On November 11, in Zhuhai, China, a 62-year-old man drove his car into a crowd at a sports complex, killing 35 people and injuring 43 others. It was the deadliest mass shooting in China in more than a decade. Although the tragedy barely made headlines in the West, many Chinese citizens may not have heard about it in China, where it was quickly and completely swept under the rug by China’s vast censorship apparatus. Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Even foreign news agencies have been victims of intimidation and, in the case of BBC journalist, physical assault, while trying to cover events in Zhuhai.

Before family members, friends, and acquaintances of the victims could even begin to mourn, CCP authorities quickly dismantled the makeshift memorials and removed the flower arrangements placed in remembrance. Social media platforms in China have been instructed to remove posts expressing outrage and sadness. Once again, the CCP quickly stepped up its censorship efforts to suppress public discussion of the tragedy and its aftermath, leaving Chinese citizens grappling with this incident – ​​and what is being said about their country – amid ‘an information blackout.

In Washington, we tend to focus on China’s global ambitions, its economic competition with the United States, and its aggressive behavior on the international stage that challenge the global norms that we and our allies have defended since World War II. worldwide. We analyze China’s conduct from diplomatic, economic and security perspectives, but we continually neglect a critical element of U.S.-China policy: the Chinese people.

Some of this is out of our control. Under the president Xi Jinpingthe CCP has repeatedly restricted access to US diplomats and canceled dozens of public events hosted by the US mission in China. It is also responsible for expanding the CCP’s powerful media and online censorship regime that blocks outside, independent, or “sensitive” information – such as reports of the mass-casualty incident in Zhuhai – silencing free expression among the Chinese.

What we can control is how we respond to these challenges. So far, despite the excellent work of media like Radio Asia Libre And Voice of Americaour efforts to engage with the Chinese people and give them access to uncensored information have failed. In the short term, this weakens our ability to counter anti-American propaganda aimed at China’s 1.4 billion citizens. Over time, this risks creating a lasting gap in mutual understanding and goodwill between our nations, which could lead to broader support – or implicit acceptance – of some of Xi’s extreme policies.

Despite ongoing censorship, Chinese citizens are increasingly questioning their government’s policies and conduct. A growing number of people are seeking alternative sources of information and demanding greater economic and political freedoms. The 2022 White Paper Movement protests against the Chinese government’s draconian “zero-COVID” policy clearly demonstrated this desire. And perceptions of the United States have recently improved despite a constant barrage of targeted anti-American propaganda. The stakes are higher than ever, but there is every indication that we have an unprecedented opportunity to engage.

This pivotal moment calls for bold steps to deepen understanding, bridge divisions and build real connections with the Chinese people. That’s why when I introduced the bipartisan Inform a Nation with Free, Open, and Trusted Media Act (or INFORM Act) – a bill directing the executive branch to share clear, independent information with citizens Chinese – I was hoping to spark some much-needed conversation. In Congress about how American policy can better support the rights and freedoms of those who have long suffered intense repression and censorship. This conversation should also remind us that the Chinese people are not our adversaries; they are members of the global community and entitled to the same freedoms that all people deserve from a government that respects their dignity.

As the new administration takes office and the next president of the Senate As the Foreign Relations Committee assumes its role, it is essential that it makes this issue a priority and joins this important conversation. It is essential that we continue to emphasize that our differences are with China’s authoritarian government, not its people. By recognizing the Chinese people as partners in the international community rather than enemies, the United States can reframe its approach to U.S.-China policy, grounding it in shared human values ​​between our two citizens.

As we continue to prioritize economic, military, and technological competition with the Chinese government, it is also time to devote our efforts and resources to meaningful engagement with the Chinese people. From the Tiananmen Square protests to the resilience seen in the White Paper movement, Chinese citizens have repeatedly demonstrated remarkable resolve in the face of repression. This latest tragedy in Zhuhai highlights what is at stake: not only the rights of those who mourn and demand justice, but also the very soul of China’s future. Every story silenced, every message deleted, and every memorial dismantled is a stark reminder that, without the means to connect, learn, and question, the Chinese people find themselves isolated from the truth and the outside world.

If we are as serious as we claim to be about the Chinese challenge, we must continue to defend the interests of the Chinese people who are courageously leading the way.

Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) is Chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.