U.S. State Department Guidance: Distinguishing Between "CCP Government" and "Chinese People"

File photo: The U.S. State Department building on July 27, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu / Dajiyuan)

[People News] According to internal documents obtained by Voice of America, the Trump administration is seeking to differentiate between the "CCP government" and the "Chinese people," designating only the "CCP government" as a strategic competitor, rather than including the entire Chinese population. The latest guidance from the U.S. State Department emphasizes that when discussing issues related to the CCP, officials should avoid using broad terms such as "Chinese" when referring to policies and should instead specifically highlight the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as the driving force behind decision-making.

Voice of America reported that in the latest diplomatic language guidance document, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U.S. embassies and their staff to describe U.S.-China relations in a more specific manner to avoid creating negative implications about the Chinese people, culture, or language.

Avoiding the Use of "Chinese" to Prevent Misattributing Responsibility to the Chinese People

For example, when discussing the CCP government's malicious actions, the guidance advises against using the term "Chinese" to avoid misleading the public into blaming the Chinese people as a whole. The internal document further recommends that in public speeches or press releases, "CCP" should be used instead of "Chinese government" to underscore the Party’s ultimate authority over China's political, economic, and military affairs.

Additionally, the document specifies that when referring to Xi Jinping, officials should use the title "General Secretary of the Communist Party" rather than "President" to highlight the CCP's dominance within China’s political system.

In the internal document, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the fundamental stance of the U.S. State Department’s China policy, stressing that U.S. relations with China should be managed based on the principles of "reciprocity and fairness." He also instructed the State Department to move away from the language used during the Biden administration, such as "invest-align-compete" and "responsibly managing the relationship," when describing U.S.-China relations.

This Policy Was Already Implemented During Trump’s First Term

The practice of distinguishing between the "CCP government" and the "Chinese people" was first implemented during Trump’s initial term as president. Rubio’s latest directive aligns with the policies introduced during former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s tenure.

Voice of America cited experts from Washington-based think tanks who noted that changes to the wording of policies on the State Department's website are not uncommon and are a routine practice when a new administration takes office.

Last month, the U.S. State Department updated its website, removing phrases such as "not supporting Taiwan independence" and adjusting how it refers to the CCP government—changing "PRC" (People’s Republic of China) to "China" and eliminating the term "People’s Republic of China."

The website also revised its description of U.S.-China economic relations, stating that China is "one of the most restrictive investment environments in the world" and accusing the CCP of engaging in unfair trade practices, including forced labor and large-scale state subsidies. Additionally, new content was added regarding CCP cyberattacks, alleging that the CCP has targeted U.S. government agencies and infrastructure to steal advanced technology for military development.

When asked for comment, a U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that the department regularly updates its website to reflect the policies and priorities of the current administration regarding the CCP and U.S.-China relations.

(Reposted from Radio Free Asia)