All indications at this point seem to suggest that President Donald Trump is going to pull the rug out from beneath the norm. Regardless of what politicians he appoints to positions, his own actions will be what shakes the foundations of conventional thought. While many suspected this, the political elite has much to be concerned about at this point. The party just might be over.
Recently, President-elect Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen. It was an innocent conversation of congratulations, a cordial exchange of pleasantries. Given our country’s supposed preference for democracy and diplomacy, this should be a welcome development.
Pundits, politicians, and other members of the elite all responded with outrage. The problem with having a conversation with another country’s leader? Offending China.
The timing of the outrage is interesting considering many of these same people spent the entire election cycle sounding the alarm over Russia. As Wikileaks dropped leak after leak regarding the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta, the red-baiting paranoia grew louder. How could we allow tyrants like the Russians influence our elections?
It’s interesting none of these people are bothered by China. Have we forgotten the Tiananmen Square massacre?
In 1989, student-led demonstrations were launched in support of democracy for the country. The country responded with brutal military force, rolling out soldiers with assault weapons and even tanks to slaughter thousands of peacefully protesting citizens.
To this day, China not only refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing, they censor the entire country as to prevent an open conversation about it.
Are these the people that the United States wants to protect?
The case of Taiwan is an interesting one. China has laid claim to the nation for decades and the international community has refused to acknowledge Taiwan, standing by the “One China” policy. All the while, Taiwan internally has shifted towards democracy and instituting reforms.
Any movement towards independence is met with a threat of a military crackdown by the Chinese government. Given how they responded to students peacefully demonstrating in support of democracy, one cannot doubt the seriousness of Chinese oppression.
So why is China is exempt from outrage?
The United States marched into Iraq and destabilized the region because Saddam Hussein oppressed his people, even resorting to killing them. The government and political elite is now beating the war drums louder with each passing day over Assad’s atrocities in Syria.
The policy is different towards China.
If anything, Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s phone call to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen triggered the American political elite. Pundits in the mainstream media and figures on the left all exposed their admiration for tyrants by mourning Fidel Castro. These same people, alongside the neoconservatives in the Republican Party, showed their lack of concern over genuine oppression by supporting pro-Saudi Arabia candidate Hillary Clinton for President.
China has a long, detailed history of brutal oppression. If our policy is to encourage democracy and oppose oppressive regimes, the country deserves zero respect from the United States.
