A Message from the New World Order

China and Russia, those happy bastions of freedom and democracy, non-interference and human rights, have issued a joint communique today that implicitly sticks a big middle finger in the direction of their overbearing western neighbour (no, not Japan).

In it, they maintain

Differences and disputes must be solved through peaceful means rather than through unilateralism or coercion. There should be no use or threatened use of force, says the joint statement.

Only on the basis of universally recognized tenents and norms of international law, and under an impartial and rational world order, can problems facing mankind be solved, says the document.

All countries should strictly observe the principles of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, it says.

Unless, of course, you are Taiwan. Or Tibet. Or part of the Korean peninsula. Or a Japanese island grouping near lots of oil. But everyone else is probably ok. Unless we get mad at you. Or you get in our way. Or we find you to be an inconvenience to our plans for peaceful reunification of a never-existant homeland. Or you criticize our government.