First, Chinese racism provides empirical evidence of how the Chinese will
treat other international actors if China becomes dominant. One of the key
insights into Chinese future behavior is its behavior in the past. Analysts do
have insight into how China will behave in the future based on its behavior in
the past, when it was the hegemon of Asia, the known world as far as China
was concerned. China sees itself as the center of the universe, all others are
inferior, with varying degrees of inferiority. That is not an attractive model
of winning allies and influence.
United States Defense decision-makers might draw upon the following
themes as asymmetrical messages to weaken China’s influence in the world.
The first of these themes should be to advance a “reality check” to the global
community: “how do Chinese words match Chinese deeds when it comes to
treating people fairly and equally.”
The second theme is to introduce fault. “Why do the Chinese refuse to
change their racist views of the rest of the world?” Or more succinctly, “Why
don’t the Chinese like black people; or Indians; or South East Asians; or Latin
Americans?” Attention needs to be called to its eugenics policies as well.
“Why do the Chinese support eugenics generations after it was discredited in
the West?” Likewise, explicit ties to the policies of Nazi Germany may be
made since both Berlin and Beijing embraced eugenics. Beijing continues to
do so long after it has been discredited.
A third theme is to suggest that there is something profoundly wrong
with China’s worldview: “Why are the Chinese unable, or unwilling, to change
their racist views?” Or that there is something deeply iniquitous with China
itself, that is to say there is something profoundly wrong with the Chinese
people, or with their elite: “Why is China a racist state?” “Racism has been
confronted and defeated worldwide, why is it celebrated in China?”
These themes allow the United States and other countries to challenge
China’s projected image of an oppressed victim of racism with actual
empirical reality: China is a racist superpower. It practices discredited
eugenics policies. It does not equal the horrors of Nazi Germany, but it is far
closer to Nazism than it is to a free, open, and tolerant society.
Second, it allows the United States to undermine China in the Third World.
The essence of the Chinese message to Third World states is a
straightforward rhetorical query: Has the United States or the Europeans
ever treated you as equals? In contrast, China portrays itself as an apolitical
rising superpower that does business in your country, pays a fair price for
your commodities, and builds your infrastructure with no string attached.
The United States needs to counter the expansion of Chinese influence
by tying in to the messages stated above, but adding the important point that
there is no culture of anti-racism in China, and so there is little hope for
change. Messages may be advanced along the following line: “The West
confronted racism and developed a strong culture of anti-racism, China has
not, nor is it likely to do so.”
Second, the United States should highlight that Chinese business
practices are destructive.
There often is considerable resentment toward the Chinese due to their ruthless business practices, which undercut and destroy African businesses. The combination of the two messages, “China is racist with no culture of anti-racism, and their businesses practices are destructive for the locals,” would be most effective in making appeals to the Third World.
Third, it is an obvious point, but it must be made: the Chinese are hypocrites when it comes to race and racial equality. For all of their rhetoric on Africa and their “African brothers,” the cold facts of Chinese racism triumph paeans to “Third World solidarity.”
Fourth, the message of the United States should be: We are better
than the Chinese for Africa.
We will assist you with economic aid to offset what you receive from China. In sum, culturally, socially, and politically, the
United States is better, citizens are equal, racial equality, and civil rights are
recognized.
Third, it permits a positive image of the United States to be advanced in
contrast to China.
The direct fact is, when compared with China, it is easy to convey to the rest
of the world the message that the United States is open and inclusive, whereas China is not. This is because to do so is completely in accord with the principles of the United States and its history.
The messages should be, first, the United States seeks the best from around the world, and will permit them to come to the country so that they may prosper, fulfill themselves as individuals, innovate, and, in turn, aid economic growth and innovation in the United States. Second, the United States opens its society, educational system, Universities, military, and economy to immigrants as countless examples demonstrate. Third, it has in
place Affirmative Action policies as a matter of state policy that benefits
immigrants from racial minorities and/or those who are women. In sum, the
United States is one of the most transparent societies in the world for
immigrants.
Fourth, calling attention to Chinese racism allows political and ideological
alliances of the United States to be strengthened.
Political alliances particularly with Third World states are an obvious benefit. Equally important are the ideological alliances that the United States may augment. Intellectual circles in Europe, Canada, and the United States value multiracial and multicultural societies.
Journalists and media opinion-makers frequently share a multiracial and multicultural vision of their societies as well. Yet, thus far, they have not treated the problem of Chinese racism with the attention it deserves. The “China is a racist state” message of the United States will help win allies in global, popular culture, which is heavily influenced by ideals rooted in Western, left wing political thought, including strong currents of anti-racism. Popular cultural figures from film, music, television, and sports, will be far
better able to call attention to China’s racism for younger audiences
worldwide than will official or semi-official Washington.
It is to the advantage of the United States to have the world consider the costs of Chinese dominance in order to grasp what will be lost. This is an exercise that most of the world has not done, and as a result there is no appreciation of what will be lost; or how hypocritical, domineering, and imperialistic China will be.
Fifth, United States defense decision-makers must recognize that racism is a
cohesive force for the Chinese.
Racism does benefit the Chinese in four major ways. First, the Han Chinese possess a strong in-group identity with a
polarized and tightly defined out-group. This allows the Chinese government
to expect sacrifice as well as support from a considerable majority of the
Chinese people.
Second, based in this identity, the government has the ability to focus
with great willpower on the demands of the state. All governments make
patriotic appeals, but the Chinese government is able to do so effectively
because any entreaty is based on patriotism as well as nationalism. When we reflect on the tools the Chinese government has to extract support and
resources from the population, only one conclusion is possible, they are
formidable.
Third, they have strong societal unity and purpose, which supports Chinese power. The Chinese do not have a culture that is self-critical or one that ponders its fundamental faults.
Fourth, China’s racism and ethnocentrism serves China’s teleological worldview. History, in the Hegelian sense, is moving in China’s direction and the future belongs to it, China’s political beliefs, civilizational culture, and economic might triumphed over the West.
While racism can be a great strength for China, it also gives the United States an advantage. The lack of any desire by the Chinese to self-reflect on the profound faults of their society means that there is no motivation to solve these faults. Accordingly, a powerful message may be that China will not change because it has no desire to do so. In essence, with China, “what you see is what you get.” The country is a civilization, and that yields them great strength.
