Omer Bekali, a former prisoner at a Chinese internment camp for the Uighur people, gets emotional while speaking during a news conference in Berlin in March. By Charles Kraus Charles Kraus is an historian at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The views expressed here are his own.
This is not the first time that the United States has had to choose how to respond to discomforting developments in Xinjiang, nor is it the first time that that choice has involved whether to put broader American-Chinese relations ahead of human rights. Almost 50 years ago when facing these questions, the Nixon administration prioritized pragmatic geopolitical calculations over human rights considerations.
Although Murphy transmitted the letter to the White House on Alptekin’s behalf , it is doubtful that it ever reached Nixon’s desk. State Department officials, and likely national security adviser Henry Kissinger, saw Alptekin’s requests as unfeasible to fulfill. Such was the realpolitik logic of the Nixon administration: avoiding irritants to which China was sensitive, like Taiwan or Xinjiang, for the sake of achieving larger diplomatic and strategic changes. Human rights concerns for the Uighur people were simply not a priority.
In light of this horrendous situation, Xinjiang deserves a prominent place in the United States’ China policy — regardless of how it might impinge on any grand strategic bargains that Washington is seeking with Beijing.
U S talking about Human Rights. Strange.
Shame if USA doesn’t raise human rights issue with China. Concentration camps for Muslims should be unacceptable
what did they just start yesterday
Will the United States continue to put National interest over Israeli and Saudi Arabia war crimes and human rights abuse
Of course it will. The US doesn’t care about Muslims.
It is for the people of China to take care of that. We have enough to do trying to defend our own borders from mobs of illegal immigrants and meretricious Democrats.
YES. Lol U.S. national interests HAVE to come first. ALWAYS. We elect Presidents and politicians to govern, make things better at home AND keep the USA safe. Americans had wars to remove the shackles of oppressive government, OTHER nations can do the same to improve their lot.
MockingbirdMedia = Washington Post EnemyOfThePeople subversion Sedition DarkToLight panic
Gentlemen from tWP as can be seen from the comments, people stop believing your manipulations. But is this an indicator for you?!
There is no defender of Human Rights in this planet.
ASK OBAMA IN THE FURST PLACE. HOW COME WHEN OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT YOU BIAS GUYS NEVER ASKED HIM?
Why not? We’re piling up our own human rights violations and no one is doing a fucking thing about it. GetAngry
Yes. That was the easiest political science quiz of the semester!
So we are supposed to do something about China but not Muslim countries like Iran or Saudi Arabia in regards to human rights violations?
But, wait, weren't you all butthurt when Trump announced tariffs on Chinese goods?
And in a follow-up question, will realDonaldTrump continue to his own personal interests over national interests?
At this point in history, who are we to throw stones?
Seems like just yesterday Don Sr. and Ivanka got their Chinese trademarks approved... No, there will be no consideration by this administration on human rights violations of China. Nor on the House of Saud. Our White House is bought and paid-for by China and Saud.
Children are placed in cages, some are missing, some are dead, Guantanamo Bay is still open, the worst humanitarian crisis in history that we support is in Yemen, Mohammed Bin Salman is our business partner, Trump likes Kim Jung Un, and we are pointing the finger at China!
Don’t put the two words, HUMAN RIGHTS and Murica in the same sentence.
Yes
Of course, like Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Turkey..
Yes. For reference, see Saudi Arabia.
Analysis: The plan is to take down the communist party in China. China is pleased that it is ethnically cleansing itself. They take complaints as compliments. The perspective has to be big picture. Nipping at Xi's heels is unproductive.
And in a follow-up question, will realDonaldTrump continue to his own personal interests over national interests?
If theres profit to be had...of course
China’s human rights violations what about America’s human rights violations
Perspective: Will the Washington Post continue to put their political interest over the truth and be neutral or continue to be the fake voice of the Democratic Party?
By U.S. you mean the Dem controlled House should do something? They can’t even fix our own immigration and border humanitarian crisis. Paralyzed with hate for Trump.
Yes
All religions pose a threat to China.
Yes.
Yes. That certainly won’t change under this president, who’s never met a human rights violation he didn’t like.
This administration doesn't have a problem with its own human rights violations. Why the fuck would it give a shit about China's? This was a complete waste of time, no wonder newspapers are dying 🙄
and the misfit Prez wonders why he isn't nominated (on the level) for any humanitarian awards. President Jimmy Carter, GH Bush, Clinton & Obama he isnt worthy of mentioning their names.
Has the Washington Post ever run articles about the persecuted Christians around the world? Just wondering.
We have no business getting involved in the affairs of ANY sovereign nation.
Perhaps the reporter should ask that question to Saudi Qatar Bahrain Brunei Malaysia Indonesia and 52 Sharia Countries why they have done nothing.. China has +1.3billion people and they have their own rules & laws ..
We need to take care of America first.
When can the hypocritical US media give up using 'double standards' and learn not to lie? Why did the United States withdraw from the UN Human Rights Commission? Do the people of Palestine and Venezuela have human rights in the eyes of the Americans?
The US is committing massive human rights violations on its own shores and is a party to human misery around the globe. It needs to get its own house in order before it would have credibility to judge others actions.
And what about Kashmir and Palestine 🇵🇸
What do you think
How about we work on fixing our own human rights violations. Find and return the children our gov’t kidnapped from their parents. SecNielsen realDonaldTrump POTUS SenSasse SenatorFischer
Saudi Arabia? Anyone?
Silence & inaction is complicity
God I hope so.
We are not the world police
yes
whatever benefits trump
As it has since the invasion of Tibet. I'm guessing ...YES!
They should be punished! They are criminals!
Answer: As long as the money keeps on coming.
yes
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