Thread by @codepink

Starting yesterday, 10/25, the US-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is co-hosting the “Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy (WMD)” in Taiwan. Let’s take a look at what the NED’s presence in Taiwan means for democracy and peace. (spoiler: it’s not good)

First, some context.
China has been a founding member of the United Nations since 1945. At the time, the country was also in the midst of a civil war at that time. At the end of the war, the Kuomintang government, Republic of China (ROC), faced defeat and retreated to Taiwan.

The Communist Party of China established the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The PRC was soon recognized by many countries in the Global South as the victor in the civil war. However, the US and many in the West took their time recognizing the PRC.
history.state.gov/historicaldocu…

On October 25, 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by a 76 to 35 vote, restoring the lawful rights of PRC in the UN and recognizing the representatives of PRC as “the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations.” digitallibrary.un.org/record/192054?…

To China, 10/25 commemorates the restoration of its rights and the solidarity of the Global South in this significant vote. Now, after 50+ years of peaceful US-China relations, the NED is holding a conference in Taiwan, which the US officially recognizes as part of China.

“It’s for democracy though, right?”
Not quite…
The NED’s history shows time and time again it was used to advance US interests and meddle in the internal affairs of sovereign countries, toppling foreign governments in the name of “democracy.” countercurrents.org/2022/05/the-na…

For example, the NED has spent millions to destabilize Venezuela. Early on, the NED funded groups that were responsible for ousting left-wing leader Hugo Chavez. Later, the NED and the US also supported right-wing leader Guaido with funding and training.
counterpunch.org/2014/04/25/the…

In the ‘90s, an NED-funded organization overtly supported the rise of the right-wing opposition in Mongolia, opening up its natural resources to extraction by foreign entities.
jacobin.com/2017/11/mongol…

In Bolivia, we see the same: “democracy” efforts undermining popular leaders to promote US business interests.
bostonglobe.com/2020/02/06/opi…

And we of course can’t neglect NED efforts to support the right-wing in Ukraine prior to Russia’s invasion: jacobin.com/2022/02/maidan…

"A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA," - Allen Weinsten, co-founder of the NED.

We could look at any number of countries in the past 40 years and find the NED interfering.
washingtonpost.com/archive/opinio…

As the US continues to inflame relations with China, the NED’s conference there signals yet another effort by Washington to undermine the diplomatic agreements which have been the bedrock of global peace and cooperation for decades. The US needs to know that #ChinaIsNotOurEnemy.