AAPI leaders urge Congress members to think about the impact on Asian Americans when talking about China

GRAPHIC BY NIELSEN

Amid an historic surge in anti-Asian violence that shows no signs of fading and a heightened political focus on China, leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) have issued guidance to their fellow members of Congress urging them to “avoid xenophobic rhetoric that exacerbates the bigotry and racism facing Asian Americans.” 

The guidance urges members of Congress to be specific in their criticisms of the Chinese Community Party and their actions in order to avoid spreading vague fears which have been proven to lead to bigoted violence and loss of life in the past.

"While there are valid reasons to critique the policies and actions of the CCP, history has taught us that using vague and broad anti-China statements too often conflate people with a political party," suggests the guidelines.

"When the language we use to refer to the actions of the CCP is not nuanced enough, or when we single out China for criticism even if other countries may be part of the problem as well, we run the risk of fueling a backlash against the entire Asian American community."

“History has shown us that heightened xenophobic speech creates a cycle which leads to violence,” said the CAPAC leaders in the guidance. Recent examples were cited:

• Within two months of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Executive Order 9066 was signed into law. The belief that Japanese Americans were untrustworthy and dangerous because of the conflict with Japan led to one of the darkest chapters in our country’s history, the mass imprisonment of American citizens, including children, in prison camps. 

• Again, in the 1980s, anti-Japanese sentiment fueled by economic competition and rising unemployment culminated in the brutal murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man who was scapegoated by two unemployed autoworkers. 

• In the aftermath of 9/11, hate crimes against South Asians, Sikh Americans, and American Muslims spiked dramatically - and have continued into the present day - due to faulty associations with the individuals who participated in the attacks on September 11, 2001.”

Specific criticisms of specific policies, how they threaten US interests, and what solutions are available will help Americans understand the legitimate threats from the Chinese Communist Party and their leaders without relying on xenophobia that puts all Chinese Americans at risk. 

For example, instead of making broad generalizations that include all the people of China or Chinese Americans, be specific on the action was taken by the CCP or a specific Chinese leader and specify the action taken.

The CAPAC leaders continued, “This guidance is not to discourage criticism of the policies and actions of the CCP, but rather to encourage specific criticisms that do not paint Chinese people as threats to America.”

The text of the guidance is available online here