It’s good that politicians are worried about a surge in any kind of hate crime. But the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans is not an excuse to start covering for the Chinese Communist Party, as Rep. Jerry Nadler seems to think.
Nadler went out of his way to blame the attacks on anyone critical of one of the most murderous and destructive political organizations in the history of man, directly responsible for over 100 million deaths.
“It’s important to recognize that this surge did not spontaneously rise only out of fears regarding the coronavirus pandemic,” Nadler said, “Some of this blame lies squarely on political leaders who have demonized China.”
“It’s important to recognize that this surge did not spontaneously rise only out of fears regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
Some of this blame lies squarely on political leaders who have demonized China.”@RepJerryNadler blames China-hawks for anti-Asian American violence. pic.twitter.com/N30kSRcAAo
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 18, 2021
We should be far more diligent in fighting anti-Asian sentiment, especially when it’s clear that the rise in attacks coincides with the arrival of the virus in the United States. But Nadler’s contention that people who “have demonized China” hold some responsibility for these attacks is nonsense. It’s also a Chinese government talking point, which serves to whitewash the Chinese government’s coronavirus failures.
It is indisputable that the Chinese government is responsible for the global coronavirus pandemic. The CCP covered up the outbreak in its early stages, feeding false information to the World Health Organization as the virus began to spread across the globe. Since then, China has sold countries faulty medical equipment, obstructed a WHO investigation into the origins of the virus, and suggested that the U.S. Army brought the virus to China.
Meanwhile, China is committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, complete with torture, forced abortions and sterilizations, and forced labor. China has crushed democracy and freedom in Hong Kong and is continuing to threaten the sovereignty of Taiwan.
China is arguably the worst human rights abuser on the planet, led by a regime that rejects American values of freedom and justice. China is “demonized” because it deserves to be. The Chinese government doesn’t get immunity from criticism because of completely unrelated anti-Asian attacks.
Nadler’s comments show that Democrats are still willing to treat China with kid gloves, including letting it get away with causing a global pandemic that took the lives of over 500,000 Americans.
It is more important now to stand up to China than at any time in recent history. Washington’s unified Democratic government increasingly looks ill-equipped to do what’s needed.
