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The People’s Republic emerged from the crisis of 2020 as the winner, although the corona pandemic originated there. The tone in relations with China will harden as Beijing aggressively pursues its interests.
The People’s Republic of China did not get any sympathy points this year. However, incidents such as the pre-Christmas scandal at the United Nations ensure that the rejection turns into resentment: at the last Security Council meeting, Germany’s outgoing ambassador to the UN, Christoph Heusgen, dared to ask Beijing to free two detained Canadians. Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have been in Chinese custody for two years as political hostages and with no hope of a fair trial. “Christmas is the right time for such a gesture,” said Heusgen, who is retiring. The return coach was not very subtle: “From the bottom of our hearts: lucky we got rid of you,” replied China’s counterpart Geng Shuang. An unusual verbal derailment, especially from a diplomat who is moderate by Chinese standards.
But the West will have to adjust to a much harsher tone when dealing with China in the future. Because the Middle Kingdom emerged from the crisis of 2020 as a winner: Epidemiologically, it was one of the few nations that de facto prohibited the risk of infection within its own national borders. And economically, China will be the only major economy to end the year with a plus. The International Monetary Fund estimates that China’s gross domestic product will grow by almost 1.9 percent.
