A Pleasant Summit

The ongoing US and China summit has created much bonhomie between two global powers. The Trump administration had been at loggerheads with their Chinese counterparts with regards to tariffs earlier this year. The present juncture of negotiation has highlighted the importance of Taiwan and status of commerce between US and China. The US and China might exchange pleasantries but there lies deep tensions between the two with regards to Taiwan and economic competition. President Trump has made it clear that needlessly pressuring Taiwan might lead to conflict in the region. The US president has been circumspect enough to highlight the import of commerce between the two. China and the United States do not share historical ties, but they have become commercial partners in the twenty-first century. Commerce must be given high priority during the visit, and China must be told not meddle in Taiwan’s political jurisdiction. China and the US are economic partners, and have earned considerable profit from international trade. The Trump administration must also speak out on human rights problems that China has been facing. The jailed laureate Liu Xiaobo languished alone in prison without any fair trial and died. The international community should not stay silent when men of high stature are put behind bars without giving them recourse to due process. The violation of liberty with regards to men who speak out on political reform and change ought to be matter of concern.

The freedom of expression must be considered a freedom that is guaranteed to all citizens everywhere in the world. Punishing citizens for speaking out their mind should be considered a grave violation of their human rights. China must tread softly on political prisoners and release them as soon as it is politically convenient. Putting men behind bars without fair trial and playing commerce with US does not behoove a responsible nation. Men and women have right to opine and express their opinion without any fear, the same ought to be made applicable to China. The present summit does not distinguish between freedom and commerce. Both are inclined towards each other, lack of one usually disintegrates the other. China with its totalitarian polity has been threatening Taiwan lately. Taiwan must be kept secure by the United States as it does not follow the dictates of the communist party. The life that men and women live has certain sanctity that cannot be abrogated through military threats. China must explain to the world why it keeps threatening Taiwan, a highly productive and peaceful society. Deliberation and peaceful coexistence ought to be the norms that China must abide by. The latter is a slogan often used by the communist party. China must give more freedom to its citizens and keep peaceful relations with its neighbours. Threatening and intimidating neighbours ought to be considered a violation of international norms. Commerce with all its pitfalls must gain during the summit. The large commercial entities have their money at stake and ought to earn from a flourishing economy as China.   

Yuvraj Saharan

Capital Report