Lacking confidence, US blames foreign influence

[TaiShang]

Lacking confidence, US blames foreign influence

By Ai Jun Source:Global Times Published: 2018/10/21

The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security jointly released a statement Friday entitled "Combating Foreign Influence in US Elections."

"We are concerned about ongoing campaigns by Russia, China and other foreign actors, including Iran, to undermine confidence in democratic institutions and influence public sentiment and government policies… adversaries target US elections to divide America," it stated, although there was no evidence of any voter interference.

Washington's fidgeting shows the vulnerable side of the US electoral system, something in which the country prides itself. Since when did the US lack so much confidence in its democratic institutions?

The statement noted that elements of these campaigns include using social media to amplify divisive issues to create fake news and disseminate foreign propaganda. But social media is just a tool.

Undeniably, one of the characteristics of social media is that people can hear voices with which they agree while missing out on opposite opinions. Social differences can in this way be exacerbated.

Born in the US, social media, which once made the country proud, has also brought other problems. Fake news and rumors spread expeditiously as US society is already divided and filled with inconsistent politics. People are gradually losing their trust in US government. Social media has only exacerbated these problems.

The US has never lacked social consensus as much as it does today. So many different opinions occur on so many issues. With increasing immigration flooding into the US, blue-collar white people are turning disgruntled. They think the newcomers are stealing their job opportunities. Racial discrimination is still splitting society. The game between Republicans and Democrats is getting fiercer. Wide gaps are emerging on different states' policies. But are they caused by foreign interference? People's opinions of Obamacare, anti-terrorism and immigration policies are becoming sharply different.

No one can divide America but America itself. Blaming other countries and social media can attract eyeballs, but cannot save the reputation of the US government.

The US system faces unprecedented challenges. But what makes the US uneasy comes not from without, but from within. Why is the US so fragile today? Instead of bridging social divisions, Washington politicians rip them wider apart.

US scholars busy themselves all day long studying the fragility of other countries. Yet it is high time for studying the fragility of the US itself.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1123902.shtml

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

People are gradually losing their trust in US government. l

LOL!!!!!! WOW! What a propaganda article!

A poll from just 3 days ago..
https://news.gallup.com/poll/243818/economic-assessments-best-nearly-two-decades.aspx
U.S. Economic Assessments Best in Nearly Two Decades

"Americans' evaluations of current U.S. economic conditions and the economy's trajectory have not been more upbeat since 2000."

Things must be REALLY souring in China with its economic downturn if they are saying this.


https://brandinginasia.com/china-takes-out-newspaper-ad-in-iowa/
China Boldly Takes Out Four Page Newspaper Ad in Iowa to Sway Farmers on Trade War

Chinese Advertisement page written in a format to look like a regular news page with propaganda "news" articles.

 

[gambit]

Like everywhere else, the US regime spreads lies and propaganda to hide the truth about its economic problems. If the truth were widely known, its economy would be sent into a free fall by the total collapse of confidence.

But...But...But...I thought all you economic and finance 'experts' in this little corner of the Internet is exposing all these truths...

 

[Malik Alashter]

No doubts the economy of the US these days reminds me of the economy during Clintons days lots of jobs almost every where in the country

 

[TaiShang]

Op-Ed: Stirring up anti-China hysteria ahead of the US election is a losing strategy

By Curtis Stone (People's Daily Online) 09:55, October 18, 2018

On Sept. 26, US President Donald Trump made a wild claim accusing China of meddling in US elections. “Regrettably we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election coming up in November against my administration,” he said at meeting of the UN Security Council. He provided no evidence to back up his claim. It was an exercise in smoke and mirrors intended to demonize China.

The “proof” of Chinese meddling in US politics turned out to be an ad in a newspaper. Trump later took to social media to post photographs of the four-page advertising supplement in Iowa’s largest newspaper the Des Moines Register, describing the supplement as “propaganda,” even though the common practice of buying advertising space differs from malign influence operations.

In response to Trump’s accusations, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China has always followed the principle of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs. “This is a tradition of China’s diplomacy,” he said, adding that China “did not and will not” interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries.

Yet, despite a lack of evidence, the administration doubled down on its smear campaign against China. In his speech at a think tank in Washington, US Vice President Mike Pence accused China of “meddling in America’s democracy,” citing Trump’s speech at the United Nations. Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai later called the accusations “groundless” and reiterated the fundamental importance of non-interference in China’s foreign policy. “We have been consistent in this position,” he said.

There is no convincing evidence that China has orchestrated an effort to meddle in US politics; furthermore, it is well-documented that China has long been committed to the principle of non-interference in foreign affairs. It is more likely, therefore, that the administration wants to make a scapegoat of China to distract from its troubles and failures.

In fact, this “blame it all on China” strategy has been pointed out before. After Trump hurled accusations at China, Reuters reported that they “raised questions as to whether Trump was trying to deflect attention from an investigation of his campaign’s possible ties to alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and also set up China for the blame if Republicans do poorly in the midterm vote.”

But whatever Trump administration’s intention might be, it is important to point out that China has stayed committed to the principle of non-interference in others countries’ domestic affairs. Besides, China has openly stated that it is not interested in meddling in US domestic affairs and elections.

It is time to lay the “China threat” lie to rest. There is considerable misunderstanding about China, especially in the West, and the administration is pushing a false narrative about China’s development to stir up fear. The “blame it all on China” strategy might result in short-term gain but a coordinated campaign to demonize China will likely lead to long-term pain. Of course, there are challenges and the two countries should discuss ways to address these challenges but stirring up anti-China hysteria ahead of the elections is a losing strategy.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/1018/c90000-9509558.html

***

US foreign policy is very much conditioned to its domestic politics. That's the reason for the growing aggressiveness. Because, domestic politics is just like this.

As for buying the US elections, if something is up for sale, there is nothing in joining the bidding. That's a basic free market rule.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Op-Ed: Stirring up anti-China hysteria ahead of the US election is a losing strategy

By Curtis Stone (People's Daily Online) 09:55, October 18, 2018

On Sept. 26, US President Donald Trump made a wild claim accusing China of meddling in US elections. “Regrettably we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election coming up in November against my administration,” he said at meeting of the UN Security Council. He provided no evidence to back up his claim. It was an exercise in smoke and mirrors intended to demonize China.

The “proof” of Chinese meddling in US politics turned out to be an ad in a newspaper. Trump later took to social media to post photographs of the four-page advertising supplement in Iowa’s largest newspaper the Des Moines Register, describing the supplement as “propaganda,” even though the common practice of buying advertising space differs from malign influence operations.

In response to Trump’s accusations, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China has always followed the principle of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs. “This is a tradition of China’s diplomacy,” he said, adding that China “did not and will not” interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries.

Yet, despite a lack of evidence, the administration doubled down on its smear campaign against China. In his speech at a think tank in Washington, US Vice President Mike Pence accused China of “meddling in America’s democracy,” citing Trump’s speech at the United Nations. Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai later called the accusations “groundless” and reiterated the fundamental importance of non-interference in China’s foreign policy. “We have been consistent in this position,” he said.

There is no convincing evidence that China has orchestrated an effort to meddle in US politics; furthermore, it is well-documented that China has long been committed to the principle of non-interference in foreign affairs. It is more likely, therefore, that the administration wants to make a scapegoat of China to distract from its troubles and failures.

In fact, this “blame it all on China” strategy has been pointed out before. After Trump hurled accusations at China, Reuters reported that they “raised questions as to whether Trump was trying to deflect attention from an investigation of his campaign’s possible ties to alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and also set up China for the blame if Republicans do poorly in the midterm vote.”

But whatever Trump administration’s intention might be, it is important to point out that China has stayed committed to the principle of non-interference in others countries’ domestic affairs. Besides, China has openly stated that it is not interested in meddling in US domestic affairs and elections.

It is time to lay the “China threat” lie to rest. There is considerable misunderstanding about China, especially in the West, and the administration is pushing a false narrative about China’s development to stir up fear. The “blame it all on China” strategy might result in short-term gain but a coordinated campaign to demonize China will likely lead to long-term pain. Of course, there are challenges and the two countries should discuss ways to address these challenges but stirring up anti-China hysteria ahead of the elections is a losing strategy.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/1018/c90000-9509558.html

***

US foreign policy is very much conditioned to its domestic politics. That's the reason for the growing aggressiveness. Because, domestic politics is just like this.

As for buying the US elections, if something is up for sale, there is nothing in joining the bidding. That's a basic free market rule.

Why is China running ads in an Iowa newspaper in a format which looks like regular news articles?? You don’t think this is an obvious deception??

 

[rambro]

Everyone is meddling in US election etc yea yea

Do unto others as u would others do unto u

 

[maximuswarrior]

LOL China and Russia control US elections through social media and hacking. The beauty is that the US doesn't even shy from admitting this.

I love how Trump is waging a war against his own media, intelligence community and snowflakes LOL He is tearing America apart.

America is in big big trouble. Just watch how things implode during the midterm elections.

 

[TaiShang]

Everyone is meddling in US election etc yea yea

Do unto others as u would others do unto u

You buy what is available to be bought.

In that, Saudis are the master race. They even bought out US politics and pulled themselves clean from the 9/11 .

They did not buy just a campaign, they bought an entire power elite clique in the US. Even today, they are loyal to the king as much as they are loyal to the Whitest House.

China, in buying out US politics, is at elementary level. Lots to learn to become PhD in buying US politics through money and picking sides in factional wars.