China’s Chairman Xi Jinping has been on a bit of a roll lately and it has got to be the kind of press he’s eating up. My goodness.

A week ago and to everyone’s complete surprise, he was busy helping old foes mend fences in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, Iran Restore Relations in Surprise Agreement Brokered by China
Beijing has successfully undermined the U.S. with the surprise news that serves as the greatest evidence yet China is pursuing a more prolific, benign image in global diplomacy.

Saudi Arabia and Iran announced Friday that the regional powerhouses have eased their arch-rivalry enough to restore diplomatic ties, thanks to an agreement brokered by China – a surprising move broadly seen as bolstering Beijing’s ability to project soft power globally at America’s expense.

Several Western analysts expressed surprise at news of the restoration of diplomatic relations as detailed in a statement from China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, following previously undisclosed talks in Beijing. It will take effect by reopening their respective embassies within two months, along with new talks about potential economic and security exchanges.

But when one of the parties is a long-time partner of the U.S. and the U.S. is left completely out of the loop? Certainly doesn’t help the terrific impression the Biden administration has made on the world diplomatic stage so far. Being a step or two behind and giving the Chinese crowing rights about anything would seem to be self-defeating, especially if it means we have to listen to Potatus stumble through more excruciating yarns about how much time he’s spent wit…zzzzzzzzzz.

…This comes after China brokered an agreement to resume diplomatic ties between longtime rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran after a series of secret meetings held in Beijing, an announcement that surprised the Biden administration. On Monday, President Biden said he expected to have a call with Xi soon.

…Since the Iran-Saudi deal Friday, Chinese state media and commentators have reveled in Western surprise at Beijing’s new role as a major power broker and hailed the success as a sign of China’s skill at mediation.

“‘China has facilitated the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.’ For the West, the key word in this news headline is not Iran or Saudi Arabia, but China,” the state-run paper Guancha said in an editorial. “The change of hands of the ‘peacemaker’ is enough to shock all walks of life in the United States.”

Xi’s got a visit with Putin sometime soon – there’s talk it may even happen this coming week. In the interim, he unveiled his new vision of world harmony, and it’s a Xi you probably never knew existed.

Fresh off a legislative congress where he cemented his vision for governing China, Xi Jinping turned to how he would create a better world order. It would be based on mutual respect, tolerance and equality — and China would be its natural leader, he told heads of political parties for an array of countries, including Russia and South Africa, Nicaragua and East Timor.

“Chinese-style modernization does not follow the old path of colonial plunder or the hegemony of strong countries,” Xi told them in a video call Wednesday, sitting at a desk surrounded by Chinese and Communist Party flags.

“The world does not need another Cold War,” he said, announcing his new concept — the “global civilization initiative,” a set of lofty guiding principles for a “new type of international relations” that China is building.

Xi’s comments were a clear rebuke of the United States — and a reflection of the harder tack he is taking as he ramps up China’s diplomatic efforts with an expected visit to Russia.

He’s proposing something dubbed the “Global Civilization Initiative” which (to quote China Daily, but as a mouthpiece of the regime I won’t link to for your safety) ‘provides hope to heal the world in turbulence.’ China would be its “natural leader,” naturally.

Are you ready to join China's Global Civilization Initiative? The initiative calls for respect for the diversity of civilizations, upholding the common values of humanity in pursuing peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom, and https://t.co/Y7k5PI4ycL… https://t.co/QQo4pF3BYX

— @amuse (@amuse) March 17, 2023

Look at all that peace, love and harmony – WHAT A GREAT GUY!

The Chinese are laying it on thick, too.

China hits back at those who think they are “garden”, but others are “jungle” by introducing its timely Global Civilization Initiative.

In this initiative, China says:
“A single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full blossom bring spring to the garden.”

— Ebrahim Hashem 李思瑞 إبراهيم هاشم (@EbrahimHashem) March 16, 2023

No word about those weedy Uighurs from newly benevolent Chinese gardeners yet, though.

As the next stop on his “give peace a chance” world tour, Xi will be heading to Moscow to meet with Putin. Materially, Putin needs Xi far more than Xi needs him, and it’s going to be ever so interesting to see how much groveling Putin is willing to do to keep the Chinese flow of essential war goods in and oil sales out.

What Xi is going to get from physically meeting Putin in the Russian capital is a warm fuzzy. First, it’s an “up yours” to the Americans, showing Biden he’ll go anywhere he damn pleases. Secondly, he’s coming in the guise of a peace-maker – wrapped in white robes, with a benign half smile on his face. It can’t help but make him look good compared to our Stumblopogus.

Who looks like a benevolent world leader…?

China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, has cast himself as a global statesman, helping Saudi Arabia and Iran broker a deal to restore diplomatic ties while extolling the virtues of “Chinese solutions and wisdom” in solving the world’s biggest security challenges.

Now, Mr. Xi is putting himself at the center of Russia’s war with Ukraine, working to portray himself as a mediator who could cool down the protracted fight.

The Chinese leader is expected to meet in person next week with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, and a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine could follow. China has already proposed a peace settlement, though it does not address important details such as whether Russian troops would withdraw. In announcing Mr. Xi’s visit to Russia, a Chinese official on Friday said it was “for the sake of peace.”

Why this guy right here, that’s who.

It doesn’t hurt that Xi also has his people scattered throughout the globe, strategically situated in positions of influence to push his message.

One of the world’s largest financial institutions teetering on a full-blown crisis has a Chinese Communist Party-linked individual on its risk management team.

…Then, on Thursday, Credit Suisse said it intended to borrow a staggering $54 billion from the Swiss National Bank as an unprecedented lifeline to boost its liquidity.

…According to its website, though, Shan Li, an individual with extensive ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has been a board member of the bank with senior roles on its risk management team, Asia advisory council and compensation committee since 2019.

…Li’s profile page also shows that he is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, a key cog in the CCP’s “United Front” influence campaign apparatus. According to a U.S. government report published in 2018, the CPPCC is a “critical coordinating body” that brings together representatives of Chinese interest groups and is led by the CCP’s Politburo Standing Committee.

…”The United Front strategy uses a range of methods to influence overseas Chinese communities, foreign governments, and other actors to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijing’s preferred policies,” the report added. “A number of official and quasi-official entities conduct overseas activities guided or funded by the United Front including Chinese government and military organizations.”

While some quarters are taking a jaundiced view of “Mr. Xi Goes to Moscow”…

#MamaXi #Pakistan #China
Times Of India Today 💥 pic.twitter.com/q5TrvDGrFV

— INDIPLUS NEWS 🇮🇳 (@IndiplusNews) March 6, 2023

…there’s no denying that the chairman is doing a bang-up job of presenting the faux-face of this gender, gentler CCCP world domination initiative.

Quite frankly, there’s not a dang thing coming out of the White House that can counter it, or even attempts to.