PLANNED BY THE CW EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT WRITTEN BY SU TONG



10 Global News Figures in 2015

PLANNED BY THE CW EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT WRITTEN BY SU TONG

1　XI JINPING

As the pilot for the realization the great Chinese Dream for national rejuvenation, Xi Jinping has advanced China’s comprehensive and deep-going reform on domestic affairs and foreign relations with the courage of a statesman and the resolution of a reformer.Compared with 2014 when he made joke of himself as being “tired but gratified”, “Uncle Xi” has remained hard to fight in 2015.From projecting the “Chinese Dream” to announcing the strategic layout of “four comprehensiveness” (to complete the construction of a moderately affluent society comprehensively, to deepen the reform comprehensively, to promote the rule of law comprehensively and to strengthen the Party discipline comprehensively), from calling for the country to adapt to the economic new normal to launching the supply-side structural reform, from working out the 13th Five-Year Plan to comprehensively unfolding the military reform strategy, plus a lot of “tigers and fliers” taken in a protracted anti-corruption campaign, Xi Jinping has produced a “report card” that inspires the people of the whole country in the key year of comprehensively deepening the reform.In diplomatic area, Xi Jinping has become “the first true global leader representing China”, having been on eight overseas trips for 42 days covering four continents of Asia, Europe, North America and Africa and made China’s “circle of friends” bigger and bigger through implementing the Belt and Road initiative.The success of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War and the realization of the historic meeting between top leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Straits further illustrate the boldness of vision of Xi Jinping as a statesman in taking on important tasks and daring to be responsible for history.In 2016, the outset year of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the 1.3 billion of the Chinese people will continue to follow “Uncle Xi” in creating a new era of the great national renewal along the road toward completing the construction of a moderately affluent society.

2　VLADIMIR PUTIN

Without him, the arena of international politics might have turned from a roller coater to a merry-goround.As a “trouble maker” of long standing for the US-led West, Putin “the Great” has not let down his supporters.In the past year, facing severe sanctions of the US and the EU, Putin proudly reviewed the military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War and sent the war-planes hovering above the Red Square, Moscow on to the battleground of Syria in the name of fighting against terrorism.Under the fierce Russian bombardment, extremists of the “ISIS” must have particularly missed the less than effective solution of US airstrikes.However, this surprise strategic attack by which “a slight move in one part may affect the situation as a whole” also has bogged Russia down in the quagmires of the Middle East, leading to the crashing of Russian passenger plane by terrorist attack in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, followed by the downing of Su-24 fighter jet by “premeditated” Turkey shoot.As the leader of the “fighting nation”, Putin takes a series of retaliatory measures against Turkey from condemnation both in speech and writing to sanctions and deterrence.With Russia and Turkey all set for a showdown, big shots in the Western countries only serve them the cant of diplomacy, tending to sit on top of the mountain to watch the tigers fight.Contrary to the rising of Putin’s international influence and domestic rating, the continued nose-dive of international oil price throws light on the fiscal crisis behind the Russian toughness.If the oil price cannot stay put and bounce back, it may be difficult for Putin, who has been forced to move from one victory to another in Syria, to overdraw his popularity at home once more.For Putin, bread will be just as important as reputation in the new year.

3　BARRACK OBAMA

To leave behind more “political legacy” in history as the first African American President of the United States, Obama has repeatedly exerted force approaching the end of his second term and produced a rather productive “report card” amid controversies at home and abroad.In domestic affairs, under Obama’s leadership, American economy continues to bounce back, the increase of private sector employment hitting a record high whereas Obamacare has made not-insignificant headway, the proportion of uninsured Americans dropping to an all time low.In foreign policy, Obama, much criticized in his past seven years of Presidency, has made one move after another and resolved several issues without a break, restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba, reaching a comprehensive agreement with Iran on the Iranian nuclear program, basically working out “the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement” (TPP) with his junior partners in the Asia-Pacific and concluding the Paris Climate Agreement with concerted efforts of other countries on the arrangements of global actions on climate change.Such big times inflated Obama’s self-confidence at his end-of-year press conference when he declared that he would absolutely not be “sidelined” in the last year of his Presidency.However, for a Mr.President enjoying participating in reality show and fascinated by big movies of Hollywood both of the ISIS, that his anti-terrorist period gave rise to, and the ever deteriorating USRussia relations are thorny diplomatic issues he cannot escape from.Furthermore, as the US general elections become increasingly white hot, the Republicans going for broke will not make things easy for Obama’s handover.Against this backdrop, people have to wait and see to what degree Obama “diplomatic legacy” coming about with much ado will be carried forward after the elections 2016.

4　ANGELA MERKEL

The American Time magazine has conferred the German Chancellor with the laurel of its Person of the Year.Borne in East Germany, she had risen as the first woman chancellor in German history merely 15 years after reunification of Germany.Blending toughness with softness, Merkel’s style of work has won her the nickname of “Mother of Germany”.With the EU in times of crisis, the German influence is on the increase, the proposition if it is “a European Germany or a German Europe” being at issue again.Though Merkel has tried to avoid taking a stand on it, she has provided staunch “moral leadership” at the critical moment of the EU in face of triple tests of the Greek debt crisis, the Ukraine crisis and the refugee crisis.By urging Greece to reform so as to keep the Euro zone intact, by mediating between major countries in order to avoid the NATO and Russia falling into a new Cold War and by taking the lead in receiving refugees from the Middle East so as to preserve the EU principle of open border, Merkel has elevated herself to be “Mother of Europe” with conviction and stratagem.Her refugee policy being under fire of her domestic opponents, the Iron Lady has established her leadership authority in Germany and even in the EU, something rare in the European continent.The correct German attitudes to history and the reputation of German manufacturing add to her popularity in China.However, for Merkel it is far from sufficient to have a strong Germany and it needs concerted efforts of the EU and its member countries to overcome the piling crises in face of Europe.

5　PARK GEUN-HYE

As one of the few female national leaders in Asian politics, President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea is once again on Forbes magazine’s “the World’s 100 most Powerful Women in 2015 List” for her aggressive and ambitious style of government and unique delicate charm.However, behind the glamorous appearance this year is not an easy one for her.Against the continued stand-off between the North and South Koreas, the appalling attempted assassination of US Ambassador in Seoul early in the year has added pressure to Park to maintain ROK-US alliance and a sudden outbreak of MERS messing up the whole South Korean society put her under question for the government’s slow response and the intransparency of its health department.Young unemployment, steep fall of rice price, state approval of high school history textbook and widening gap between the rich and poor led to demonstration of 70000 people in Seoul calling for Park’s resignation.To a troubled Blue House, ROK-China relations outshine others, becoming one of the little praise worthy bright spots.In spite of diplomatic pressures from the US and Japan, the ROK has become one of the founding members of the Asian Infrastructural Investment Bank.Park attended China’s V-Day military parade in person, displaying valued responsibility to history.A less than efficient ROK Parliament, urged by Park, has approved ROK-China Free Trade Agreement, putting into practice mutual benefit and reciprocity between the two countries.All the above illustrates the lady president’s style of leadership in mastering the main stream and daring to lead the crowd.

6　AUNG SAN SUU KYI

It takes Suu Kyi 15 years from a captive to become an uncrowned queen.As a West-canonized “champion for democracy”, she founded the National League for Democracy and won the general elections of Myanmar in 1990.But the military junta immediately put her under house arrest and refused to recognize the results of the elections, resulting in her long captivity.By 2010, Suu Kyi regained her freedom and moved to the center of international politics.From the White House to the UN headquarters and to her highprofiled visit to China, as a leader of the opposition party in an Asian developing country, she has been accorded with super standard reception.On November 11, 2015, the general elections of Myanmar concluded, in which Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy prevailed with close to 90 percent popular votes.Though Suu Kyi, her late husband and children being foreign nationals, cannot be elected President, as restricted by the constitution of Myanmar, Suu Kyi has vowed to rule Myanmar “above the President” as leader of the largest party prevailing in the general elections.However, even with undisputed popularity, Suu Kyi should properly handle the interest relations with the military junta.In addition, the tension in North Myanmar cannot be eased in the short term.Under her leadership, it is to be tested by time where Myanmar will go in the whirlpool of major-country contest.

7　SHINZO ABE

In his New Year Message at the beginning of 2015, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe avowed to make Japan once more a country of world splendor and 2015 the “year of bold reform”.In retrospect, the Japanese Prime Minister, styled as the “most rightist” one in the post-war years, has chosen a “reform” road of continued retrogress.From his remarks on the 70th anniversary of end of the war in lack of sincerity to stream rolling against the mainstream public opinion in the Diet of National Security Act removing restrictions on the right to collective self-defense, he has moved further and further away on the road of rightist tendency.Even in face of tens of thousands of protesters on demonstration and severe attacks by the opposition parties, his Premiership is rock-solid, the predominance of LDP being in place in Japanese politics.In the international arena, from the contest on high-speed railroad to boycotting China-led Asian Infrastructural Investment Bank and to getting Japan into the TPP, he has spared no efforts in challenging China on the one hand and continued to express his desires to turnaround China and ROK relations on the other, fully demonstrating his uncontrollable dual character.However, the short-term results of Abenomics have failed to cover up growing difficulties in domestic economy and people’s livelihood whereas his continued high profile in international exposure remains unable to fill up the deep gully between Japan and its neighbors in understanding history.With further implementation of Japanese National Security Act, the “Abes” acting against the tide of history may take Japan further away from being a “normal country”.A choice is more important than an effort, which may serve the best New Year Message for this political careerist.

8　DAVID CAMERON

The year of 2015 is a flourishing one for Cameron, who has not only led the Conservative Party in defeating the Labour Party with an overwhelming majority in election and being re-elected British Prime Minister but also made quite a few accomplishments in foreign policy, such as reenacting the past glory of the British Empire by inviting Xi Jinping to visit the UK.Before long, the scene remains vivid of a tearful Cameron persuading the Scots to stay in the union before the independence referendum.It is only in a year that Cameron has consolidated his leadership in the country whereas it is no doubt an important strategic choice for this British Prime Minister to strengthen the already close relationship with China.Earlier in the year, the UK became the first Western country to join the Asian Infrastructural Investment Bank, setting an example for other developed Western countries to follow, which is deplored by the US.Queen Elizabeth II according President Xi’s state visit with full ceremony and opening a “Golden Era” of UK-China relations is more like a grand gala designed by a Cameron team well-versed in the Oriental ritual culture.As the US is busy with the chaos in the Middle East and has no time for the Orient for the time being, and as Germany focuses on the triple crises of the EU, the UK has moved the center of its strategic gravity to developing China relations and casting an important chip of the old empire to the East.“Euro-integration or Euro-exit” is an urgent, difficult problem for the UK to tackle.It needs Cameron’s wisdom and ability to appropriately handle the dilemma.

9　HASSAN ROUHANI

Ever since his election as President of Iran, the mission of Hassan Rouhani has been to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis and to improve Iran’s living environment under stern sanctions of the US-led West that is increasingly difficult.In July 2015, after more than a decade of entanglement, the historic Iran Nuclear Agreement was finally reached with joint efforts of Rouhani and UNP5+1 countries.For Rouhani, this agreement is not easy to come by.Besides dealing and bargaining with the US on negotiation table, he had to struggle with hardliners at home by wits and courage and furthermore to watch constantly and closely the reaction of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.Between bread and nuclear arms, Rouhani has taken the former representing Iran’s mainstream public opinion.By doing so, he has not only brought to Iran a peace agreement but also a loud report of the starting pistol for rapid rise.As the unrest continues in the Middle East, an Iran free from the “Arab Spring” and the “ISIS” will surely enter into a Golden period for national development once international sanctions are removed.As the Parliamentary Elections of Iran in February 2016 approache, a mission-complete Rouhani still faces great pressure from hardliners in the parliament and the Revolutionary Guards at home and dilemma of continued relaxation with the US-led West abroad.Therefore, for Rouhani, the conclusion of Iran Nuclear Agreement is only a beginning of Iran’s gradual integration in the international community.

10　RECEP ERDOGAN

In the elections of June 2015, under Erdogan’s leadership, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Turkey lost its parliamentary majority.However, he came back in 5 months and the party regained its majority in parliament with overwhelming superiority in the temporary elections, bringing the country back to the one party rule of the AKP.The key for Erdogan and the AKP to make a bizarre reversal in such a short time rests with the fact that an ever deteriorating situation in the Middle East increases the Turks’ reliance on strongman politics, since their own security is more practical than the search for democratic politics.However, maybe carried away by empiricism of thriving in chaos, Erdogan shot down a Russian war-plane conducting airstrike in Syria in the name of defending Turkey’s territorial airspace.He has been since made uneasy by Putin’s retaliatory actions.Accused by Putin of collaborating with the “ISIS”, Erdogan has pledged to take the blame and resign conditioned the accusations are proven true.However, before his voice dies away, he is embarrassed by ironclad evidence produced respectively by Russian and Norwegian officials.No matter if Turkey is in secret contacts with the terrorists, the dramatic deterioration of Turkey-Russia relations has already dealt a heavy blow to Erdogan’s political reputation.If the flare-up of tension between the two sides cannot be relaxed, the tensed Middle East situation may be further worsened.