Watch: Connected Oppressors, Interwoven Struggles: Countering US & China’s imperialism

As tensions rise between the US and China, especially in the Pacific in the context of rising fascism, it’s important to understand the complexities of imperialism and colonialism, beyond just seeing them as pro-US or pro-China positions. In Aotearoa, many on the left strongly oppose US imperialism globally, but there is disagreement about how to respond to Chinese imperialism. Some have started to defend China or spread its state propaganda as a reaction to US imperialism. This support can downplay or ignore serious issues, like the genocide of Uyghurs, and the role that the US, UK, and Israel have played in enabling China’s oppression of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Muslim minorities.

Additionally, the struggles of groups like the Taiwanese, Hong Kongers, Tibetans, and Chinese workers are often overlooked or belittled. These arguments sometimes label criticism of China as anti-Chinese, even if it comes from Chinese people themselves, much like accusations of antisemitism are used to defend Israel. This webinar is an opportunity to challenge these binary narratives and to hear directly from Taiwanese Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, as well as Uyghur people who are living through these struggles.

On Sunday, 13th May we helped present a webinar engaging with these ideas from an anti-imperialist, international perspective that rejects both US and Chinese imperialism, along with all forms of colonialism. The recording from this webinar is available below, as well as a list of resources relating to or mentioned in the session.

Kaikōrero (speakers):
Tina Ngata (Ngāti Porou, Aotearoa)
Bali Nangavulan (Bunun, Taiwan)
Brian Hioe (Han, Taiwan)

Moderated by Anjum Rahman.
A big mihi to Tāwhana Chadwick for opening and closing the kōrero.