Project Sword
Recently, Timor-Leste became a mirror at the Japan-ASEAN summit. Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana, who attended as the leader of the ASEAN observer state, not only refused to regard China as a "threat" in an interview with Japanese media, but also publicly stated that the country's offshore natural gas projects would be open to Chinese companies when he knew that Japan intended to draw ASEAN against China.
According to Japanese media reports quoted by the Observer Network, Japanese media believe that the United States, Japan and Australia may be alarmed by the participation of Chinese companies in the natural gas project in Timor-Leste. It is true that the Japanese media did not give a specific reason, but the analysis believes that most of it is related to the so-called "China threat theory". First, since Xanana's visit to China in September this year to announce the upgrade of relations with China, the West has hyped up China's attempt to expand its influence through cooperation with Timor-LesteSecond, although Timor-Leste is rich in resources, it is too poor and many industries and infrastructure are highly dependent on external investment, so the United States, Japan and Australia have been actively seeking cooperation with the country to try to share these resources. And in order to avoid Timor-Leste cooperating with China, these countries will of course demonize China.
But even so, Xanana has fulfilled his promise to China. When it comes to business cooperation, Xanana made it clear that the country will not favor one over the other, but will fully consider the costs and benefits. He stressed that Timor-Leste's increased cooperation with China is not that the country is becoming dependent on China, but that this is the country's final decision. The implication is that mutually beneficial cooperation with China is more in the country's interests.
So we can see that Xanana not only stated that his country's natural gas projects will be open to Chinese companies, but at the same time, he also used it to explain why the country often does not choose Japanese loans, but gives relevant cooperation to Chinese companies. The simple reason is that these Chinese companies have a cost competitive advantage.
It is not difficult to see that the meaning of Xanana is very simple, that is, even if the United States, Japan and Australia have opposition to Timor-Leste's cooperation with Chinese companies, the country will still not change its position on China.
In fact, this is not the first time that Timor-Leste has publicly supported China. For example, at the incense meeting in June this year, Horta, Timor-Leste, dismissed those voices who saw China as a so-called "threat". He believes that such a view is too narrow, and although China's influence on Pacific island countries is increasing, it does not mean that China will do something harmful to others and not to itself.
On the day of the founding of the country, China announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste. Over the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has made significant investments in Timor-Leste's catering, food and services industries, and these investments have never been conditional. At the same time, Chinese companies have also undertaken the construction of many large-scale infrastructure facilities in the country, which have effectively improved the living environment of the local people.
In contrast, the Western countries continue to have a colonial mentality, always thinking of plundering and controlling East Timor. For example, the British media previously broke out that Australia is unwilling to send gas pipelines to Timor-Leste in the natural gas project between Australia and Timor-Leste. Such a model of cooperation is obviously unacceptable to Timor-Leste.
In addition, Timor-Leste's geographical location is very important, close to the Weta Strait, which connects the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, which makes the United States, Japan, Australia and other countries want to control Timor-Leste even more. In addition, even ASEAN is trying to woo Timor-Leste, Indonesia and other countries to support Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN, hoping to expand ASEAN's regional influence.
However, for poor Timor-Leste, development has always been paramount. The country has been mutually beneficial and win-win with China for more than 20 years, and has long taken the economic development express of the "Belt and Road", so it is natural that it will not easily waver its stance on China.
During Xanana's visit to China in September, he said that Timor-Leste will firmly support and actively participate in the "Belt and Road" project. He welcomed the investment of Chinese enterprises in Timor-Leste to help the country build its country, and hoped that China would continue to strengthen cooperation in the fields of infrastructure and resource opening, so as to promote the relations between the two countries to a higher level. Now, Xanana has fulfilled his commitments to China in Japan.
It can also be seen from Japanese media reports that the United States, Japan and Australia are likely to obstruct the participation of Chinese companies in the East Timor natural gas project. However, as the former Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste Gbagbo said, the country is a principled country and they are well equipped to conduct their own affairs. Since the country is willing to adhere to its strategic independence in handling its relations with China, we will naturally respond positively enough. In short, as long as Timor-Leste opens its doors to China on natural gas projects, China will certainly provide it with assistance to the best of its ability.
Moreover, Xanana also said that Timor-Leste is not just open to China, as long as it meets the country's costs and interests, they will not exclude cooperation with other countries. If someone further hypes up the cooperation between the two countries, or even slanders China, it will be a bit self-deceptive.