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China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

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Re: China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

#11

Post by avar »

An interesting detail left out of the article is that Norway's neighbor Iceland ended up signing a free-trade agreement with China in 2013, both Norway and Iceland had negotiations underway in 2010 when China broke ties with Norway.

Norway and Iceland are both EEA members, effectively with one foot in the EU, Iceland was the first European country to sign such an agreement with China.

Norway and Iceland having free-trade with China while having deep access to the European single market leaves EU expansion in an odd situation. Neither country could become a full EU member without hurting trade with China, or alternatively the EU would have to make a similar FTA with China beforehand.

I've wondered what the realpolitik of the situation is. Is China's main interest in these deals to drive a wedge into further EU integration? Are they trying to create a situation where Norway and Iceland joining the EU would be contingent on the EU accepting a FTA with China?

Re: China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

#12

Post by robert_foss »

ekianjo wrote: post #8

I dont understand the word Forcing here. Norway had a choice to continue denying The one China policy. Putting pressure on Norway thru various means is not forcing. Forcing would be done via a military operation leaving little choice.

Applying pressure that is irresistible is the literal definition of forcing.

So yes, China was definitely forcing Norway to recognize Taiwan and Hong Kong as a being a part of China.

Re: China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

#15

Post by ekianjo »

gambiting wrote: post #10
ekianjo wrote: post #8

I dont understand the word Forcing here. Norway had a choice to continue denying The one China policy. Putting pressure on Norway thru various means is not forcing. Forcing would be done via a military operation leaving little choice.

I don't understand the problem with the word forcing here. If you take your kid's xbox to make them clean their room then yeah, you are forcing them to do it.

No you are not. They can decide to live without it.

Re: China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

#16

Post by ekianjo »

robert_foss wrote: post #12
ekianjo wrote: post #8

I dont understand the word Forcing here. Norway had a choice to continue denying The one China policy. Putting pressure on Norway thru various means is not forcing. Forcing would be done via a military operation leaving little choice.

Applying pressure that is irresistible is the literal definition of forcing. So yes, China was definitely forcing Norway to recognize Taiwan and Hong Kong as a being a part of China.

Its rather a matter of incentives. Norway has more to gainthis way. But it is not threatening their existence so forcing is the wrong word to use here. Its just clickbaity.

Re: China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

#17

Post by whatyoucantsay »

There are two notable points in this piece:

1) China suspended normal diplomatic relations with Norway, tossed out a free trade agreement, largely shut down fishing imports from the country and made it far more difficult for Norwegians to get visas to travel study or work in China. All of this was because of an activist being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, which is process controlled a foundation, not directly by the Norwegian government.

2) It took six years for Norway to get normal relations back. After many failed attempts, what they finally had to do was jointly acknowledge the One China Principle and China's core interests and territorial integrity. Beyond Taiwan, this clearly includes the China’s "nine dash line" claims in South China Sea, which was ruled illegal by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague last summer.

There's also various content about interfering with Dalai Lama visits and other topics that are pretty familiar to most Europeans.

Update: correction about the Nobel Peace prize thanks to dagw's feedback.

Re: China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

#18

Post by ekianjo »

provost wrote: post #9
ekianjo wrote: post #8

I dont understand the word Forcing here. Norway had a choice to continue denying The one China policy. Putting pressure on Norway thru various means is not forcing. Forcing would be done via a military operation leaving little choice.

> Forcing would be done via a military operation leaving little choice. Blackmail, threats, deceit, etc are other ways to force. Not saying that occurred here, just that your definition has a narrow scope.

Id rather say you are narrowing the scope of free will. Succumbing to pressure is not the same as being forced.

Re: China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

#19

Post by nailer »

oh-kumudo wrote: post #5

Which in fact, is what most countries in the world signed up for. Also, it is a prerequisite for any country to even establish ANY formal diplomatic relationship with China[1]. It is almost certain Norway government has acknowledged this way back then through some bilateral treaty, and this time it is simply a reiteration. TL;DR:this is no news https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-China_policy#Diplomatic_re...

IIRC you have to agree that there is 'one indivisible China', which is vague. You could still support democracy.

The Norwegian government grovelling about 'not supporting anything to undermine China again' - after the Nobel was awarded to an activist - stinks more than usual.

Re: China Forces Norway to Adhere to ‘One China’ Policy

#20

Post by sgift »

ekianjo wrote: post #18
provost wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Forcing would be done via a military operation leaving little choice. Blackmail, threats, deceit, etc are other ways to force. Not saying that occurred here, just that your definition has a narrow scope.

Id rather say you are narrowing the scope of free will. Succumbing to pressure is not the same as being forced.

What a brilliant piece of newspeak. "You weren't forced to do what the mugger wanted. You just succumbed to their pressure."
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