China has been thoroughly demonized by the Corporate media for so long now that demonizing has become a reflex action for our major news producers. Conducting naval drills in international waters without breaking any laws or treaties becomes “significant escalation”, and a “test of strength”, not to mention “brazen.” Conducting a huge annual exercise in parliamentary democracy becomes “a rubber stamp parliament.” China can’t cough, sneeze or do anything else without that action being demonized.
Let’s be blunt. China is not our enemy. It has one solitary military base outside its borders, while the USA has about 800. China is a very big country with a lot on its’ plate at home. China is explicit about not wanting to be the new dominant super power. It respects the right of other countries to choose their own way forward. If China’s so friendly and non-hostile, why is it being treated as the enemy, you might wonder. If people say something a lot, it’s natural to think there might be something in it. In the case of China, it’s not hard to see what’s behind the demonization. China threatens the USA’s status as the world’s top superpower. It does not do this with military threats, but by being a large important independent country which will not be told what to do. China responds to threats, which is fair enough, but overwhelmingly focused on lifting prosperity and quality of life at home.
Since China is not a threat, we’d be far better off spending more of our GDP on keeping Americans from homelessness, or building up our own country. China is not an enemy or any kind of military risk to America. We need to be told that a lot. The People’s Republic of China is many things; an inspiration, a source of interest, a trading partner. It is not a threat. America needs to turn away from imaginary demons and get on with issues that matter to working people.
Adapted from an article by the Communist Party of Australia.
