The world is not unfamiliar with US double standards, even in an age of ever-growing interdependence among nations when the suspicion, enmity and antagonism that characterized the Cold War years have given way to peaceful coexistence and constructive cooperation. However, some recent moves by American politicians and media have deepened people's suspicion, and raised the question: Has the United States been waging another "Cold War" with the aim of spreading democracy?

The first issue concerns US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's two-week "marathon", which had strong symbolic and ideological implications. In addition to meeting "friends," old and new, such as Israel and Egypt, and showcasing the "fruits" of US democratization by giving conferences on Afghanistan and Syria, she paid high-profile visits to China's traditional neighbors Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. By doing so, Mrs. Clinton gave the impression that she was not only bypassing, but also encircling and isolating China. She praised Mongolia as a model for democracy and Vietnam for supporting the US in the South China Sea, two statements which could be interpreted as being strongly suggestive and somewhat provocative. She also intended to shift the agenda of the ASEAN summit, which the US had not treated as priority before but recently strived to stick a finger in the pie.

Mrs. Clinton's interesting way of exercising her "smart power" might be very smart indeed, but it may not be seen as especially sincere or sophisticated. As the Chinese saying goes, "the drinker's heart is not in the cup". Likewise, while paying lip service to the countries mentioned, the United States is not likely to develop relations with them on a genuinely equal footing, as has been demonstrated by past experience. But if it is indeed the case that the United States merely wishes to contain China's rise by making use of China's close neighbors, then what might be the cost for these countries and how bleak might the outlook be for international relations in the 21st century?

It is fair to say that there has never been symmetrical mutual understanding between the United States and China. Two decades after the ending of the Cold War, the United States remains highly ideological and utilitarian in its intercourse with other countries. Take US-China relations for example. While constantly criticizing China's slow progress towards democracy and its human rights status quo, the United States never considers China's practical difficulties and its different history and culture, and always seems to turn a blind eye to the progress China has already made. Criticizing and pressuring a country like China has proved not so "smart", especially with regard to enhancing friendship between peoples. While appreciating US concern for China's destiny, there is often puzzlement in China as to why the American people are even more anxious about China's inadequacies than the Chinese people are. Of course, there have always been more rational voices on the US side. For example, veteran statesman Henry Kissinger and renowned scholar Joseph Nye have both emphasized the changed post Cold War global reality and the growing importance of US-China cooperation in resolving global challenges. Such public figures have been deeply appreciated and respected by people from both countries for their liberal, unbiased, and forward-looking ideas which transcend ideologies.

However, the views of these respected statesmen and scholars are in stark contrast to those held by politicians with provincial worldviews and pertinacious bigotry. One latest example of such a politician is US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who expressed his outrage over US Olympic uniforms that were "Made in China". He "ordered" that the US Olympic Committee "should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them…." It is worth asking whether, when he made such comments, he considered either the feelings of the Chinese workers who toiled day and night to deliver high-quality products as required, or what implications his words would have for young Americans and news readers across the world that might be affected by such a negative message?

From political decisions to ideological charges, from economic policies to media coverage, as recently demonstrated during the recent disputes in the South China Sea and over China's Diaoyu Island, US double standards seem to be everywhere. This has caused a deeper questioning of American democracy. With the words and deeds of some US politicians today, people's faith, passion, and the illusion of American democracy which dates back to the days of John F Kennedy have begun to collapse. But this change can be good for the world; and good for the development of democracy itself. As I see it, democracy should never be the ultimate truth of our world, especially if we consider democracy in our present time. Instead, democracy is a comparatively fair and efficient arrangement that humanity can conveniently attain. If this is true, then it is not right for countries of the world to make democracy something of a religion, let alone to invent a yardstick out of its "holiness" and discipline those who don't follow. For, once democracy is used to split our world into camps and instigate enmity, democracy becomes nothing more than banal politics.

China is undoubtedly making progress to realize its own form of democracy. I believe it would welcome the contribution of a friendly and positive US as it continues the process and China should be able to pursue its own course in a steady, consistent, and peaceful manner. Since there has never been a one-size-fits-all political model, it would also be valuable for the US to reflect on its position. Fifteen years ago, when answering questions from American journalists, the founding father and former prime minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew said: "Your standards do not apply universally. You yourself do not apply universally, but selectively where it is cost-free." Lee Kuan Yew's words are still relevant today, and should be taken to heart if the United States is to play a better leading role in the global community.

The author is a China.org.cn columnist. For more information please visit:

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