Re:The TikTok ban is a betrayal of the open internet
by yadaeno on Tuesday March 28, 2023 @07:15PM
(#35349446)
That’s your stance, but look at the comment I was replying to “You haven't cited anything that shows China cares about using TikTok as a means of influencing foreign countries”.
The US (and post WW2 europe) has a long-standing policy of protecting democratic countries against expansionist dictatorships.
WW2 was an battle between two types of nations: democracies and dictatorships that wished to expand their empires. What is playing out in Ukraine and China is no different. If the democratic world shows weakness (e.g letting Russia to take over Ukraine) it threatens the entire democratic world order since suddenly smaller nations are free pickings to expand Russia / China’s sphere of influence.
Even something as benign as adjusting the temperature for Ukraine related content is 100% in China’s interest here. Ukraine cannot defend itself without the support of the US public, and any sign of weakness from the democratic countries will have material consequences.
The US (and post WW2 europe) has a long-standing policy of protecting democratic countries against expansionist dictatorships.
WW2 was an battle between two types of nations: democracies and dictatorships that wished to expand their empires. What is playing out in Ukraine and China is no different. If the democratic world shows weakness (e.g letting Russia to take over Ukraine) it threatens the entire democratic world order since suddenly smaller nations are free pickings to expand Russia / China’s sphere of influence.
Even something as benign as adjusting the temperature for Ukraine related content is 100% in China’s interest here. Ukraine cannot defend itself without the support of the US public, and any sign of weakness from the democratic countries will have material consequences.