Voice of America reported on Tuesday, March 5, that the United States distinguishes the people of China from the government of the country. According to a report based on an internal document from the U.S. Department of State, the United States makes a clear distinction between the Chinese Communist Party and the people of the country, viewing the Chinese government, rather than its people, as an adversary in its strategic competition. This approach aligns with the public messaging of the U.S. State Department during the later years of Donald Trump's first term as President of the United States. Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, has recently instructed U.S. embassies and consular posts to use more specific descriptions and to avoid using the term 'Chinese' as a general adjective. The directives specify that the general use of this term could carry negative connotations for the people, culture, or language in China. This internal document directs the State Department to use 'Chinese government' when discussing the actions of the Chinese government and to clarify that this government is responsible for political, economic, military, and other decision-making. At the same time, it should be clear that the United States does not hold the people of China accountable for the actions of their government. The document also states that language reflecting the ideology of Xi Jinping, the leader of China, should not be used. According to this directive, Xi should be referred to as 'General Secretary' of the Communist Party instead of 'President,' which reflects the Party's dominance over the government. Marco Rubio states in this document that the U.S. will assess its relations with China based on 'confrontation and fairness.' Additionally, the State Department should avoid descriptions previously used by the Biden administration, such as 'investment-aligned competition' and 'responsible management of relations' between the U.S. and China.
The U.S. Distinguishes the People of China from Their Government
The U.S. has officially distinguished between the Chinese people and their government, viewing the latter as an adversary. This shift in language and policy reflects a strategic approach to U.S.-China relations under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This matters as it signals a more confrontational stance towards the Chinese government while attempting to maintain a distinction from its populace.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. has officially differentiated between the Chinese people and their government, labeling the latter as an adversary. This change in language and policy reflects a more confrontational approach to U.S.-China relations under Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- The U.S. State Department is instructed to use 'Chinese government' when discussing actions of the Chinese government.
- The U.S. will avoid terms that could negatively impact perceptions of the Chinese people.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. has historically had a complex relationship with China, balancing competition with cooperation. Recent years have seen increased tensions over trade, human rights, and military posturing.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%