CHINAWORDS MEAN WHAT I CHOOSETHEM TO MEAN/ KEVIN ANDREWS30 Australian Polity
Humpty Dumpty’s reflection in Lewis Carroll’sThrough the Looking Glass that words meanwhat you chose them to mean clearly appliesto the Chinese Communist Party. Having previouslyinformed the world that freedom, democracy, and humanrights are not universal values, Xi Jinping’s regime nowinsists that democracy ‘with Chinese characteristics’contains none of the principles that constitute it. Thisshould be the final confirmation, if still required, that theCCP is a totalitarian regime dedicated to preserving itsown existence, rather than the dignity and freedom ofthe Chinese people.Speaking recently, Li Zhanshu, the Chairman of theStanding Committee of the National People’s Congress,enunciated in detail what Xi had outlined previously.Regarded as the number 3 official in the CCP, Li listedfive ideas that are rejected by the CCP, namely, “so-called‘constitutionalism’, multi-party elections, the division ofpowers, the bicameral system, and the independenceof the judiciary.” What remains of democracy after theremoval of these foundational pillars?The answer is the same one to most questions aboutthe Chinese regime: the CCP leadership is supreme andmust be protected at all costs. Li spelt this out clearlyin enunciating six doctrines of Chinese ‘democracy’,insisting that adherence to ‘the Party’s overall leadershipas the highest political principle’ and ‘firmly upholding theauthority of the Party Central Committee and centralisedand unified leadership.’The second doctrine is the rejection of western democracy.The other doctrines reveal how undemocratic the regimeis. The Chinese people must believe and promote thenotion that the system empowers them and makes themthe master of their own destiny. As usual, the principles arecircular. The CCP leads the People’s Congress accordingto the fifth principle. Finally, the Chinese people areinstructed to ‘tell good stories about Chinese democracy’!Not that any other narratives are permitted in China.The Party is implementing regulations to ban all medianot funded by the CCP. Only officially approved ‘news’,including about financial and economic issues, will bepermitted. Already severe restrictions on foreign mediahave been tightened. Journalists seeking to cover theWinter Games are being obstructed. In addition, allChinese media personnel are now required to undertake90 hours ‘continuing education’ each year to retain theiraccreditation. Anyone who attempts an independentvoice, such as the former Hong Kong media proprietor,Jimmy Lai, who is on trial this week, is silenced. Humanrights organisations such as Amnesty International andHuman Rights Watch are withdrawing from Hong Kong,citing the draconian new security laws as the reason. Thedigital platforms, LinkedIn and Yahoo, have abandonedoperations in China and others may follow. Even Wikipediahas drawn a line, banning seven pro-Beijing editors andremoving the administrative powers of another 12. Theonly narrative allowed in China is Xi Jinping thought.The time has come to actively promote real democracy.First, the Chinese regime should be called out continuallyfor what it is. The aphorism - wrongly attributed to MarkTwain - that ‘a lie can have travelled half-way aroundthe world before truth get its boots on’ is pertinent.Democratic nations are tiring of the CCP’s bullyingbehaviour and rejecting its ‘wolf warrior‘ diplomacy. Arecent EU Parliamentary resolution encouraged ‘the EUand Member States to deepen cooperation with Taiwanin confronting disinformation from malign third counties’specifically naming China.Secondly, democracies must support each other whenconfronted by the CCP. Again, this is increasingly occurring,as nations realise that strength lies in cooperation.Collaboration has increased militarily. Canada, for example,which has been somewhat ambivalent towards China,engaged in a right of passage naval exercise with theUS in the China Sea recently. The UK, the Netherlandsand even Germany have participated in naval exercisesin the Western Pacific.Perhaps the most interesting shift is occurring in Europeas the political elite slowly realise that the lure of trade hasits limitations. Led by smaller nations, such as Lithuania,Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the EU is waking tothe reality of the CCP. Last week, an inaugural EuropeanParliamentary delegation visited Taiwan. ‘We came herewith a simple message: Taiwan is not alone. Europe isstanding with you in the defence of freedom, democracyand human dignity,’ said Raphael Glucksmann, Chair ofAustralian Polity 31
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