GOP's anti-China message could spur more attacks on Asian Americans

SCREEN CAPTURE /NBC

A GOP memo laid out the Republican strategy to blame China for the coronavirus outbreak which caused the US economic downturn, the rise of the unemployed, and the frstrations Americans feel for the stay-at-home mandates intended to slow the spread of the virus.

"Don’t defend Trump, other than the China Travel Ban — attack China," suggests the memo obtained by Politico.

On April 12 Views From the Edge posted a warning about the apparent anti-China theme of the GOP's campaign strategy. Unfortunately, the warning has become a flashing red llight for AAPI communities, already wary from being blamed for the coronavirus and the resulting splurge of anti-Asian assaults. 

In its advice to Republican candidates this November, the memo suggests that "No one is blaming Chinese Americans."

"This is the fault of the Chinese Communist Party for covering up the virus and lying about it’s danger. This caused the pandemic and they should be held accountable. ... No one has suffered more from the murderous Communist Chinese Party dictatorship than the people of China. We stand with them against their corrupt government that caused this pandemic," candidates are advised to say.

A Trump PAC's first campaign ad released earlier this month accuesed Joe Biden, Trump's probable Democratic challenger, of being soft on China.

Despite denials from the GOP, in stirring up the hate from some of the Trump supporters, the anti-China sentiment is being translated into a startling rise in attacks on Asian Americans, with one website recording 1500 hate incidents in just a month when the website began accepting reports of anti-Asian assaults.

Trump's critics fear that the anti-China messaging will spur some of his followers, who cannot distinguish between China and Chinese Americans, will increase the attacks against Americans of Chinese descent,. An FBI report has warned. that the attacks would increase as the coronavirus impacts the American way of life.

The Republican decision to move in this direction is on top of the strained relations caused by a trade war between the US and China and a US clampdown on Chinese researchers working in the US and allegations of massive industrial spying by Chinese agents.

A report from L1ght, a company that specializes in measuring hate online, suggests there has been a 900% growth in hate speech towards China and Chinese people on Twitter.

With growing US-China tensions and fears of Chinese espionage, we hear clearly from our members that Asian Americans, especially those who work in the STEM fields, are facing an increasingly hostile environment where our loyalty is being consistently and unfairly challenged," said H. Roger Wang, chair of the Committee of 100, made up of prominent Chinese Americans.