State Department official has a really racist take on U.S.-China relations

[Beast]

State Department official has a really racist take on U.S.-China relations
"It’s the first time that we will have a great power competitor that is not Caucasian.”
CASEY MICHEL
MAY 2, 2019, 11:22 AM

KIRON SKINNER, THE STATE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OF POLICY PLANNING UNDER SEC. MIKE POMPEO (PICTURED ABOVE), SAID THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN'T FOCUS ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO COMBAT CHINA. (PHOTO CREDIT: NICHOLAS KAMM / GETTY)

On Monday evening, a State Department official claimed that the United States can’t focus on human rights if it wants to combat China — and that China presents the first time the United States has faced a great power competitor that isn’t “Caucasian.”

The comments from Kiron Skinner, the State Department’s director of policy planning, came during the New America Future Security Forum in Washington.

Questioned by New America CEO Anne-Marie Slaughter about the Trump administration’s China policy, Skinner attempted to draw a clear line between American policy regarding the Soviet Union and the United States’ developing policy regarding China.

However, instead of focusing solely on economic competition or Chinese territorial aggression in places like the South China Sea, Skinner discussed how China presents a different “civilization” than previous adversaries like the USSR. According to Skinner, U.S. efforts to highlight Soviet human rights abuses — including the United States’ push for the landmark Helsinki Final Act in 1975, which pledged support for human rights — helped topple the USSR in 1991. However, focusing on highlighting China’s human rights abuses is apparently a futile task.

Said Skinner:

Not to make light of the Cold War, and the reality of nuclear war that could have happened — and the fact that we came close in some instances — but when we think about the Soviet Union and that competition, in a way it was a fight within the Western family. Karl Marx was a German Jew who developed a philosophy that was really within the larger body of political thought … that has some tenets even within classical liberalism. And so, in that way, I think it was a huge fight within the Western family.

And you could look at the Soviet Union — part West, part East — but it had some openings there that got us the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, which was a really important Western concept that opened the door really to undermine the Soviet Union, a totalitarian state, on human rights principles.

That’s not really possible with China. This is a fight with a really different civilization, and a different ideology, and the United States hasn’t had that before.

It’s unclear why focusing on China’s human rights abuses — which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has actually done, especially as it pertains to China’s internment camps for Muslims — is futile.

A State Department spokesperson did not respond to questions on Skinner’s comments.

Slaughter, who was the director of policy planning under the Obama administration, followed up by asking if Skinner’s discussion of China’s “different civilization” relied on political scientist Samuel Huntington’s maligned theory of a “Clash of Civilizations.”

“Some of those tenets, but a little bit different,” Skinner replied.

Memorialized in a 1996 book by a similar name, Huntington’s theory posits a number of different “civilizations” across the world, ranging from “Western” to “Buddhist.” Few geopolitical theories have fallen from favor more swiftly than Huntington’s, not least because of the countries Huntington tried to lump together — or break apart, depending on the country’s supposed “civilization.” For instance, Huntington claimed Papua New Guinea was part of a “Western” civilization, while Kazakhstan remained “Orthodox.” Huntington even claimed that countries as distant as Mauritania and Indonesia were, in reality, part of the same “civilization,” but that countries like Guyana or Bosnia and Herzegovina comprised multiple “civilizations” within them.

Skinner also claimed that China presented the first time that the United States faced a great power competitor who isn’t white.

“I think it’s also striking that it’s the first time that we will have a great power competitor that is not Caucasian,” Skinner said.

Skinner is incorrect: In addition to the multi-ethnic nature of the Soviet Union — one-third of the post-Soviet countries are in Central Asia, after all — the United States‘ predominant rivalry during the first few decades of the 20th century centered on countering Japan in the Pacific theater. Even prior to the events that led to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, which remained an American colony through the Second World War, American administrations were so concerned about Japanese threats in the Pacific that they actively lobbied for domestic legislation to assuage Japanese concerns — with President Teddy Roosevelt even advocating for racial equality on the West Coast in order not to anger the Japanese government.

But Skinner, one of the United States‘ most prominent State Department officials, has apparently forgotten that history. Skinner’s comments not only severely misread American history, but they are also based one of the most flawed theories on international relations of the past few decades — all at the expense of diminishing the push for human rights in the world’s most populous country.


https://thinkprogress.org/state-dep...nfronting-china-on-human-rights-aae491dfb32b/

Japan is not even a major power as rival for USA. It just US haven't activated her mighty industries to ramp up her military production in early stage of war.

China is a different ball game. If China ramp up the military production. It can produce an Essex class carrier every month. Given China population. It can have an army of 25million soldiers.

Japan never had the chance to beat USA. But China is.

He didn't say even close to what you guys are trying to portray.

Had it been Australia or New Zealand in place of China, America would've still been as harsh under Trump: it's the American way, to keep the world non polar.

His whole point was that they cannot deal with Chinese as they have dealt with other nations in the past. It's a different civilization, with different values, norms and society structure, and as such how rest of the world perceives and approaches them is also different.
In example, he said their race is relevant in the sense that the their attempts to put attention on "detention camps," or whatever you like to call them, was futile.

And his viewpoint isn't all that incorrect. Imagine if the same news came from Germany or Canada, there would be very heavy shifts in the international perception, and approach. However similar news coming from China or Middle East hardly has an effect, rarely for a short period of time at most.

@Dubious @The Eagle
This is a horribly mis leading title.

If China do not possess hydrogen bomb, US will have long attacked China and prevent China rise 10years ago.

 

[war&peace]

"oh you guys are cousin..great"
LOLOLOL!!!!
Thats awesome,thanks for sharing that.

You're welcome
The funny thing is that he is of Irish and East European descents and had never been to Scandinavia in his life. The only place he visited outside Americas was UK so how he called them cousins was a real surprise for me. I won't call even any random Pakistani my cousin

 

[beijingwalker]

Race is always a very big issue in US, taking New Jersey transit from New York to New Jersey, I found many all wihite or all black towns along the way. Most Americans don't say this problem but deep inside they all feel strongly about it, white superamacy exists more or less in most of their minds, facing challenge from a non White nation profoundly unnerves the majority of white population, don't try to deny it, every person knows that.

 

[Lincoln]

If China do not possess hydrogen bomb, US will have long attacked China and prevent China rise 10years ago.

Tell me something new. They do this to every country they know they cannot tackle through international relations, like the middle east.

This Statement wasn't racist though. I already explained why, and another member already showed that it's a non Caucasian woman.

Race is always a very big issue in US, taking New Jersey transit from New York to New Jersey, I found many all wihite or all black towns along the way. Most Americans don't say this problem but deep inside they all feel strongly about it, white superamacy exists more or less in most of their minds, facing challenge from a non White nation profoundly unnerves the majority of white population, don't try to deny it, every person knows that.

The Chinese are incredibly racist towards Muslims unless its the traditional Han. Should I remind you the word they use for Islam? Religion of Green? There's a lot more from China than there is from USA.

 

[beijingwalker]

The Chinese are incredibly racist towards Muslims unless its the traditional Han. Should I remind you the word they use for Islam? Religion of Green? There's a lot more from China than there is from USA.

You are completely wrong, Chinese are never religious conscious, most people have little or no opinions on any religions, there's no love or hate to start with.

You see radical Christians, Muslims or even Buddhists going out of their way pounding the pavement trying to convert you into their beliefs (my firsthand experience in US), you don't see atheists do that cause faiths are not part of our lives, atheism is a belief of not believing, not believing is a personal matter, not an organized collective faith, so it can hardly go radical.

 

[Lincoln]

You are completely wrong, Chinese are never religious conscious, most people have little or no opinions on any religions, there's no love or hate to start with.

You see radical Christians, Muslims or even Buddhists going out of their way pounding the pavement trying to convert you into their beliefs (my firsthand experience in US), you don't see atheists do that cause faiths are not part of our lives, atheism is belief of not believing, not believing is a personal matter, not an organized collective faith, so it can hardly go radical.

It doesn't change the fact that Han Atheist Chinese in China hate the Uighur Muslims (not traditional Chinese Muslims however), due to the whole global terrorism scenario and its impact on China. Like I said, if you you can draw a list of stuff which you don't like about USA, you can draw twice as much stuff in China.

 

[beijingwalker]

It doesn't change the fact that Han Atheist Chinese in China hate the Uighur Muslims (not traditional Chinese Muslims however), due to the whole global terrorism scenario and its impact on China. Like I said, if you you can draw a list of stuff which you don't like about USA, you can draw twice as much stuff in China.

Are you a Han Chinese? I don't hate Uighurs, and you can ask other Chinese posters here whether they do. You can't feel what we feel for us.

 

[Lincoln]

Are you a Han Chinese? I don't hate Uighurs, and you can ask other Chinese posters here whether they do. You can't feel what we feel for us.

Where do Chinese slang words for Uighur Muslims come from then? Thin air? They aren't for Han people, they aren't for Hui. So who are they for.

 

[beijingwalker]

Where do Chinese slang words for Uighur Muslims come from then? Thin air? They aren't for Han people, they aren't for Hui. So who are they for.

I honestly don't know, I know ethnic Manchus sometimes call ethnic Koreans in China's north east 高赖，that's very provoctive and get you in a fight in a heart beat, but you can't judge anything just by some local slangs, that will be very stupid.

 

[lcloo]

Where do Chinese slang words for Uighur Muslims come from then? Thin air? They aren't for Han people, they aren't for Hui. So who are they for.

This type of behaviour goes both way, all races and all religious people, among them there are always some who would want to disgrace others. But you cannot blame the whole race or religious group just because of some black sheep.

Are there Chinese disgrace Muslims? Yes there are. On the other side, are there Muslims disgraced Chinese? Yes there are (Chinese Pigs, Chinese dogs, Animal!). And this repeats all over the world, the Muslims, the Christians, the Jews, the Hindus, White men, Black Men, Brown Men, Yellow Men... Which of these does not have black sheep that hate and attack others not of their race or religion?

 

[OIO]

Tell me something new. They do this to every country they know they cannot tackle through international relations, like the middle east.

This Statement wasn't racist though. I already explained why, and another member already showed that it's a non Caucasian woman.



The Chinese are incredibly racist towards Muslims unless its the traditional Han. Should I remind you the word they use for Islam? Religion of Green? There's a lot more from China than there is from USA.

you don't understand Chinese, we are neither racist nor politics correct, we respect anyone kind, brave, hardworking.

 

[Beast]

you don't understand Chinese, we are neither racist nor politics correct, we respect anyone kind, brave, hardworking.

Precisely, typical Chinese basher who act he knows alot but in fact is empty.

 

[gambit]

So now ideology is no longer important, race is.

Do not talk as if race does not matter to the Chinese government...

Chapter 37

Deng Xiaoping's China

The Malaysians must be suspicious of Deng. There were underlying suspicions and animosity between Malay Muslims and Chinese in Malaysia, and between Indonesians and their ethnic Chinese. Because China was exporting revolution to Southeast Asia, my Asean neighbors wanted Singapore to rally with them, not against the Soviet Union, but against China.

Asean governments regarded radio broadcasts from China appealing directly to their ethnic Chinese as dangerous subversion. Deng listened silently. He had never seen it this light: China, a big foreign power, going over the governments of the region to subvert their citizens. I said it was most unlikely that Asean countries would respond positively to his proposal for a united front against the Soviet Union and Vietnam and suggested that we discuss on how to resolve this problem. Then I paused.

Deng's expression and body language registered consternation. He knew that I had spoken the truth. Abruptly, he asked, "What do you want me to do?" I was astonished. I had never met a communist leader who was prepared to depart from his brief when confronted with reality, much less ask what I wanted him to do. I had expected him to brush my points aside as Premier Hua Guofeng had done in Beijing in 1976 when I pressed him over the inconsistency of China's supporting the Malayan Communist Party to foment revolution in Singapore, not Malaya. Hua had answered with bluster, "I do not know the details, but whenever communists fight, they will win." Not Deng. He realized that he had to face up to this problem if Vietnam was to be isolated. I hesitated to tell this seasoned, weather-beaten revolutionary what he should do, but since he had asked me, I said, "Stop such radio broadcasts; stop such appeals. It will be better for the ethnic Chinese in Asean if China does not underline their kinship and call upon their ethnic sympathy. The suspicion of the indigenous peoples will always be there, whether or not China emphasizes these blood ties. But if China appeals to these blood ties so blatantly, it must increase their suspicions, China must stop radio broadcasts from south China by the Malayan and Indonesian Communist Parties.

Even ethnic Chinese in other countries know how important it is.

 

[beijingwalker]

Do not talk as if race does not matter to the Chinese government...


Even ethnic Chinese in other countries know how important it is.

But why US tries to deny it? hypocrites? We don't have Asian supremacy mentality, that's for sure.

 

[gambit]

But why US tries to deny it? hypocrites? We don't have Asianpremacy mentality, that's for sure.

You are exposed as racist, buddy. You are no better than the Americans you criticize. But here is the uncomfortable reality, the US is not as racist as you and the others feebly tried to portray. That does not mean we are perfect, but...

Two Korean-American captains of the USN.