Commentary
An increasing number of Americans believe that the Biden administration is too soft on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP poses an existential threat to the safety of us all, a point that cannot be emphasized enough.
Belligerent and noncompliant, the CCP senses a weakness in Washington. How else are we to explain the infamous lists recently handed to the Biden administration?
Yes, two lists with very specific demands. The first involves “U.S. wrongdoings that must stop,” while the second outlines “key individual cases that China has concerns with,” according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua.
In the first list, the CCP calls on the United States “to unconditionally revoke the visa restrictions over Communist Party of China (CPC) members and their families, revoke sanctions on Chinese leaders, officials and government agencies, and remove visa restrictions on Chinese students,” the report said.
Considering President Joe Biden recently held a “respectful” conversation with Xi Jinping, there are reasons to believe that China’s requests—no, demands—will be met. After all, the CCP has stolen enough data to compile a dossier on every single American. Instead of condemning Beijing for arguably the biggest political heist in history, Biden instead chose to hold a “respectful” conversation with his presidential counterpart. To be clear, I am not calling for war. But addressing the Chinese regime’s crimes is a must.
Not finished there, the CCP also wants the United States to “stop suppressing Chinese enterprises, stop harassing Chinese students, stop suppressing the Confucius Institutes, revoke the registration of Chinese media outlets as ‘foreign agents’ or ’foreign missions,' and revoke the extradition request for Meng Wanzhou,” according to Xinhua.
The final request, as you are no doubt aware, has already been met, much to the chagrin of many Americans. According to the editorial board at the Wall Street Journal, from now on, Westerners working in China should be on full alert. At any moment, they could find themselves “arrested on trumped up charges” and “used as hostages to promote Communist Party interests.” The editorial board also criticized the Biden administration for surrendering to China’s shameless tactics, describing the capitulation as deeply “humiliating.”
Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou receiving flowers following her release, in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, on Sept. 25, 2021. A screen grab made from video released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV/AFP via Getty Images
Is this what it has come to, the Chinese regime, known for genocide and sheer dishonesty, publicly humiliating the United States of America? The answer appears to be yes. In order to get a climate deal, for example, Washington appears willing to accept the CCP’s genocidal campaign. Turning a blind eye to genocide is not what the United States is known for.
In the second list, the CCP expressed “serious concerns” to the United States on some key issues, including the rejection of Chinese students’ visa applications. Let’s be clear: The rejection of student visas was warranted, and it still is. The CCP’s “concerns” must be ignored and the United States’ “concerns” must be acknowledged.
The sheer audacity of the CCP knows no bounds. Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot. Imagine members of the Biden administration handing a list of demands to China? How would Beijing respond? Not favorably, I imagine.
American citizens are also targeted in China. Where is the United States’ list? In this geopolitical tug-of-war, some people argue that China has already won. The CCP clearly agrees, hence the ridiculous demands.
Recently, Senator Tom Cotton, an outspoken critic of the CCP, took to Twitter to voice his concerns. Why, he asked, is the Biden administration interested in strengthening business ties with Beijing? Why is the United States still welcoming Chinese investment?
Instead of decoupling from China, the United States appears to be cozying up. Gina Raimondo, the U.S. commerce chief, is busy pushing trade with China despite the two countries’ “complicated relationship.”
Cotton also criticized the Biden administration for “surrendering to China’s hostage diplomacy.” Cotton’s criticisms are warranted. For years, Huawei used “back doors” to spy on American citizens. Instead of facing the American justice system, Meng Wanzhou, a key member of the Huawei family, was offered a first-class ticket back to China.
This is not a good look for the Biden administration, and it’s not a good look for the country. Citizens of the United States deserve to be protected. The current administration appears to be fearful of China. As J.R.R. Tolkein famously said, “A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a shortcut to meet it.” The American people don’t need frightened leaders; they need brave ones. The CCP’s demands must be disregarded at all costs. However, if the Meng deal is an indicator of things to come, the chances of that occurring appear to be extremely slim. As the author Joel Kotkin recently wrote, unless Biden “somehow succeeds in elaborating a clear agenda, his presidency likely will continue to unravel.” For this unravelling to stop, a number of steps must be taken. The first involves identifying the CCP for what it is—the enemy of the people, including the American people.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
