Chapter 313: Return To Gatt
Whether in terms of organizational power, ability, or efficiency, under the premise of clear direction and technical data, China’s progress is unparalleled.
According to Lin Ran’s estimate, at most ten years, ten years in the human world, China in the semiconductor field will be able to advance to the 1990 level.
This is still based on the situation where China has many industrial shortcomings that need to be addressed.
If talking about innovation, China’s current environment may be somewhat lacking, large-scale science and engineering talent cultivation has not yet begun, the entire technology-oriented environment has not yet been formed, and financial support is even more out of the question.
Innovation is a bit difficult, but China is really good at replication, and not just simple replication, replication also comes with its own innovation.
Making micro-innovations on the basis of technology, not satisfied with simple replication, wanting to pursue more interests, this is one of the important reasons why China is able to pull ahead of other developing countries.
Whether at this time node now or the time node sixty years later, Geneva is an important location for international organizations, and also an important location for international negotiations.
“.And I lay the groundwork again, for the next chapter.”
Lin Ran at Redstone Arsenal, looking at the rocket test stand outside the window, murmured the end of Ten Years of Human World, thinking that his actions this time really had to lay the groundwork for the next chapter.
Lin Ran’s confidence comes from the gate, from his own experiences, and also from the change in identity and status in 2020.
If what is said in the Analects is at seventy following one’s heart’s desire without transgressing the norm, Lin Ran now feels he can already achieve the first half: following one’s heart’s desire.
A large number of international negotiations are held in Geneva.
GATT’s headquarters is at the William R. Laporte Center by Lake Geneva.
Indoors, representatives from various member countries are taking their seats one after another. Today, they are here to negotiate an extremely important topic: whether to allow China to resume its seat in GATT.
Yes, resume, not join.
The world map on the wall also has the slogan “Trade connects the world.”
Translation personnel from various countries stand beside the representatives, ready at any time to translate the representative’s language into English, and to convert other representatives’ languages into the language their responsible representative can understand.
English Language, French Language, Spanish, Portuguese, etc., this is a bloodless battlefield.
The chairman, Swiss diplomat Pierre Dubois, bangs the gavel and announces the meeting begins.
“Respected representatives, we now discuss agenda item five: consideration of China’s request to resume GATT contracting party status.” He pauses for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the venue, “I invite the America representative John Smith to speak first.”
John Smith stands up: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We suggest restoring China’s GATT contracting party status.”
The Japan representative Tanaka Hiroshi opposes: “China’s predecessor has made important contributions to GATT since 1947. Any change in representation must be carefully considered to avoid disrupting existing trade relationships.
In addition, we are concerned that this move may cause political instability in the Asia region.”
Smith responds quickly: “Mr. Chairman, allow me to clarify, China’s predecessor formally withdrew from GATT in 1950, so China’s seat is currently vacant.
Accepting the PRC is not replacing existing members, but filling this vacancy.
According to international law, government changes do not affect a country’s membership in international organizations.
As the actual controller of China, it should inherit the 1947 seat.”
The France representative Mary Dupont continues: “France supports America’s suggestion.
Accepting China will inject new vitality into global trade, promoting economic development and stability in Asia.
We believe that trade cooperation is a bridge that transcends ideology.”
The South Africa representative John van der Merwe flips through the documents in his hand, then van der Merwe stands up to oppose: “
South Africa cannot support this suggestion.
The Chinese Representative has not come to the scene personally, nor has made any promise about joining GATT or demonstrated understanding of GATT. Whether China’s economic model is compatible with GATT’s free trade principles still requires further full discussion.”
Smith’s tone carries Johnson-style persuasiveness: “Mr. van der Merwe, GATT’s core is to promote trade, not to judge economic models.
China has clearly stated it will comply with GATT rules, including gradually reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers.
Refusing its participation will only allow other countries to seize China’s market, which is not beneficial to all of us.”
The Brazil representative Carlos Silva raises his hand and raises a procedural issue: “Mr. Chairman, I want to confirm whether China is applying as a new member or claiming to inherit the original seat?”
Dubois flips through the documents and calmly answers: “According to the received request, China claims to be the legitimate government and should inherit the 1947 seat. Given the predecessor’s withdrawal statement in 1950, this request is regarded as resuming membership status, not a new member application.”
Smith adds: “That is correct.
GATT Article 25 allows such matters to be decided by majority vote.”
The debate lasted a full hour.
Representatives from all sides took turns speaking, and the atmosphere was very heated.
This matter is full of profound meaning.
Dubois bangs the gavel and announces: “We now proceed to voting. The motion is as follows: whether to accept the PRC resuming GATT contracting party status? Those in favor, please raise your hands.”
Smith’s gaze sweeps through the venue, hands from England, France, Maple Leaf Country, and other countries raise one after another.
He quickly counts, trying to estimate the result.
“Those opposed, please raise your hands.” Dubois continues.
South Africa, Japan, and several Latin American countries raise hands, but the number is clearly fewer.
After counting, Dubois announces: “Votes in favor are the majority, the motion passes.
PRC resumes GATT contracting party status.”
Low murmurs and applause rose inside the venue.
China returned to GATT at this moment.
However, this was just the beginning, not the end.
Because joining GATT for China means that if others give you most-favored-nation status, you also have to give it to them.
Without flagship products, without radios and calculators and such electronic products, in the past not only did they pay off the debts owed to the Soviet Union, but they also accumulated a considerable nest egg.
Including Panda Electronics, which operated well in Hong Kong and even Southeast Asia, gaining some experience.
The past accumulation gave China some confidence to join GATT.
Otherwise, even if America wanted to pull China in, China itself would refuse.
A pure agriculture country joining GATT, and then not accepting foreign investment, would not mean sharing the cake, but being treated as the cake and sliced by others.
And with the good news of LCD TVs in the future, and semiconductor strength further strengthening, the voices inside China supporting joining GATT finally overwhelmed the opposing voices.
Let me explain a bit more here, why China did not send representatives.
This is because after 1949, someone on China’s side announced withdrawal from GATT (those who fled to the Island), but Yanjing has never acknowledged that they withdrew.
In other words, from Yanjing’s perspective, I never said I withdrew, so why should I send representatives to a so-called meeting to restore seats?
And China at the official GATT level restored GATT observer status in 1982, at that time point, after all, there was a great demand for foreign investment, so they could only pinch their noses and acknowledge it, then began the long road back to WTO.
Now, China has never acknowledged that it withdrew.
Going out and coming back, China itself felt nothing throughout the process, while other countries argued fiercely.
At this point, China officially became one of GATT’s contracting parties again, which is even higher than formal member status.
Dean Rusk thus brought this great gift and walked into Yanjing’s autumn.
“Rusk, I fully understand your intentions for coming. We also hope to do business with America. We do not exclude doing business with any country in the world.
But we cannot do what you want us to do.
We cannot possibly go persuade Hanoi to stop, cannot possibly interfere in their own affairs. If we did that, what difference would there be between us and the Soviet Union?
I can at most write a letter to persuade them, as for what you want me to do, using stopping support to force Hanoi to compromise, sorry, I cannot do that. Even if America threatens to cut off trade relations with us because of it, we still cannot do it!”
Rusk was somewhat disappointed, because the other’s tone was extremely firm. He realized that this time he came, he could not get what he wanted at all.
“The Soviet Union can do it, why can’t you?” Rusk tactfully expressed his doubt.
“The Soviet Union doing this will sooner or later bear a price they themselves cannot bear. We do not want to bear such a price in the future, so we cannot do it. I wonder if you can understand?”
Rusk said he could not understand; he could only understand the first half of the sentence, not the second half.
