The GOP’s gifts to the CCP: a list
If Xi Jinping had a plan to subvert the US’s ability to counter China’s influence, how would it differ from what Trump is doing?
President Trump is destroying many of the institutions and activities that have buoyed the United States in its competition with the People’s Republic of China.
Not all of these institutions and programs were originally designed to counter Chinese influence. They were created by the U.S. government for a variety of purposes – encourage economic development, tell America’s story, provide objective information to closed societies, promote democratic governance and respect for human rights. But in recent years, most of these institutions have been useful to policymakers as instruments in promoting America’s “soft power” in competition with China.
But not Donald Trump. He is terminating organizations that monitor, analyze and counter China’s human rights abuses and influence operations:
United States Agency for International Development, which provided economic and humanitarian assistance, tangible elements of American goodwill that contrasted with Chinese extraction-focused relations.
Effectively eliminated by Trump Administration’s freeze on almost all foreign aid and layoff of almost all staff.
National Endowment for Democracy and its International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute, which promote democratic governance and resilience against expansion of PRC-favored autocratic governance.
Denied access to Congressionally-appropriated funds by Trump Administration forcing furlough of some three-quarters of staff.
Radio Free Asia, which broadcasts independent information into closed societies in Asia, including services in the Tibetan, Uyghur, Mandarin and Cantonese languages.
Grant terminated by the Trump Administration following Executive Order to eliminate its parent agency, which will likely result in elimination of the agency.
Voice of America, which tells America’s story and provides reporting and a source of independent information for the world, including in the Tibetan, Mandarin and Cantonese languages.
o Grant terminated by the Trump Administration following Executive Order to eliminate its parent agency, which will likely result in elimination of the agency.
Woodrow Wilson International Center, which provides research, scholarship and track 2 diplomacy, including on developments inside China and U.S.-China relations.
Slated for elimination by Executive Order.
China human rights NGOs, who as small organizations or as projects within larger organizations monitor and analyze the human rights situation inside China and provide a resource to U.S. policymakers and advocacy to promote human rights and the rule of law in China.
Many groups have had their grants froze or terminated. Among those groups named publicly are Freedom House, China Labor Watch and China Digital Times.
Tibetan refugee community, established in exile by the Dalai Lama following his flight from China’s repression, which had received assistance from the U.S. to preserve Tibetan identity, and culture and to promote health and education in refugee settlements.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated $87 million worth of contracts under USAID for Tibetan communities.
More cuts may be coming. Rubio has already cut staffing at the State Department’s Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor amidst rumors that he may close it.
Important to note that these terminations are illegal. It’s difficult to make the case that China, or any other country, abide by rule of law when the U.S. President refuses to do so.
And there are many other ways that the Trump Administration is enabling the Chinese government to expand its influence, either by ceding space or having the U.S. government mimic CCP behavior – rejecting notions of diversity and equity (on which the Uyghur and Tibetan causes are based), redefining international human rights to suit Party ideology (as the CCP is doing), undermining international human rights institutions and international justice mechanisms that should be holding Chinese leaders accountable. Don’t forget Trump’s constant praise of Xi’s ability to rule with an “iron fist.”
Given their opacity, we don’t know if leaders in Beijing see these actions as a gift. But their surrogates/toadies do, such as Shanghai Daily’s Andy Boreham who posted “EXCELLENT NEWS” in response to Radio Free Asia’s closure, which he called "one of the US's most insidious anti-China propaganda outlets." And RFA President Bay Feng agrees: “cancellation a boon to the Chinese Communist Party.” As do many others.
The reason I titled this piece “GOP’s gift to the CCP” is because Republican Members of Congress have been silent in response, making them complicit in Trump’s actions. I could list hundreds of citations of Congressional Republicans praising the work of NED, VOA, RFA, Freedom House, etc. specifically in relation to China, or citing these organizations in their China policy work.
Congressional Republicans have used the products of these organizations to craft their China policy proposals and burnish their image as “tough on China.” But with Trump targeting these organizations for elimination, Republicans in Congress don’t lift a finger to help them. What does that look like?
The biggest charlatan here is Marco Rubio. As senator and chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, he used the work of these to issue reports on China’s human rights abuses and attach his name to important laws like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. But as Secretary, it is his signature on documents that are terminating U.S. government support for these groups – groups that he exploited to build his brand. Ungrateful is the kindest word to describe Rubio’s behavior.
More importantly, what is being lost is the ability of the U.S. government to understand what is happening in China, to respond to CCP influence, and to demonstrate to people in China that they too deserve democracy and respect for their human rights. This loss is being directly spearheaded by President Trump. There is still time to reverse these terrible, self-defeating actions. But that will require Republicans in Congress to remember they have Article I authority to push back against the President’s illegal actions and fight for the causes they once championed.