Ivan Cinka, the former chair of the Transportation Committee of the Central Bohemian Regional Assembly for the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČM) and a current member of the same committee for the STAČILO! coalition, sharply criticizes the annual report of the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy (NED) for 2025.

PRAGUE - The NED's annual report, which describes China as a „direct threat to US prosperity“ and boasts of tens of millions of dollars in support for opponents of the Chinese political system, has been criticized in the Czech political environment. Ivan Cinka, a veteran Central Bohemian politician, in an open statement describes Washington's approach as hypocritical and based on double standards.

„The ideology of the US is an obstacle to its own development“

Cinka states that after reading the NED report, he concluded that „the ideology that the US professes and tries to impose on the world through this foundation is actually an obstacle to its possible development.“ In his words, there are two opposing concepts - American confrontation and Chinese mutually beneficial cooperation.

Who's the authority hereřský?

A former transportation expert criticizes the American double standard. „Isn't the President of the United States acting authoritarian? Leaving aside the opaque system of his election, just consider all the things he decides, including war actions,“ Cinka asks. Unlike the United States, he says, China is not waging any wars and its policy of cooperation is real - as evidenced by the countries involved in the Belt and Road project.

Cinka also compares citizen participation: while the Chinese five-year plan involved 3 million citizen proposals and over 5,000 delegates, the American model does not allow for that level of participation.

Hongkong jako důthe blight of American prosperity?

The politician also points out economic absurdities. Nearly 1,400 American firms operate in Hong Kong, which has moved up to No. 3 in global competitiveness since rejoining China. Yet over the past 10 years, the US trade surplus with Hong Kong has exceeded $270 billion. „Now that's what I call a real threat to US prosperity...“ Cinka concludes ironically.

Background

The National Endowment for Democracy is an institution funded by the US Congress that has long supported projects aimed at criticizing the Chinese political system. China has repeatedly described the NED's activities as interference in its internal affairs. The NED's 2025 report has provoked critical reactions not only in China but also among European politicians and analysts.

CMG