By Zhong Sheng, People\u2019s Daily<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Chinese Foreign Ministry recently issued a report titled \u201cThe State of Democracy in the United States\u201d on its website. The 15,000-word report, enumerating facts, statistics and the observations of experts, takes stock of the alienation and three malaises of democracy in the U.S. It came right on time for all the people that care about human progress.<\/p>\n
Democracy is a fruit of the development of human civilization, and a common value shared by all humanity. However, over the years, the U.S.,\u2002despite the\u2002structural flaws and problematic practice\u2002of its democratic system, has claimed itself as\u2002the \u201cmodel of democracy.\u201d It has incessantly interfered\u2002in other countries\u2019 internal affairs and waged wars under the guise of \u201cdemocracy\u201d, creating regional turbulence and humanitarian disasters. What the country has done is a humiliation to democracy, a word that should sound delightful.<\/p>\n
The dust raised by the assault on the Capitol has not been totally dispelled, and the desperate plea of George Floyd is still resonating. From Iraq to Libya, and from Syria to Afghanistan, the awful mess created by the U.S. export of \u201cdemocracy\u201d is still hurting the world.<\/p>\n
However, the U.S. turns a blind eye to such facts and is shamelessly planning the so-called Summit for Democracy, trying to act a \u201cgodfather of democracy\u201d and provoke separation and confrontation with ideological differences.<\/p>\n
The issuance of \u201cThe State of Democracy in the United States\u201d is particularly necessary as it reveals the hypocritical and hegemonic essence of the U.S. democracy.<\/p>\n
The report helps the world better understand democracy. It clearly explains what democracy is and who should define it. Democracy is not an adornment or publicity stunt; rather, it is meant to be\u2002used to solve problems faced by the people. To judge whether a country is democratic, it is important to see whether its people run their own country. There is no perfect system of democracy\u2002in the world, nor is there a political system that fits all countries.<\/p>\n
Democracy is sacred and should not be privatized, labeled or politicized. People from all countries enjoy the right to achieve democracy in a way that fits their own national conditions. Whether a country is democratic should be judged and determined by its own people, not by a minority of self-righteous outsiders.<\/p>\n
The report uncovers false information about the U.S. democracy which was previously sugarcoated by American politicians. Indeed, the American-style democracy is not as good as what they have claimed.<\/p>\n
The U.S. brand of democracy, under a fancy disguise, is haunted by three malaises. Its system is fraught with deep-seated problems; the U.S. democratic practices are messy and chaotic; and the U.S. export of its own democracy is leading to disastrous consequences.<\/p>\n
Whether the U.S. is still a democratic country? That\u2019s a question raised by many around the world, including Americans. Obviously, the U.S. democracy has long been knocked off its pedestal and is no longer a model for the world. The U.S., resorting to the \u201cvalue-based diplomacy\u201d under the guise of the so-called democracy and making international relations ideological, is posing threats against world peace and democracy.<\/p>\n
The report helps the world seek common ground while reserving differences. Diversification is a trend of the world, and there are more than one way to achieve democracy. All countries\u2002need to rise above differences in systems,\u2002reject the mentality of zero-sum game, and\u2002pursue genuine multilateralism. All countries need to uphold peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are common values of\u2002humanity. It is also important\u2002that all countries respect each other, work to expand common ground while shelving differences, promote cooperation for\u2002mutual benefit, and jointly build a community with a\u2002shared future\u2002for mankind.<\/p>\n
Any attempt to push for a single or absolute model of democracy, use democracy as an instrument or weapon in international relations,\u2002or\u2002advocate\u2002bloc politics and bloc\u2002confrontation will be a breach of\u2002the common values of\u2002humanity. When all countries can live and thrive in diversity, the world will be a better place.<\/p>\n
The U.S. is no longer a \u201cbeacon of democracy,\u201d but it refuses to accept that. Opinionated selling of the so-called American democracy will only cause more troubles for the world and traumatize democracy. The U.S. should take extra lessons of democracy. Just as the report says in the beginning, it is hoped that the U.S.\u2002will improve its own system and practices of democracy and change its way of interacting with other countries. This is in the interest of not only the American people, but also the people of other countries.<\/p>\n
(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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