By Nurmemet Musabay
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article may not necessarily align with or represent the position of the Uyghur Times.)
The United States, as the leader of the Western alliance, has initiated numerous interventions to establish democracy across the world as a universal ideal. While a few of these endeavors have been successful, most have resulted in disastrous outcomes that have worsened the situation. As the US faces a critical moment in maintaining its global power in an increasingly interconnected world, it is crucial to reflect on and reassess how it can preserve its current position and identify its main competitors.
The consequences of the US’s unsuccessful military interventions extend beyond just diminishing its role as a superpower. Instead, these failures have allowed China to successfully reduce US influence and eventually replace it in those countries and beyond, gradually but surely.
For example, on June 25, 1950, the United States led NATO forces in intervening in the Korean War. Despite their efforts to change the regime over three years, they were unable to establish a democratic government on the Korean Peninsula. Instead, the peninsula was divided into two, leading to ongoing conflicts. The war was halted on July 27, 1953, but tensions persisted. NATO forces then withdrew from South Korea, creating a stage for a more aggressive and full-fledged Cold War. South Korea received support from the US, while the USSR supported North Korea at the time, and Russia currently does. Consequently, the entire Korean Peninsula became a proxy area for these rival superpowers to compete for their interests, with China playing a significant role as a third party.
The United States intervened in Vietnam on November 1, 1955, to replace the Communist regime with a democratic one. However, despite ten years of fighting, they were unable to achieve this goal, and the war resulted in heavy casualties. On April 30, 1975, the United States ceased fighting and withdrew from Vietnam, leaving behind a communist state that has since gained independence from the vexed influences of both the US and Russia. However, without the presence of the US and Russian influences, Vietnam has become a vulnerable space, now under the influence of China as a hidden threat.
The first Iraqi regime change war, which began on August 2, 1990, was unsuccessful, and the war ended on February 28, 1991. On March 20, 2003, the 2nd stage declared war on Iraq for regime change and led by The United States Western Ally invaded Iraq. They destroyed the dictatorial regime in Iraq but failed to establish a democratic regime that would ensure stability, causing many people to die. Although the Iraq war ended on March 15, 2011, it
could not bring stability to Iraq. Therefore, Iraq has become a country where civil wars are boiling. They destroyed Iraq due to regime change wars.
From February 15, 2011, to October 23, 2011, Libya suffered similar tragedies as their respective regimes were toppled by through regime change supported by the west. the same tragedy happened in Libya, and as a result, the people of Iraq and Libya were devastated by the wars of the regime.
On March 15, 2011, a regime change began in Syria, with the Western coalition led by the United States entering eastern Syria. Russia supported the Assad regime, leading to a civil war that has been ongoing for the past 12 years in Syria.
Despite ongoing instability in several Middle Eastern countries, there is growing dissatisfaction and hostility towards the West, particularly the United States, in the region. The region has now been gravitating more and more from the US to China and, sometimes, to Russia as an alternate power.
We can see the same pattern of US failure in foreign policies in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, and even Syria. These countries have forged a stronger relationship with China in exchange for their shifted loyalty from the West to China.
The US recently ended the 20-year war in Afghanistan in 2021, resulting in disappointment for the international community, especially the West, who initiated it in 2001. Despite the war lasting for 20 years, the attempt to overthrow the Taliban regime in Afghanistan ultimately failed, resulting in the loss of many lives, infrastructure destruction, sacrifices of NATO soldiers, and trillions of dollars spent. The US’s departure from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, was seen as one of the most unsuccessful, indeed disgraceful, military retreats, as it surrendered control to a more empowered Taliban than ever before.
In summary, the West, led by the United States, has been unsuccessful in changing regimes through internal interventions and wars.
Conversely, the United States and other Western nations have endeavored to back those striving for freedom and independence. These efforts have largely yielded positive results in the past. For example, the US-led intervention in support of Bosnia’s fight for independence resulted in their triumphant declaration of independence on April 6, 1992. Likewise, East Timor, with the aid of Western nations, achieved independence on May 20, 2002, after a protracted struggle since 1975.
In 1990, the people of Kosovo went to war for independence. The war of freedom and independence of the people of Kosovo continued victoriously with the intervention and military assistance of NATO forces led by the United States and the bombing of the Serbian forces from the air. As a result, on February 17, 2008, Kosovo declared its independence.
After decades of civil war and independence wars against the Sudanese government, South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011, with the intervention and assistance of the United States.
In essence, whenever Western countries, led by the United States, stand for protecting human rights and democracy and provide support and aid to people fighting for freedom and independence, it has yielded positive results, to a certain extent. In contrast, whenever it tries to engage in regime change, it has failed to a certain extent. More critically, whenever it fails, China appears triumphantly.
Ultimately, the unfocused and unsuccessful foreign policies of the US have driven four countries to be aligned more than ever against it: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Though this alliance is nothing new, looking at the recent political events and changes, it is posing a more serious threat to the US role as a superpower. The de-dollarization efforts of the BRICS countries are one of these threats that China and Russia are actively promoting around the world.
Another critical failure in US foreign policy is the failure to see China as an existential threat. It is written in the DNA of the CCP that it establishes its ideological hegemony globally through its military, economic, and diplomatic powers. For this reason, it aims to replace the US in the end. It is no longer a question of why but of when. The Chinese political forces, indoctrinated through Chinese militarist and chauvinist nationalism, have been a force to be reckoned with that the US can no longer ignore. Any ignorance and underestimation will be self-destructive.
Thus, what should the US do?
Continuing its track record of success, the United States must aim to support the independence and democracies of nations facing Chinese threats and oppression. This approach combines the best and worst aspects of the previous and current US foreign policies and experiences. Realistically speaking, the US is currently confronted with a difficult decision: either defeat China definitively or face irreparable defeat by it. Any alternative would indicate a misunderstanding and miscalculation of global political trends or an underestimation of China’s relentless expansionist ambitions.
The first step for the US is to dismantle the overall power of this dangerous adversary, commonly known as China, is to assist and endorse the freedom and independence movements of those living under Chinese occupation, including Taiwan, East Turkistan, and Tibet. These nations have long awaited this moment, and the United States and the West must abandon the illusion that the Chinese regime will become more peaceful or friendly without any balkanization of the PRC empire. This time, the calculated balkanization of the PRC Chinese Empire by the US and its allies and providing aid to the nations seeking independence must be considered.
Despite the profound and astonishing hesitation around labeling China either as a strategic competitor or an existential threat by US politicians, China has never changed its overarching ambition to defeat the US once and for all. It has always defined the US as a global hegemon to be replaced in a multipolar world, where China, as it believes, will eventually emerge as a solo global power with no rival or enemy.
It must be reckoned that the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples of East Turkistan can be integral to the US strategy for challenging China. The most effective way to challenge China is to liberate East Turkistan, the path of Chinese expansion to the West, from Chinese occupation and to support the East Turkistan independence movement with all possible means.
Previously, the United States committed a grave error regarding the Uyghurs. In 2001, then-President Bush signed Executive Order 13224 to combat terrorist funding, demonstrating America’s commitment to address terrorism. However, on September 3, 2002, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) was categorized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations, despite its shadowy nature and close ties with both Chinese and Pakistani intelligence services. This designation opened the flood gate for the Chinese government to justify their criminal actions against the Uyghurs under the guise of “fighting terrorism.” Consequently, the Uyghurs have suffered greatly due to being collectively labeled as terrorists, leading to the current genocide.
This error must be corrected now. East Turkistan is essential for China to remain robust, powerful, and competitive. Over thirty percent of China’s natural and mineral resources come from East Turkistan. Chinese energy imports from Central Asia and through the Kashgar-Gwadar route from the Middle East account for another 30–40% of Chinese energy imports. While rich in cotton products, East Turkistan is China’s most extensive raw textile material base. All essential raw and rare materials needed for today’s high-tech and chip industry come from East Turkistan. China is exploiting this advantage to improve its competitiveness with the world’s high-tech companies and chip-producing countries. Thus, to liberate East Turkestan is to cut the blood line of this beast and let it bleed to death.
China has already developed a strategic plan to bring disaster to the world. They formed a union called BRICS and declared war against the G7 countries, which drive the world economy and development. By forming the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), they are creating a new rival to NATO. By building the One Belt, One Road Initiative, they aim to undermine the Western World Trade Organization. The de-dollarization policies aim to weaken the dominance of the US dollar as the sole currency for trade, with the intention of undermining the economic power of the United States. In short, China’s actions are predicted to bring only negative consequences to the world, including disasters, calamities, and devastation.
If China’s westward expansion and maritime pursuits under the One Belt, One Road initiative are not halted promptly, the world will face its biggest disaster. The calamities, devastation, and massacres caused by China globally will far exceed those brought about by any previous empire. These disastrous events could potentially lead to the downfall of human society, with China’s communist regime reigning with ruthless dominance, as evidenced by their horrific treatment of the Uyghur and other Turkic populations of East Turkistan.
Presently, the Uyghur and other Turkic populations of East Turkistan are enduring an unprecedented period of suffering, experiencing what can only be described as the most brutal genocide in history. The actions carried out by Beijing in East Turkistan (so-called
“Xinjiang”) including physical and cultural eradication, mass internment, forced labor, and sterilizations, all which amount to nothing short of genocide. Therefore, no more negative joke on Uyghur’s fate, US made in past.
The Uyghur and other Turkic peoples of East Turkistan must be allowed to determine their fate. The Uyghurs desperately need assistance, and their well-being is crucial for maintaining global stability. It is of utmost importance for the international community to show compassion towards the Uyghurs. To ensure global peace, safeguard the security of the United States and the Western world, and address the Chinese threat, the United States must acknowledge and rectify its past political, humanitarian, and strategic missteps. Just as the United States has supported the people of Ukraine, it should swiftly support the East Turkistan independence movement.
To ignore, neglect, or show indifference to the plight of the Uyghurs goes against the fundamental principles of the US. If prompt and significant measures are not taken to help the Uyghurs, the Uyghur crisis will forever be a shameful mark on humanity’s conscience.
It is better do action today than apologize later, The Uyghur crisis is a crisis of Humanity, and world’s crisis,
It is time for America to write another new, Glorious, production history.
The Uyghurs are a vulnerable population in urgent need of assistance from the international community, including the United States, to safeguard their identity, dignity, well-being, and aspirations.
About the Author:
Nurmemet Musabay ( Nuri Musabay), Uyghur American activist, He was a leader of the pro-democracy movement at Xinjiang ( East Turkistan) University from 1985 to 1989. He completed his bachelors in Physics. He successfully left the country and went to the former Soviet Union. He settled in Almaty, Kazakhstan. After his arrival in the U.S., Mr. Musabay has been active in Uyghur groups such as the World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur American Association.
Image: Kuzzat Altay / Unsplash
