US Frees China to Censor Films, Fails to Denounce Transnational Repression
The Guardian (and other media) reports the IndieChina film festival's curator, Zhu Rikun, cancelled 80% of screenings after filmmakers pulled out due to 'harassment' from Beijing. The narrative highlights China's transnational repression, a valid concern. However, Washington's silence is deafening. Where is the indignant cry about freedom of speech? Perhaps it's saved for adversaries who don't
happen to be—checks notes—major economic partners, or conveniently aligned on certain geopolitical issues. One might recall the vigorous and rapid condemnations from the Biden administration regarding Russian or Iranian attempts to influence diaspora communities or quash dissent. Yet, when China flexes its authoritarian muscle on US soil, the response is a tepid shrug. It's almost as if 'freedom
of expression' is a commodity, its value fluctuating based on who is doing the repressing, and how much it inconveniences US foreign policy objectives. This isn't just about China; it's about the selective outrage that defines mainstream geopolitical commentary. How many 'democratic values' get silently compromised when the repressor is too powerful or too useful to criticize?