Chinese anger over the US announcement that Taiwan has been invited to President Biden’s Dec. 9-10 “Summit For Democracy” continues unabated. The lead editorial in Global Times today quotes Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian in his Wednesday press conference: “Those offering a platform to ‘Taiwan independence’ forces will find themselves in an embarrassing place. Those playing with fire with ‘Taiwan independence’ forces will end up getting burned.”
They note that the U.S. referring to “participants” rather than “countries” in the announcement does not change the danger of treating Taiwan as an equal with “with other sovereign countries.”
They also ridicule the State Department statement that the summit will include panels on “defending against authoritarianism.” Zhao said, “[W]e have repeatedly stated our position. Democracy is a common value of all humanity, not the patent of a few countries. What the US has done shows exactly that it is only using democracy as a cover and tool to advance its geostrategic goals, suppress other countries, divide the world, and serve its selfish agenda of maintaining hegemony.”
The drawing above the article shows a crumbling Greek-style arch inscribed with “US Democracy,” while Uncle Sam is holding up one collapsed arch with a sign around his neck reading “Summit For Democracy.”
Global Times notes: “The spokesperson of the Taiwan regional leader’s office said that the US invitation shows that the US and the island of Taiwan are ‘real friends.’ A DPP secessionist lawmaker even claimed that the recognition of ‘Taiwan independence’ is the international mainstream. Some Taiwan media outlets even hyped the rumor that US President Joe Biden `will visit Taiwan.’”