As an American diplomat once observed, the United States tended to “pull its punches” with respect to the repugnant actions of its authoritarian allies during its global crusade against the Soviet Union. This observation applied with special force to America’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) during the waning years of the Cold War. In stark contrast to the bold denunciations and criticism aimed at Moscow, Washington often was oddly silent when it came to Peking’s human ..
