[hatsunearu]

I don't like the false equivalence of what the US-lead western intelligence does and what the Chinese state does.

Obviously in a perfect world none of the "bad" things happen, but I'd rather take the US government spying on me than the Chinese government spy on me.

[thraway-burnout]

True! China has never directly impacted my life or the life of those I love.

The US on the other hand has replaced a bunch of democratically-elected governments in South America with dictatorships, taught torture classes to the people who tortured my grandfather in Brazil, and has taken the economical blockade of Venezuela over the course of decades to the current level of a humanitarian crisis and a disintegrated state, to which (surprise!) they'll have to "bring democracy".

> I don't like the false equivalence of what the US-lead western intelligence does and what the Chinese state does.

I agree, it's a false equivalence. The effects of US-lead western intelligence actions are objectively more perverse.

[lern_too_spel]

The US is going to do that with or without intelligence. China is going to steal your trade secrets and destroy your economy and can only do that with access to your computer networks.

[rchaud]

> I don't like the false equivalence of what the US-lead western intelligence does and what the Chinese state does.

But it's a point that will continue to be made as long as the US diplomats continue to use Cold War cliches to describe the "enemy" while back-patting the US as a global sentinel for liberal values and human rights.

The USSR couldn't have dreamed of the kind of mass surveillance apparatus the US has.

[Fins]

Nah, USSR would just lock people up even without any proof of anything. But they certainly would've dreamed of it.

[miaklesp]

> I'd rather take the US government spying on me than the Chinese government spy on me.

Not everyone shares your opinion.

[OG_BME]

If the Uighurs had a voice, I think they might have something to say about that[1].

[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/chin...

[YUMad]

Cool story bro.

Me, just like Uyghurs, would prefer to be spied on by the evil empire which DOESN'T rule me.

Uyghurs are ruled by China so they'd rather be spied on by us for sure.

I live in Europe so I'm ruled by US, and therefore would prefer China to spy on me.

[majewsky]

That's sort of like saying "I'd rather be shot in the leg than in the arm".