Dear Editor,
Having read, “ The Back Channel: A memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for its renewal” written by William J. Burns convinced me that America’s foreign policy is about its national and geo-political interest. More so to fulfil its foreign policy, are the use of realism and pragmatism. The book is a candid and factual analysis with a wealth of information and knowledge. I will urge all foreign affairs students to read it. While I will not cover the entire book in this letter, I will highlight Mr. Burns analysis of America’s policies towards Russia since he “played a central role” in shaping those policies with his boss. During the Cold War Era, there was a bipolar world order with the former USSR and America reacting to each other interests. Importantly were the Gorbachev years especially when he was weak and post 1989 in Russia. As Burns stated in his book, “Baker was careful in his first meeting with his Soviet counterpart, Edward Shevardnadze, that March in Vienna, and in conversations with Shevardnadze and Gorbachev in Moscow in May. He made clear to both that the Bush administration appreciated the sweep and potential of the changes they were attempting, but also emphasized that he nor the president appreciated being cornered by bold public proposals or acts of ‘one-upmanship’ designed to portray Washington as the recalcitrant party.”
Though I wouldn’t be able to highlight everything that was written on the former Gorbachev years, and post 1989 Russia, it is important to highlight the “strategic insight” that shaped America’s interest. According to Burns, “By the fall of 1989, the pace of change convinced Baker that the United States could no longer afford to take the wary, risk-averse approach favored by the Pentagon and NSC staff. Their argument was essentially that the administration should hold out for Gorbachev to make more concessions as his position weakened. Baker, however, advocated a more activist policy – a systematic advantage in partnership with Gorbachev and Shevardnadze.” The Yeltsin’s era saw the US tried to bring Russia into its sphere of influence through its foreign policies. However, that was short lived with the establishment and takeover of the oligarchs and state capture. More importantly, was when President Putin took over, and according to Burns, “he fundamentally misread American interest and politics. From Washington’s view, there was no desire – and no reason – to trade anything for Russian partnership against al-Qaeda. We didn’t have to purchase Russian acquiescence in something that was so much in its own interest and we certainly didn’t need to discard long-standing bipartisan priorities and partnership in Europe to buy Putin’s favour.”
China is a member of the UN Human Rights Council and also member of the UN Security Council. However, her counterterrorism policy needs to be called out and questioned, since its violation of the Ethnic Uighurs minority in Xinjiang. A CNA report written by Murray Scot Tanner with James Bellacqua, June 2016 called “China Response to Terrorism” stated “Beijing’s counterterrorism concerns are primarily domestic and centered on the activities of China’s ethnic Uighur minority. The Uighurs are ethnically Turkic and many follow a form Sunni Islam. The group also has extensive diaspora links throughout Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkey. Many Uighurs identify more closely with languages, cultures and religion of central Asia and Turkey than with those of China and have resisted Beijing’s attempts at assimilation.” Further, ‘East Turkistan’ and ‘Uighurstan’ has been seen by most Uighurs as their ‘spiritual homeland.’ The authors of the report also stated, “Many Uighurs reportedly also resent what they regard as Beijing’s sustained repression of Uighurs’ rights, cultures, national sentiment and religious expression. Uighurs have often identified certain key sources of discontent.”
What was more damming from the CNA report was that “Human Rights Watch further accuses the PRC government of directing a ‘crushing campaign of religious expression against the Uighurs in the name of counterterrorism and separation.” In addition, the authors continued that, “ the 2006 State Department Country Report on Terrorism noted this rising concern stating, ‘human rights organizations have accused China of using counterterrorism as a pretext to continue efforts to suppress Uighurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group that comprises the majority population of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.” Of importance is a press release of US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken with Norah O’Donnell on CBS 60 Minutes and 60 Minutes Overtime.com on May 2nd 2021. Secretary Blinken, when asked about human rights and Xinjiang, he responded, “When Beijing say’s oh there’s a terrorism threat, which we don’t see, it’s not coming from a million people.” (https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-with-norah-odonnell-on-cbs-60-minutes-and-60minutesovertime-com/)
Sincerely,
Sharmini Rampersaud
Int. Adv. Cert (AML)
