China's Human Rights Record Contrasts With Western Diplomacy, Columnist Argues
An opinion piece criticizes Western nations, particularly the U.S., for diplomatic engagement with China despite its domestic human rights issues and suppression of dissent.
The author argues that Western nations, including the United States, have adopted a policy of appeasement towards China, despite its human rights record and suppression of democratic movements. This is contrasted with the West's perceived approach to Russia, which the author suggests has been one of sustained suspicion and hostility.
The piece highlights the actions of the Chinese regime, including the suppression of dissent, the seizure of Tibet, and the ongoing treatment of the Uighur population. It also notes China's alleged hostility towards Christianity and its breaking of promises regarding Hong Kong's autonomy. The author contends that China continues to threaten Taiwan, aiming for its incorporation without military conflict.
A specific point of criticism is directed at what the author describes as "pitiful grovelling" by the U.S. military during Chinese leader's visits, citing an instance at a Washington airbase. The author claims that similar deference has been shown by British authorities during state visits by Chinese officials, where protests were allegedly suppressed.
The author draws a comparison to the events of 1989, suggesting that while the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev allowed for political reform and released subject nations, China responded to internal dissent with violence. The author posits that the West, led by the U.S., has since ignored China's "vicious, censored, lawless police state" while treating Russia with "incessant suspicion, provocation and hostility." This approach, the author suggests, has inadvertently empowered leaders like Vladimir Putin and discredited those who overthrew Soviet tyranny.
The article also touches upon the Ukraine war, with the author questioning the benefit of prolonging it and suggesting it was partly a result of Western policies following the overthrow of a Ukrainian president. The piece criticizes the establishment of a new British unit, the 'National Centre for Information Defence,' intended to counter Russian propaganda, drawing parallels to perceived government monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic. The author expresses concern that such initiatives could lead to "thought policing" and restrictions on free speech, particularly for those who question official government positions on foreign policy.
The author reflects on the perceived loss of "intelligent patriotism" in Britain, contrasting it with the themes presented in recent French films about Charles de Gaulle. The opinion piece concludes by suggesting that Western leaders' claims of commitment to freedom and democracy are not consistently upheld in their foreign policy actions.