The U.S. foreign policies are, or should be, primarily about protecting and aiding the American people. But helping others is still a worthwhile goal. They are brave to confront brutal regimes in diverse countries like China and Iran. Both cases show that political systems are deserving history’s notorious trash bin. They continue to rule, jail and kill those who fight for basic freedoms. Support and sympathy are due to the oppressed.
It might appear that U.S. interests are being advanced by aiding them. Both governments are on Washington’s super-naughty list, and will not be receiving anything in their Christmas stockings. Despite the unrest, neither government appears to be on the edge, at least not yet. The People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949. It has survived wars, internal conflict and mass starvation that collectively killed many millions. Xi Jinping’s tyranny seems weaker than it was a month ago. But he will not go away willingly. Although the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, it has survived economic isolation and constant threats of war. In 2009, larger protests were overcome by the clerical establishment. Along with the revolutionary guards, they have been willing to kill children in order to keep power. Although the regime is under siege, it has not been pushed to its limits.
Both cases show that the Republican Party has turned human rights into a political weapon. GOP leaders insist that the Biden administration help the protestors without explaining why. The policymakers responsible for humanitarian disasters such as those in Iraq, Libya and Yemen insist that this they will do everything right. What should they do? The nation’s capital is home to many ivory tower warriors who enjoy sending other people off to war. Even Washington’s War Party charter members seem to realize that a conflict with China is a disaster. The Iran debacle has at least created some hesitation to fight Tehran.
As a tool of intervention, sanctions are next. Personal penalties are a favorite tool for intervention, often through the Magnitsky Act. Sometimes criminals can be inconvenienced. For example, Hong Kong’s former Chief Executive Carrie Lam couldn’t open a bank account. But, no government has ever surrendered to allow its officials to receive an American visa. The fake humanitarians frequently sanction the entire economy. While Republicans are best known for not considering human factors in these cases, Democratic support often supports their efforts when politics dictates.
years of sanctions were imposed against Havana by President Donald Trump, who stated that they would continue until the country becomes democratic. He did not show the same concern for freedom in Egypt or Saudi Arabia, which are ruled by dictators. As if imposing immiserating sanctions on Venezuelan and Syrian citizens already starving would make them surrender, Washington also placed harsher sanctions on Venezuela and Syria. The United States has been imposing steadily more severe sanctions on Iran, Sudan, and North Korea for years without any success in forcing them to comply with its demands.
You can argue that sometimes it is necessary to weaken dangerous governments, like Russia, even if it means paying a high humanitarian price. All the governments mentioned can be stopped by threats of retaliation. All except Moscow are poor developing countries that pose no threat to America. These sanctions have not made any of these countries more democratic. These sanctions are often used to make the advocates feel better about themselves.
Diplomacy and moral persuasion are last. This approach can be effective, but even rhetorical attacks against foreign regimes can cause nationalistic officials supported by similarly nationalistic populations to get in on the action. Sometimes, outside criticism can cause oppressed peoples support their governments. Policies that appear to promote regime change are particularly problematic. Many foreign governments are rightfully to be deposed. They don’t always agree with that view, which is not surprising. If their existence is at risk, the ruling regimes will be more inclined to abandon reforms, increase enforcement and cut off foreign connections.
However, Yang Jianli , a Tiananmen Square protestor in 1989, stated that the Biden administration and other Western countries should warn China unambiguously and specifically about the possible consequences of any violent crackdown. The international community can hold off on additional economic sanctions, more aid to Taiwan, and a crackdown against the offshore wealth of China’s top political families.
Although it might seem like there is little harm in trying, the U.S. has already declared an economic war and is determined to decoupling important areas such as semiconductor chips. It has been difficult to win broad support for the sanctions against the allied side. China believes that Washington is already shifting its traditional Taiwan policy and favoring a more separatist strategy. Beijing expects the U.S. will do more for Taipei. Moscow’s policy has not been affected by Russia’s oligarchs being targeted. Washington’s efforts may have encouraged the Chinese elites to “sanctionproof” their holdings.
The United States should not give up on its efforts to improve human rights. However, a more practical strategy will be needed.
Be humble and realistic. The U.S. cannot make a country of 1.4 million people, rapidly changing, highly nationalistic and tightly controlled into a democracy. The Americans can only help the Chinese people once their nation starts to transform itself. Liberating Iran is not easy. The recent demonstrations could be a sign of important change, but it is possible that they are not. It was not an easy decision to suppress 1989 democratic protests at Tiananmen Square and elsewhere. A few months later East Germany’s regime hesitated to shoot when they were challenged. History then overtook them. The Romanian diehards did indeed shoot , and lost too. People overthrew dictatorships Egypt, and Tunisia during the Arab Spring. The forces of reaction eventually reaffirmed themselves, both quickly in the first year and in the second. The ultimate course of Iran and China is unknown.
Second, do no harm. Washington should not support or encourage tyrannical regimes. It is necessary to deal sometimes with ugly governments. The U.S. was allied with Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union in World War II against Adolph Hitler’s Germany. Even though it is possible to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates to defend against Iran, this should not be used to launch an aggressive war against Yemen. These interlocutors should be treated with civility by American presidents. Take the Cold War summits of Richard Nixon and Leonid Brzhnev. They did not display the same sword-dancing, handholding and shameless flattery that is often accorded to Saudi rulers.
Third, prioritize security over human rights when it is necessary. The Cold War is over so there are no need to make compromises. If Saudi Arabia signs a deal with China, the world will continue to be unified. Riyadh will still sell oil to anyone who wants it. What will the United States do if it stops aiding Egypt? Declare war against Israel Blockade of the Suez Canal Cairo, which has long since resigned itself to American weapons, can’t easily be forced into Russia’s arms.
Fourth, treat human rights not as geopolitical collateral damages. The U.N. was perhaps the most extreme example. Madeleine Albright’s cynical “we believe the price is worth it” She considered the death of half a billion children due to sanctions against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq a minor inconvenience. Today, this approach is still in place. In an attempt to stop reconstruction efforts following the cessation of fighting, Congress and the Trump administration imposed harsh sanctions on a already poor population in Syria. This was to remove Bashar al-Assad from power. James Jeffrey, the U.S. ambassador, admitted to lying to Trump about U.S. troop deployments to Syria in order to keep the illegal U.S. occupation. He also stated that another goal was to create an “quagmire for Russia and reduce the Syrian people to a means to America’s ends.
Fifth, show a sincere commitment to human rights and hold friends and foes to a similar standard. If you have serious reasons to not treat them the same, tell them. While lauding the (very real) violations of human rights in China, Iran and Cuba, Presidents and legislators from the right wax poetic while simultaneously ignoring the Egyptian, Saudi, or Central Asian dictators. While some on the left praise Castros with fervent enthusiasm, others snub right-wing autocracies while mocking them.
Sign up today
Receive weekly emails to your inbox
Sixth, the U.S. should promote the same behavior it models. No government has been more aggressive or killed more innocent people in the past three decades than the U.S. Although American policymakers claim they mean well, it is not enough to comfort the millions of Afghans, Yemenis, Yemenis and other people who have been killed, wounded and displaced. The U.S. does not have to be perfect. It should weigh the cost of others. This nation remains in political chaos two decades after the invasion of Iraq. Yet, no American civilian or military officer has been found to be responsible for the years of bloodshed.
Seventh, practice the principle of practicality. Create alliances with friends and allies. This increases influence and credibility. Realistic goals are important. Xi won’t voluntarily end the CCP dictatorship. If he is convinced that it is in his best interest, Xi might make some concessions. Savor even modest gains. Although it might not be possible for everyone to be saved, it is possible to make a difference. It is possible to save some people.
Human rights should be universally recognized in a better world. We must instead promote respect for others’ lives, liberty, dignity, and life. The government’s primary responsibility is to the people it represents, as well as those who defend the nation or political community within. Others can be assisted, however. The Biblical injunction “as we can, let us be good to all people” (Galatians 6,10) is full of wisdom. It has been a daunting task to understand when this opportunity presents itself and how to best respond. It is not easy to issue a statement or virtue signal in cases like Iran and China. It is not easy to save a life or free a country.
