I highlight what each generation of leaders must at least try to live up to, and that essentially means certain topics are unlikely to be negotiable. Just a guess.
Through such a lens, what motivates Xi becomes obvious, to be remembered well by his electorates. Running against that wall is likely to be fairly fruitless if not counterproductive.
Xi plays well with Trump and Putin.
chinatravel.com
Yuefei Temple, Hangzhou, Yuewang Temple
Yuefei Temple, Hangzhou
Nestled in the southeastern corner of Tangyin County, the Yue Fei Temple holds within its doors a bit of the region’s rich history. The temple was constructed in memory of Yue Fei, a courageous general who lived during the Southern Song dynasty.
Built in 1450 during the Ming Dynasty, the 6000-square-meter temple is filled with over 40 colorful statues, over 300 steles, and countless inscriptions by Chinese celebrities of the past. These are found in over 100 different halls and rooms, which give you plenty of things to see when you visit.
Aside from learning more about the history and culture of China, visitors at the Yue Fei Temple will, above all, learn more about Yue Fei’s past. Born to a farmer, Yue Fei grew up to become a well-known militarist and eventually became a valiant general who fought against the Jin invaders from the north. Skilled in martial arts, Yue Fei joined the army at twenty years old. As a sign of his loyalty, he had himself tattooed on his back by his mother with the phrase ‘Loyal and Devoted to the Nation’. He died at the early age of 39 years old without compromising his loyalty to his country.
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The Yue Fei Temple is a great place to visit when you’re in the mood for sightseeing and historic tours. Although it does not offer any activities, you will witness much of China’s past through its exhibits. The temple itself is a sight to behold, as it is considered one of the best-preserved ancient Chinese structures in the area. Thus, in 1961, the temple was declared as a major national protected monument by the State Council.
Visitors should also check out the Jingzhongfang, also known as the Tower of Devotion and Loyalty; the wooden tower is the first part of the temple to be established. It has two walls on both sides where the Chinese characters for Fealty and Loyalty are written. The tower has a rather dramatic scene immortalized inside it. Once you step into the hall, you will see a huge brass statue of Yue Fei as well as five iron statues of the five murderers who killed him including the Prime Minister of Southern Song, his wife, a court official, and Zhang Jun, a general.
All the statues have their hands tied behind their backs, and a couplet on the gate summarizes the story behind the scene. The couplet says: “The green hill is fortunate to be the burial ground of a loyal general; the white iron was innocent to be cast into the statues of traitors.” This tells of the death of Yue Fei, one of the much-admired national heroes in the history of China who was executed after being framed for crimes that he did not commit. Behind Yue Fei’s statue is a plaque with the inscription ‘Recover Our Lost Territories’ in what is said to be Yue’s original calligraphy.
Visitors are also encouraged to visit Yue Fei’s mausoleum, where they can pay tribute to the loyal and brave Chinese general. The tomb is found to the left of the Loyalty Garden and is mostly a rounded tomb built with rocks. It houses not just Yue Fei but also his son Yueyun. On the tomb’s wall, there is a carving that says ‘Be Loyal to the Motherland’, which is known as the life motto of the loyal general. Although the temple has undergone multiple reconstructions over the years, the tombs and the tomb sculptures are still the original ones built during the 12th century, albeit some very meticulous restorations.
Aside from the statues and the tombs, visitors should also view the collection of hundreds of carvings and steles, which tell of poems written by prominent authors throughout Chinese history. Most of the poems are dedicated to the national hero.
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Which brings us to today …
bloomberg.com
Biden-Xi Phone Call Raises Key Question: Who Will Blink First?
September 10, 2021, 6:31 PM GMT+8
After months of little progress in U.S.-China relations, Joe Biden’s frustration led him to initiate a call with Xi Jinping in search of a breakthrough. Now the question is who will be first to take concrete action.
The leaders of the world’s biggest economies spoke by telephone for 90 minutes on Thursday night, their first discussion since February. While the call didn’t produce any immediate announcements, the yuan strengthened to a one-week high amid optimism that any communication could improveoverall ties.
Still, the readouts after the conversation showed that fundamental differences remain. The White House sought to make a distinction between issues where the countries can cooperate and others where they will compete, while Xi linked everything to “respecting each other’s core concerns.”
Biden Calls Xi Over Dead-End Talks
WATCH: Biden has called China’s Xi over his frustration with dead-end talks between the countries. Stephen Engle reports.
(Source: Bloomberg)
In practice, that means Biden’s hope that China would commit to more ambitious emissions targets ahead of the COP26 summit later this year may hinge on whether he’s willing to agree to Beijing’s two lists of demands, officially known as the “List of U.S. Wrongdoing That Must Stop” and the “List of Key Individual Cases that China Has Concerns With.”
Biden Calls Xi Over U.S. Frustration With Dead-End Talks
Since July, Chinese officials have repeatedly referred to the lists in official meetings and speeches. Chinese state media said the demands include lifting all sanctions, removing punitive tariffs, revoking visa bans, ending export restrictions of high-tech items and withdrawing an extradition request for Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co.
“The summit itself is not important -- what’s important is to observe whether relations have some remarkable improvement beyond weeks and months,” said Shi Yinhong, director of Renmin University’s Center on American Studies in Beijing who has served as an adviser to China’s State Council. “Any informed observer in this world is not optimistic.”
QuickTake: Blacklists, Trade and More U.S.-China Flashpoints
Since the last Biden-Xi call in February, the two countries have repeatedly clashed over human rights, cybersecurity and an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, on which China has refused to cooperate. Beijing has also seen relations with U.S. allies deteriorate, sparring with Canada over Meng’s case, Australia over the Covid-19 probe and Europe over allegations of genocide in Xinjiang.
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For Biden, giving in on any of China’s requests could prove politically difficult, even as a contingent of Wall Street veterans -- including John Thornton, the chairman of Barrick Gold Corp. and a Goldman Sachs Group Inc. veteran -- push to improve ties. A survey released Friday by the American Chamber of Commerce in China found that three-quarters of those who participated complained that trade war measures were hurting their operations.
Earlier: China Ties Climate to Better U.S. Relations in Kerry Talks
One issue that may be easiest is tariffs. The White House is still reviewing its overall China policy, including how to proceed with roughly $300 billion in punitive duties facing Chinese imports. The review could be concluded and its outcomes unveiled in the near future, according a senior administration official.
Biden’s goal was to see whether personal engagement with Xi could set the relationship on a more serious path and help advance issues where both sides can cooperate, the official said. The tone between the two leaders was familiar and candid, and Biden explained that Beijing could sometimes misinterpret the intention behind U.S. actions, the administration official said after the call.
Wang Yi, left, with John Kerry speak via a video link last week.
Source: U.S. Department of State
The call appeared to stem from John Kerry’s visit last week to discuss climate issues, during which Chinese officials said progress depended on overall improvements in the relationship. “China-U.S. climate change cooperation cannot be separated from the general environment of relations,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the time, according to the ministry. “The United States should meet China halfway and take positive actions to push relations back on track.”
The Biden administration has rejected Beijing’s requests for concessions on unrelated issues when discussing climate, according to the U.S. official. Frustration in the White House grew after it became clear that Chinese counterparts were reading talking points and had no ability to maneuver on key topics, the official said.
Xi gave no indication that China’s approach would change, saying that building good ties wasn’t a “multiple choice question” but a “mandatory question.” But Chinese officials offered some hope for improved relations, with Xi saying relations should get “back on the right track” and touting the importance of regular communication between heads of state.
Xi Jinping Hasn’t Set Foot Outside China for 600 Days
A face-to-face meeting is still a possibility on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting in Rome in late October, though it’s unclear if Xi will even go. He hasn’t left China since the scope of the pandemic became clear, the longest stay-at-home stint of any G-20 leader.
At least some in China are optimistic the call could lead to more substantive engagement. Zhang Monan, senior fellow at the U.S.-Europe Institute at the government-backed China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, said the conversation could be a “turning point” that leads to trade talks or restarting a strategic dialogue frozen under the Trump administration.
“There’s grown a gap between the two countries and the relevant officials and how much they communicate, which right now is not a lot at all,” Greg Gilligan, AmCham’s China Chairman, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Friday. “If the two countries’ leaders get together and get that process going again, that would be a good thing.”
— With assistance by Jenny Leonard, Colum Murphy, and Lucille Liu
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