Pence uses China-bashing for midterm election hype

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Editor's Note: The article is based on an interview with Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at China's Renmin University. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

US Vice President Mike Pence increased his criticisms of China in his address to the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington on Thursday. In the harshly worded speech, Pence accused Beijing of "reckless harassment" in the South China Sea, interference in US midterm elections, a crackdown on Taiwan pro-independence forces, and "debt diplomacy" to expand its influences worldwide.

Unlike his predecessor Joe Biden, Pence is not an active speaker on US foreign policy, especially those toward China. Thursday's speech, made amid intense preparations for midterm elections, represented some of the toughest remarks about Beijing by such a high-level US official in recent memory.

Apparently, the Donald Trump administration is using the China card to secure more votes in the approaching elections. Bashing China is a tactic that is frequently used by Trump and his colleagues in order to shirk the responsibility for their political setbacks, and it is an effective weapon for diverting public attention from international criticisms of Trump's capriciousness.

Supporters applaud as former president Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally on September 21, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. /VCG Photo

With the clock counting down to the mid-term elections in early November, political anxiety level within the White House is reaching historic heights. It will not be a surprise if Washington intensifies its acrimonious tone against Beijing in the following month.

For many American politicians, China-bashing is a must in election seasons and observers are never stingy in their satire on US politics. "China-bashing means it is US election year," an opinion piece published earlier by South China Morning Post read. There is no need for Beijing to be too concerned about Washington's harsh rhetoric.

In this speech, Pence accused China of limiting freedom of navigation in strategic waters. The South China Sea is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world and crude oil shipments have kept growing in recent years without any limits on freedom of navigation. Washington's repeated criticisms about China on the issue are merely an attempt to maintain its status as hegemon in the world.

A supporter holds a T-shirt that reads "Impeach Trump Make America Smart Again" as former president Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally on September 21, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. /VCG Photo

Pence's remarks on Taiwan are obviously interfering into China's domestic affairs. Disrespect to the one-China policy is a challenge to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and has nothing to do with freedom of speech. The US is merely using Taiwan as a chess piece to contain the Chinese government.

Pence said in his speech that China is targeting "industries and states that would play an important role in the 2018 elections." He added that, "By one estimate, more than 80 percent of US counties targeted by China voted for President Trump and I in 2016; now China wants to turn these voters against our administration." Can politics in the US be swayed so easily?

It is not the first time that Washington hit out at other countries for their alleged meddling in US politics. Even with the Russia-gate scandal still simmering within the White House, the country has pointed the criticizing finger at China.

It is the US, instead of China, that has been interfering into other countries' domestic affairs. Beijing has shown no intention to meddle in US elections or advance its political influences in the region. The Chinese government is simply taking justified countermeasures against Trump's trade strikes.

A general view of Colombo Port City construction site, which is backed by Chinese investment, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, August 23, 2018 /VCG Photo

Pence also talked about China's "debt diplomacy" at the think tank. Indeed, China is offering a huge amount of infrastructural loans to countries spanning across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. The US is concerned that these countries, if unable to pay the debts, would lease their projects to China. The move is seen by Washington as a challenge to its global governance and an attempt by Beijing to expand influences.

China's infrastructural aids are more than roads and bridges. They are effective tools to promote local tourism, eliminate poverty, and generate long-term economic growth, instilling a much stronger impetus than Western direct financial assistance to the local economy.

Moreover, it's unfair to blame China entirely for the debt burden of these countries. Take Sri Lanka for example: The country owed China 2.87 billion US dollars in 2017, only 10 percent of its overall foreign debt, according to official figures.

Despite Pence's harshly worded speech, the Sino-US relationship is far from sliding to a full-fledged confrontation. There is no need to take Washington's criticisms too seriously. China should be aware that some countries are happy to see a deteriorating Beijing-Washington relationship and are ready to gain from it. The Sino-US relationship is one of the most important in the world, and the two countries should overcome their disputes to jointly bring risks under control.

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