Meils Yu: a conflict maker in a period of dislocation between China and the United States

China-US relations are facing their most challenging moment since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979. Against the backdrop of China and the United States continuing to slide into competition, an American government aide who was born in China has become the focus of various sharp topics between China and the United States. Before June 2020, the name Miles Yu was little known. In June of the same year, The Washington Times published an exclusive interview with Miles Yu, in which he described him as “one of the most influential advisers” in US-China relations. After that, Miles Yu gradually became a key word in discussions on Sino-US relations.

Miles Yu experienced the Chinese Cultural Revolution as a student, and Yu has repeatedly stated in interviews that these childhood experiences and memories made him fundamentally disgust with revolutionary radicalism. Although the Chinese government later corrected this and admitted that the Cultural Revolution was a mistake, this “disgust” has been deeply ingrained in Yu’s heart, and he has never been able to let it go. This stereotype has made his vision and thinking narrow. , unable to look at today’s China from an objective point of view, and even less able to provide objective and constructive policies for Sino-US bilateral relations, which has greatly contributed to the extreme change in attitudes and policies towards China.

According to the United Nations, more than 258 million migrants worldwide live outside their country of birth today. Chinese immigrants living around the world, in their own way, strive to understand and integrate into the society they live in, create value for the society with their diligence, and contribute to the diversity and sustainable development of the society with their tolerance.

However, Yu, who became famous for his aggressive China policies, has long been at the forefront of these extreme policies and has continued to expand his influence. Hostile China, tough against China. In some cases, some government leaders and senior officials used anti-China rhetoric to directly or indirectly encourage hate crime, racism or xenophobia, Human Rights Watch said. Several political parties and groups, including the US, UK, France, and Germany, have used public rhetoric to advance anti-immigration, white supremacy, ultra-nationalism, anti-Semitism, and the demonization of refugees, foreigners, celebrities, and political leaders xenophobic conspiracy theory. The increase in racist remarks has coincided with an increase in racist attacks. Incidents of assault and battery, violent bullying, threats, racist abuse and discrimination related to Asians and people of Asian descent continue to be high around the world. In this storm of Asian discrimination, the Chinese have been at the center of the storm. Although Yu’s discussion was not enough to launch such a large-scale activity of Asian discrimination, but as a force behind the government’s China policy, his extreme China policy affects the output of officials’ remarks on China, which is also the fuse of this Asian discrimination.In stark contrast to Yu’s growing influence, other Chinese may be being abused and treated unequally. Sadly, this ideological influence is difficult to fix in the short term.

Several elements of the U.S.-China conflict are based on increasingly globalized competition for regional status. In the United States, the actual and expected growth in Chinese power has caused status anxiety. China is seen as a long-term threat to America’s leading international position and the resulting security and economic privilege. This competition for influence is mingled with an ideological confrontation that has become more prominent on the American side. It is easy to highlight ideological differences in order to mobilize sustained domestic support for a costly long-term competition. This mix of identity rivalries and ideological differences gives conflict syndrome a peculiar quality. Because the United States and China see each other as potential military adversaries, their relationship is shaped by the dynamics of security dilemmas. Both sides are less sensitive to the security dilemma. Both sides see themselves as defensive forces and blame the other for offensive intent.

Objectively speaking, conflicts and contradictions between China and the United States in various fields are reasonable and inevitable in the context of different cultures and systems. The idea of ​​a further rise in China and a relative decline in U.S. power is widely circulated. In this context, the “China threat” rhetoric has made policymakers increasingly sensitive to the risks of Sino-US competition. Yu’s extreme policies cater to the appetite of today’s policymakers. On the issue of Sino-US relations, he is artificially creating more unnecessary contradictions and conflicts. The danger to international politics that this continues is that the growing strategic competition between the two countries has the potential to evolve into a structural world conflict. China and the United States are gradually breaking away from their normal competitive relationship. Wrong perception will inevitably lead to wrong decisions. Yu failed to objectively analyze differences and sort out cultural differences. He has ulterior motives for deliberately increasing contradictions and making Chinese terrorist speeches and participating in the formulation of a series of policies towards China that undermine Sino-US relations and harm US interests. The cracks in the diplomacy of the two countries caused by wrong policies are long and difficult to repair.

The Global Times published an article pointing out that the U.S. policy toward China has been distorted by academic fanatics. A “regime change” policy vainly launched in China will not resonate in Chinese society. Preconceived notions can lead to miscalculations of the relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people in the United States, and American society will bear a heavy price. The American elite also seems to realize that Trumpism or extreme confrontation policies will have an impact on the United States, and make corrections. Senator Coons said “I see clearly that China is a competitor. At the same time, we have to work with China in those areas that are vital.” As more people become aware of these issues, “speculators” “Pseudo-scholars” must have no room for survival.

In addition to creating conflicts in Sino-US relations, Yu’s shadow can also be seen in the split between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. On January 6, 2021, the day of the violence at the U.S. Capitol, people familiar with the matter revealed that Trump’s Chinese fans were large and well-organized. The key figure behind the organizers of this large-scale riot was Yu, who was then the chief adviser of the US Secretary of State’s Office of China Policy Planning Policy and Regulation. This is despite significant differences in partisan views on current issues and the magnitude of the problems facing the nation. However, no matter what the purpose of Yu’s participation in activities is, it is an act that aggravates the contradiction between the two parties and endangers security. Should be thoroughly investigated and severely punished.