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ICYMI: Rubio: Democracies Are Still Falling for China’s Lies

Oct 8, 2020 | Press Releases

Democracies are still falling for China’s lies
By U.S. Senator Marco Rubio
October 8, 2020
The Telegraph 
 
With another week comes another empty promise from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This time, the hollow gesture was a pledge to fight climate change. In statements before the UN General Assembly last week, credulous politicians lauded Beijing’s declaration that it would become carbon-neutral by 2060. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “encouraged” by the pledge, while Obama Administration climate envoy Todd Stern welcomed it as “big and important.” What exactly are they expecting will happen? 
… 
 
Making empty climate promises is the latest diversion in China’s long-running effort to weaken the West. If Beijing had its way, it would seduce the US into adopting burdensome regulations as part of the Paris Climate Agreement, while simultaneously convincing us to send billions in taxpayers’ dollars its way to help China – as a “developing country” – clean up its mess. Of course, there would be no way of ensuring that the CCP would hold up its end of the bargain.
 
Anyone hoping that China is finally turning a new leaf on climate change, human rights, territorial expansionism, technology theft – pick virtually any important issue of the day – should open his or her eyes to reality. The CCP is crushing freedom in Hong Kong in a flagrant violation of its commitments. Beijing continues its economic espionage apace, despite signing more than 10 international conventions and bilateral agreements with the US since 1980 that pledged to halt such theft – most notably Xi Jinping’s commitment to President Obama in 2015 and to President Trump earlier this year.

 
Why will its promises on climate be any different? 

 
Actions now, not words, are what is required of Xi and the CCP. China’s relationship with Europe, the US, its neighbours, and much of the rest of the world is littered with broken promises. And despite ambitious new pledges, Xi has only drawn attention to the CCP’s long record of bad faith. To avoid making the same mistakes, the onus is on democracies not to fall prey to these empty guarantees – and hold China’s leadership accountable for its commitments. Failing to do so will have long-term consequences.  
 
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