Xi Brings us Love

“For a country that aspires to be a world-leading superpower,” writes Outsiders host James Morrow, “China is awfully thin skinned.”

President Xi and a heart image that is probably in violation of international copyright

“For a country that aspires to be a world-leading superpower,” writes Outsiders host James Morrow, “China is awfully thin skinned.”

Sure is:

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic kicked off, Chinese consulates and embassies around the world have been working overtime, firing off aggrieved letters professing the deepest hurt on behalf of the entire Chinese people any time someone suggests that the lies and evasions of the country’s communist leadership made the problem of the virus inestimably worse.

And that’s before we talk about the Chinese Communist Party’s silencing of whistleblowers who tried to sound the alarm – with at least two of them still missing and presumed somewhere being taught to love Big Brother.

China‘s embassy in Berlin wrote me an open letter because they weren‘t too happy with our Corona coverage. I responded.
Full version: https://t.co/BH1muj2hnh pic.twitter.com/Q62H2G9ZqA

— Julian Reichelt (@jreichelt) April 18, 2020

Or their sending faulty medical aid to countries around the world. Or their buying up of medical supplies in countries like Australia. Or their attempts to sell those same products back to the world at vastly inflated prices … you get the idea.

Yep. Further background from former White House national security advisor H. R. McMaster:

The [communist] party has no intention of playing by the rules associated with international law, trade, or commerce.

China’s overall strategy relies on co-option and coercion at home and abroad, as well as on concealing the nature of China’s true intentions. What makes this strategy potent and dangerous is the integrated nature of the party’s efforts across government, industry, academia, and the military …

The Chinese Communist Party has also pursued a broad range of influence efforts in order to manipulate political processes in target nations. Sophisticated Chinese efforts have been uncovered in Australia and New Zealand to buy influence within universities, bribe politicians, and harass the Chinese diaspora community into becoming advocates for Beijing.

Some of those advocates are turning up here in comments. They’re not exactly a friendly bunch:

Didn't make it through moderation, sadly