Headlines:
- Erdogan Calls for Solidarity Day Against Islamophobia
- US Sending 15 Trade Delegations to Pakistan Next Year
- China Warns U.S. over Hong Kong Law
Erdogan Calls for Solidarity Day Against Islamophobia
The Turkish president on Wednesday called on the UN, international and regional organizations to designate March 15 as International Solidarity Day Against Islamophobia. Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks came at the opening ceremony of 35th Ministerial Meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC). “Those who claim defending democracy and human rights play ostrich when it comes to Muslims, and migrants are abused in their own lands,” Erdogan said. On March 15, at least 50 Muslims were killed and as many injured when a terrorist shot worshippers in cold blood at two mosques in New Zealand. Erdogan said Israel is not respecting Palestinians’ right to life, property and work, and jeopardizing future of all world together with regional countries. “Those who are trying to turn Jerusalem, which is a sacred city for three religions, into a center of their beliefs by looting it are making a big mistake,” Erdogan said. The Turkish president stressed that the Western countries were “spoiling Israel knowingly or unknowingly”, which was just fueling tensions. “Turkey is resolute to continue defending the rights of our Palestinians brothers and sisters in all platforms,” he added. [Source: AA World].
The only way to end global Islamophobia and prevent Western interference in Muslim lands is to establish the rightly guided Khilafah State (Caliphate).
US Sending 15 Trade Delegations to Pakistan Next Year
The United States plans to send 15 trade delegations to Pakistan next year to explore possibilities for expanding trade with the country, says Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells. The information is included in a paper Ms Wells read at a Washington think-tank, Wilson Centre, last week, which focused heavily on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but it also included various suggestions for expanding US-Pakistan trade ties. The paper, now posted at the US State Department’s official site, says that the US Commerce Department has “already stepped up its activity in Pakistan with 15 trade delegations planned for the next year”. And once the new expanded Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is up and running, “Pakistan is going to be a country of great interest”. According to the paper, the DFC will have more than double the investment cap than the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), increasing from $29 billion to $60bn. OPIC is a US government agency which mobilises private capital for overseas investments. The paper argues that doubling the cap would enable investment in projects that have high standards and are financially sustainable over the long haul. While urging Pakistan to benefit from these additional US resources, Ms Wells reminded Islamabad last week that “true sustainable development is really a marathon and not a sprint. It requires the development of effective regulatory framework, strong rule of law, fiscal health, and an enabling business climate”. She recalled that during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to the United States in July, President Donald Trump was “extremely enthusiastic about the potential for increasing and expanding our US-Pakistan trade and investment relationship. And both our governments are working very hard to find practical ways to do that. We commend Pakistan for surging 28 slots on the World Bank’s 2020 Ease of Doing Business ranking and being highlighted as one of the top ten reformers globally,” she added. The paper also highlights some commercial connections between the United States and Pakistan such as, the US firm Excelerate is prepared to potentially invest more than $300 million to upgrade a floating storage regasification unit in Pakistan’s first LNG terminal. ExxonMobil has been working to support Pakistan’s ambitious effort to access new LNG supplies. [Source: Dawn]
While America and China compete for control of Pakistan, Khan, Bajwa and CJ are busy fighting each other. Pakistan needs a new leadership that is able to teach both China and America a geopolitical lesson they will never forget!
China warns U.S. Over Hong Kong Law
China warned the United States on Thursday that it would take “firm counter measures” in response to U.S. legislation backing anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, and said attempts to interfere in the Chinese-ruled city were doomed to fail. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law congressional legislation which supported the protesters, despite angry objections from Beijing, with which he is seeking a deal to end a damaging trade war. Protesters in Hong Kong responded by staging a “Thanksgiving” rally, with thousands, some draped in U.S. flags, gathering in the heart of the city. “The rationale for us having this rally is to show our gratitude and thank the U.S Congress and also President Trump for passing the bill,” said 23-year-old Sunny Cheung, a member of the student group that lobbied for the legislation. “We are really grateful about that and we really appreciate the effort made by Americans who support Hong Kong, who stand with Hong Kong, who do not choose to side with Beijing,” he said, urging other countries to pass similar legislation. The law requires the State Department to certify, at least annually, that Hong Kong is autonomous enough to justify favorable U.S. trading terms that have helped it become a world financial center. It also threatens sanctions for human rights violations. The Chinese foreign ministry said the United States would shoulder the consequences of China’s countermeasures if it continued to “act arbitrarily” in regards to Hong Kong. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng summoned U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad and demanded that Washington immediately stop interfering in China’s domestic affairs. Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed government said the legislation sent the wrong signal to demonstrators and “clearly interfered” with the city’s internal affairs. China is considering barring the drafters of the legislation, whose U.S. Senate sponsor is Florida Republican Marco Rubio, from entering mainland China as well as Hong Kong and Macau, Xu Xijin, the editor of China’s Global Times tabloid, said on Twitter. China says it is committed to the “one country, two systems” formula put in place at the handover, and blames foreign forces for fomenting the unrest, an allegation it repeated in response to the U.S. law. “This so-called legislation will only strengthen the resolve of the Chinese people, including the Hong Kong people, and raise awareness of the sinister intentions and hegemonic nature of the U.S.,” the foreign ministry said. “The U.S. plot is doomed.” [Source: Reuters]
America is openly undermining China’s aspirations to be the next great power. The trade war, support for Hong Kong protests, increased US activity in the South China Sea and other measures have laid bare China’s inability to thwart American initiatives to contain the dragon.