No one is in position to dictate to Chinese people

By Zhong Sheng

There are always some arrogant and conceited people in the world who have little self-knowledge but enjoy pointing fingers at others.

Recently, some so-called “China Hawks” in the U.S. sent an open letter to the White House, slandering and defaming China’s internal and foreign policies while brazenly marketing the argument that China is “reprehensible”. What they did was absurd and revealed their evil intention.

What on earth is China “reprehensible” for? Indeed, nothing in this scraped-together patchwork actually stands.

While claiming that China “does not recognize the principles and rules of the existing international order”, “suppresses religious freedom and free speech”, and “uses its economic and military force to bully and intimidate others”, the letter offered neither evidences nor logical grounds, but only a scene with rascal statements.   

Some insightful experts commented that the letter, though intending to criticize China, serve better as a self-portrait of some Americans.

Who is ruining the universally accepted rule-based international order established after the World War Ⅱ and driving the world into chaos for private interests?

Who is politicizing human rights in international relations, pursuing double standards and frequently interfering in other countries’ internal affairs under the so called excuse of human rights issues?

Who is obsessed with showing off muscles, deliberately worsening international security environment, and pushing forward regional militarization?

China’s international image is never defined by the so-call “China Hawks” in the U.S. The merits of the issues are clear, and the international community is the only rightful judge.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese people have found a successful development path featuring socialism with Chinese characteristics. China is committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and adheres to peaceful development.

Upholding an open strategy aiming for mutual benefit and win-win results, China has unswervingly safeguarded the basic norms governing international relations and maintained international justice.

In line with the trends of the times towards peace, development, cooperation, and win-win results, China follows its path and runs its own affairs well, seeking welfare of its own people and people around the world.  

On July 24, the Chinese government issued a white paper, China’s National Defense in the New Era, declaring Chinese military’s firm resolve to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests and support the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

It made clear that China will never follow the beaten track of big powers in seeking hegemony and reaffirmed the country’s sincere aspiration for firmly safeguarding world peace and stability and actively serving the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.   

Anyone who cares about the common good of the world can see that China is an important force for safeguarding the world peace and development, and not a country that is “morally reprehensible” and “uses its economic and military force to bully and intimidate others”.

Unfortunately, it has been a weird phenomenon in the US politics today that blasting China is a way to get political points, Neil Bush, chairman of George H.W. Bush China –U.S. Relations Foundation said in a recent interview. His remarks reflected the concern of the insightful Americans over the “demonization of China”. 

A governing system cannot be applied and practical to all countries, as they have their own national situations, some of which are very different, said Bush, noting that countries should establish governing systems according to their own national conditions, and urging Americans to understand the characteristics of the Chinese governing system.

We have seen numerous times that some Western countries, relying on scientific and technological achievements and economic advantages, tried to export their values and institutions to others together with capital. They also conducted “color revolutions” in some regions, which led to political disorder and economic stagnation of many countries.

On the contrary, China has always upheld the idea of treating each other as equals and pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation, and never forces others to accept its institution, development path, or values.

“Propagandistic assertions by American ideologues notwithstanding, it does not push autocracy or oppose democracy abroad,” said Charles W. Freeman Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to China and chief interpreter of former U.S. President Richard Nixon.

“Often times the West finds it hard to suppress the impulse to act as a lecturer with regard to China and its leaders, which usually results in failure stemming from ignorance and arrogance,” said Helmut Schmidt, former West German Chancellor. What he said is a consensus of the international society.

As a country with over 5,000 years of civilization and nearly 1.4 billion people, China has followed an independent development path based on its own national conditions and the aspirations of the people when pursuing reform and development.

It has been proven repeatedly that there are no certain textbook and golden rules for China to follow, and no one is in the position to dictate to the Chinese people.

These so-called “China Hawks” who cannot get out of their sense of superiority and the role of the “redeemer” had better stop their old tricks, as what they attempt to do would finally end up a complete farce and bring shame upon themselves.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)

Source: People’s Daily