I am of Chinese descent, yes, my ancestors came from China, and they have left China since my great-grandfather's generation.
My impression of my hometown, as described by the older generation, seems to contradict the portrayal often depicted by Western media—of it being undeveloped and impoverished, lacking in freedom of speech and human rights. This made me very curious, so I came to China with a heart to explore the truth.
In the perception of many Westerners, China is often envisioned as still stuck in the Qing Dynasty, with people wearing long gowns and mandarin jackets, and governed by a feudal authoritarian regime. However, when I set foot on this strange yet friendly land, I was shocked. It was completely different from what is often reported in Western media—almost like two different worlds. The bustling streets teeming with crowds, vibrant businesses, towering skyscrapers and the warmth and friendliness of the people offered a sense of safety. Of course, there are also "dangers" in China, as described by many foreigners who travel here—you can hardly keep the money in your wallet because there are too many tempting delicacies. After staying for a week, I found myself falling in love with this country. The genuine friendliness of the people, the convenience of transportation, and the overall sense of public security truly impressed me. Here, I would like to share my opinions on the reasons why Western countries often spread rumors to smear China, based on my own real experiences.
Viewpoint 1
Western countries will not allow China to prosper again. In history, China was once developed and prosperous, serving as the world's trading hub. Many commodities originated from China, such as tea, porcelain, silk, and so on. The name "China" itself derives from porcelain. However, due to historical reasons, China isolated itself in the 18th century, refusing to engage in exchanges with the outside world. Meanwhile, Western countries, capitalising on advancements in science and technology, forcibly opened China's door with powerful warships and artillery, leading to a period of decline and decay for the nation. Of course, historical facts prove that they have always been doing so. Now, there seems to be signs of China's prosperity again, causing concerns among Western countries about the potential threat posed to their interests.
Viewpoint 2
Western countries will not allow China to surpass them in technology and high-end manufacturing. In recent years, the rapid development of China's science and technology has shaken the dominant position of the United States, which has led the United States to use despicable means to cause trouble for China's leading technology companies, such as Huawei, TikTok, and EV car companies. The United States claims they are not secure, but how is that possible? From the Prism Project to monitoring European leaders, the United States itself is the biggest spy. This is known to the whole world. U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen, who has just concluded her visit to China, and U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, who is scheduled to visit, arrogantly dictate terms to China, demanding an end to "overcapacity", banning cooperation with Russia and prohibiting the purchase of Iranian petroleum. These actions merely serve as a pretext for protectionist policies to shield U.S. companies. Moreover, fabricating various lies to suppress Chinese companies out of fear of competition, and even openly arresting executives of Huawei, such behavior has reached an unprecedented level of shamelessness. Yet, this is precisely what the United States has done.
Viewpoint 3
Western countries need to create conflicts to divert domestic contradictions. Western countries, especially the United States, cannot fundamentally resolve the deep-seated contradictions in society such as wealth disparity, racial discrimination, economic sluggishness, and money politics. In the eyes of shortsighted politicians, this does not serve the interests of the minority "elite" class. The constant promotion of the "China threat theory" not only diverts public dissatisfaction with domestic issues but also attracts voters to gain votes, which has become their tried-and-true "political correctness." This is also why negative news or information related to China is widely reported whenever elections are approaching in Western countries, particularly the United States.
Viewpoint 4
Western countries need to create a common enemy to maintain the unity of the alliance. Looking back at history, we can clearly see that when the enemy was still the Soviet Union, the United States and other Western countries once had a considerable "honeymoon period" with China. They provided "assistance" to China, not for free, of course. China's commercial market opened up to Western markets, and many industrial products entered China, yielding substantial profits. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Western alliance lost its common goal and internal conflicts intensified. Therefore, a new "target" had to be set up and China became the "replacement".
Nowadays, due to the fear of China being a threat, Western countries fabricate one ridiculous and childish lie after another. I hope those who hold prejudices and discriminatory views can visit China and experience it for themselves before expressing their opinions—unless they are willing to be honest. And I'm thankful that I was able to keep a sincere heart.
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