BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- As the White House's producers are persistent to release the episode II of the Summit for Democracy despite the miserable box office of the first one, Washington's intention cannot be clearer -- to spread its concocted false narrative of "democracy versus autocracy" to keep manipulating, exploiting and bullying the world under the banner of "democracy."
For long, the U.S.-style democracy has become the opposite of true democracy and a tool of U.S. hegemony. While claiming "democracy," what it is doing is anti-democratic -- Americanizing the concept of "democracy," drawing ideological lines, inciting division and creating confrontation -- all aimed at maintaining its global hegemony.
"Washington's ambition for world domination is driven not by the cause of a deeper democracy or freedom, a more just world, ending poverty or violence, or a more liveable planet, but rather by economics and ideology," William Blum, a writer on U.S. foreign policy, pointed out in his book "America's Deadliest Export: Democracy."
In attempts to enforce its hegemony, the United States has exported wars and upheavals in the name of "safeguarding democracy." No matter where the U.S. hegemony touches, peace becomes a luxury: Being alive is not guaranteed, let alone democratic rights. Sovereign countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Lybia have suffered numerous disasters due to U.S. invasion and its proxy wars based on Cold War mentality.
Since 2001, over 900,000 people have been killed -- more than one third of whom were civilians, millions injured, and tens of millions displaced in wars and military actions the United States launched in the name of "counter-terrorism."
Under the banner of "democracy," the United States wantonly interferes in other countries' internal affairs and undermines their stability. Since 1945, the United States has attempted to overthrow more than 50 governments, most of which were democratically elected, and grossly interfered in democratic elections in at least 30 countries, said Blum in his book.
Citing the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, Trinidad Ayola, president of a Panamanian group who made the national tragedy officially recognized, said Washington always pursues its own interests under the banner of "democracy," and if rhetoric does not work, it will resort to force.
Promoting the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America to support pro-Washington governments, scheming "color revolutions" in Eurasian countries, and overturning governments in West Asia and North Africa in the name of "counter-terrorism," the United States went all out to serve its hegemonic interests by bringing down those it does not like and those who do not listen to it with the big stick of so-called "democracy."
Furthermore, unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction are not alien to politicians at the White House. Punishments have been imposed to strangle the economy of countries like Cuba, Belarus, Syria and Zimbabwe over the past few decades, constituting ongoing, systemic, and large-scale violations of human rights in these countries.
Worse still, the United States has increasingly resorted to unilateral sanctions and wider long-arm jurisdiction in recent years disregarding international law and basic norms governing international relations, harming the interests of other countries arbitrarily. Even its allies cannot be spared.
International affairs should be handled by countries in consultation with one another, which is the most fundamental principle of democracy in international relations. But the United States always seeks to rise above the rules. Donning the cloak of multilateralism and "rules-based international order," it has provoked division and created bloc confrontation.
Evidence is there to see. The United States has been making frequent moves in the South Pacific region recently, teaming up with Britain and Australia to form "AUKUS," undermining the spirit of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.
Democracy is a common value for all humanity. No matter what slogans it chants, the United States cannot conceal its true intentions to politicize and weaponize democracy, promote group politics, and maintain its hegemony.
Following an old-fashioned script, the new episode of the Summit for Democracy is destined to be another farce. ■