,410) to HK$100,000.

“HK$2.8 billion in donations have already [some 10 days after the tragedy] been raised from the government and private sources. Temporary housing is being provided. The needs of affected residents are being addressed in the short and medium term. The government has promised a long-term housing settlement, meaning each household is likely to be allocated a flat somewhere in the end.”

In contrast to the pervasive and appalling lack of mental health care provision in the UK health service, on December 5, RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) reported that Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called for efforts to step up mental health support for people affected by the deadly blaze, saying the whole of Hong Kong is emanating grief and sadness in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“I have requested for mental health support work to be carried out… to assist victims of the fire as well as others who were affected, including students, teachers and those living nearby,” Lee said as he inspected services offered by a government mental health support hotline and frontline staff at a community centre.

Two complementary strategies in support of Palestine and multipolarity

We are very pleased to publish the following contributed article by Comrade Massimiliano Ay, General Secretary of the Communist Party (Switzerland), which makes an original analysis of the present state of the Palestinian struggle, and the role of various international actors in this regard, within the context of the multipolarity trend and on the basis of Marxism-Leninism.

He notes that, back in September 2024, he had written that, from a tactical viewpoint, Israel was apparently winning, but from a strategic one, it would lose, and this is now being reflected in a range of tactical adjustments on the part of various imperialist forces.

Against this background, he continues: “China (and its Communist Party) will probably tactically follow a different line from us Western communists (and perhaps also from Arab communists) who lack governmental responsibility. This potential difference in method must in no way be read as a capitulation or, worse, as a Chinese betrayal of the Palestinian cause, but rather as an intelligent political move complementary to our struggle! For although, as stated by the top Chinese representative at the UN, “the Palestinian question is at the heart of Middle Eastern issues” and is therefore not an insignificant element in the path of the New Silk Road, it is also true that the conflict between imperialism and multipolarism is fought on a global level and not only in Gaza: Ukraine, for example, is at this moment a war scenario potentially much more dangerous for the world than Gaza, and Moscow therefore has this priority. Beijing for its part must win the battle against Trump’s tariffs, otherwise the entire Chinese economic strategy would be weakened.”

In this way, Comrade Ay creatively utilises and applies the same dialectical approach advanced by Mao Zedong, for example in his speech to the November 1957 Moscow Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties, where he said that the compromises made by socialist countries in their relations with capitalist states should not necessarily be followed by others. “Each party and country must consider its own conditions.”

Ay adds: “It is therefore no surprise that last November 17th, both Beijing and Moscow abstained in the UN Security Council, thus allowing the (awful) Donald Trump plan to pass de facto. Comrade Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the UN, while stressing that this resolution, put to a vote rather hastily, was ‘deficient in many aspects and deeply concerning’, especially because it does not establish that ‘Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and to no one else’, explicitly reiterated that Beijing’s priority remains, at all costs, ‘a lasting ceasefire, alleviating the humanitarian disaster, and starting post-war reconstruction to rekindle the hope of peace and development for the population of Gaza’.

Chinese and Cuban communists hold joint theoretical seminar

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) held their seventh theory seminar on December 4 in Beijing, focusing on the practice and experience in promoting socialist modernisation through scientific development planning.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Gladys Martínez Verdecia, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the PCC and First Secretary of the Artemisa Provincial Party Committee, attended and delivered keynote speeches.

Li noted that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cuba, and that the top leaders of the two parties and countries have exchanged congratulatory messages on this occasion and held two meetings this year, engaging in in-depth discussions on the relations between the two parties and countries.

“These interactions have provided strategic guidance for further strengthening the ironclad friendship and building an even closer China-Cuba community with a shared future.”

He also stressed the need to develop medium- and long-term strategic plans for socio-economic development. In this regard, he explained China’s experience in drawing up five-year plans, which, he said, have a broad basis of scientific development planning.

Gladys Martínez highlighted the role of these exchanges as a mechanism to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the construction of a community of shared future. She pointed out that the meetings allow participants to address, from a Marxist approach, the current challenges of socialism and propose concrete solutions. She further affirmed that the alliance between the two countries reinforces the validity of socialism as a model of development for both peoples.

Martínez denounced the unprecedented tightening of the US economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, as well as the arbitrary inclusion of the island in the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. In this regard, she thanked China for its constant denunciation of this siege and expressed the island’s gratitude for the support of the Chinese government and people in key sectors such as agri-food, energy and cybersecurity. She further pointed out that both parties constitute an example of solidarity and cooperation in the construction of socialism.

The Cuban delegation began its China visit in the province of Hunan, whose collaboration with the province of Artemisa is emerging as a positive reference for local ties between Cuba and China, with concrete results in agriculture, trade and economic development.

Whilst in Hunan, the Cuban delegation paid tribute to the historical leader of the Chinese Revolution, Mao Zedong, at the monumental complex there in his honour. Martínez said that Cuba welcomes the idea of establishing a twinning agreement between Hunan and Holguín. These regions, which are the birthplaces of the historical leaders of both socialist revolutions, Fidel Castro and Mao Zedong, have potential for collaboration in tourism and mining.

This seminar is the third one of its kind recently held between the CPC and its fellow ruling communist parties in the socialist countries, following those with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Also, on December 4, Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met with Emilio Lozada García, Head of the International Relations Department of the PCC, who was in China to participate in the seminar.

Liu said, under the strategic guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping and First Secretary Miguel Diaz-Canel, the special friendly relations between China and Cuba have maintained high-level operation with continuously enriched significance. The two Parties and countries have always supported and helped each other. Regardless of the changes in the international situation, China’s commitment to the long-term friendship with Cuba will not change, its determination to support Cuba’s socialist path will not change, its direction in promoting pragmatic cooperation with Cuba will not change, and its will to defend international fairness and justice and oppose hegemony and power politics together with Cuba will not change.

Emilio Lozada García said, Cuba thanks China for the long-term and valuable support, and appreciates China’s consistent opposition to the US blockade and sanctions against Cuba. The relationship between the two Parties is the cornerstone of Cuba-China relationship. The PCC is willing to strengthen exchanges with the CPC at all levels and in all fields, advance the exchanges between the two Parties in a more systematic and institutionalised manner, and strengthen coordination on international affairs, so as to make due contributions to the development of both countries and to the building of a Cuba-China community with a shared future.

Xi Jinping pledges US$100 million for Palestine

In the latest manifestation of China’s long-standing support for the just struggle of the Palestinian people, President Xi Jinping has announced that his country will provide 100 million US dollars of assistance to Palestine to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support its recovery and reconstruction.

Xi made the announcement on December 4 during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was paying a state visit to China.

The following day Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said that since the outbreak of the conflict, China has provided multiple batches of humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip through the UN, Egypt, Jordan and other channels, which was welcomed and appreciated by the Palestinian government and people. China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights and will continue working relentlessly with the international community for a full and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the easing of humanitarian situation there, and an early political settlement of the Palestinian question.

In its response to this news, Hamas stated:

“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas expresses its great appreciation to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the friendly People’s Republic of China for announcing the provision of humanitarian aid worth $100 million in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to alleviate their humanitarian suffering under the continuous aggression imposed by the occupation on our people, and to contribute to the efforts of reconstruction.

“This generous initiative comes as an extension of China’s historical and firm positions in support of the rights of our Palestinian people, which are non-negotiable, including their right to freedom and independence, their right to self-determination, and the establishment of their independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and its capital Jerusalem.”

The Palestinian News and Information Agency WAFA further reported that President Mahmoud Abbas had sent a letter to Xi Jinping expressing his deep appreciation, adding that this generous initiative embodies China’s principled and unwavering stance in support of justice and reflects the profound humanitarian and moral solidarity demonstrated by the Chinese leadership towards the Palestinian people in light of the unprecedented aggression and suffering they are enduring.

Chinese medical internationalism in Nicaragua

The Chinese naval hospital ship Silk Road Ark visited Nicaragua’s Corinto Port from November 10-14 to provide medical care to the local population.

In the vessel’s first visit to the western hemisphere, a crew of more than 400 doctors, nurses and auxiliary personnel treated patients free of charge and shared experiences with Nicaraguan medical professionals.

During that time, Chinese doctors worked together with Nicaraguan specialists to see 1,125 patients from the Chinandega area. They treated patients needing specialised medical support – from pediatrics to gynecology, obstetrics to internal medicine, orthopedics to urology. They carried out examinations on patients’ eyes, ears, noses, throats, hearts, kidneys, gastrointestinal tracts, and tested for infectious diseases. The team also performed ultrasounds, surgeries, and treated patients using traditional Chinese medicine.

In addition, specialists from China and Nicaragua held a meeting to share experiences on topics such as robotic surgery, chronic kidney disease, congenital heart disease, maternal and fetal health, and breast cancer.

This ship is part of “Harmony Mission 2025,” a Chinese humanitarian initiative to provide free medical care and strengthen international ties. So far, it has previously visited Fiji and Tonga, providing 3,330 consultations and performing 426 surgeries in Fiji, and treating more than 5,000 people in Tonga.

Speaking at the opening ceremonies, the Chinese Ambassador to Nicaragua, Qu Yuhui, expressed hopes that this Peace Ship will serve as a vehicle for the seeds of friendship between the navies of both countries to take deep root and foster a spirit of peace and cooperation, which will be passed down from generation to generation in furthering relations between China and Nicaragua.

At the closing ceremony prior to the ship’s departure, Laureano Ortega Murillo, Presidential Advisor for the Promotion of Investment, Trade and International Cooperation, said:

“We have come on a visit, delegated by our Co-Presidents, Commander Daniel, Comrade Rosario, to bid farewell to this Hospital Ship of the People’s Republic of China, of the People’s Liberation Army, to bid farewell to this laudable work of solidarity carried out by the Chinese people and Government with the peoples of the world.

“We are extremely grateful and we will continue to advance in this relationship of brotherhood, cemented in the relationship between our parties, the Sandinista National Liberation Front and the Communist Party of China. So, on behalf of our people and our Government, our gratitude, our love, our affection to the people and Government of the People’s Republic of China. Long live China and long live Nicaragua!”

The following articles were originally published by Sovereign Media and El 19 Digital. The latter was published in Spanish and was machine translated.

Laos celebrates 50 years of progress on the socialist road

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) celebrated its 50^th founding anniversary on December 2. The establishment of the LPDR was the culmination of decades of heroic struggle, and immense sacrifice, against French colonialism, Japanese militarism, US imperialism and domestic reactionaries, under the leadership of first the Communist Party of Indochina and subsequently the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to General Secretary of the Central Committee of the LPRP and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith marking the anniversary.

Xi Jinping noted that the LPRP has united and led the Lao people in persevering through hardships and forging ahead and achieved gratifying results in the cause of reform and opening up. The people’s livelihoods have continuously improved, and the country’s international and regional influence has been significantly enhanced. As a comrade and brother, China is deeply pleased with this. The Chinese side is firmly convinced that Laos will continue to follow a socialist path suited to its national conditions, successfully convene the 12th National Congress of the LPRP, and continuously open up new prospects for the development of the Party and the country.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), led a Chinese party and government delegation on an official visit to Laos from December 1 to 3, and attended celebrations marking the 50th anniversary.

During the visit, Wang met separately with Thongloun Sisoulith, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and Lao National Assembly (NA) President Saysomphone Phomvihane. He also held talks with Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, President of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Development (LFND).

During his meeting with Thongloun, Wang noted that China is willing to work with Laos to implement the strategic consensus reached by leaders of the two parties and countries, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, including the Taiwan question, and accelerate the building of a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level China-Laos community with a shared future. Wang also briefed Thongloun on the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and expressed China’s readiness to deepen exchanges with Laos on governance experience and jointly advance each country’s socialist path.

He thanked President Thongloun for the warm reception and conveyed Xi’s message of congratulations. He commended Laos for its achievements in national development under the leadership of the LPRP and conveyed his best wishes for the upcoming 12th Party Congress to be held in early 2026.

Thongloun congratulated China on the successful convening of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He expressed Laos’ sincere appreciation for China’s long-term and valuable support, noting that bilateral relations are at their best in history and that cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the Lao people. He said Laos is committed to working with China to further enhance the building of a Laos-China community with a shared future.

During the visit, Wang attended the Lao National Day rally and military parade marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, inspected the Vientiane Station of the China-Laos Railway, and attended the ceremony celebrating the railway’s fourth anniversary of operation.

Among other distinguished foreign guests attending the celebrations were:

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, To Lam
Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh (to attend the 48th Meeting of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation)
Senior Advisor to His Majesty the King and Vice President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh
Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and Director General of Cuba’s Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Marta Ayala Ávila
Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Zhuravlyov
Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, Vasily Osmakov

A Xinhua News Agency report from the capital Vientiane said that Laos was marking the anniversary with pride and hope:

“In a comprehensive address marking the historic milestone, Thongloun Sisoulith reflected on the nation’s journey. He emphasised the unwavering commitment to the socialist ideal, the great national unity of all Lao ethnic groups, and the continuous strengthening of the people’s democratic regime.

“Thongloun outlined the nation’s steadfast foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship, and cooperation. He also stressed the goal of building a self-reliant economy, and following a balanced development path that harmonises economy, culture, society, and environment toward green and sustainable growth.”

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

Xi Jinping Sends Congratulatory Message to General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

December 2 (MFA) – On December 2, 2025, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Xi Jinping noted that the LPRP has united and led the Lao people in persevering through hardships and forging ahead, and achieved gratifying results in the cause of reform and opening-up. The people’s livelihoods have continuously improved, and the country’s international and regional influence has significantly enhanced. As a comrade and brother, China is deeply pleased with this. The Chinese side is firmly convinced that Laos will continue to follow a socialist path suited to its national conditions, successfully convene the 12th National Congress of the LPRP, and continuously open up new prospects for the development of the Party and the country.

Xi Jinping emphasized that during General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith’s successful visit to China in September this year, he and General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith reached new strategic common understandings on deepening the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future. China has always prioritized Laos in its neighborhood diplomacy and stands ready to work with Laos to take the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos next year as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, continuously deepen and substantiate the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the world.

China’s top political advisor pays official visit to Laos

VIENTIANE, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) — China’s top political advisor Wang Huning led a Chinese party and government delegation on an official visit to Laos from Dec. 1 to 3, and attended celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and his delegation arrived here at the invitation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and the Lao government.

During the visit, Wang met separately with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao president, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and Lao National Assembly (NA) President Saysomphone Phomvihane. He also held talks with Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, president of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Development (LFND).

During his meeting with Sonexay, Wang said that under the strategic guidance of leaders of both parties and countries, China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation continues to make steady progress, adding that China is ready to deepen strategic coordination with Laos and set an example for building a community with a shared future among neighboring countries.

Sonexay reaffirmed Laos’ firm support for China in safeguarding its core interests, and expressed his country’s willingness to enhance all-round, mutually beneficial cooperation with China and jointly build a high-standard, high-quality, and high-level Laos-China community with a shared future.

During his meeting with Saysomphone, Wang said that the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year presents an opportunity for both sides to deepen practical cooperation across various sectors and inject fresh momentum into their respective socialist modernization efforts. Saysomphone noted that the Laos-China community with a shared future has achieved remarkable progress and expressed Laos’ readiness to strengthen legislative exchanges with China to further advance bilateral friendship and practical cooperation.

During his talks with Sinlavong, Wang said that the CPPCC is willing to work with the LFND to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries’ top leaders, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and tell the story of friendship between the two countries well, so as to play an active role in advancing the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future. Sinlavong said Laos is willing to learn from China’s governance experience and that the LFND will strengthen cooperation and exchanges with the CPPCC to further consolidate bilateral relations.

President Thongloun Receives Senior Chinese Delegation

December 3 (KPL) – Lao President and General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith, met Comrade Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Vientiane on 1 December 2025.

Wang is leading a high-level Chinese Party-State delegation on an official goodwill visit to Laos from 1–3 December and is attending events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Lao PDR.

President Thongloun welcomed the delegation and said the visit underscores the strength of the Laos–China relationship. He noted that China’s participation in the anniversary celebrations reflects continued support for Laos and reinforces the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership. He also highlighted progress in cooperation between the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) and the CPPCC, and described the Laos–China Railway as a project of long-term strategic significance.

The President expressed appreciation for China’s ongoing support to Laos, both historically and in current development efforts. He reiterated Laos’ consistent adherence to the One-China principle and welcomed the congratulatory message sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping on the national anniversary.

Wang thanked President Thongloun for the warm reception and conveyed Xi’s message of congratulations. He commended Laos for its achievements in national development under the leadership of the LPRP and conveyed his best wishes for the upcoming 12th Party Congress in early 2026.

Wang also briefed the Lao leader on his meetings with the Prime Minister and the President of the LFNC, expressing confidence that the guidance of the two Parties’ top leaders will continue to steer bilateral cooperation toward deeper and more effective progress.

Laos marks 50th founding anniversary with pride, hope

VIENTIANE, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) — Laos is alive with celebrations honoring five decades of steady national growth as the country marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on Tuesday.

The 50th anniversary celebrations began Tuesday morning with a grand parade, broadcast live on television, as residents across the country joined the festivities.

In a comprehensive address marking the historic milestone, Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, reflected on the nation’s journey.

He emphasized the unwavering commitment to the socialist ideal, the great national unity of all Lao ethnic groups, and the continuous strengthening of the people’s democratic regime.

Thongloun outlined the nation’s steadfast foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship, and cooperation. He also stressed the goal of building a self-reliant economy, following a balanced development path that harmonizes economy, culture, society, and environment toward green and sustainable growth.

Namfon, a 20-year-old student, expressed hope that Laos will continue to develop in the years ahead, noting that the celebrations serve as a reminder for the next generation to preserve the nation’s achievements and build on the prosperity achieved so far.

Proudly celebrating the nation’s development on this milestone, Noyna, a resident of Vientiane, said that she is firmly committed to contributing and working alongside the leaders to help further develop the country.

The celebrations were broadcast live on television and online, attracting a large audience who actively participated virtually. Netizens shared similar feelings of gratitude and hope.

In the evening, a drone display and fireworks will light up the sky to mark the occasion.

“The drone display rehearsals circulating online went viral a few days ago, offering a glimpse of the spectacular show for the Lao people. It was grand and exciting, and I can’t wait to see it in person,” said Andy.

To mark the occasion, senior Party and government leaders, led by Thongloun, paid tribute at key national monuments on Monday.

Senior leaders and officials from friendly countries attended the celebrations. Leaders from various countries also sent congratulatory messages.

To engage with China, Britain should learn from France and Germany

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech on foreign policy on December 1 at the Lady Mayor’s Banquet at the Guildhall, London. The major part of his speech related to China.

Starmer said that the US, the EU and China are the three global giants today, and that the absence of the UK’s engagement with China should not continue. He said the UK needs to engage with China and work and trade with China. At the same time, he claimed that China poses “national security threats” to the UK and that the UK will continue to take measures in response. He also touched upon issues related to Hong Kong and other matters.

In response, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London said that China firmly opposes the erroneous remarks in Starmer’s speech that spread the so-called “China threat,” make groundless accusations against China, and interfere in China’s internal affairs.

Reporting these developments, the Chinese newspaper Global Times quoted Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, as saying that Starmer’s remarks amount to a “have-it-both-ways” strategic calculation: he seeks to constrain China’s development space and international influence to satisfy domestic hardliners, while still hoping to extract economic benefits from China.

Starmer, who it is understood hopes to visit China at the end of January 2026, bemoaned the flip flops of previous Conservative governments with regard to China policy, ‘from golden age to ice age’, and noted:

“The result is that, whilst our allies have developed a more sophisticated approach, the UK has become an outlier. President Trump met President Xi in October and will visit China in April. Since early 2018, President Macron has visited China twice, and he’ll be again there later this week. German leaders have visited four times, and Chancellor Merz will be there in the New Year. Yet, during this same period, no British Prime Minister has visited China.”

Professor Li’s response is that Starmer’s apparent “envy” of the frequent visits to China by French and German leaders underscores how Europe is relying on active engagement with Beijing to advance its own strategic autonomy. France and Germany have strengthened their interactions with China to safeguard their national interests, while the UK, constrained by its tendency to follow the policy frameworks of another country (referring to the United States), has struggled to escape the passive role of a “political dwarf.”

China promotes sustainability, development and fairness at Johannesburg G20 Summit

Following his visits to Russia and Zambia, Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in South Africa on November 20 to attend the 20^th summit of the G20.

Li Qiang met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg on November 21.

Li said that China stands ready to work with South Africa to deepen political mutual trust and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns. He conveyed to Ramaphosa the cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting that for decades China and South Africa have treated each other as close brothers, with a friendship that spans mountains and seas and has grown ever stronger. China is ready to continue working with South Africa to carry forward their traditional friendship, expand cooperation across various fields, so as to better promote the common development of the two countries, as well as unity and cooperation between China and Africa as a whole.

He called on the two countries to leverage their complementary advantages in resource and economic structure, deepen cooperation in mining and infrastructure construction, develop new highlights in the auto industry, explore potential in emerging sectors such as new energy and artificial intelligence, and expand cooperation in science and technology innovation, including in satellite navigation and joint laboratory construction.

He also urged China and South Africa to strengthen exchanges of experience in poverty reduction and rural revitalisation, and advance cooperation in public health, culture, education and youth, among others, so as to enhance the sense of fulfilment of their peoples.

Ramaphosa expressed appreciation for China’s support for South Africa’s economic and social development, and said South Africa stands ready to deepen cooperation with China in areas including trade, investment, mining, industry, science and technology, energy and infrastructure, public health and poverty alleviation, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

He noted that South Africa sincerely appreciates China’s strong support for hosting the G20 Summit, saying that China plays an important role in helping the summit build consensus and deliver outcomes. South Africa stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China within the United Nations, the G20 and other multilateral frameworks to jointly uphold multilateralism.

Meeting South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile on November 23, Li Qiang said that China and South Africa are good friends and good brothers enjoying a deep friendship. China is ready to accelerate coordination with South Africa and help more quality and competitive South African products enter the Chinese market by negotiating and signing an agreement on economic partnership for shared development and advancing in South Africa the early implementation of China’s zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines for African countries having diplomatic relations with China.

Paul Mashatile said that South Africa is willing to work with China to maintain close multilateral communication and coordination, uphold multilateralism, safeguard the authority of the United Nations, and promote the common development and prosperity of Global South countries.

Li Qiang’s Zambia visit boosts revitalization of TAZARA railway

Following his visit to Russia, where he attended the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Chinese Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Zambia, November 19-20.

Arriving in the capital Lusaka, Li said that Zambia is the first country in Southern Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China, and the two countries share a profound tradition of friendship. Over the years, despite changes in the international landscape, China and Zambia have consistently respected, trusted and supported each other, jointly forging the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, including the Tanzania-Zambia Railway spirit.

He added that China stands ready to work with Zambia to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, promote mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, and advance together on the path of modernisation.

Faced with a world of intertwined changes and chaos, China is willing to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with Zambia, stand united with the broad ranks of Global South countries, safeguard the international order as well as fairness and justice, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Li Qiang held talks with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on the day after his arrival. He first conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Hichilema and said that China and Zambia are good brothers, good friends and good partners. Last year, the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and President Xi met with President Hichilema during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), drawing a new blueprint for the deepening and development of bilateral relations.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Zambia in areas related to people’s livelihood, such as healthcare, agriculture and human resources development, so as to enhance the two peoples’ sense of gain from bilateral cooperation, Li said, adding that the revitalisation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is a shared aspiration of the peoples of China, Tanzania and Zambia, and the project is a landmark of high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation.

At present, Li noted, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, posing serious challenges to the international system and global economy. China and Zambia should strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, and work with the broad ranks of Global South countries to safeguard the international trade order, uphold fairness and justice, and defend their joint benefits.

President Hichilema noted that the time-honoured and ever-strengthening friendship between Zambia and China was forged by the older generations of leaders of the two countries, adding that he and President Xi have reached important consensus on deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Li Qiang attends SCO heads of government meeting in Moscow

From November 17-24, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Russia to attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO); Zambia to pay an official visit; and South Africa to attend the 20^th G20 Summit.

On November 17, Li Qiang met with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin and said that China stands ready to deepen cooperation with Russia in investment, energy, agriculture and other fields, adding that the Chinese market welcomes more high-quality agricultural and food products from Russia.

Li said that not too long ago he and Mishustin held in Hangzhou, the capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, the 30th regular meeting of the Chinese and Russian heads of government, which focused on the implementation of the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

China stands ready to work with Russia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, further strengthen communication, continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, and create more benefits for the two peoples, Li said. He also urged both sides to continue to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and to strengthen cooperation in areas such as culture, education and films.

Noting that the Tianjin Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held in September achieved a series of fruitful results, Li said China is willing to maintain close coordination and collaboration with Russia to encourage all parties of the SCO to uphold the Shanghai Spirit and materialise the development blueprint outlined by the leaders at an early date.

He urged further advancing pragmatic cooperation to bolster the development momentum of all member states, to continuously improve the institutional building of the SCO, to enhance its influence in international affairs, and to stand in solidarity with the vast number of Global South countries to promote an equitable and orderly multipolar world as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.

Japanese Communist Party rejects Takaichi’s provocative remarks on Taiwan

The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) has taken a strong stance against the remarks of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a parliamentary session, that a military “contingency” regarding China’s island province of Taiwan could trigger the involvement of Japanese armed forces, which have plunged relations between China and Japan into their worst crisis in decades.

On November 15, the Chinese newspaper Global Times, citing a release on the website of Shimbun Akahata, the JCP’s daily newspaper, reported that JCP Chair Shii Kazuo had, the previous day, demanded that Takaichi withdraw her remarks, warning that attempts to exaggerate the “crisis” by claiming that a Taiwan emergency would be an existential threat and using it to justify a massive military buildup must be firmly rejected.

Shii Kazuo, who is also a member of the Japanese House of Representatives, had posted on X that the prime minister’s “remarks had escalated into a serious international issue. What is needed to positively resolve Japan-China relations requires calm dialogue grounded in agreements affirmed by both sides, including the 2008 pledge of not posing a threat to each other, rather than provocative rhetoric that intensifies tensions. We again urge her to retract her remarks.”

The Shimbun Akahata report noted that even late former prime minister Shinzo Abe said things like, “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency” only after leaving office, refraining from making such statements while in office. This is because he understood how serious the situation would be. Takaichi lacks such basic diplomatic common sense. This diplomatic blunder should be corrected now, the report said.

Shii Kazuo had made a similar demand previously, on November 11, also in a post on X.

The Japan Press Weekly reported that on November 10, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira, at a press conference in the Diet (parliament) building, criticised Takaichi for implying that a “Taiwan contingency” would threaten Japan’s survival and thus allow Japan’s Self-Defence Forces to participate in a US-led war against China. He called the remarks “extremely dangerous.”

Koike added that she is the first prime minister to cite a specific case regarding Japan facing a crisis of “survival-threatening situation” that would justify the country’s use of the collective self-defence right. He criticised the remarks as “dangerous and reckless.”

Japan Press Weekly is an English-language online newsletter issued by the JCP.

Japan and the US move toward open military confrontation over Taiwan

In the following article, which was originally published by Struggle/La Lucha, Sharon Black analyses the joint moves of Japan and the United States to instigate war against socialist China.

Regarding new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statement that any Chinese move to reunify Taiwan with the mainland would threaten Japan’s very survival – and that Tokyo would be ready to join military action to stop it she writes:

“For Beijing, the message was clear: Japan was abandoning its long-standing stance of avoiding any commitment to take sides in a conflict over Taiwan and was now declaring that it would join the United States in a military response.”

Noting reports claiming that Donald Trump had privately urged Takaichi to tone down her public threats, Sharon observes:

“The move fits a familiar Trump pattern: loud public belligerence paired with quiet tactical repositioning when trade negotiations or economic pressure campaigns stall… But far from signaling a real shift, this is political maneuvering. Even as the administration adjusts its tone for trade talks with China, US war planning continues without pause, and Washington is pouring new investments into Japan’s military.

“At the same time that Japan was escalating its rhetoric, the United States approved a new $330 million arms package for Taiwan on November 13 – the first such sale under Trump’s return to office.”

Japan, she notes, remains the centrepiece of Washington’s military strategy in the western Pacific. The United States operates more than 120 military installations across the country, including 15 major bases, and stations over 54,000 troops there – the largest concentration of US forces anywhere outside the continental United States. Okinawa carries the heaviest burden of this occupation, with bases crowding the island and dominating local life.

Sharon also reminds readers that China’s response to Japan’s renewed new militarism cannot be understood without remembering the past. In the first half of the 20th century, the Japanese Empire invaded, occupied, and devastated large parts of China. The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression brought mass displacement, famine, and systematic atrocities. The most infamous was the Nanjing Massacre of 1937, when Japanese troops killed an estimated 200,000 civilians and carried out widespread rape and torture. In the course of the eight-year war, more than 20 million Chinese people were killed.

She further explains that Taiwan’s modern history is inseparable from the Chinese revolution. As the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) defeated the reactionary Kuomintang on the mainland, Chiang Kai-shek evacuated roughly 1.5 to 2 million soldiers, officials, and supporters to Taiwan.

Once ensconced on the island, the KMT imposed martial law and unleashed the “White Terror,” a brutal campaign of repression against workers, students, leftists, and anyone suspected of sympathising with the Chinese revolution. Tens of thousands were imprisoned, thousands were executed, and many simply disappeared into military prisons. The terror lasted for decades, well into the 1980s.

Meanwhile, in June 1950, US President Harry Truman ordered the US Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Strait, blocking the PLA from liberating Taiwan. For two decades Washington insisted that the Kuomintang remnants represented “Free China” and maneuvered to keep the People’s Republic out of the United Nations.

“This had nothing to do with ‘defending democracy.’ It was part of a broader US effort to contain the Chinese revolution and suppress anti-colonial movements rising across Asia.”

However: “Today, the world situation has changed dramatically. Both the United States and Japan are facing deep capitalist stagnation – marked by slowing growth, rising prices, and long-term economic decline. These crises are pushing the ruling classes in both countries toward greater militarism abroad. At the same time, socialist China has emerged as one of the central engines of the global economy.

Chinese scholars question Japanese sovereignty over Ryukyu islands

Academic circles in China are paying increasing attention to Ryukyu studies, specifically the history of the island group, often referred to as Okinawa, and the legitimacy or otherwise of Japan’s claim to sovereignty over the ancient kingdom.

On November 18, the Global Times newspaper reported that an academic conference marking the 30th anniversary of the China Ryukyu Research Institute, and advancing the development of Ryukyu studies, had been held at Fujian Normal University.

Global Times spoke with Professor Xie Bizhen, academic head of the institute, who emphasised that Japan’s annexation of Ryukyu and subsequent assimilation policies, including the forced change of surnames, place names, and even rebranding the “Ryukyu Islands” as the “Southwestern Islands,” were aimed at erasing historical memory. “As a result, many Okinawans today are unfamiliar with this part of their own past,” he said. “This is why our research matters: to restore historical truth, preserve collective memory.”

On November 23, CGTN published an opinion piece by Tang Yongliang, a researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, outlining what he described as the “undetermined status of Ryukyu.”

Stating that “the sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands remains disputed,” Tang added that this could be understood in both a broad and a narrow way.

“In the broad sense, the ‘undetermined status of Ryukyu’ refers to the situation since modern times, where Ryukyu was illegally occupied by Japan without widespread recognition by the international community. To this day, the sovereignty issue remains unresolved.

“In the narrow sense, it refers specifically to the end of World War II, when the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation – documents concerning the post-war disposition of fascist Japan – explicitly delimited Japan’s territorial scope, separated Ryukyu from Japan, placed it as a ‘potential trusteeship territory’ and left its sovereignty legally unsettled to this day.”

Further in the broad sense: “Historically, Ryukyu was an independent kingdom. Japan’s modern annexation of Ryukyu was a unilateral act of violent seizure: no treaty regarding state sovereignty was concluded, no consent was obtained from China, the suzerain power, and the annexation contravened international legal norms on the acquisition of territorial sovereignty in the 19th century.”

Further in the narrow sense: “From November 22 to 26, 1943, the leaders of China, the United States, and the United Kingdom convened the Cairo Conference in Egypt, during which they discussed the post-war disposition of Ryukyu. Although the issue was not ultimately written into the Cairo Declaration, the declaration’s provision that ‘Japan will also be expelled from all other territories which she has taken by violence and greed’ undoubtedly applied to Ryukyu.

“On July 26, 1945, the three nations issued the Potsdam Proclamation, urging Japan’s unconditional surrender. It clearly stated that ‘the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out’ and that ‘the Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine,’ thereby explicitly separating Ryukyu from Japanese territory.”

What happened later was that: “With the deepening of the Cold War, the US-Japan alliance became increasingly intertwined; the United States gradually relaxed its restrictions on Japanese influence within the Ryukyu Islands, and in 1953 and 1968 unilaterally transferred administrative rights over the Amami Islands and the Nanpo Islands to Japan.

“In 1971, under pressure from the Vietnam War and the Ryukyuan anti-US movement, the Nixon administration concluded the ‘Agreement Between Japan and the United States of America Concerning the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands,’ again unilaterally transferring administrative rights to Japan on the condition that Japan allow continued US military presence in the islands.

Australian communists learn from China’s experience in party building

The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) has said that it can learn from the Communist Party of China’s efforts to uproot corruption and bureaucracy and retain a good style of work based on the mass line.

In a recent interview with the Global Times newspaper, Vinnie Molina, National President of the CPA, was asked what lessons China’s “eight-point decision” provides for Marxist parties worldwide.

The eight-point decision is a set of rules first adopted by the CPC leadership in December 2012 to address chronic bureaucratic issues, including official privileges.

Spelled out in just over 600 words, it established rules for Party leaders governing research tours, meetings, documentation, and other official duties. It later expanded into a Party-wide initiative for all members to adopt its principles to improve governance conduct. After more than a decade of implementation, the decision has been hailed as a “game changer” in China’s governance.

In March 2025, the CPC launched a further Party-wide education campaign to implement the program.

Asked what provisions made the deepest impressions on him, Molina replied:

“To be a good Communist requires dedication and humility. I really admire the leadership style of Chinese President Xi Jinping, especially how he leads by example… The first regulation is crucial: ‘leaders must keep in close contact with the grassroots.’ Those who are in positions of responsibility must work hard to earn the people’s trust and never separate themselves from the people. Local knowledge and experience are vital for leadership on the national level.”

As the president of a Marxist-Leninist party, Molina sees the decision as inheriting and developing Marxist party-building doctrine:

“Friedrich Engels, in his ‘Rules of the Communist League (1847),’ recognised that if the working masses were to overcome capitalism, they would need to be highly organised. He also stressed the importance of responsibility to the community and having safeguards against the misuse of funds. It is easy to deviate from party discipline if we are not closely linked to the people. It is with the people that the Communist Parties test their leadership and policies.”

He added: “The CPC uses the method of criticism and self-criticism in party-building at all levels from the leadership to the rank and file to strengthen the unity of the organisation and its place in Chinese society. As Marxist-Leninist parties, we must reflect on the principles and methods of work and establish strict requirements to ensure both centralism and democracy are adhered to. We can only grow and thrive if we have cadres who are disciplined and understand the need for democratic centralism, self-discipline and leading by example.”

On the relations between Marxist parties worldwide, including between the CPA and CPC, Molina concludes:

“The exchanges between Communist Parties are vital to upholding our commitment to proletarian internationalism. By learning how each party applies universal principles to its specific context, we gain invaluable insights. The CPC’s decision of engaging with Marxist parties worldwide is not only correct but essential. We deeply value this dialogue and hope to see in-depth information sharing. ‘Workers of the world, unite’ is a phrase that rings true throughout history. To isolate ourselves from the world can lead to the withering of our movement – as seen in parts of the Western left, which have at times fallen prey to the imperialist propaganda. That is why we support greater opportunities for Marxist education exchanges, which can help smaller parties like the CPA train cadres capable of building a stronger communist presence.”