US hegemonic, domineering, bullying practices exerting grave harm
孙晓宇
The Capitol Hill in Washington DC, Dec 4, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
As
the world's most powerful country, the United States has long been
pursuing, maintaining and abusing hegemony under the guise of promoting
"democracy," "freedom," "human rights" and upholding a "rule-based
international order."
Clinging to the Cold-War mentality, the
country has ramped up bloc politics, provoked conflict and
confrontation, arbitrarily imposed unilateral sanctions, grossly
interfered in other countries' internal affairs, advanced in
infiltration and subversion and willfully waged wars.
The
notorious record of the US in the political, military, economic,
financial, technological and cultural fields, seriously threatens world
peace and stability, and the well-being of all peoples.
Recently,
the indifference of US hegemony was once again exposed as Syrian
people, who have been severely impacted by deadly earthquakes, failed
to receive timely assistance due to US sanctions.
To maintain its hegemony, the US has long been attempting to mold other countries with its own values and political system.
In
the name of "promoting democracy," it has pushed for the "Neo-Monroe
Doctrine" in Latin America, instigated "color revolutions" in Eurasia,
and orchestrated the "Arab Spring" in West Asia and North Africa,
bringing chaos and disaster to many countries.
Over the recent
years, it fabricated a false narrative of "democracy versus
authoritarianism," assembled a so-called "value alliance," and formed
exclusive clubs. Such hegemonic practices have created division in
regions, stoked confrontation and undermined peace.
The high military spending for long and wanton use of force have indicated the US military hegemony.
The
US has about 800 overseas military bases, with 173,000 troops deployed
in 159 countries. According to a Tufts University report, the US
undertook nearly 400 military interventions globally between 1776 and
2019.
The US military hegemony has led to humanitarian tragedies around the world.
The
wars and military operations launched by the country in the name of
fighting terrorism have claimed over 900,000 lives. The US has created
37 million refugees around the world. More than 10 million Afghans were
displaced. It has also left Libya in incessant civil unrest.
Looting and exploitation with its economic hegemony is a customary trick of the US.
By
taking advantage of the dollar's status as the major international
reserve currency, it is basically collecting "seigniorage" from around
the world. It costs only about 17 cents to produce a 100-dollar bill,
but other countries had to pony up 100 dollars of actual goods or
services in order to obtain one.
During the COVID-19 pandemic,
the US abused its global financial hegemony and injected trillions of
dollars into the global market, leaving other countries, especially
emerging economies, to pay the price.
With its control over
international economic and financial organizations, the US imposes
additional conditions to their assistance to other countries. In order
to reduce obstacles to US capital inflow and speculation, the recipient
countries are required to make their economic policies fall in line
with America's strategy.
The United States also suppresses its
opponents with economic coercion, doubling down on unilateral sanctions
and "long-arm jurisdiction."
So far, the US had or has imposed
economic sanctions on nearly 40 countries across the world, affecting
nearly half of the world's population. Its economic and financial
hegemony has completely become a geopolitical weapon.
The US
seeks to deter other countries' scientific, technological and economic
development by wielding monopoly power, suppression measures and
technology restrictions in high-tech fields.
It monopolizes
intellectual property in the name of protection. Overstretching the
concept of national security, the US mobilized state power to suppress
and sanction enterprises of other countries. It weaponizes
technological issues and uses them as ideological tools.
The US
has put "democracy" and "human rights" labels on high-technology, so as
to fabricate excuses for its technological blockade against other
countries. Besides, it also abuses its technological hegemony by
carrying out cyber attacks and eavesdropping.
The US worships
hegemonic, domineering and bullying practices, and has long left behind
fair competition and win-win cooperation.
Just as French
entrepreneur Marc Lassus said in his book The Chip Trap, the US values
of the so-called "free market" and "full competition" are pure
hypocrisy.
The US has often used cultural tools to strengthen
and maintain its hegemony in the world. William Blum, an American
expert on US foreign policy, once described ideology as a major force
fueling the US ambitions to rule the world.
American values and
lifestyle are a tied product to its movies and TV shows, publications,
media content, and programs. The country thus shapes a cultural and
public opinion space in which American culture reigns and maintains
cultural hegemony.
It also pours staggering amounts of public
funds into radio and TV networks to support their ideological
infiltration. US-dominated Western media has a particularly important
role in shaping global public opinion.
The US uses
misinformation as a spear to attack other countries, and has built an
industrial chain around it: there are groups and individuals making up
stories, and peddling them worldwide to mislead public opinion with the
support of nearly limitless financial resources.
While a just
cause wins its champion wide support, an unjust one condemns its
pursuer to be an outcast. The hegemonic, domineering, and bullying
practices of using strength to intimidate the weak, taking from others
by force and subterfuge, and playing zero-sum games are exerting grave
harm. Such practices have drawn growing, intense criticism and
opposition from the international community.
The country must
critically examine what it has done, let go of its arrogance and
prejudice, and quit its hegemonic, domineering and bullying practices.
Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202302/23/WS63f6bcc6a31057c47ebb0580.html