But rather hope, senior Spanish journalist Garcia: The real China is not a threat to the world | Reporter | Hope
Javier Garcia, who has a strong sense of justice, once worked for the most influential Spanish speaking news agency in the world, Effi. In September 2021, he tweeted 14 times, announcing that he would give up his more than 30 year career in journalism and emphasizing that "the annoying anti China 'information war' in Western countries has almost exhausted my career aspirations in journalism.". Former president of Effe, Jose Villa, believes that it is not a small matter for Garcia to give up his journalist career due to disappointment. "We cannot ignore it, especially since his resignation was due to opposition to the detestable anti China information war instigated by the 'Anglo Saxon media'.". Recently, Garcia's new book "China: Threat or Hope" was published and distributed in Spanish, and the English electronic version was also available on online platforms such as Amazon. Garcia said in an interview with Global Times reporters that she wrote this book to tell the world about "things that are happening and very important in China, but are almost unknown to Western countries and even the world," such as China's poverty reduction efforts. In his view, under the "public opinion war against China initiated and led by the political and economic forces of the United States and the West," it is difficult for most Western journalists to break free from the routine of smearing China. It is precisely because he is dissatisfied with media from English speaking countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom attempting to determine the "agenda" of global media in reporting on China that he wrote this book about real China after careful investigation and in-depth interviews.
"Writing a book to tell Western readers that China's reforms are very pragmatic"
Global Times: In your book "China: Threats or Hopes," you exposed some Western media's commonly used "anti China tactics" in reporting on China, such as "successful Chinese entrepreneurs are not entrepreneurs but 'oligarchs,'" China's outward investment is not investment but a 'debt trap,' "or" China's economy is growing, but at the cost of... "or" China is increasing its environmental protection efforts, but at the cost of... "and so on. What made you decide to write this book?
Javier Garcia, a senior Spanish journalist
Garcia: The reason why I decided to write this book is mainly because I believe that many important things are happening in China, but the world, especially the West, is completely unaware of them. For example, China has made tremendous efforts to reduce poverty, with the reduction of poverty in China accounting for nearly 75% of the global poverty reduction during the same period. However, there is little discussion on this in the world.
I think it would be meaningful to make more people around the world aware of this, as it could serve as an example. After all, poverty remains a huge challenge facing the world today, and even in the West, poverty is one of the most concerning topics for the public. Some Western media talk a lot about China's poverty reduction efforts, but they haven't really introduced what China is doing. I hope to explain to readers in the book "China: Threats or Hopes" how China has truly eradicated poverty and its future plans.
I also want to introduce China's development in the field of ecology in this book. I think the shift in China's development mindset is very interesting. At the beginning, development seemed to be for the sake of development itself, and only quantity was important. People did not pay as much attention to the impact of development on air, natural environment, and so on. But in the past decade, China's policies have undergone surprising changes, and now governments at all levels and in various fields are paying close attention to sustainable development and ecological impacts. The "ecological civilization" referred to by China is actually a very important thing, and I believe it is worth understanding by the world.
I also explained "Chinese style pragmatism" in the book. Many Westerners believe that China's policies should be very dogmatic, but in my opinion, China's reform is a very pragmatic one. The Chinese government often tries different solutions through pilot projects and finds the best solution from them. This governance style is very interesting.
Global Times: What has been the response of this book in Spain and other countries since its publication? How do your familiar journalist and Chinese observer circles perceive your description of China?
Garcia: Some of the views I expressed on Twitter related to China are not well accepted by the Western journalist community. I even lost some friends because of this. Actually, I didn't lose friends because of different opinions before, but when it comes to China, the reactions of people around me are very interesting. Even though I haven't attacked anyone and just expressed my views on platforms like Twitter, there are always some people who seem too sensitive and don't like what I do. However, if you have different viewpoints but cannot discuss them, it is really strange.
However, after its publication in Spain, this book gained good acceptance among the public. The book is entering the Latin American book market. The publisher of this book is a well-known Spanish publishing house. At the Madrid Book Fair held in June this year, it has always been one of the "Top 5" best-selling books, and many readers hope to learn about the situation in China through this book. This is also my original intention for writing this book.
"I completely disagree with the label of 'wolf diplomacy'."
Global Times: You have a question in the title: Is China a threat or hope to the world? What is your final conclusion on this issue? Why?
Garcia: In my opinion, China is not a threat, but a hope. Describing China's image as a "threat" is not in line with the actual situation. China's interests, history, cultural characteristics, and their impact on the Chinese people all make me believe that China is a peaceful country. There have been many thinkers in China known for their peaceful thoughts, and all those who have had a profound impact on Chinese society and culture are people who love peace, such as Laozi who wrote the Tao Te Ching, Confucius who advocated harmony, and so on. Zheng He's voyages were for diplomatic, scientific, and cultural exchanges, rather than colonizing or conquering any country. So I don't think China is a threat, and this concept of peaceful development has also influenced China's foreign policy since the 1950s.
Global Times: Do you think China will become a hegemonic country like the United States in the future?
Garcia: No one can predict the future, but from China's history, traditions, including its interests in developing trade with the world, and its focus on improving the living standards of its own people, I don't think China is interested in conquering other countries or exporting its own ideas to them. So I don't think China is a threat at all.
Cover of "China: Threat or Hope"
Global Times: In the past two years, there has been a lot of discussion internationally about China's so-called "wolf diplomacy". What do you think of the issue of "Wolf Warrior Diplomacy"?
Garcia: I completely disagree with the label of "wolf diplomacy". I think Chinese diplomats are more tough than before because China is a big country, but their strength is not aggressive at all, and they are not "war wolves".
China's foreign policy is actually quite cautious, just like other aspects of China, China does not like to go to extremes, which is a characteristic of Chinese politics.
Global Times: We have noticed that you have been to Xinjiang and Xizang in China, and you have also been to Hong Kong for many times in 2019 to report. Why do Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong become the focus that some western media like to attack China most?
Garcia: Because these media outlets need to find something to attack China. Let's first talk about Xinjiang. For me, the situation in Xinjiang is very obvious, and it is not at all racial cleansing. The people of Xinjiang are living very well, and in recent years, the local area has achieved a lot of development, and the security situation has improved much better than before.
As for Hong Kong, the protests in 2019 have become increasingly violent over time, and the chaotic situation needs to be brought to an end, otherwise people will no longer be able to continue their normal lives in Hong Kong. I am very sorry for the situation in Hong Kong, as "One Country, Two Systems" used to operate well there, but unfortunately, opposition protests have become increasingly violent, and the Chinese government has had to take measures to deal with the situation at that time.
Before we went to Xizang, many of us in the West had an ideal and poetic impression of Xizang, a place full of mountains and lamas. Xizang is indeed like that. Its development is amazing, and this development is necessary.This is the most important thing!
An interesting detail is that whether in Xizang or Xinjiang, you can see Chinese and Tibetan or Chinese and Uygur on the brand of almost every store at the same time. In some parts of Spain, there are also bilingual billboards, but you cannot see bilingual billboards in front of every store. In this sense, the culture of ethnic minority areas in China has been well preserved.
What I write is what I see and think based on it. I don't know how other journalists see these things, but as I explained in the book, I believe some Western journalists have to behave anti China because this is a movement launched and led by the United States and Western political and economic forces to attack China.
"In many Western media narratives, you really can't see the real China."
Global Times: What factors do you think have increased the bias of Western media journalists in China when reporting on China? For example, commercial reasons, the criteria for awarding Western news awards, or the political atmosphere both domestically and internationally. Is there any pressure from so-called "political correctness"?
Garcia: I think all these factors belong to the same system. For example, if you don't act like the Western journalists they expect, you won't be able to get a job as a journalist, nor can you win news awards or anything. Media, culture, and all other factors are driving you to describe China as negative. It's difficult for you to get rid of all the impact, because if you don't take this path, your job opportunities and expression opportunities will be much fewer.
Global Times: Do you know about the "Association of Foreign Journalists in China"? What role do you think it played in promoting public opinion campaigns against China in the United States or the West?
Garcia: The FCC itself is just an organization of journalists, and it cannot be responsible for writing for various media outlets. However, in such organizations, it is indeed difficult for you to have different perspectives, as English media from countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom account for 70% to 80%, and their narratives about China are mostly negative.
Basically, if the New York Times and The Washington Post in the United States publish some reports about China, European media usually follow suit. To some extent, English media is the setter of public opinion agendas, and this situation is difficult to change at present. It is still difficult for European media to have their own voice on Chinese topics, as most of them have "automatically" followed the agenda of American media.
Global Times: We oppose any attacks and unfriendly behavior towards foreign journalists stationed in China. But we have noticed that among many ordinary Chinese people, there is a sense of aversion towards journalists from certain countries stationed in China. Can you understand this emotion? As a senior journalist from Spain, you have been stationed in countries such as Palestine, Venezuela, and Germany, and have also served as the head of a Chinese journalist station. How do you think Chinese society and foreign journalists stationed in China should have a positive interaction?
Garcia: I have never had any questions about interviews. When we were reporters, we interviewed many Chinese people on the streets. Some people will agree to be interviewed, while others will refuse. I don't think that's a problem. We have reported on many social issues in China.
I can understand the defensive mentality of some Chinese people towards certain foreign journalists stationed in China. This is actually quite normal, because some foreign journalists do use the stories of these people to satisfy their own set narratives, and their narratives are often anti China, and the public's unwillingness to cooperate is expected. So I understand the emotions of the Chinese people, because in many Western media narratives, you really can't see the real China.
