Understanding American Anti-China Sentiment

A major figure behind anti-China influence in the United States Congress, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, visited China in what was seen as a very important event

Regardless of the delegation’s composition (committee group members), or the items on the daily agenda (renewable energy and the atmosphere) or the low-key way in which they handled the media before the trip (they declined interviews), the visit revealed that she was painstakingly trying to construct the image of a pleasant atmosphere and trying desperately to show that relations with China were positive. While in the country itself, every word and action was made in a way that would avoid displeasing the Chinese. This caused many observers’ jaws to drop in disbelief; it also caused some special interest groups to lose much hope. It is hard to believe that this is the very same Pelosi who unfurled a banner in protest of Tiananmen Square 17 years ago.

Before her trip, I had the opportunity to speak with her chief of staff about Chinese affairs. With regards to the speaker’s trip to China, he asked me what sort of advice I had. I said there is only one thing: I hope that she can transform from being a member of the Democratic Party into being a responsible politician. Judging by her words and deeds in China and at the press conference after her return, she accomplished the task.

　　

Has Pelosi Been Anti-China in the Past?

This has caused me to experience many different thoughts and feelings. I couldn’t help but consider the very meaningful questions behind Chinese politics and diplomacy: How should one regard foreigners and the West, especially the so-called “anti-China” forces or those who are unfriendly towards China? I figured that this is far too broad of an idea because one has to take everything that shows dissatisfaction with China, from the various pieces of anti-China legislation to those who sympathize with Chinese dissidents and place them into the same category – inducing whatever associated connotations and denotations. Furthermore, this type of label is easy to put on but very difficult to take off and is rather unsuitable for day-to-day use.

Language plays an extremely profound role in the way that people are impressed. You could say that each nation’s syntax deeply influences each individual person’s character. While speaking with some representatives from nations friendly to China for the Chinese periodical “Baokan,” I was astonished to find out that the concepts or expressions of “anti-China” and “unfriendly towards China” have come into frequent use –used as one pleases in ways that can deeply impress a person’s thinking or the way people of differing opinions form their attitudes. This growing tendency of anti-China sentiment can actually take people who would not necessarily be anti-China and push them into a camp that is truly in opposition to China, while at the same time mislead those who firmly grasp onto Chinese foreign relationships.

Perhaps a more serious issue is the opposite position to the anti-China/ unfriendly towards China way of thinking does not only consist of the pro-China forces. Along this line of reasoning, it becomes very difficult to place an absolute majority into the middle or gray area – those who are neither in opposition nor in favor of China. It is also no help in clarifying or classifying what is true or false. For instance, if China is truly seeing any improvement in its position on certain issues, then by what means do you judge the motivations behind the opposition’s criticism? If the opposition in one breath praises and then criticizes the next, how can this be a good thing? By looking at the issue from the perspective of the two factions, our constructive criticism and advice that is directed towards China might be considered anti-China or unfriendly towards China if we are not careful. It is like the “Anti-Revolutionary” law that was eliminated in 1997: the connotations and denotations were extreme, the definition was vague and the subjective and conceptual execution untimely.

Even though I don’t have a suitable replacement label off-hand, there is one thing for which I am certain: one must strive for neutrality with labels and strive to use them less, especially with those that have the ability to intimidate or even cause great harm to oneself in a brief period of time when used often, such as “anti-China” or “unfriendly towards China.”

There is a very good expression in the English language, which is “self-fulfilling prophecy”; that is to say, if your whole mind is focused on anti-China sentiment, your eyes will seek out this type of enemy at every turn and ultimately you will succeed in bringing forth a truly anti-China sentiment. In the United States, we often use this type of criticism against right-wing groups, and to admonish them we will say that if you continue to view regard China as an imagined enemy day-in and day-out, you will one day actually cultivate China into America’s actual enemy. Conversely, they might also have the same outcome in China.

Of course, the United States and the West have those who truly harbor anti-China sentiment, but these types of people actually make up an extreme minority. One still needs to carefully differentiate between them and know the source or motivation behind each person’s dissatisfaction, so that when confronting them, one is able to act in a way that is reasonable, sound and consistent.

For instance, those from the right wing who are anti-China differ greatly from those on the Left. The American right wing’s, or Republican Party’s, opposition to China has been rooted in an anticommunist ideology from early on, and they are conditioned to react with the aim of preserving the United States’ global supremacy.

However the Left, or the Democratic Party, will not go for this type of behavior. The left wing in the United States does not identify with this idea of America being on top, and so it is not in their interest to use aggressive military tactics to counter China’s abrupt rise; rather, they have a more pacifist leaning and support internationalism and pluralism. This has been very evident in the foreign policy of the Obama administration. Therefore, the anti-China sentiment that comes from the Left comes from the issue of human rights for the most part, and they follow the human rights situation in China from a perspective geared towards universal value and the progression of society. Despite this, they often seem to apply the wrong prescriptions. To put it in a more drastically, the Left’s anti-Chinese sentiment arises from a bleeding heart ideology and is not a product of bad intentions; however, the Right’s anti-Chinese sentiment is much darker and complicated. One must begin with this background knowledge in order to fully grasp the various positions that Pelosi has held over the years on Chinese human rights and Tibet.

Would It Be Better to Call Mr. Chen Shuibian?

So how should we deal with those generally acknowledged to be unfriendly towards China? With them, it is also necessary to act with precaution. A reason for this is that these people are not inflexible, nor is China’s position or interest unchanging. For example, there was the time when the governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, fired up China with his lofty tone towards political reform. As a result, every kind of propaganda machinery started operating and mass criticism lead to personal attacks. So what became of it all? Several years ago Patten, as a member of the Foreign Affairs branch of the European Commission, made a personal visit to China and severely rebuked the U.S.’s unilateralism while meeting with Chinese leaders. This common ground, which was regrettably unbeknownst to them until that time, caused China to change their impression towards him and increase their coordination with EU foreign affairs.

Of course the most famous example of this comes from the American president Nixon, who went from being America’s most anti-communist and anti-China figure to one who later worked closely with the nation. This has resulted in the creation of a new expression in English: “Nixon Going to China,” or “to do a Nixon going to China.” When placed in a certain context, those who say they are anti-China mean that “the more one is in opposition to China the more likely he or she will act favorable to them.” Is this not worth pondering? 　

One reason that one must also take a civilized approach towards those who brandish an iron rod in their anti-China disposition is that the more one judges others as the arch-enemy who is cursed throughout the ages – even to the point of belittling one’s own integrity – the more that person will display signs that he is irrational and uncivil; furthermore, it will result in a loss of one’s moral high ground or political integrity. Consider that in reaction to the pursuit of Taiwanese independence from Li Denghui and Chen Shuibian, we just need to calmly declare that we believe a severing between the two sides of the Taiwan strait is neither suitable for the Chinese people as a whole nor China’s long term benefit, and that is all. Is it necessary to grind one’s teeth in hatred? What if we were a little more courageous in spirit, and formally addressed the two of them as Mr. Li Denghui and Mr. Chen Shuibian, allowing the world and especially the Taiwanese people to see that the Chinese government is magnanimous and civilized, which in turn would cause people to see that the rationale and character quality of both men is low, and from here we could win over more people’s minds.

While tracing back to the roots of the way in which the non-black and white nature and the sentimentality of issues between political enemies or those hold differing opinions are rectified, what comes to the surface is the lack of human sentiment in Chinese culture and the thousand-year struggle in Chinese politics that was driven by the attitude that “you die and I live.” If only this page can be turned over in this generation.

As both the Chinese and United States governments struggle, especially with China’s disregard towards old grudges and a tolerant, open-minded attitude, China can take the initiative in extending a hand with the aim of good will and reconciliation. Pelosi’s visit to China has resulted in the cordial interaction from both sides, and in what prime minister Wen Jiabao called “harmony without uniformity.” This has carved a new, desirable and civil path that modern Chinese diplomacy can follow while dealing with political enemies.

　　

Author is an American political activist of Chinese descent