Illustration:Liu Rui/GT

The US-manipulated so-called summit for democracy is a joke, as it is using democracy as a banner to crack down on countries with different systems and development models, a senior Chinese official said on Saturday at a press conference introducing China's whole-process people's democracy.

The remarks were made by Xu Lin, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and director of the State Council Information Office in response to a question on whether China and the US are combating on the narrative of democracy. 

Xu said democracy is diverse. There is no single path to democracy and the suitable path is the best. True democracy means inclusiveness of different models in different countries, respecting and learning from other countries' exploration and efforts seeking democracy. 

A few countries have a hegemonic mentality of recognizing countries with the same system as correct and those with a different one as wrong, excluding and attacking other models of democracy, which is undemocratic in nature, Xu said.

Those countries have bad records in democracy, chaotic domestic governance, but point fingers at others' democracy and make groundless accusations. Is it democracy they advocate for? Xu questioned.    

US' polarized domestic politics and its failure in handling problems including the COVID-19 pandemic were talked about multiple times at the press conference.

Xu said the US has ineffective domestic governance while imposing hegemony in its foreign policy. Isn't it ridiculous such a country claims itself to be a model of world democracy or beacon of democracy? 

US' hegemonic mindset in the name of democracy Graphics: Xu Zihe/GT

Mankind's democracy cause is at a crossroads of progressing or retrogressing. Some countries use democracy as a banner to instigate confrontation and secession, intensify the international situations and create chaos for the world, Xu said, asking who is the threat to democracy and world's peace and development.

On the US-manipulated summit, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also reiterated Chinese stance in his phone conversation with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday. 

The summit aims not at democracy but hegemony, Wang said, adding the country is seeking to defend its dominant position in the world in the name of democracy. It is trying to interfere with other countries' internal affairs under the banner of democracy, abusing democratic values and creating divisions in the world.

Many countries believe neither is the US in a position to set tests and standards for others nor does it have the rights to ask others to only follow its way of democracy, according to the Chinese diplomat.

Wang stressed that if democracy is to be discussed, it should be discussed on the platform of the United Nations in the spirit of mutual respect and on an equal footing.

If tests are conducted to ask whether countries see the US as a model for democracy, and whether people of different countries are satisfied with their governments,  the results will embarrass the US, Wang said. 

US' hegemonic mindset in the name of democracy Graphics: Xu Zihe/GT

A recent poll by Pew Research Center on 17 economies including US allies like the UK and Australia showed that only 17 percent outside the US see the country as a model for democracy, and the percentage is 19 for Americans themselves. Some 23 percent outside the US believe the US has never been a model and 57 percent say its democracy is decaying.

Meanwhile, multiple surveys have demonstrated Chinese people's high trust in China's system and satisfaction with the Chinese government. A survey on 20,000 Chinese done in 2020 showed Chinese citizens' trust in their national government increased to 98 percent. Trust levels rose to 93 percent at the county level, 94 percent at the city level and 95 percent at the provincial level,showed the survey published on Washington Post.

China has full confidence in its democratic path and process, Wang said, noting that the socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics is the whole-process people's democracy, which has won wide endorsement and support from the Chinese people.

China, Wang underlined, is willing to conduct full exchanges with other countries on democracy and human rights in an open and inclusive manner, and jointly promote the cause of democracy and human rights around the world.

China is also ready to work with all sides to uphold justice, reject the Cold War mentality, safeguard and develop true democracy, and earnestly defend the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of developing countries, he added. 

Global Times 

US' hegemonic mindset in the name of democracy Graphics: Xu Zihe/GT

 

US' hegemonic mindset in the name of democracy Graphics: Xu Zihe/GT