by Giuseppe Gagliano –
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China has launched a scathing attack against the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), accusing it of being an extension of the US government bent on subversion, promote global infiltration and instability under the guise of democracy. encouragement. According to Beijing, the NED serves as the “white glove” of the US government, working openly to destabilize foreign governments, interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and manipulate public opinion. the world
The document draws a direct link between the NED and the CIA, saying that the NED was created in the 1980s to continue, in a more transparent way, activities that the CIA had been carrying out until secret for decades. This group, funded and directed by the United States Congress, would aim to overthrow governments that were not in line with American interests. Beijing points out that the NED was created under President Ronald Reagan as part of the “Democracy Project”, with the clear aim of promoting democratic movements abroad that reflected US national interests.
The document shows how the NED is heavily dependent on US government funding, receiving most of its budget from Congress. In 2023, for example, NED would have received up to $315 million from the US government. In addition, the NED would be subject to close supervision by the State Department and US embassies abroad, which would provide foreign policy guidance and actively participate in the planning and implementation of NED programs.
China accuses the NED of playing a leading role in protests against the hijab laws in Iran in 2022, funding journalists and NGOs who allegedly spread unverified information and to suppress public opinion. In particular, Masih Alinejad, a journalist from the Persian Voice of America service, allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the NED to promote a disinformation campaign and incite the population against the Iranian government.
In the Arab world, the NED has been accused of using social media to promote color revolutions during the Arab Spring. It has funded local NGOs and provided online training to “democracy activists” and “dissidents,” with the goal of overthrowing governments that do not align with US interests. The NED would also implement a program to create a pool of talent for the democratic movement in the region, promoting constitutional reforms and strengthening local unions.
The document describes how the NED interfered in the elections of several countries, including Serbia, the Philippines and Mexico. For example, during the 2022 elections in the Philippines, the NED reportedly funded the news site Rappleraccused of manipulating public opinion against candidates the United States did not like and of having access to confidential information about election trends. In Serbia, after two shootings in 2023, the NED allegedly supported mass demonstrations against the government, fueling political instability.
In addition, the NED, again according to the ministry document, is accused of supporting separatist movements in Taiwan and Hong Kong. In Taiwan, the NED reportedly worked with the Democratic Progressive Party to promote a statement of independence, organizing conferences and giving awards to local political figures, including President Tsai Ing-wen. In Hong Kong, the NED reportedly funded activists and groups to destabilize the region and promote greater autonomy from Beijing, collaborating with NGOs such as Hong Kong Watch and Amnesty International.
Beijing also accuses the NED of organizing a global disinformation campaign, using NGOs and the media to spread fake news about countries such as China, Russia and Iran. According to the document, the NED has funded several projects to manipulate international public opinion, including publications that criticize democratic governance in developing countries, such as India, and will promote a negative view of China’s domestic policies.
An important example is the campaign by the NED in Serbia, where it was allegedly involved in producing fake news about Chinese infrastructure projects, fueling baseless allegations of corruption. and environmental practice.
China is not alone in its criticism of the NED. The document cites several countries that have opposed NED’s activities, including Russia, which has banned NED as an “undesirable” group, and India, which has NED under investigation for its donations to local NGOs in violation of national laws. In France and Hungary, the media and scholars have also characterized NED activities as covert efforts to influence domestic politics in favor of US interests.
