The report is absolutely scathing. Some choice quotes:
But when the next crisis came, both the US and the governments of Europe fell back on old models of alliance leadership. Europe, as EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell loudly lamented prior to Russia’s invasion, is not really at the table when it comes to dealing with the Russia-Ukraine crisis. It has instead embarked on a process of vassalisation.
But “alone” had a very specific meaning for Scholz. He was unwilling to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine unless the US also sent its own main battle tank, the M1 Abrams. It was not enough that other partners would send tanks or that the US might send other weapons. Like a scared child in a room full of strangers, Germany felt alone if Uncle Sam was not holding its hand.
Europeans’ lack of agency in the Russia-Ukraine crisis stems from this growing power imbalance in the Western alliance. Under the Biden administration, the US has become ever more willing to exercise this growing influence.
It’s not an autocracy, it’s a democracy as anybody who actually knows the first thing about China understands. It’s also demonstrably the fact because the government of China consistently works in the interest of the people of China. This is reflected by things such as massive poverty alleviation, infrastructure building, and so on. This is why the government of China has far higher approval than any western country. However, it’s not a western style parliamentary democracy. It’s a common mistake that uneducated westerners make to equate democracy with their own failed implementation of the concept.
Well then answer, do you think that America is a and. strongman (autocratic military dictatorships)?
Also, is your own country a strongman autocratic dictatorship given that it has made protesting illegal, and it’s torturing journalists?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_China
The government can pass laws in the UK, unpopular ones mean they get voted out
What’s the process for the Chinese people?
You once again show a simplistic understanding of how your own political system works. The two parties you have that have a chance of wining are Conservatives and Labour. Both parties consistently pass policy that’s hostile towards the working majority and benefits the oligarchs, yet it’s pretty much impossible for an alternative party to get into power. The fact that you get to choose between two turds doesn’t make your system democratic. It’s an illusion of choice and it’s clearly enough to convince a lot of you that you have some sort of power.
The way people get elected into your government is by having election campaigns, and these need a lot of funding. So the people the government actually answers to are the ones who pay for these campaign. That’s who gets represented in practice, and that’s why there is a continuous wealth transfer to the top that’s happening.
Voting, when a candidate doesn’t do what they got voted in to do then they get voted out. Having a single party or multiple parties is completely tangential to that. However, since Chinese system isn’t based around having huge campaign funds, it makes it possible for regular working class people to actually participate in politics.
Doesn’t sound very democratic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_China
The results are clearly far more democratic than what we see in the west as I’ve already explained above. By any measure you choose, Chinese government does a far better job representing the interests of the working majority than any western government. But you keep on thinking that your system is superior.
Sure, that’s why the CCP have been opening secret police stations across the world, because they’re so democratic. Got it
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/25/dissidents-urge-western-action-as-china-targets-critics-overseas
I love how you rely on debunked conspiracy theories as a form of argument https://www.mintpressnews.com/false-witnesses-sinister-plots-exposing-cia-connection-chinese-police-station-narrative/285021/
By the way how’s torturing Assange going mr. democracy?
Debunked?
Doubt
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Fox_Hunt
And how is Assange being tortured? He’s being detained pending extradition and having his day in court. Unlike those under authoritarian regimes…you don’t get irony do you?
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/09/uk/julian-assange-extradition-appeal-intl-gbr/index.html
You don’t think Assange is being tortured? What would you call it then? :)
So, China prosecuting criminals abroad, as all countries do, so proof of what again?
Prolonged solitary confinement is a form of torture https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/02/united-states-prolonged-solitary-confinement-amounts-psychological-torture
So, I’ll ask again, how’s torturing Assange going mr. democracy?
But what about whataboutism?
“Whataboutism” is a weak response to avoid engaging with legitimate criticism of hypocrisy.
Calling whataboutism is a logical fallacy that’s used to justify having a double standard for your own behavior and that of your adversaries. When somebody claims that China is not democratic because it does X and their own country, which they believe to be democratic, is doing X then the claim is not sound.