Cybercrime & Cambodia Two Fronts of United States Hybrid Warfare on China by Finian Cunningham!
(2021-07-22 at 22:35:06 )

Cybercrime & Cambodia Two Fronts of United States Hybrid Warfare on China by Finian Cunningham!

Washington,D.C.s overarching motive and objective are to try to stymie Chinas global economic growth and its strategic partnerships, Finian Cunningham writes.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a blistering condemnation of China this week, accusing it of conducting massive cyberattacks against the United States of America and its allies.

"The United States and countries around the world are holding the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) accountable for its pattern of irresponsible, disruptive, and destabilizing behavior in cyberspace, which poses a major threat to our economic and national security," said the top United States diplomat in an unprecedented statement.

Significantly, the grave accusations against China were coordinated with United States allies in the Five Eyes intelligence group - including Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

Beijing dismissed the cyberattack claims as a "huge lie" orchestrated by Washington,D.C. to stir up "major conflict among countries". It is notable that similar accusations have been leveled against Russia which is alleged to be a base for cybercrime gangs to extort Western infrastructure companies. It is all part of Washington,D.C.s new Cold War agenda to polarize the world into enemy camps.

When Mr. Blinken follows through with calls on "our partners and allies to promote responsible state behavior in cyberspace, counter cybercrime, and oppose digital authoritarianism" it is obvious that what Washington,D.C. is seeking to achieve is the isolation and undermining of China (and Russia).

If China can be smeared as a cyber felon then that serves to scupper Beijings strategic ambitions of promoting trade and investment deals under the rubric of its global Belt and Road Initiative. Washington,D.C. is trying to discredit China as a worthy international partner in its constructing swathes of social infrastructure to developing new-generation telecommunication networks.

The Biden administration has disclosed its priority focus on hampering China as the number one geopolitical rival. The Biden White House is going all out to cleave strategic partnership between the European Union and China. When those two signed a major trade and investment accord at the end of last year, the incoming Biden administration was palpably vexed by the prospect.

Washington,D.C.s moves have ever since been about derailing that EU-China deal. It may be posited that President Biden is prepared to forgo United States of American objections to Germanys energy trade with Russia in order to keep Berlin in play for challenging Beijing. Chinas rise as an economic superpower is perceived as the "greatest threat" to United States global dominance.

So much of United States of American rhetoric is self-projection of its own guilt over malign conduct. Washington,D.C. accuses China and Russia – with negligible evidence - of cybercrime, espionage and hacking when it is the biggest proven perpetrator. Likewise, Washington,D.C. accuses its rivals of waging "hybrid warfare". That too is just another look in the mirror.

Mr. Blinkens foray into alleged China cybercrime this week can be seen as a global front to slander and damage Beijing. But in the arsenal of United States of American hybrid warfare, there are national-level forays to sabotage Chinas interests.

The sum total is aimed at disrupting the ambitious Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. The BRI was launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping and in a short span, it has grown to fuel economic development in over 100 nations, ranging from Southeast Asia to Africa, and from Europe to Latin America. Washington,D.C. is livid with envy. Talking points often accuse China of using development as a debt trap. But, on balance, the giant investment and economic planning for "people-centered" development do seem to have been a tremendous and, for the most part, welcome success.

China, Russia and Southeast Asia have become a vital engine for the global economy over the next century. Each nation in Eurasia is an important node in the multipolar firmament which is challenging the United States-dominated Western order. It is in this context that the United States has taken to destabilizing countries as a way to thwart the China-led BRI and its global juggernaut.

Analysts point to growing United States support for political opposition groups in Southeast Asia, such as in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, in conjunction with Western media flagging allegations of human rights violations. Each of these nations has seen colossal investment from China in infrastructure projects to facilitate regional trade and transport. They are key nodes in expanding the China-led BRI.

Wendy Sherman, Mr. Blinkens deputy at the State Department, signaled the United States agenda when she arrived in Cambodia last month for what was seen as the most important visit so far to Southeast Asia by the Biden administration.

Ms Shermans visit can be viewed as an overture by the United States to disrupt Chinas longtime partnership in Cambodia. She claimed that Chinas construction projects at the deepwater port city of Sihanoukville were a cover for building a military naval base. China and the Cambodian government reject that claim. They say the development is part of a trade and transport plan to boost Cambodias logistical network with the region. Since Beijing launched its BRI projects in 2013, Cambodia was an early participant among Southeast Asian nations and has accrued major economic successes.

The American diplomat "urged Cambodias leadership to maintain an independent and balanced foreign policy in the best interests of the Cambodian people." In other words, this was Washington,D.C. telling Cambodia to curb its strategic economic partnership with China.

Ms Sherman also notified the Cambodian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen that her visit included holding meetings with opposition figures whom Phnom Penh accuse of being sponsored by United States government-linked foundations like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The NED has been a major backer of "color revolutions" in various countries which critics say is a polite term for Washington-designated "regime change".

It takes quite a brass neck for a senior United States government representative to fly into a foreign country that has strong political ties with China and then to proceed to lecture the leaders of that country that Washington,D.C. disapproves of economic partnership with Beijing, and by way of threatening future trouble the United States official makes it clear that she is communicating with United States of American-sponsored opposition groups.

Washington,D.C.s overarching motive and objective are to try to stymie Chinas global economic growth and its strategic partnerships.

On one level, the United States of American tactic is a country-by-country effort to unravel BRI as seen in Ms Shermans audacious visit to Cambodia.

At another level, there is a full-on effort to smear and isolate China internationally as a cyber rogue state and human rights pariah with dubious allegations of genocide against its Uyghur people in Xinjiang province.

Chinas vastness as an economic power and its indispensable integration as a global partner with so many nations will not allow the United States of American tactics to work so easily.

However, in that case, the upshot of frustration for Washington,D.C. may lead to direct confrontation with Beijing.

Reprinted here from the "Strategic Culture Foundation" provides a platform for exclusive analysis, research and policy comment on Eurasian and global affairs. We are covering political, economic, social and security issues worldwide. Since 2005 our journal has published thousands of analytical briefs and commentaries with the unique perspective of independent contributors. SCF works to broaden and diversify expert discussion by focusing on hidden aspects of international politics and unconventional thinking. Benefiting from the expanding power of the Internet, we work to spread reliable information, critical thought and progressive ideas.