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Comment by TheFreim | Hacker News Reader

I don't understand your mindset, possibly you could expand a bit for me. Shouldn't the US try to improve China? Worst case scenario the US is hypocritical, but that doesn't mean it still shouldn't wield its power for good. Doesn't your position "make the perfect the enemy of the good"? I'm interested in hearing your response.

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But why China specifically? Why not wield this power to improve Saudi Arabia for example? (note that since the Saudis are allied and deeply rely on the US, it should be easier to sway them into doing good)

There are a variety of reasons proponents of changing China could make in response, for example since China is becoming (already?) powerful independently from the United States which could (already?) makes them a greater threat, having our opponents share as many values as possible would be ideal in a multipolar world order. However, I'm not arguing for that position, I just don't understand the idea that because the United States has failed on X, Y, or Z issues that that means we shouldn't try to solve those problems whenever they appear. Does that make sense? I can give clarification if needed.

> Shouldn't the US try to improve China?

The goal of US foreign policy has never been to improve the lives of people anywhere outside the US. A sibling comment points out that one of our closest allies in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy that publicly beheads dissidents and has incredibly sexist laws, yet the US does nothing, and we see nothing like the neo Cold War coverage that Xinjiang produces. The US will remain an ally of Saudi Arabia because that is beneficial to the interests of the US, not the people subject to the Saudi regime.

If you think I’m a cynic or conspiracy theorist, take a look at what the US has done in other countries since WW2, in many cases overthrowing democratically elected governments in favor of US friendly regimes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_r.... This is what the US has always done to other countries, expecting them to care about morals or improving anyone’s lives is missing their goal completely (and taking their propaganda at face value).

Whatever the goal of confrontation with China is, improving human rights is the least likely possibility.

I don't disagree substantially, and I don't think you're a "conspiracy theorist", however I must say that you and many others seem to be reading into my question what I did not mean. I'm not asserting that the US has had positive impact, I'm asking whether or not they should have a positive impact despite internal issues still existing. Does that make sense?

Yeah I see your point. I think what I and others are saying is that given the US’s 70+ year track record at serving their own interests at the detriment of foreign people, there is no reason for them to completely change their goals with no reason. The US defense apparatus doesn’t exist to be a moral good or improve the lives of foreigners, it exists to serve the interests of wealthy Americans. The professed moral goals are propaganda and will always be false - they’ve had these justifications for every action they’ve taken from supporting death squads to installing dictators to topple democracies

The problem is that the american politicians justify those actions by pretenting it's a moral call.

So the BS meter is rising.

> Shouldn't the US try to improve China?

US has been doing that since 1978. US capital and domestic market improved China's economy tremendously. And in the process US capitalists get astronomical amount of profit.

Should US interfere China's political system?

Sure. But since China is so powerful in its military. I see no reason that US can force that upon China.

Thank you, I really liked your response. I think you answered an important, parallel, issue which is the practicality of influencing China. This is a different, though interconnected, issue which can sometimes have completely different implications. Foreign policy is fascinating, I must say.

Unless the US improves itself first, then I don't think China is going to believe that the US is making these criticisms and imposing these sanctions with any kind of coherent moral framework. They're going to look at this as a way to restrict and punish them.

Thank you for taking the time to respond, I appreciate it.

I don't quite think the idea that the country needs a "coherent moral framework" to justify taking action to improve particular moral issues. China itself has a coherent framework, but it's wrong and promotes grave injustice (coherence does not mean correct).

Maybe to better understand each other you could comment on my criticism of making "the perfect the enemy of the good" since I think that's the defining issue that's causing me to struggle understanding your point of view.

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