China's Xi Jinping says "the strong should not bully the weak" at Davos
Speaking at the annual convention of super rich people and super important folks, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged countries to be nice to each other and for strong countries not to bully the weak ones. Yup.
“The strong should not bully the weak,” Xi said in Mandarin at the Davos Agenda Summit by the World Economic Forum, which was held virtually for the first time.
“Decisions should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving a big fist.”
Below is an actual video excerpt from his address.
“The strong should not bully the weak,” President Xi said. “Decisions should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving a big fist.” #DavosAgenda pic.twitter.com/nkahla9f7h
— World Economic Forum (@wef) January 25, 2021
Xi also namechecked a number of dandy and contemporary buzzwords in his speech such as “inclusive growth,” “multilateralism,” “shared future,” and “consensus building.”
Cold war warning
Xi then warned against the threat of a “Cold War,” as he urged global cooperation to tackle a number of global issues such as climate change, health, and the world economy.
“To build small circles or start a new Cold War, to reject, threaten or intimidate others, to willfully impose decoupling, supply disruption or sanctions, and to create isolation or estrangement will only push the world into division and even confrontation,” Xi said.
Of course, Xi’s speech comes a time when the newly installed Biden administration in the US is expected to start rebuilding its ties with China, which the previous Trump administration openly antagonized through fiery rhetoric and outright trade wars.
“There will be no human civilization without diversity, and such diversity will continue to exist for as long as we can imagine. Difference in itself is no cause for alarm. What does ring the alarm is arrogance, prejudice and hatred; it is the attempt to impose hierarchy on human civilization or to force one’s own history, culture and social system upon others,” said Xi.
'Show of force'
As Xi delivered his 20-minute speech, however, news of Chinese warplanes taking a stroll for the second day within the aerial territory of Taiwan just broke out.
The New York Times tagged the military drill over the Taiwan Strait as “a show of force to Biden.”
Reports of the Xi government's crackdown on dissidents and minorities have also been widely reported in the press.
And in the Philippines, of course, China has been aggressively invading the country’s territory by building bases in the West Philippine Sea under the spurious claim of the nine-dash-line that expands their sovereignty over what is accepted under international laws.
A number of Twitter users quickly noted the irony of Xi's statements considering the behavior of China.
An account with the handle @xtraa asked: The strong should not bully the weak, President Xi said. Why are you doing it then?
The strong should not bully the weak,” President Xi said.
— xtraa (@xtraa) January 25, 2021
Why are you doing it then, I ask.
The account “News Jockey” just replied with the names of Tibert, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, countries that have experienced aggression from China.
1) Tibet
— News Jockey (@junkie_for_news) January 25, 2021
2) Honkong
3) Taiwan
Oh by the way, just recently also, China also passed a law that would allow its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels and even tear down structures in disputed waters.