The US blindly makes policies to resist China’s peaceful rise

The US cannot digest the rapid developments of China and takes it as a threat to its seven decades-long hegemony. It wants to keep its supremacy by all means and has gone to an extreme extent in rivalry with China. It has been using all tactics to undermine China, contain China, counter China, and resist the peaceful rise of China.

Recently the US enforced Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in June 2022 which President Joe Biden signed into law in December 2021.

However, Kharon, an international data firm has pinpointed Xinjiang as a central hub for world market raw materials, and thereby numerous industries are unavoidably linked with Uyghur so-called forced labor. 20% of global cotton, 40% of the world’s supply of polysilicon for solar panels, and 13% of the global output of wind turbines are manufactured in Xinjiang. 25% of tomato paste, 11% of walnuts, and 10% of the world’s rayon also originate from the region.

Due to its vast land, naturally rich topography, and immense natural resources, mines, and minerals, Xinjiang has become a global manufacturing hub and reliable supply chain. Central Government is paying full attention to the development of the region and has invested heavily in the development of infrastructure, as it is connecting several countries in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Its role in BRI is huge and facilitates several neighboring countries in connecting with China and trade promotion.

It seems that the US intentionally prolonged its trade war with China which is anti-internationalism, anti-globalization, and against the true spirit of WTO and free trade doctrine. Its protective economic nationalism has already ruined the international corporate sector and its brand war is creating numerous problems for the producers, consumers, and market middle forces.

The US has been notorious for unilateral misadventures, social blockades, and economic sanctions against opponents under the pretext of human rights violations, anti-democratic norms, gender discrimination, etc.

In this regard, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, and many African countries have been in the line of fire.

On its part, the Chinese government opposes US implementation of ‘Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’” 21 June 2022

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the so-called “Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act” formulated by the United States.

Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson, termed it as a huge lie concocted by anti-China forces to smear China.

It is completely contrary to the fact that the labor rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are duly guaranteed. Most recently, the US customs seized some Skechers products made in China.

It said that Oasis Shoes Co., LTD, a Chinese partner of the company which employs Uighurs and other ethnic minorities, had engaged in so-called “forced Labour” under the so-called Uighur Forced Labour Prevention Act.

In order to complain to the US Customs, Skechers commissioned the relevant partner to conduct an independent investigation of its product supply chain in China.

The investigation results showed that there was no evidence that the company had the situation described by the US Customs.

It reconfirms that the US act on Xinjiang is unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying in the name of so-called “human rights”.

It completely violates WTO principles, seriously undermines the international economic and trade order and free trade rules, and will seriously harm the vital interests of businesses and consumers of the two countries.

It will seriously undermine the basic human rights of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, China, including their rights to subsistence and development. It will also strain the global supply chain and affect the global economic recovery.

To conclude earlier this month, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian so-called “Uygur forced labor prevention act” responded, criticized the bill despite the fact that malicious slander of China’s human rights situation in Xinjiang, gross interference in China’s internal affairs, a serious violation of international law and basic principles in international relations, against market rules and business ethics, China is firmly opposed.

The US acts may harm its own nationals more than China. As the cost of living in the US has gone up, and purchasing power of common people has been reduced drastically. Chinese products are rather affordable, yet, satisfy their quality requirement. If really, Chinese products are hindered, many more Americans may suffer more. It might create a political and social crisis in the US.

It is urged that the US legislatures may think logically and follow a rational approach. Should not blindly punish China, ignoring their public interests. China has a huge domestic market and the rest of the whole world is open to them. American tactics may not harm China, but, surely, harm the American public.

Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Founding Chair GSRRA, Sinologist, Diplomat, Editor, Analyst, Advisor, Consultant to Global South Economic and Trade Cooperation Research Center, and Non-Resident Fellow of CCG. (E-mail: awanzamir[at]yahoo.com).