Foreign Policy article: These are the dangers of a cold war between the United States and China on the American interior

to caution article It was published by the American Foreign Policy magazine about the possibility that the outbreak of a cold war between the United States and China will affect the rights and freedoms of Americans, and reminded of the experience that Americans lived during the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

The article, written by political analyst Reed Smith, stated that for the Americans, the existence of a new Cold War between Washington and Beijing is an issue that is no longer subject to discussion, and stressed that it is also necessary to understand that the United States has triumphed over its opponent by devoting the principles of freedom instead of the tyranny that The Soviet Union was flooded.

He said that this scenario should be repeated with China, according to the writer.

risks

Smith added that remembering the Cold War with the former Soviet Union in the context of a new Cold War with China remains a risky issue for multiple reasons, including that the American imagination depended on the idea of ​​the inevitability of the United States winning a Cold War, in addition to the fact that a new Cold War that could last for decades would be It has a huge negative impact on the psyche of Americans, even if the United States emerges victorious.

This is in addition to the fact that the defeat of “tyrannical evil” had its heavy costs on freedoms in the American interior, as appeared – for example – McCarthyism, which was quick to accuse thousands of American citizens, officials, and employees of sympathy with communism, and questioned their loyalty to their country.

Smith warned of the possibility that such a scenario could be repeated now, with the growth of anti-China political rhetoric, which may raise suspicions and discrimination against Americans of Asian descent, and said that if this happened, no one should be surprised by it.

He stressed that the escalation of tension with China because of Taiwan or the economic policies that Beijing considers targeting it, does not necessarily have negative effects on American society internally. Smith spoke about what happened after the September 11 attacks, when many legal abuses were committed, including indefinite detention, torture, racial profiling, and numerous security harassments, and he said that this should not happen.

He stressed that serving American interests can only be done by preserving the values ​​that Americans cherish, and that they constitute a model that others seek to implement.