Thread by @GeringTuvia

"Small countries should take notice and fully appreciate that those who play with fire get burned... They must strike a balance between the major powers and invariably bend the knee in front of certain countries" - Political scientist Guo Jicheng's comments on Ukraine.
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Guo Jicheng is a CCP member, lecturer for the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, and an associate professor at the Institute of Ideological and Political Studies at the China Uni. of Political Science and Law. He has 2 million followers on Douyin (TikTok). Full translation:
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"The situation in Ukraine is complicated. It's a question of how much pressure this small country can withstand and what it will do if dismembered; it will have global consequences.
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"Small countries should take notice and fully appreciate that those who play with fire get burned and that they should avoid relying on foreign forces to strengthen themselves [idioms commonly used by the PRC's MoFA to describe anti-unification advocates in Taiwan - TG].
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"They must strike a balance between the major powers and invariably bend the knee in front of certain countries. [They must realize that] if the fundamental interests of certain major countries are jeopardized, small countries like Ukraine may find themselves powerless.

"Therefore, I believe that those states who truly control the world's future/destiny (命运) will shape its history, whether you like it or not, and regardless of your political viewpoint.
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"It is those major powers that control vast swaths of land and have control over the resources and populations of other big countries that will likely have the most significant impact on the global landscape.
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"In light of this, we, the Chinese people, must strive to be stronger and revitalize the governance of our nation. We must properly manage all aspects of domestic, political, and foreign affairs so our people can be more prosperous and happy, and
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"so that we can enrich our spiritual homeland. Only then will the Chinese nation be able to protect the prosperity and security of the 1.4 billion Chinese people; only then, will we be able to make greater contributions to the rest of the world.
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"That's why I hope that the incident in Ukraine leads each and every one of us to stop and reflect and draw the necessary lessons. In doing so, we will be more adept at developing our country and better at handling our domestic, political, and foreign affairs.
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"At the same time, by facilitating the reunification of our country, it will help us confidently march toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
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Link: douyin.com/video/70689544…