DISINFO: Sanctions against China are proof that Western values are nothing but liberal totalitarianism
SUMMARY
There are no provisions in international law that allow for conducting unjustified plots directed against states, using methods of pressure, threats and sanctions. But the so-called rules of Westerners allow this, and they seek to impose these new rules on the whole world.
Western military and political pressure on China is accompanied by restrictive economic measures. Therefore, the alleged values that the West defends with such ferocity is true liberal totalitarianism. One wonders if the West can live in peace, even for only ten years, without calling any peaceful state an enemy or an adversary?
RESPONSE
The message in this article is consistent with a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that seeks to discredit liberal democracies by claiming that liberal societies are totalitarian systems ruled by “globalist elites” and “shadow governments”. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article. This narrative portrays the liberal societies of the West as ideological dictatorships that have imposed a dominant “liberal globalist “ ideology and claims that “the elites” and mainstream media in these societies persecute anyone who expresses views that dissent from dominant liberal-globalist thinking.
Contrary to the claim, the sanctions against Chinese individuals are not unjustified. The Council of the EU decided on March 22 to impose restrictive measures on eleven individuals and four entities responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses in various countries around the world, including but not limited to China, but pro-Kremlin media seems to only concern itself with sanctions against their political allies. The sanctions signal the EU’s strong determination to stand up for human rights and to take tangible action against those responsible for violations and abuses.
The violations targeted include the large-scale arbitrary detentions of, in particular, Uyghurs in Xinjiang in China for which the EU sanctioned four Chinese officials and one entity.
Under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime established on 7 December 2020, the listed individuals and entities are subject to an asset freeze in the EU. In addition, listed individuals are subject to a travel ban to the EU. Moreover, persons and entities in the EU are prohibited from making funds available, either directly or indirectly, to those listed.
Together with the EU, sanctions on officials in China were also introduced by the UK, US and Canada.