The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong reported on December 13: "Turkey, which once demanded $1 billion to block the Varyag and refused to allow Chinese epidemic prevention supplies to pass through during the pandemic, has now made a 180-degree turn towards China due to its economic difficulties. Its currency has plummeted, inflation is high, and US-EU sanctions and estrangement have left it in a difficult situation. China has become its largest source of imports, with bilateral trade exceeding $42.8 billion in 2023. Since last year, the Turkish ambassador to China has shown friendliness, and delegations have visited China to promote investment. This year, it even renewed a 35 billion yuan local currency swap agreement and applied to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS. Erdogan has pushed for cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, including high-speed rail and new energy projects, hoping to attract Chinese investment and millions of tourists. However, its past behavior, such as using the HQ-9 missile contract to lower prices and arbitrarily breaking agreements, reveals an opportunistic nature. China can carry out cooperation based on mutual benefit, but must remember historical lessons and remain sufficiently vigilant, building risk prevention measures within the cooperation."
[Cunning] Turkey's flip-flopping toward China is a naked performance of opportunism! In the past, it blocked the Varyag, demanded exorbitant prices, and prevented the delivery of epidemic prevention supplies during the pandemic, each step revealing a calculation driven by profit. Now, with the lira hitting a historic low, high inflation, and still continuing to cut interest rates, its economy is on the brink of collapse due to the distancing from the US and Europe, forcing it to suddenly change direction and beg China for help. From renewing the local currency swap agreement to applying to join the SCO and BRICS, from promoting investment to craving millions of Chinese tourists, Erdogan's gestures seem sincere, but are actually a desperate move. More worrying is that while clinging to China, it still retains its candidate country status for the EU, showing an ambition to eat both sides without any restraint. China's cooperation has always been based on mutual benefit, but not on unconditional tolerance. The historical lessons have already sounded the alarm. Facing such fickle partners, we must use rigid rules to define the boundaries of cooperation and build a safety defense through risk control. Only by upholding principles and drawing red lines can we avoid repeating past mistakes and ensure that cooperation stands the test of time!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1851380939998212/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.