China eyes greater global leadership role, downplays fears

The world can only benefit as China marches toward “irresistible” national rejuvenation and assumes greater global leadership under President Xi Jinping, China’s top diplomat said Thursday as he sought to dismiss concerns about China’s rise while also underscoring its inevitability.

From providing the most peacekeepers of any U.N. Security Council member to facilitating talks in world conflicts, “the China of today should play a more active role in resolving hot issues in the region and the world,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. “This is not only something we should do, but what is widely expected of us.”

Wang spoke on the fringes of China’s annual, largely ceremonial legislative session at a news conference, where he was asked whether China’s recent efforts to push for peace talks in Myanmar and between Israeli and Palestinian delegations, for instance, represented a shift in its longstanding non-interference foreign policy.

China remains committed to non-interference, Wang said, arguing that those in the West who are alarmed by China’s growing clout and overseas activity are affected by bias.

“The development and rejuvenation of China is irresistible,” Wang said. “Some people in the United States believe that China therefore wants to replace the role of the U.S. in the international arena. This is a fundamental, strategic misjudgment.”

“China and the United States can compete without necessarily being opponents, they should more be partners,” he added, while warning that a possible trade war mulled by President Donald Trump would hurt the U.S.

“Especially in today’s globalized world, a trade war is the wrong prescription,” he said.

Wang emphasized what he called the key role played in China’s more pro-active foreign policy by President Xi Jinping, who is likely to remain leader indefinitely after the legislature lifts presidential term limits.

“Since 2012, President Xi Jinping has been the chief architect of China’s major-country diplomacy. He was personally involved in the planning and conduct of head of state diplomacy, which by world acclaim has been brilliant,” Wang said.

Xi has visited 57 countries and received more than 110 foreign heads of state, Wang said, citing Xi’s “leadership and charisma.”

Wang called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an eight-nation group dominated by China and Russia, to play a greater role in international diplomacy, saying it has a “bounden duty to maintain peace and stability in our region and beyond.”

China will host the SCO summit in the port of Qingdao in June.

The group also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan, and China has sought to use it to ensure security along its Central Asian border, for example, by holding joint anti-terrorism exercises.

In international affairs, however, it has been a relative lightweight, and the new emphasis announced by Wang is in keeping with a Chinese push to broaden its global footprint with mega projects such as the trillion-dollar Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

On the Korean Peninsula, Wang claimed success for China’s proposal for a “dual suspension” of North Korean nuclear activities in return for a halt in South Korea-U.S. war games.

“This proves that China’s proposal of suspension for suspension was the right prescription for the problem and created basic conditions for the improvement of inter-Korean relations,” Wang said. North Korea’s security concerns should be addressed in return for a pledge to denuclearize, he said.

Wang also indicated he expects more countries will cut formal ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. China has been steadily increasing political, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan to force President Tsai Ing-wen to endorse its contention that the self-governing island democracy is a part of China.

“To establish diplomatic relations with the government of the People’s Republic of China that is the sole legal government to represent all China and conduct normal cooperation is apparently a right choice that conforms to the tide of times,” Wang said.

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Forecast: Another Nor’easter To Hit Wednesday, To Coastal Rain And Inland Snow

There’s no doubt our next nor’easter is going to bring significant snow and heavy rain to the region.

It is March, after all. And while nearly all of us would love to see spring break out across the area, New Englanders know that this can be an awfully cruel month.

I was looking back at records overnight and reminded myself that back in 1993, Boston had more than 38 inches of snow in March — the most snow ever recorded for the month.

Keep all of that in mind over the next seven to 10 days as two potential storms, including one tomorrow, will bring more snow.

No Weather Issues Tuesday

Today is a tranquil day, giving utility companies another opportunity to restore any power knocked out in the previous storm. I am concerned about more outages tomorrow night and early Thursday, especially over interior areas where the power was not affected as much as it was along the coastline last week.

Our storm will form overnight Wednesday but should not affect the morning commute.

I don’t think it will be necessary to cancel a full day of school tomorrow, because the snow is going to begin in the late morning and early afternoon. It might be a good idea depending on the timing to cancel afternoon activities, but we should be able to get most of the school day in on Wednesday.

How The Storm Unfolds

After noon tomorrow the snow will pick up in intensity over inland areas, but it will be raining along the coastline. This rain/snow line is likely west of Boston. It looks as though we’ll have an easterly wind for a while, which will move warm air far enough over the interior to ensure that the precipitation is either rain or a mixed bag.

By the commute home Wednesday, I expect roads inside of the I-95 corridor will be wet, and further west, snow-covered. This will slow down the ride significantly. This is likely the worst commute during the storm.

Overnight Wednesday

Snow will be falling heavily — perhaps at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over the interior, especially in northern Worcester County. Along the coastline, rain and snow will fall. It may be that Boston gets 1 or 2 inches of snow, or it is also possible that it all remains rain overnight.

Winds will not be as strong as the last nor’easter, but along the coastline they could gust between 50 and 60 miles per hour. Inland areas will gust up to 35 miles per hour, which are winds certainly strong enough to knock down trees and power lines. There’s probably also some trees that sustained partial damage from the previous storm, which are now more likely to break.

Thursday

The storm winds down as snow tapers to flurries. There will be some brightening later in the day. Temperatures will reach near 40 degrees, so melting will occur. I expect sunshine to return for the weekend.

Is It A Major Snowstorm For Boston?

I am growing more confident in this not being a major storm for Boston in terms of snow. I think there is a chance if the track of the storm is even further west that the city sees even less than 1 or 2 inches.

Power Outages

As I mentioned, I am worried about power outages. The heavy, wet nature of the snow, along with winds gusting at more than 30 miles per hour, may cause outages. It’s tough to know how widespread they will be, but the potential exists for many of us to be in the dark later Wednesday night.

Coastal Flooding

Tides will be running 2 feet or so under where they were for our last storm. Winds will be less intense, and the seas themselves won’t build as much.

There could be another storm early next week, but it’s too early to know if it hits us or misses.

You can follow my updates here and on Twitter @growingwisdom.

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Tuesday Sunshine inland, clouds at the coast with a few flakes, cool. Highs around 40.

Tuesday Night: Partly clear and cool. Lows around 27.

Wednesday: Some morning rain and snow showers, then rain at the coast, snow west of Route 495.  Rain will change to snow for a time before ending late at night.

Thursday: Snow and rain showers ending early. Highs in the lower 40s.

Friday: Chilly with some sunshine. Highs 40-45.

Saturday: Partly sunny. Pleasant. Highs 40-45.

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