Tag Archives: Xi Jinping

China: Now the Senior Partner

China’s stance on Ukraine’s struggle for independence from Russia is of utmost importance. China has reversed its relationship with Russia from Cold War days: from junior partner to senior.

Linda Jaivin, in The Shortest History of China, recounts the multi- millennial history of the country from the beginning of human settlement to the current reign under Xi Jinping.

From shadowed beginnings, China rose and fell under various dynasties until the last one ended in the early twentieth century. Fighting between factions ensued, including the Chinese Communist party, founded in 1921. The other major faction, the Nationalists, opposed to the Communists, was led by Chiang Kai-shek.

The Japanese invasion of China before World War II, despite its horrors, did little to overcome the struggles between the Communist and Nationalist parties. After World War II, the Communist party became ascendant.

Through years of turmoil, including horrible self-inflicted famines, the Communists eventually overcame the disastrous years of Mao Tse-tung. They began to grow the economy into the giant it is today. Meanwhile, Russia stumbled from promises of a democratic government to the current kleptocracy under Vladimir Putin’s oligarchy.

How much freedom will countries enjoy who exist on the margins of Russia and China? Is it possible for Ukrainians to enjoy the independence they desire? To become a partner with the successful countries of Europe? Can Taiwan maintain its independence?

Did Pope Francis Zap Xi?

China’s president, Xi Jinping (pronounced Shee Jin Ping), paid a state visit to the United States. Ordinarily, Xi’s visit would have grabbed the most headlines. It might even have overcome the celebrity status now given to presidential nominees.

However, a visit by Francis, the Roman Catholic pope, upstaged them all, at least for a while. He spoke to Congress about saving both the poor and the planet from greed. He appeared to single out one man, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has played a central role in the Iran nuclear agreement, for a handshake.

He blessed children, including the grandchild of U.S. House Speaker John Boehner. His request for Boehner to pray for him deeply impressed the Speaker. Perhaps the Pope’s request played into Boehner’s decision to announce the next day his coming resignation from his posts as speaker and as a Congressional representative.

The Pope has left the United States. Politicians have returned to calling each other names. Political commentators speculate that Boehner’s resignation will bring on more political infighting.

Concerning any lasting benefit of the Pope’s visit, we might consider a parable told by Jesus in the New Testament. The parable told of a woman putting yeast in bread, allowing yeast’s silent growth until it spread through the entire mixture.

No political agreements were produced by the Pope’s visit. Xi and President Obama did reach a few agreements. Yet who’s to say how much effect Francis’ bit of yeast might have over time?