China slams 'Summit for Democracy' in talks with other excluded nations
Beijing moves to bolster ties with nondemocratic countries
BEIJING -- China is working to strengthen relations with countries not invited to the Summit for Democracy that the U.S. will host next month, apparently concerned that the virtual meeting will lead to Taiwan's recognition by the international community.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with counterparts Sergey Lavrov of Russia and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India via video link this past Friday. He used that meeting to criticize the democracy summit as divisive, saying the trio have a responsibility to oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of democracy, according to a summary from the Chinese side.
Japan, India and many European governments are among the roughly 110 parties that the U.S. has invited to the Dec. 9-10 summit. China and Russia did not make the list -- but Taiwan did.
Beijing fears that Taipei's attendance may lead to more opportunities to participate in international meetings and institutions. And that would go against Beijing's "One China" principle, which holds that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.
Wang held a video meeting this past Wednesday with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian of Iran, another country not invited to the democracy summit.
"Wang Yi said that the so-called 'Summit for Democracy' proposed by the United States is, in essence, to instigate division in the world under the banner of democracy, incite bloc confrontation with ideological lines, and attempt to carry out American-style transformation of other sovereign countries to serve the strategic needs of the United States itself," the Chinese side's summary said, later adding: "Iran resolutely opposes unilateralism and bullying acts, double standards and interference in China's sovereignty and internal affairs."
Wang also touched on this coming Monday's resumption of talks in Vienna on reviving the Iran nuclear deal. "The Chinese side understands the reasonable demands of the Iranian side and supports Iran in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests," the summary said. Observers believe that Beijing is offering support for Tehran on the nuclear talks in exchange for Iran's understanding of China's stance on the democracy summit.
Wang spoke by phone with Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Abu Amr this past Tuesday. China will continue to "stand firmly with the Palestinian people in the quest for the establishment of an independent state," the Chinese side's summary said. The overture likely stems from the Palestinians' deep rift with the U.S., which is close to invitee Israel and did not invite the Palestinian side.
Wang met via video link this past Thursday with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. The Chinese side's summary praised Budapest for upholding the principle of noninterference in other countries' internal affairs. Hungary has been at odds with the European Union, of which it is a member, under increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The EU itself has been invited to the democracy summit, but Hungary has not.
The charm offensive continues this week. Wang is in Senegal for the ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, to be held Monday and Tuesday. President Xi Jinping is slated to join via video link, announcing support on COVID-19 measures. Separately, Premier Li Keqiang is scheduled to meet with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin via video Tuesday.