Opinions
2020.07.12 11:48 GMT+8

The real cost of America's fearmongering

Updated 2020.07.12 11:48 GMT+8
Wamika Kapur

President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, July 11, 2020. /AP

Editor's note: Wamika Kapur is an Indian doctoral scholar of international relations at South Korea's Yonsei University. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

In the absence of a conventional military war, the U.S. has led China in a sequence of proxy wars: a trade war over who will control the money, a technological war over who will control modernity, a propaganda war to control global public opinion and an arms race to maintain power status. The Trump administration's re-election campaign and past government policies are based on playing a blame game with China and designating it as an international enemy. The real cost of this fearmongering, however, will be borne by the people.

It is essentially fearmongering when there is no concrete proof of mischief. Throwing allegations and creating a national security emergency is an old tactic to achieve national cohesion, but it can fracture the global community. Fearmongering invokes an emotional response instead of a rational one. An emotionally charged population can pressure governments into taking hawkish stances. For example, India and China had come close to having a border skirmish multiple times. But the Galwan valley clash this year was the most violent since 1975, and Indians are pushing back by boycotting Chinese goods and banning apps. The common man is being emotionally manipulated into paying a premium for the same goods and services.

America has been accusing China of technology theft, intellectual property rights violations and installing back doors in communication equipment. The main target of this accusation has been Huawei, and America has been trying to strong-arm countries into banning the company or ending its contracts.

Taking the case of the United Kingdom, they have been using Huawei's equipment for 15 years without any security concerns. This sudden switch in stance is being implemented too quickly and consequences range from complete blackouts for 2G, 4G and 5G customers to shutting off multiple streets simultaneously and economic losses in billions. The cost of providing the same services will increase and be borne by the customers.

Further, there is an absence of an alternative provider, which means that the citizens will not have access to the best technology available. This clearly shows that decision-making is not solely logic based or in the best interest of the citizens.

The U.S. administration has also been using the China fear factor to hide its own mishandling of the pandemic. The stages include initially, downplaying the virus to paint China's response as dictatorial, followed by blaming China for spreading the virus, and the latest decision to leave the World Health Organization (WHO) for their favorable commentary on China's COVID-19 response.

A truck is driven past a sign advertising employment opportunities at a development site where various residential units and commercial sites are under construction, June 11, 2020, in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. /AP

This kind of propaganda-based disinformation campaign makes the dissemination of crucial information difficult. The information overload makes it difficult for citizens to distinguish truth from fiction and receive pertinent information quickly.

The decision to leave the WHO, while made to look like a China issue, is just a continuation of Trump's "America First" policy. The hallmark of "America First" has been reducing America's international commitments and funding. America's contribution to WHO from 2018-2019 was 893 million U.S. dollars, 27 percent of these contributions were designated for polio eradication projects.

To see the human cost of American fearmongering, one need only to look at the rising number of cases of anti-Asian assaults, harassment and hate crimes in America. Like Islamophobia before it, the long-term implications of this planted xenophobia will take years of soft power campaigns to revert. Meanwhile, Asians in America will have to live with a target on their back.

America, by starting this war with China, has put the world of geopolitics in a phase of uncertainty outlined by rising tensions. Pakistan, with over 200,000 infections and massive levels of unemployment, has increased its defense budget by almost 12 percent amid tensions with India. The region has become a hotbed of unrest, with divided alliances; countries have been forced to choose between national security and healthcare.

In a time when leadership is essential, the U.S. has abandoned that role and is undermining a country willing to fill that vacuum. Its intentions are suspect because it uses Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong to provoke tensions. Considering that it has also been funding the Hong Kong protests, peace is not on the agenda. Washington is playing a dangerous zero-sum game with China, increasing the chances of war and implanting distrust.

The world is amid a global pandemic, and there is a need for cooperation and collaboration. Instead, the China bashing has divided the world into American allies and others. Countries are being forced to choose between the two superpowers on a myriad of issues. The costs of this choice are very high, and this desperation to show the world an "evil" China is an ugly look on America, an outward projection of its own fear.

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