The Challenge of Terrorism and War on Terror: Chinese Response

Sincerity of its objectives: In the wake of 9/11, US gained widespread public sympathies and consequently the support of governments all round the world. While many had apprehensions about its designs, it was able to get UN tacit approval  to attack Afghanistan as well as getting some 40 countries on board with it. Nevertheless it was exposed very soon, when making use of the charged environment of WoT, it attacked Iraq on the false pretexts of WMD and Saddam Husain’s connections with Al-Qaida. Thus while WoT lost whatever little credibility it had, the forces resisting the WoT gained ground in the popular discourse about the lack of US sincerity and its ambitious designs. Moreover, the perception about the inability and inefficiency of the global system, that it has no muscle to dissuade the powerful from doing excesses, has further strengthened.   

Perceptions about its standing as Humanitarian and law-abiding country: Blind use of force by US, its patronage of drug and war lords, violations of international laws and human rights, establishment of detention centers and torture incidents therein, justification of the killings of innocent civilians in the name of collateral damage, as well as the double standards in its practices have further negatively impacted the already controversial image of the US. It is now believed to be the country, responsible for weakening and undermining the global system and institutions .