Demonizing China Will Backfire on Americans (Global Times, China)
Are people like former Vice President Dick Cheney trying to blame
China for the Snowden Affair? This editorial from the state-run Global Times accuses the United States
of mounting a public relations campaign against China in order to deflect global
public sympathy away from Mr. Snowden, but assures readers that this time, the
ploy isn't going to work.
Through
the media, American politicians are spreading the rumor that CIA whistleblower Edward
Snowden has "cooperated with Chinese intelligence agencies." Some
assume Beijing has contacted Snowden and speculate that he's a spy for China. Remarks
along these lines were made by former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, and Chairman
of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Rogers.
Their
intention is to deflect peoples' attention from Snowden to "China's
role" in the incident. This is the most likely public relations strategy
for the U.S. government. Transforming public anger toward the U.S. government
into resentment of China would appear to assist Washington at this time.
Washington
excels at PR warfare. Even when it has the high ground, China is much less
competitive in this area. If there is hype surrounding the Snowden incident and
conspiracy theories about China, this country will be put under heavy pressure.
However,
global public opinion already regards the U.S. as in the wrong. Any American attempt
to frame China would be to overestimate Washington's capacity to control public
opinion.
The
Hong Kong Spherical Administrative Region's government and the central
government need to fully consider China's interests in addressing this issue.
The hurly-burly of American politicians should be ignored. Their voices have
little impact on Sino-U.S. relations.
Apart
from pressure Washington is imposing on Hong Kong based on their extradition
treaty, other voices of aggression have little impact. First, the U.S. has no evidence
with which to launch new claims of a "China conspiracy." Second,
Snowden has drawn worldwide sympathy. By not extraditing Snowden to the U.S., Hong
Kong will retain the moral high ground.
China's
media should more closely engage with Snowden in order to disseminate valuable
information to the world. By doing so, Snowden will continue to be at the
center of public opinion, and denunciations by American politicians will be
overlooked. At the sight of pro-Snowden public opinion, the United States will
flinch.
China's
central government has been prudent on this issue, and the U.S. government has refrained
from pushing China publicly. Both sides have maintained proper limits, and that
is the best we can expect in dealing with this special case.
The
Internet is already a significant conduit through which the U.S. furthers its goals. It is
also a platform on which China and the U.S. face growing disputes.
This
incident should make China more aware of the importance of defending itself
against U.S. online pressure. Snowden blew the whistle on shady moves by the US
in the cyberspace. Having this matter unfold without interference meets the
expectations of world public opinion.
Arrogance
from the U.S. will do nothing to restore what it has lost in this incident, but
make itself suffer more.
